Motion Graphics

Explore & Discover

Motion graphics are the moving text, logos, and animated visuals you see in YouTube intros, movie titles, and news broadcasts. Start by watching the free YouTube channel "School of Motion" — their intro videos break down what motion design actually is and where it shows up in the real world. Look around: the Salt Lake City news ticker, the Olympic broadcast graphics from the 2002 Salt Lake Games, animated app icons on your phone. All of that is motion graphics. Notice what grabs your eye and why. Search "motion graphics reel 2024" on YouTube to see what professionals make. You're ready for the next step when you can describe three real-world examples of motion graphics you spotted and explain what makes each one effective.

Learn the Basics

Download DaVinci Resolve — it's completely free and has a dedicated Fusion page built for motion graphics. Alternatively, use the free version of Canva for simpler animated graphics. Start with the basics: keyframes, easing, and timing. A keyframe tells your software "at this moment, the object is here." Two keyframes = movement. Watch Blackmagic Design's free official Fusion tutorials on YouTube. Learn what "ease in" and "ease out" mean — smooth animation starts slow, speeds up, then slows down again. Practice making a circle move across the screen and bounce. You're ready for the next step when you can create a simple 5-second animation where an object moves, scales, and fades using keyframes.

Build Your First Project

Build your first real motion graphics project: a 10–15 second animated title card. Think of it as the intro to your own YouTube channel or a title screen for a school project. Use DaVinci Resolve's Fusion page or Adobe Express (free for students). Include animated text, at least one shape or graphic element, and a simple background. Follow along with a free tutorial on the Motion Array YouTube channel or search "DaVinci Resolve title animation tutorial" for step-by-step walkthroughs. Don't aim for perfect — aim for finished. Export it as an MP4 and watch it on your phone. You're ready for the next step when you have a completed title card animation exported as a video file you can share.

Experiment & Iterate

Now push beyond the basics by experimenting with more complex animation techniques. Try animating a logo reveal — start with a simple shape that transforms into letters. Explore text animation presets in DaVinci Resolve or look up "kinetic typography" tutorials on YouTube. Learn about the 12 principles of animation (a free PDF is easy to find) and apply at least three of them: squash and stretch, anticipation, and follow-through make animations feel alive instead of robotic. Try recreating a short animation you admire — even if it's just 3 seconds of a cool effect. You're ready for the next step when you can produce an animation that intentionally uses at least three animation principles and can explain why you chose them.

Advanced Techniques

Level up with expression-based animation and compositing. In DaVinci Resolve Fusion, expressions let you link properties together — like making text opacity tied to its position, so it fades as it moves. Watch free tutorials from the "Redefine Rebellion" or "Casey Faris" YouTube channels for intermediate Fusion techniques. Learn how to use masks to reveal elements, how to composite layers (putting animated graphics over video), and how to work with color to make your animations pop. Try creating a lower-third graphic — the animated name tag you see on news interviews. You're ready for the next step when you can composite an animated graphic over a video clip and explain how you used masks and layering to achieve the effect.

Final Project Showcase

Create a 30–60 second motion graphics piece that tells a story or promotes something real — your school, a local Utah event, a hobby you love. Include: an animated title, at least two scene transitions, kinetic text, and one composited element over footage or a background. Use free stock footage from Pexels or Pixabay if needed. Export in 1080p and share it — post it to a school project, a YouTube channel, or show it to your art or media teacher. Document your process: screenshot your Fusion node graph, write a short paragraph about the techniques you used. You're ready for the next step when you can present your finished piece and walk someone through the specific techniques you used to create each animated element.