> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://captions.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Add Animated Text and Motion Without After Effects

> Add dynamic text, animated captions, and motion graphics to your videos entirely inside Captions, with no external tools needed.

Adding motion graphics used to mean learning After Effects, paying for a Motion Graphics designer, or cobbling together templates from third-party apps. Captions handles animated text, caption motion, and overlay animation natively. Everything stays in one app and exports baked into your final video.

## What you can animate in Captions

### Animated caption styles

Many of Captions' 75+ styles include built-in word animations: pop-in, slide, bounce, fade, and more. These happen automatically. You pick the style, and every word animates on cue as it's spoken. No manual setup needed.

### Keyframes for captions

Keyframes let you animate the position, size, or opacity of your caption block over time. Set where the captions are at a specific moment, then set a different position or size at a later moment. Captions smoothly interpolates between the two.

Common uses:

* Captions that slide in from the side at the start of the video
* Captions that grow slightly as the speaker's voice rises
* Captions that fade out at the end of a segment

### Keyframes for overlays

The same keyframe system applies to image and video overlays. Create smooth zoom effects, pan movements, or opacity fades on any B-roll or image you've added to your timeline.

### Text overlays

Text overlays are separate from captions. They're custom text blocks you can place anywhere on the video, with their own font, color, and position. Use them for titles, lower thirds, callouts, or any text that isn't part of your spoken transcript.

### AI Edit motion graphics

When you use AI Edit with a premium style, it automatically adds motion graphics (animated titles, text treatments, and visual flourishes) as part of the one-tap edit. No manual keyframing required.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose an animated style">
    Tap the **Style** icon in the captions toolbar to open the Styles panel. Tap any style to preview it live on your video. Styles with built-in animation will show the motion in the preview.

    Look for styles with labels like "animated" or watch the preview to spot word-by-word pop or slide animations.

    <Tip>
      Subtle animations (a quick pop or short slide) tend to read better than aggressive bouncing or spinning effects. The goal is to draw attention, not distract from what you're saying.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set up a keyframe animation">
    To animate the position or size of a caption block or overlay:

    1. Tap the caption block or overlay to select it
    2. Move the playhead to the moment where you want the animation to start
    3. Tap the **Keyframe** button (diamond icon) to set the starting position
    4. Move the playhead to the moment where you want the animation to end
    5. Drag the caption or overlay to its new position, or resize it. A second keyframe is set automatically

    Captions animates smoothly between the two points when you play the video.

    <Tip>
      Keyframes work on captions, imported images, and video overlays. The same workflow applies to all three.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a text overlay for titles or callouts">
    Tap the **Text** icon in the toolbar (under the Visual or Overlays section) to add a custom text block. This is separate from your captions. Use it for:

    * An intro title at the start of your video
    * A "lower third" with your name and title
    * A callout or annotation pointing to something on screen

    Style the text block independently using font, color, and size controls, then position it anywhere on the frame. You can add keyframes to text overlays as well.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use AI Edit for automatic motion graphics">
    If you want motion graphics without any manual work, tap **AI Edit**, choose a premium style (styles with motion graphic elements are labeled), and tap **Generate**. The AI adds animated titles, text treatments, and visual elements automatically.

    You can still edit specific elements afterward using Co-editor or by tapping directly on the generated components.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview and export">
    Tap the play button to preview your animation in full. Watch for:

    * Animations that feel too fast or slow (adjust keyframe timing in the timeline)
    * Text that moves off-screen or becomes unreadable during animation
    * Overlapping animations that compete visually

    When everything looks right, tap **Export**. All animations are baked into the final video file.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips

* Subtle motion (a slight slide-in or a quick scale-up on a key word) reads better than aggressive effects. Less is almost always more
* Keyframe a caption to slide in from the bottom at the start of your video for a polished, broadcast-style feel
* Use text overlays for context that isn't spoken aloud (a stat, a name, a URL) so it stays on screen for a controlled duration
* If you use AI Edit, try a few different premium styles to see which motion graphic treatment fits your content before committing

## What's next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keyframes" icon="diamond" href="/help/docs/captions/keyframes">
    Full reference for the keyframe system: timing, easing, and supported properties.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Caption Styles" icon="swatchbook" href="/help/docs/captions/styles">
    Browse all 75+ styles and customize animations, fonts, and colors.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Edit Workflow" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/help/guides/creators/ai-edit-workflow">
    Get the most out of AI Edit's automatic motion graphics and styling.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Advanced Keyframes" icon="diamond" href="/help/guides/advanced/keyframes">
    Advanced techniques for complex caption and overlay animations.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>