Learn Motion Graphics Free

Design & Creative Software

Start with AFTER EFFECTS BASICS (24 min, Peter McKinnon), then I'll Teach You After Effects in 60 Minutes... (59 min, Ben Marriott). All 499 lessons here are free, from the teachers' own official uploads. You'll need laptop stand, noise-cancelling headphones, second monitor and a few more basics (about $270 of kit). The book to keep beside you: The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams.

What you'll need

• Laptop stand: Screen at eye level for long study sessions.
• Noise-cancelling headphones: Focus through long video lessons.
• Second monitor: Video on one screen, practice on the other.
• Wireless keyboard and mouse: Comfortable for hours of typing.

Lessons

• AFTER EFFECTS BASICS (24 min, Peter McKinnon, Beginner)
• I'll Teach You After Effects in 60 Minutes... (59 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Learn After Effects in 10 Minutes! Beginner Tutorial (10 min, Ben Marriott, Beginner)
• Make ANYTHING Retro in After Effects (13 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 50 After Effects Tips, Tricks & Secrets for Beginners (12 min, Ben Marriott, Beginner)
• 5 Best Ways to Use Noise Creatively in After Effects (13 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• After Effects Smooth Transitions - Animation Tutorial pt. 1 (11 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Animated Grain shading in After Effects tutorial - Noise and textured gradients (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Perfect Shape Morphs in After Effects (39 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 10 Quick After Effects Techniques I LOVE (8 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• I Animated Minecraft... with Realistic Physics Simulations! (9 min, CG Geek, Intermediate)
• I Animated THE WORST Logos in After Effects (9 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Textures in After Effects (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Create the Loki Title Sequence in After Effects (19 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Cyberpunk Glitch Transitions in After Effects (13 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Liquid Text in After Effects Tutorial - Melt Anything! (15 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Try This Retro Effect! Instant Dither in After Effects (19 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Ultimate Guide to Animating Eyes in After Effects - Rigging Tutorial (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Elevate Your After Effects Workflow With These Expert Techniques (15 min, Ben Marriott, Advanced)
• Figma Parallax Effect - NEW Smart Animate Feature! 🤩 (25 min, DesignCourse, Intermediate)
• Learn Dynamic Programming with Animations – Full Course for Beginners (102 min, freeCodeCamp.org, Beginner)
• Subtle Character Animation in After Effects | Workflow & Process (11 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Textured Montage Sequence in After Effects | Process & Workflow (11 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• The Best Motion Design & Animation of 2020 (So Far...) (12 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Ultimate Motion Graphics Challenge vs Jake Bartlett (22 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Advanced Shape Layer Techniques in After Effects - with Alex Deaton (23 min, School of Motion, Advanced)
• Create a VHS Effect in After Effects (16 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Easy Paper Cutout Stop Motion Look - After Effects Animation Tutorial (12 min, Ben Marriott, Beginner)
• Getting Started with Photogrammetry Using Your Cell Phone (29 min, School of Motion, Beginner)
• Gritty Texture Effects in After Effects | Process & Workflow (13 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• The Best 2D Smoke in After Effects - Animation Tutorial (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• The Best Motion Design and Animation of 2022 (So Far...) (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• The Most Fun Thing You Can Do In After Effects (21 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• This Animation Technique Works Every Time (8 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Top 10 After Effects Expressions for Amazing Motion Design (12 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Top 10 Best Plugins for After Effects (9 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Why are After Effects artists freaking out about Skew? | Insane new time-saving tool (18 min, School of Motion, Intermediate)
• Worlds TIGHTEST Deadline! Logo Design and Animation Challenge (15 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 2D Smoke & Explosions in After Effects Tutorial (14 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 5 Best Ways to Use Blur Creatively in After Effects (11 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Advanced Lighting in After Effects (29 min, Ben Marriott, Advanced)
• After Effects Textures and Mattes - Animation Tutorial (9 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Animating SVG Icons? UI Animations with ShapeShifter! (Tutorial) (26 min, DesignCourse, Intermediate)
• Hand Drawn Style in After Effects (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• How we made Animator vs. Animation in 3D (feat: Alan Becker) (8 min, CG Geek, Intermediate)
• Infinite Zoom After Effects Animation Tutorial (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Intro To Interactive Animation In Rive | UI Animation Tool (39 min, School of Motion, Beginner)
• MrBeast Said to Make EPIC Animation... So I Animated THIS! (10 min, CG Geek, Intermediate)
• Textured Animated Poster in After Effects (13 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• The Best Motion Design & Animation of 2026 (So Far...) (19 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Ultimate Text Morph Animation in After Effects (8 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 20 Quick Fixes to Common After Effects Problems (12 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 20 Tips For An Amazing Showreel | Motion Graphics & Animation (10 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• 3 Powerful Tips for After Effects Beginners - Instant Look Upgrades (14 min, School of Motion, Beginner)
• 5 Essential Type Animations in After Effects (12 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• After Effects Looping Background Tutorial - 3D Grid (14 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• After Effects Project Breakdown: Workflow & Textures (21 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)
• Anyone can Create this Satisfying Ball Animation! (14 min, CG Geek, Intermediate)
• Create a Marvel Intro in 15 minutes? Black Widow After Effects Tutorial (18 min, Ben Marriott, Beginner)
• Create a True Crime Title in 10 Minutes with After Effects (11 min, Ben Marriott, Intermediate)

Books on Motion Graphics

1. The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams - View on Amazon
2. Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book by Lisa Fridsma - View on Amazon
3. The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas Bullen - View on Amazon