Module 2: Animated Intro

This project explores how motion graphics, typography, and imagery can work together to create a personal animated introduction. Using After Effects, I designed a 40-second intro video that communicates who I am, my background, and my interests. My goal was to create something simple, engaging, and reflective of my personality while improving my technical skills with motion tools and timing.

Reading

In Animated Storytelling by Liz Blazer, I learned that motion design is not just about making things move but about guiding attention, reinforcing tone, and supporting meaning through animation choices. The readings emphasized how typography, timing, and spatial relationships all contribute to clarity and emotional impact.

One idea that stood out to me was the importance of ease and rhythm. Effective motion design uses overlap and timing to create natural, engaging transitions. This is especially important in text animation, where movement should enhance readability instead of distracting from the message.

Another key takeaway from Chapter Four - Storyboarding was the value of consistency. Repeating motion styles, transition patterns, and visual systems helps unify a project and improve comprehension. This idea influenced how I structured my animated intro; I balanced imagery and text while maintaining a cohesive visual language throughout the video.

Inspiration

For inspiration, I explored motion graphic projects that successfully combine typography, imagery, and transitions. The Fresco Brand Launch Promo by Buff Motion stood out for its dynamic shapes, lines, and kinetic type. I especially liked how sound design enhanced the rhythm and emotional flow of the animations, and how the imagery blended naturally with illustration and text.

The Bridgerton Season 1 opening credits inspired me through their simplicity and elegance. The soft fades, subtle motion, and clean typography show how restrained animation can still be successful. The high contrast white type over rich imagery made the sequence easy to read while maintaining visual interest.

The After Effects Movie Intro sequence was interesting, illustrative, and enchanting. I liked the microanimations and smooth scene changes that made the sequence feel dynamic without being overwhelming. The combination of simple typography with expressive imagery reinforced my goal of keeping my intro engaging while still clear and readable.

Animated Introduction

My animated introduction is approximately 40 seconds long and uses a combination of my own photos and videos, along with some stock assets. I began by writing out the key information I wanted to include, then developed a script before collecting visuals. This planning stage made the animation process more intentional and efficient.

In After Effects, I primarily worked with Scale, Position, and Opacity keyframes, along with the Typewriter effect for animated text reveals. I also used the Ease In keyframe assistant to create smooth push-ins at the beginning of the video. While the process felt challenging at first, my prior experience with After Effects helped me find a rhythm after practice and repetition.

I chose a handwritten-style font to create a more personal tone and used my favorite colors, purple and blue, to contrast between the background and text. One of my favorite effects was using Trim Paths on a pen tool line—it visually directs attention from text toward images and video. Overall, I aimed to keep the animation clean and balanced so that both text and visuals worked together without overwhelming the viewer.

Hi, I’m Allison!

I am a graphic and interactive designer, ready to craft strategy-driven and engaging designs for you now!