{"id":70067,"date":"2017-12-20T08:37:34","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T21:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elements.blog-cms.envato.net\/?p=3707"},"modified":"2025-12-12T14:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T03:36:35","slug":"motion-graphics-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/motion-graphics-guide","title":{"rendered":"Motion Graphics for Complete Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might have heard the terms \u2018motion graphics\u2019 and \u2018motion graphic design\u2019 but, if you\u2019re like me, you might have had a hard time working out exactly what they mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Put simply: <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/30-premium-after-effects-overlays-for-motion-graphics\">motion graphics<\/a> refers to animated graphic design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"10 Best Motion Graphics Templates for Premiere Pro [2020]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1RB2XPW9k0U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;MoGraphs&#8217; (as the industry sometimes refers to them) is really the art of bringing graphics to life through animation. Simple graphic forms can be animated, while flat images, such as photographs, can be edited to suggest the illusion of movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do &#8216;MoGraphs&#8217; Differ from Animation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MoGraphs is to Animation what Graphic Design is to Art; one piece of the larger discipline. <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/best-graphic-design-templates\">Graphic design<\/a> often has a commercial aspect to it, as do motion graphics, while art and animation tend to focus more on entertainment. That\u2019s not to say that graphic design can\u2019t also be entertaining \u2013 Robert M. Ball&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/robertmball.com\/beautiful-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Beautiful Death<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;series, for example \u2013 but entertainment is not the primary purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wearegenuine.com\/blog\/motion-graphics-vs-animation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Motion Graphics Designer Jared Flynn<\/a>&nbsp;put it succinctly, suggesting that an animator utilizes character and narrative to communicate ideas, while a motion designer reduces that communication to more the basic elements of <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/bright-and-bold-color-design-trend-templates\">color<\/a>, space, and <a data-wpil=\"url\" data-wpil-url-old=\"aHR0cHM6Ly9lbGVtZW50cy5lbnZhdG8uY29tL2xlYXJuL2ZvbnQtdHJlbmRzLTIwMjA=\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/font-trends\">typography<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In conjunction with students at the University for the Arts in Bremen, Envato marketplace author&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/user\/placdarms\/stock-video\">placdarms<\/a>&nbsp;contributed to this fantastic educational video about the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/aeteacher.com\/motion-graphics-explained.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">basics of motion graphic design<\/a>. If you&#8217;ve got 23 minutes to spare, it&#8217;s packed with so much great information that I think everyone could take a little something away from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"The Basics of Motion Design\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/7440725?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Use Motion Graphics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, a little history. The inception of motion graphics goes back decades. Early cinema relied on motion graphics techniques for <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/top-10-opening-titles-for-after-effects\">opening titles<\/a>. Their creative exploration came in the 1940s and 1950s when artists such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oskar_Fischinger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oskar Fischinger<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofthetitle.com\/designer\/saul-bass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saul and Elaine Bass<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofthetitle.com\/designer\/pablo-ferro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pablo Ferro<\/a>&nbsp;began pushing motion graphics techniques to their limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The opening credits of Hitchcock&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Psycho<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>North By Northwest<\/em>&nbsp;were both designed by Bass. This iconic style remains a reference point for designers even today, representing the unique ways <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/what-makes-a-good-font\">typography<\/a> and form can be presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Psycho (1960) - Opening Credits\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jhuS2dlx2l0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"NORTH BY NORTHWEST \u266a\u266b TITLE SEQUENCE\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KVUnUmPV33c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These techniques were also used heavily in the abstract designs for, well, pretty much every James Bond film title ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Dr No (1962) James Bond title sequence\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wD-YR-3KmyE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daniel Craig will feature in the 2019 Bond film I&#8217;ve tentatively titled&nbsp;<em>MoGraphs are Forever<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So popular were motion graphics techniques in the 1960s and 1970s that their style is often utilized as a callback to the era. The&nbsp;<em>Archer<\/em>&nbsp;title credits are a great modern example of this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Archer Title Sequence\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WqHOAWChIOY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Motion graphics have also long been used for logo reveals, especially in television networks or movie production companies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pervasiveness of technology means that animations can be applied to almost anything to give them a boost in our busy lives. Motion graphics can be used to great effect in animated digital billboards. Websites can utilize them &#8211; sparingly though, please &#8211; to highlight or draw attention to particular areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out some of the best openers on <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/video-templates\/openers\">Envato Elements<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"elements-product-embed elements-product-embed--grid elements-product-embed--has-info elements-product-embed--count-3\">\n            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__info\">\n                            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__info-left\">\n                    <h3 class=\"elements-product-embed__title\">\n                                                    Unlimited <span><a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/all-items\"><strong>Creative Assets<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. Access to <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/ai\/\"><strong>AI Tools<\/strong><\/a>.\n                                            <\/h3>\n                <\/div>\n            \n                            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__info-right\">\n                    <a class=\"elements-product-embed__more\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">View all<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"elements-product-embed__grid-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__item\">\n    <a class=\"elements-product-embed__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/resistance-cinematic-trailer-VUPT2SV\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\n    <div class=\"elements-product-embed__meta\">\n        <h3 class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--title\">\n            Resistance Cinematic Trailer        <\/h3>\n        <span class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--author\">\n            Visual_A        <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"elements-product-embed__image\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/elements-resized.envatousercontent.com\/elements-video-cover-images\/files\/238395170\/res+previm.jpg?format=auto&#038;cf_fit=crop&#038;h=506&#038;w=900&#038;s=4283f158c1ed91e207d6cfc2b036c7dd034a121f4c431933241bbeeb1a42f3eb\"\n            alt=\"Resistance Cinematic Trailer\"\n        >\n    <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__item\">\n    <a class=\"elements-product-embed__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/military-cinematic-title-VJNXD28\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\n    <div class=\"elements-product-embed__meta\">\n        <h3 class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--title\">\n            Military Cinematic title        <\/h3>\n        <span class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--author\">\n            R-motion        <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"elements-product-embed__image\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/elements-resized.envatousercontent.com\/elements-video-cover-images\/files\/183923580\/previwe2.jpg?format=auto&#038;cf_fit=crop&#038;h=506&#038;w=900&#038;s=3cd2a5260c3755da90f243d0232e8c1853a99259cd55d60616af56b5188ffc1f\"\n            alt=\"Military Cinematic title\"\n        >\n    <\/div>\n            <div class=\"elements-product-embed__item\">\n    <a class=\"elements-product-embed__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/cinematic-trailer-VR39N8S\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\n    <div class=\"elements-product-embed__meta\">\n        <h3 class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--title\">\n            Cinematic Trailer        <\/h3>\n        <span class=\"elements-product-embed__meta-item elements-product-embed__meta-item--author\">\n            mdlabdesign        <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"elements-product-embed__image\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/elements-resized.envatousercontent.com\/elements-video-cover-images\/files\/231712738\/590.jpg?format=auto&#038;cf_fit=crop&#038;h=506&#038;w=900&#038;s=004581a2efdc203ce9bab3a28e15d51fedb6a4795b8e63da42c5275cc638e4be\"\n            alt=\"Cinematic Trailer\"\n        >\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the art of bringing graphics to life through animation in our guide to motion graphics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":79540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,157,149,250,148,142],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-after-effects","category-design","category-motion-design","category-motion-graphics","category-post-production","category-video-filmmaking"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70067\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}