Yeah, that's why I used the qualifiers "most of the time" and "usually".
But even in that example, while the animation instantly conveys the high-level idea, it's still a bit magical: "I get what's happening, but not exactly how." To understand in detail what's going on, carefully chosen freeze frames with an explanation would probably be better, especially complemented by the animation. The ability to slow down, reverse, and interact could work too here.
Right. There are also things called Optical Illusions which do not really explain anything but mislead you into thinking you see something which is not there. Optical illusions are often animated so seeing this Anti-twister mechanism makes me suspect I'm perhaps looking at some kind of optical illusion.
There was a great video on how a car’s differential works where they start by building it out of sticks and demonstrate how to progress from there to helical gears. That approach made it click for me while nothing else did prior, including playing with an actual differential.
I agree it's a great explanation, and the video format feels right for this. Still, it's not the video per se that makes this great, but the way the concept has been broken down into simple (almost unmoving) parts for you, and is then built up in steps.
But even in that example, while the animation instantly conveys the high-level idea, it's still a bit magical: "I get what's happening, but not exactly how." To understand in detail what's going on, carefully chosen freeze frames with an explanation would probably be better, especially complemented by the animation. The ability to slow down, reverse, and interact could work too here.