Animations bring a clip in or out with movement, like a fade, a slide or a zoom. They play automatically when the clip starts or ends, so there is no keyframing to do. This article shows you how to add an animation, which types are available and how to fine-tune them.
[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER: Video_Editor_11_Clip_Animations_v1.1.mp4]
Before you start
Open a sequence in the Video Editor with at least one clip on the timeline.
Animations work on video clips, images and other layers you place over your video, such as a logo or a text layer.
Add an animation
Click the clip on the timeline to select it. The right panel shows its Properties.
Scroll to the bottom of Properties to find the Animations section. It sits below the clip's other settings, so you may need to scroll past size, position and audio options to reach it.
Click the plus next to Animations. A list of available animations opens.
Pick the animation you want, for example Fade In. It's added to the clip straight away and listed under Animations.
Move the playhead to the start of the clip and press play in the preview to check how it looks. For an exit animation, move the playhead just before the end of the clip instead.
The animation is saved with the clip. If you move or trim the clip on the timeline, the animation moves with it and still plays at the start or end.
The animation types
The list covers four kinds of movement. Fades, slides and zooms come in an "in" version for the start of the clip and an "out" version for the end.
Fade: the clip fades up from nothing, or fades away at the end. A fade in is the safest choice for an opener or a sponsor card.
Slide: the clip slides into the frame, or out of it, from any side. Use it for logos, scorelines or a text layer you want to arrive with energy, such as a Harbour City v Ridgeview score card.
Zoom: the clip scales in or out. Good for a punchy reveal of a goal replay or a player image.
Pan: a slow pan across the clip. This adds gentle movement to a still image, such as a team photo or a LIGR Demo Stadium shot, so it doesn't feel static.
Adjust an animation
Once an animation is added, you can change its settings in the Animations section:
Duration: how long the animation takes, for example 1 second. Short animations feel snappy. Longer ones feel calmer.
Direction: for slides, choose the side the clip comes from or leaves towards, for example from the left or out to the bottom.
Play the clip in the preview after each change. Small changes to duration can make a big difference to how the edit feels.
Combine animations
You can stack more than one animation on the same clip.
Click the plus next to Animations again and pick another animation.
Both play together. For example, add Slide In from the left and Zoom In so the clip slides in while it grows.
Add exit animations the same way, for example Slide Out to the bottom with Zoom Out, so the clip leaves as neatly as it arrived.
Animations also work alongside transitions. A clip can dissolve into the next clip while it is still sliding or zooming. Transitions are set in Settings, covered in the next article.
Tips and common mistakes
If you don't see the Animations section, make sure a clip is selected. With nothing selected, the right panel shows Settings instead.
If a slide looks cut off, check Clip Content to Canvas in Settings. With it on, anything outside the frame is hidden, which is usually what you want on export.
Keep it simple. One or two animations per clip usually looks more professional than many.
Use the same animation style across a whole edit, for example every text layer slides in from the left. It makes your highlights feel consistent.
Make sure the animation duration is shorter than the clip. On a very short clip, a long animation can take up most of the time on screen.