One confused stick figure, one who finally explains it
A stick figure explainer works because nothing on screen competes with the idea. There is no face to judge and no stock clip that nearly fits, just one character who doesn't get it and another who explains it in plain words. Drawing that by hand means posing every frame. TallyReel's animated skits do the drawing: you give it the question, it writes the back and forth, gives each character a voice and animates them on a set.
This page covers how to turn a topic into a stick figure explainer, 36 ideas that suit the format, two scripts you can copy, and the questions people ask before they start.
Updated 2 November 2026 ยท by Danish, who makes TallyReel
What a recession is, in one lemonade standMake this
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Why insurance only works if most people never use itMake this
What happens to a package between the warehouse and your doorMake this
Scripts you can copy
About 30 seconds each when read aloud. Paste one into TallyReel as your own script, or change the details first.
Script 1
The Minimum Payment Trap
1
Sam: Good news. My card only asks for twenty five dollars a month.
2
Alex: On what balance? Sam: Two thousand. Alex: At what rate? Sam: There's a rate?
3
Alex: Most of that twenty five is interest. Only a few dollars touch what you owe.
4
Sam: So next month I still owe almost two thousand? Alex: Almost exactly that.
5
Alex: Paying the minimum keeps the card happy. It doesn't make the debt smaller.
6
Alex: Add even a little more each month and it all goes straight at the balance. Sam: So the minimum is the expensive option. Alex: Now you get it.
Script 2
Why the Milk Is at the Back
1
Sam: I came in for milk. Why am I holding candles, socks and a plant?
2
Alex: Because the milk is at the very back of the store. Sam: That's just bad planning.
3
Alex: It's perfect planning. You walk past everything else to get the one thing you need.
4
Sam: So the plant ambushed me. Alex: Every shelf on the way is a small ad.
5
Alex: The stores know it too. A list is the only thing that beats the walk.
6
Sam: Next time I'm getting milk and leaving. Alex: Sure. Sam: Are those cookies on sale?
How to make a stick figure explainer
Start an Animated skit in the TallyReel web app, and treat the question as the situation. The steps are the same as any skit, but the writing job is different: the joke matters less than the moment it clicks.
1. Type the question in one line, the way a curious friend would ask it.
2. Pick two characters, the language and the tone.
3. Read the script before anything is made. Change who says a line, fix a fact or ask for a rewrite.
4. Each character gets a voice, with natural pauses between lines.
5. The characters are animated on a set, and the finished video is ready to download or schedule.
What makes an explainer stick
Give the confused character the viewer's real objection, not a setup line. If a person would say "but doesn't that mean I lose money?", that is the line to write. The explainer answers it, and the viewer feels the answer was for them.
Use one example the whole way through. A lemonade stand or a pizza order carries an idea further than three separate examples. Keep it under a minute for Shorts, and end on the one sentence you want people to repeat to a friend. If the fact is one people argue about, check it yourself: an AI draft can sound right and be wrong, so read every number before it goes out.
Where this format earns attention
Explainers do well as a series because the same two characters become the brand. Viewers learn that one always gets it wrong and the other always has the analogy. Pick one subject, such as money, science or how everyday things work, so the channel has a clear reason to follow it.
YouTube's inauthentic content policy targets mass-produced, repetitive videos, so each episode needs its own idea and its own point of view. Rewrite the draft in your own words, cut anything generic, and keep the same characters while changing the substance. For money or health topics, stay with general education and leave out personal advice.
Questions
Can AI make a stick figure explainer video?
Yes. Give it a question or topic and it writes a short conversation between two characters, voices each one and animates them on a set. You can edit every line first.
Is there a free stick figure animation maker?
Stick figure skits are on the free plan. Paid plans add drawn characters and your own characters.
Can I write the explanation myself?
Yes. Paste your own script instead of a one-line idea, then set who says each line.
Are stick figure videos allowed for YouTube monetization?
The style isn't the issue. YouTube looks at whether videos are original and not mass-produced, so give each episode its own idea and edit the script yourself. Approval is always YouTube's decision.
Type the idea into TallyReel, read the script, and it makes the video for you: in the browser, on your phone, or in Studio on your own computer. Start on the free plan.