What’s Motion Graphics? A Brief History and Overview

Motion graphics are an essential part of modern communication. You can see them in every type of digital media, from ads to blockbuster films — they’re so varied that you may not even realize what is motion graphics and what isn’t. 

The best motion graphics animations enhance viewer engagement while matching the surrounding content’s style and tone. Learn what motion graphics are and how to use them in your videos. 

What Are Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics are animated design elements like text, charts, and illustrations. Through movement and sound, motion graphics help viewers understand the information embedded within an image, letting motion graphics designers convey complex ideas visually. These animations can take numerous formats — from scrolling text on a newsreel to a 3D logo that pops onto a webpage — making your message more informative and engaging.

While these elements are a type of graphic design, the two terms aren’t interchangeable. Let’s examine the similarities and differences between these disciplines. 

Motion Graphics vs. Graphic Design

Graphic design refers to visual communications that express specific ideas. Traditionally, it relies on static images. Common uses for graphic design include marketing and branding materials like posters, logos, and bulletins.

Alternatively, motion design typically comes in the form of videos and digital ads. Designers can display multiple frames per second to create dynamic animations from static text and images.

Motion Graphics vs. Animation

All motion graphics are animation, but not all animation involves motion graphics. Anything that makes static objects move — from claymation to CGI — falls under the animation umbrella. 

Motion graphics typically use abstract objects and text to relate a message with no underlying narrative. In contrast, animation often tells a story with defined characters and a structured plot, similar to what you’d see in a Disney film or YouTube series cartoon. 

History of Motion Graphics

Motion graphics likely began with 19th-century flipbooks that made images look like they were moving when people quickly thumbed through the pages. Early film projectors were based on this technology. Artists could create smoother, more advanced graphics by cutting and splicing multiple frames together and displaying them on a screen.

These graphics really took off in the early 1920s as filmmakers and artists made significant advancements in techniques and technology. In the latter half of the century, motion graphic designers created film title sequences with iconic fonts and imagery for numerous Hollywood films.

The emergence of computer animation in the 1960s completely changed the motion graphics field. Today, animation software programs let anyone create visual effects and graphics from their own homes.

How To Add Motion Graphics in Video: 4 Steps

Captions’ tools make it easy to enhance your videos with motion graphics. With AI Edit, you can add dynamic text, animations, and visual effects in just a few clicks — no experience required. This feature is available across the Captions iOS, Android, and Desktop apps, allowing you to create visually engaging videos with animated elements regardless of your platform.

Follow these steps to add motion graphics to your content:

1. Upload your clip — Import your video into the AI Video Editor.
2. Choose a style — Select a style for your video that includes motion graphics.
3. Edit your video — Prompt the AI to add motion graphics and any other elements you want, including captions, transitions, sound effects, music, GIFs, and B-roll. 
4. Download your edited video — Once the AI Edit process finishes, you can download your video with motion graphics and upload it to your website or preferred social media platform. 

You can also add text animations manually if you prefer. Simply add text to your video, then apply animations to the active word background. The same steps apply to adding other visual elements like images, videos, and GIFs. 

Motion Graphics Examples

Whether you want to shoot high-quality videos on your iPhone or make an animated logo for your business, there are countless ways to enhance your content with motion graphics. Here are a few common examples.

Animated Logos

Animation adds compelling movement to a brand’s logo, transforming a traditional static image into a living design. Businesses can use animated logos to enhance social networks, company websites, and presentations. 

Most animated logos are brief, with the animation lasting 10 seconds or less. The best logos match the brand’s personality and use engaging twists to keep viewers interested. 

For example, Google’s official animated logo uses smooth cuts to morph the company’s text name into different images, including its multi-color logotype, a system processing request, and its iconic “G” logo. The animation balances simplicity with adaptability, positioning Google as a company that consistently changes to meet its customers’ needs. 

Title Sequences and Intros

A title sequence sets a video’s tone, giving viewers a peek at what they can expect from the content. Many films and TV shows use them to create engaging opening credits that entertain audiences and credit the people involved in the project. 

The opening sequence of Star Wars is arguably one of the most recognizable motion graphics in film. Its iconic crawling text and dramatic score inform audiences about the film’s context while also setting the dramatic, sweeping tone that the franchise is known for. 

Animated Explainers

An explainer video educates viewers about a product, concept, or service. These short, engaging clips help you get your point across without needing a long article or in-depth presentation.

BluBlu Studios’s ad for the pet food manufacturer Purina serves as a great explainer video. The video’s 2D illustrations are bright and inviting. They pair well with the abstract animations that list the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in Purina’s cat food formula. 

Data-Driven Infographics

Infographics combine data charts, images, and text to visually present information quickly and clearly. Businesses and governments use infographics to explain complex processes or summarise information in a report. While infographics are typically static, designers can animate text and data visualizations to draw attention to key details and help viewers better comprehend the facts. 

The Economic Policy Institute launched a website, inequality.is, containing numerous interactive infographics that delve into the topic of inequality. Its animated infographics break down complex economic data and policy, making it easier for users to understand how inequality affects them and others. 

Ads

Marketing teams have used motion design for years to create engaging commercials and digital ads to attract new customers and build brand recognition for their sponsors. 

Spotify’s Pet Playlist is an ingenious example of motion ads in action. The ad’s 2d motion graphics are vibrant and accentuated by the lack of voiceover. Using graphics and minimal text, the ad walks users through the process of creating a pet playlist and mixes animations with UI previews.

Create Professional Videos With Captions

Adding motion graphics to your content is a great way to boost your creativity and explore new content formats. Best of all, you don’t need to splurge on an expensive YouTube camera or animation program to start using motion graphics — Captions has everything you need in one convenient platform. 

Use the Online Video Editor to enhance your storytelling with motion graphics and visual effects. While you’re at it, you can make your content more accessible with captions, add background music, and generate AI avatars to promote a product or service. 

Get started with Captions and elevate your content with our full suite of AI features.