Create Documentary-Style Faceless Videos Like Kurzgesagt

Channels like Kurzgesagt and Aperture prove educational content can go viral. Here's how to create documentary-style faceless videos.

What Makes Documentary Content Work

• Deep research: You become the expert
• Storytelling: Facts wrapped in narrative
• Visual quality: Animation or high-quality graphics
• Clear explanations: Complex topics made simple

The Documentary Formula

1. Hook: Surprising fact or question
2. Context: Why should viewers care?
3. Journey: Take them through the topic
4. Climax: The big revelation or answer
5. Reflection: What does this mean?

Research Process

1. Start with Wikipedia for overview
2. Find academic papers on Google Scholar
3. Watch existing documentaries on the topic
4. Find primary sources and expert quotes
5. Fact-check everything

Visual Approaches

Option 1: Animation (Kurzgesagt style)

• Tools: After Effects, Blender
• Time: 20-40 hours per video
• Cost: High (or outsource)
• Quality: Highest

Option 2: Motion Graphics

• Tools: Canva, After Effects templates
• Time: 5-10 hours per video
• Cost: Medium
• Quality: Good

Option 3: Stock + Graphics

• Tools: CapCut, Pexels, Canva
• Time: 2-4 hours per video
• Cost: Low
• Quality: Decent

Script Structure

HOOK: "What if I told you that [surprising fact]?"

SETUP: Brief context (30 seconds)

SECTION 1: Background/History
- Key facts
- Expert quote or study

SECTION 2: The Core Concept
- Explain clearly with analogies
- Visual examples

SECTION 3: Implications
- Why this matters
- Real-world applications

CONCLUSION: Tie back to hook, call to action

Profitable Niches

• Science explainers (space, biology, physics)
• History deep dives
• Psychology and human behavior
• Technology and future trends
• Economics and business
• Philosophy and ideas

Case Study

See how Kurzgesagt built a 23M subscriber channel with this approach:Kurzgesagt Case Study