Explanimated by Megan Friesth

Watch Trailer

Learn how to create a write-on style text or hand lettering animation.

This class is perfect for beginners, or anyone who wants to animate text!

Lettering such an expressive form of art. Adding animation can really take your lettering to the next level.

Animated lettering is not just for hand letterers. Animated text can be used in so many ways...

Explainer videos
Kinetic typography videos
Music lyric videos
Logos
Lower thirds on videos
Title sequences
Digital greeting cards (gifs to text to your friends)
Websites
To make your hand lettering stand out on social media

Not only is animated lettering a super useful technique, but its a great way to learn animation in Adobe After Effects.

You'll learn how to:

Use the pen tool to draw or trace a lettering design
Add a texture to your lettering
Prepare your lettering for animation
Animate your lettering using trim paths
Animate lettering with a texture using trim paths and masks
Animate letter connections and extensions for a more interesting animation
Quickly and efficiently animate your lettering out• add multiple color layers to your lettering animation
Export (render) your lettering animation as a .mov, .mp4, and .gif so you can show off your work
Plus tons of time-saving tips!

If you’re ready to make some lettering move, let’s get started.

Get unlimited, lifetime access to this class. Watch anytime, at your own pace.

$49

Buy the Class

What's included

100% Self-Paced

Pre-recorded videos allow you to play, pause, and practice at your own pace.

21 Lessons (1h 41m)

Get Started

Welcome
Inspiration
Class project

Create Lettering

Getting started in Illustrator
Tracing letters
Adjusting the path of your letters
Getting ready for animation
Adding connectors and extensions

Animate

Importing AI files into AE
Trim paths
Non-script lettering
Easing
Animating connectors and extensions

Animate Textured Lettering

Adding a texture
Importing .psd file
Animating textured lettering
Masking

Finish

Adding colors
Animate out
Exporting (rendering)
Wrap-up

Also included:

Who this class is for

This class is designed for total beginners. You don't even need to be a lettering artist!

No items found.

What you'll need

Successfully completing this class requires a computer or laptop with:

Adobe

After Effects

Adobe

Illustrator

Adobe

Photoshop

Ready?

Buy the Class

Meet the Teacher

I'm Megan Friesth

...and I’m an explanimator. I have over a decade of professional experience writing, illustrating, and animating educational animations.

I've taught motion design to 40,000+ students on online and at the University of Colorado.
‍
I know where beginners get stuck, because I was stuck there too. I’m a self-taught motion designer, striving to help you learn motion design more efficiently than I did.

What students are saying

This class is easy to follow and I was super happy with the results I got. I had never used AfterEffects before and this class was a great intro to it. Animating two different kinds of letter styles in parallel was a bit of a challenge, but I was happy to have the information about the differences between animating both script and unconnected letters. Totally recommend this class!

Chris C.

After watching this class I've been able to animate my company logo. This is exactly what I was looking for. Megan's instruction is clear and she provides a variety of interesting examples and techniques. I look forward to taking her other classes. Thanks!

Michelle F.

This is a great class! Not only did I learn new techniques in After Effects I even learned some new things in Photoshop. And I'm a professional designer! I definitely plan to take the other courses Megan has to offer.

Keith L.

FAQ's

Let's get started!

Animated Lettering in Adobe After Effects

Get unlimited, lifetime access to this class. Watch anytime, at your own pace.

$49

Buy the Class

Not ready yet? Save it for later:

You also might like:

Intermediate

Animated Typography in After Effects Normal

Layering Simple Effects for a Complex Look