Dynamic Subtitles
and Animations

The use of video subtitling has risen to unprecedented levels, mostly thanks to the rising popularity of shortform content and watching videos remotely on mobile devices. The changing nature of how we watch videos has meant that subtitles themselves have also changed. Whilst subtitles were initially created in the interests of inclusivity, making video accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences,  captions and subtitles are now for everybody! But what has the changing landscape of subtitles and their purpose meant for both the industry and the way that those captions actually function and appear? 

Dynamic subtitles are used across a wide variety of video formats, usually with the aim of capturing the attention of viewers quickly. Social media clips, music videos, gaming streams, and online advertisements often use dynamic subtitles to highlight key phrases and create a more immersive experience. Additionally, educational videos, vlogs, and entertainment content, such as reaction videos, frequently incorporate animated captions to emphasize emotions, jokes, or important information. The aim of dynamic subtitles is to make video content more engaging and in some ways, it works. 

Dynamic subtitles are almost always created by AI driven subtitling software, usually built into platforms such as Instagram. The look and feel of these captions is often referred to as ‘viral-style.’ It’s a preferred method of captioning often used by trendy online influencers for clickbait videos and those intending to get a quick reaction or sell a product. If appealing to a young, trendy audience and/or trying to get a fast reaction, dynamic subtitles can be great… 

In our personal opinion, the use of word-by-word dynamic subtitles on video creates a type of paradox. So much attention and focus is required to follow subtitles which run that quickly that it renders other visuals effectively pointless, as there is no time to even glimpse at them. Hearing viewers can get around this by turning on the sound so they can enjoy the visuals. Deaf and hard of hearing viewers, however, are left with an exhausting, highly intense experience – look away one second and you will miss everything that has been said.

Additionally, dynamic subtitles may not always be accessible for people with certain visual or cognitive impairments, undermining their original purpose of inclusivity. There can also be compatibility issues across platforms and devices, leading to inconsistent viewing experiences. 

But beware! Dynamic subtitles do not make a video accessible. For visually and hearing impaired audiences, they are viewed as frustrating and a trendy gimmick that adds no value to content and in some ways, shows a lack of respect for inclusivity. Professional subtitles should run at a speed that makes them easy to read, in a way that allows time for proper grammar and properly convey tone and meaning. For companies and video makers looking to build a professional and trustworthy reputation, the best option is always professional subtitling, and better still, closed captioning services sourced from a reputable company that truly cares about accessibility and inclusivity. 

So there you have it, If you’re looking to get your film or video subtitled by a professional video company then contact us at Capital Captions today to get your videos captioned.