While surfing the web for presentation storytelling inspiration for a project, I stumbled upon a fascinating video about Disney animation. In 12 minutes, the video shows how technological advances document a shift in the kind of storytelling the Disney uses in its films. Watch, “How CGI Transformed Animated Storytelling,” below to see how the expansion of time elevates technology and alters our messages to be more inclusive.
After seeing this video, I noticed a stark change in Disney’s stories. Compared to the cartoon movies I grew up watching, today’s CGI movies are more likely to revolve around female heros, provide satire on our culture, and promote a message of acceptance. This got me to thinking about how technological advances have advanced presentation storytelling.
How Technological Advances Have Advanced Presentation Storytelling
Chances are you watched a PowerPoint presentation from the early 1990s or 2000s. The blank white screen, the bullet point list, the cartoonish clipart. This software was released to the public in 1987 and forever changed the way we think about presentations. Presenters dumping tons of information on a slide may be convenient. The audience, however, will zone out in seconds. “Death by PowerPoint” became a popular phrase because every poorly written and designed presentation became a headache for audiences to bare.
Just like in the video above, we witnessed repeat offenses. Disney princess stories revolved around a damsel in distress who needed a prince to save her. As time progressed, we saw the princesses become more heroic but still in need of a man’s affection. It wasn’t until CGI that the mold finally broke and original storytelling broke through. The same can be said for presentation storytelling. Technological advances in presentation software, photo editing and video sharing have impacted our stories.
Pristine Presentations
Today, presenters don’t have to use PowerPoint at all to create their presentations. There are a growing number of web-based presentation software that are inspiring speakers to create stunning and creative stories. You might have heard of Prezi, an interactive web-based program that takes a non-linear approach to presentations. Programs like Flowvella and Microsoft Sway offer a similar experience. The latest presentation software is HTML5, a coding language for online presentation. Try Visme to create a presentation hosted on the web and updated through coding. All these new presentation programs promote visually stunning decks.
Visceral Visuals
Thanks to high quality photography, fine-tuned animations and customizable software, presentations are a visual medium. With endless access to stock photo websites, a designer can create compelling visuals that match the story. Illustrations and iconography allow companies to infuse their brand on each slide without the cheesy clip art. Animations flow seamlessly from slide to slide, instead of over the top fade ins and choppy movement. Since 90% of information sent to the brain is visual, then say goodbye to paragraphs of text on the slide. The brain cannot read and listen at the same time, so you are doing nobody any favors with bullet point lists.
Viral Videos
The power of presentation storytelling is more evident than ever. Thanks to YouTube and social media, millions of people watch inspiring speeches around the world. Today’s viral videos put a lot of pressure on the presenter to perform at their best level. You never know who will be recording your presentation, so tell your story with heart and professionalism every time. Remember that the most memorable moments of a story are not always rehearsed. Take Tony Robbins for example. He is an expert speaker and influencer, but it was this genuine moment that caught the attention of millions of viewers.
Technology will continue to shape the way we tell stories. From movies to presentations, we are influenced by our culture. Technology allows us to communicate it in memorable way to a mass audience. Consider how your presentation is visually captivating, interactive with an audience and shared with the world.
For more presentation storytelling tips, check out these posts from the Ethos3 blog:
The Neuroscience of Storytelling [Infographic]
3 Presentation Tips for Video Storytelling
Have You Heard About Pixar’s Free Online Storytelling Courses?
