Are these real prompts people used?

Yes. Each example is a normalized, PII-cleaned version of a real prompt submitted to ngram. The topics, structures, and instructions come from actual users — we've only stripped names, brand names, and any identifying details.

Which example should I start from?

If your topic is a hypothetical or "what if" scenario, start with the thought-experiment example. If it's a historical event, use the history format. For product explainers, use the video collaboration or journalism platform examples. For repurposing written content, use the Substack summary.

Can I use these prompts for YouTube Shorts or TikTok?

Yes. Add "vertical 9:16 format" to any prompt and ngram will adjust the layout, pacing, and text sizing for short-form feeds. The 30-second thought-experiment and history examples work especially well in vertical.

Do I need a script before I generate?

No. ngram writes the script from your prompt. If you already have a script or article (like a Substack post), paste the URL or text and ngram will adapt it instead.

How long does an explainer take to generate?

Most 15-30 second explainers render in under five minutes. 60-90 second clips with motion graphics take a bit longer, typically under ten minutes.

Can I edit after generating?

Yes. ngram drops you into an editor where you can change scenes, swap the voiceover, adjust captions, and tweak the pacing before you export.

What if I only have a URL, not a full brief?

Paste the URL and tell ngram the audience and length you want. It fetches the page, extracts the key ideas, and builds the explainer from there. The Substack summary example shows exactly how that brief looks.

Media explainer videos that Explain ideas people actually watch

Real prompts creators and media founders used in ngram to make explainer videos — thought experiments, history, platform comparisons, and Substack summaries. Copy any prompt, swap the details, and generate.

ngram.com/app/editor

7 real examplesmediaexplainer30smotion-graphicscontent creators and media founders

Trusted by teams at

Salesforce

HubSpot

PayPal

Snap Inc.

Rocket Mortgage

Tektronix

Diligent

Times Internet

Fivetran

Demandbase

Salesforce

HubSpot

PayPal

Snap Inc.

Rocket Mortgage

Tektronix

Diligent

Times Internet

Fivetran

Demandbase

Eightfold AI

PingCAP

Quizizz

Apryse

Sandbox VR

Improvado

Taggbox

Matrixport

Glasswall

ContractSafe

Eightfold AI

PingCAP

Quizizz

Apryse

Sandbox VR

Improvado

Taggbox

Matrixport

Glasswall

ContractSafe

The short version

What a media explainer video is

A media explainer video is a short clip — typically 15 to 90 seconds — that makes a complex idea, historical event, or comparison easy to follow. Content creators and media founders make them for YouTube, Substack, and social channels. They start with a strong hook (a question, a surprising number, a bold claim), walk through the idea with motion graphics or narration, and land a clear takeaway. The examples below are real, normalized prompts used in ngram.

15–90s

Typical length

30s

Most common

Motion graphics

Top visual style

Prompt gallery

Prompts to start from

Copy one, swap the details for your topic, and generate.

What If the Internet Disappeared?

Featured

30-second thought-experiment explainer built for a viral YouTube hook.

30sthought-experimentYouTube

prompt

Create a 30-second thought-experiment explainer video: what would happen if the internet disappeared for 24 hours. Open with a bold on-screen question, then walk through the consequences scene by scene — communications, finance, logistics, daily life. Motion graphics throughout. End with a one-line conclusion that re-asks the hook. YouTube format, English narration.

How Powerful Was Genghis Khan?

History-format YouTube explainer with English narration and motion graphics.

30smotion-graphicsYouTube

prompt

Historical explainer video about how powerful Genghis Khan actually was. YouTube format, English narration. Open on a scale comparison — how much land, how many people. Use motion graphics to show the empire's growth, key battles, and cultural reach. Keep the tone educational but engaging. 30 seconds.

Open-Source vs Closed-Source Models

Tech-comparison explainer using motion graphics to visualize model benchmarks.

90smotion-graphicsscreen-recording

prompt

Motion graphics explainer comparing an open-source video generation model (22 billion parameters, 4K at 50fps, native audio) against closed-source competitors. Walk through the benchmark data: resolution, frame rate, audio, licensing, and cost. Use side-by-side bar charts animated in sequence. Neutral tone, 90 seconds, English narration.

The Standard Oil Antitrust Story

Cinematic documentary micro-explainer on the 1911 antitrust breakup.

30scinematicscreen-recording

prompt

Documentary-style 30-second explainer about the 1911 Standard Oil antitrust breakup. Open with a dramatic establishing shot of the monopoly at its peak. Walk through Ida Tarbell's investigation, the Supreme Court ruling, and the 34 companies it became. Cinematic tone, dramatic narration. End on the lesson.

Video Collaboration Platform Explainer

Founder-made 30-second product explainer with AI visuals for YouTube.

30surlYouTube

prompt

30-second product explainer for a video collaboration and review platform. YouTube. Show the core workflow: upload a video, leave timestamped comments, approve the final cut. AI visuals and narration. Tone: clear and modern. End on the product name and URL.

Investigative Journalism Platform Explainer

Detailed-spec explainer targeting newsroom decision-makers, 60-90 second runtime.

90smotion-graphicsdetailed-spec

prompt

60 to 90 second explainer for an AI-powered investigative journalism platform. Audience: newsroom editors and data journalists. Cover three core features in sequence: secure tip submission, the knowledge graph that connects sources, and contradiction detection. Motion graphics for each feature. Professional tone, no hype. End with a call to request a demo.

Substack Article Summary Video

Ultra-short 15-second video that repurposes a Substack article for quick sharing.

15surlSubstack

prompt

Create a 15-second summary video of my Substack article. Pull the three main points from the URL, animate each as a bold on-screen text card with a short caption, and add background music. No voiceover. Square format for sharing in notes and social.

Patterns across media explainer prompts

What creators and media founders tend to include when they brief explainer videos.

Most-requested length30 seconds

Prompts that provide a URL or recording~44%

Top visual styleMotion graphics

Most common authorContent creators

Prompts that provide a script~44%

Anatomy

Anatomy of a standout prompt

What If the Internet Disappeared?

prompt

Hook

The title is the entire premise. It asks a question the viewer can't immediately answer, which is what makes a thought-experiment explainer worth clicking.

Structure

Four consequence scenes (communications, finance, logistics, daily life) give ngram a concrete scene list to animate — no ambiguity about what each shot should cover.

Visual direction

"Motion graphics throughout" removes the fallback to talking-head or stock footage. The creator knows exactly what they want.

Closure

"End with a one-line conclusion that re-asks the hook" closes the loop on the original question — the viewer gets an answer, not a cliffhanger.

Why it works

It gives ngram a clear problem (the premise), a scene list (the consequences), a visual rule (motion graphics), and a closing instruction (re-ask the hook). None of the structure is left to guesswork, so the first draft lands close to the final cut.

Playbook

What makes a good media explainer video prompt

Lead with the hook, not the topic

"What would happen if..." outperforms "Explain X." The question tells ngram what the viewer needs to feel at the start, which drives a stronger opening scene.

Give ngram a scene list

Name the beats you want covered — even a loose sequence of three or four ideas. It turns an open-ended topic into a shot-by-shot structure.

Pick your visual style explicitly

"Motion graphics" and "cinematic" produce different outputs. The 33% of prompts that name a style get a draft that doesn't need a style revision.

Match length to platform

15 seconds works for Substack notes and social shares; 30 seconds fits YouTube hooks; 60-90 seconds handles detailed product or documentary content. The 67% of prompts that specify length get timing right on the first pass.

Give it a channel or audience

"YouTube format" or "newsroom editors" changes the tone, pacing, and CTA. Without one, ngram uses a generic register that often needs reworking.

Specify what the ending does

"End on a one-line conclusion," "end with a request-demo CTA," or "close on the product URL" gives the last scene a job. A vague brief produces a vague close.

How it works

Make your own media explainer video

Pick the shape closest to your brief

Thought experiment, history, tech comparison, documentary, product explainer, or article summary — choose the example that matches what you're making.

30s