What is motion graphics? Examples and uses in short video

This guide explains motion graphics in plain terms, shows where you already see them, and compares three ways to make your own: pro software, ready-made templates and AI tools such as Motif Video on Klakix. You'll also get copyable script patterns for short vertical videos and current salary data if you're thinking about the career side.

Facts were checked on November 5, 2026. Prices and pay data change, so confirm with the linked sources before you spend money.

What is motion graphics?

Motion graphics are graphic design elements, such as text, shapes, icons and charts, that are animated to communicate information quickly. StudioBinder calls it "animated graphic design" and makes a simple test: if it doesn't move, it isn't motion graphics. Boris FX traces the term to "graphics with motion" and describes the result as shapes, graphics and animated text put together with computer software.

Text does a lot of the work. Biteable describes motion graphics as animation where text is a major component, used for ads, movie title sequences and explainer videos. On the history side, Boris FX credits John Whitney with coining the term and developing title sequence techniques for film and TV, and names Kyle Cooper as a more recent standout.

Motion graphics vs animation: what's the difference?

Motion graphics are a type of animation built around information, while narrative or character animation is built around a story. RMCAD puts it plainly: narrative animation is story-based, motion graphics are information-based. 99designs adds that motion graphics usually involve less concrete storytelling.

Motion graphics examples you see every day

The most common motion graphics examples are titles, name labels and animated data, and you've likely seen several today. StudioBinder lists title sequences, lower thirds, titles and credits as core motion artist work, and Boris FX adds bouncing titles and arrows that follow a timeline.

• Title sequences: the animated credits at the start of a film or TV show.
• Lower thirds: the name and job title that slides in at the bottom of an interview.
• Explainer videos: a product or idea broken into short animated text cards and icons.
• Animated stats: a number that counts up or a bar chart that grows.
• Timeline graphics: an arrow or line moving across dates to show progress.
• Logo stings: a brand mark that animates in for a second or two at the end of an ad.

How motion graphics are used in short video (TikTok, Reels, Shorts)

In short vertical video, motion graphics carry the message for viewers who watch with the sound off and scroll fast. A few elements do most of the work, and they stack in the same 9:16 frame.

• Hook title: a short, bold line on the very first frame that states the promise of the video.
• Kinetic captions: words that appear in time with the voiceover, so the video works muted.
• Animated number: one key figure that counts up or pops in, which is easier to remember than a sentence.
• Progress bar or step counter: shows how far along the viewer is ("2 of 3").
• End card: a closing frame with one clear action, like follow, save or visit.

For sizes, use 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts (see our 1080x1920 guide), 1:1 for square feed posts, and 16:9 for YouTube and websites (see the 16:9 aspect ratio guide). A practical length for a single-topic explainer is 30 to 90 seconds, which is also the range Klakix's Motif tool generates.

Copyable topic and script patterns for 30 to 60 second explainers

• Three mistakes: "3 mistakes new houseplant owners make. Hook: You're probably overwatering. Card 1: Watering on a schedule. Card 2: Pots without drainage. Card 3: Too little light. End card: Save this before your next plant."
• One number: "Hook: [your real figure] on screen, counting up. Line 1: What the number means. Line 2: Why it matters to the viewer. Line 3: What to do about it. End card: Follow for more."
• Myth vs fact: "Myth: You need expensive software to make motion graphics. Fact: Templates and AI tools cover simple explainers. Then two more myth and fact pairs, one per card."
• Step by step: "How to brew cold brew coffee in 4 steps. Step 1: Coarse grind. Step 2: Cold water. Step 3: Steep overnight. Step 4: Strain and dilute. End card: Which step do you skip?"

These patterns work because each one breaks into short text cards with a clear order, which is exactly what motion graphics display well. If you want to plan the cards first, a quick storyboard helps.

How to make motion graphics: software, templates or AI

You can make motion graphics three ways: animate them yourself in pro software, customize a ready-made template, or generate them with an AI tool. The right choice depends on how much control you need and how much time you have to learn.

After Effects prices differ between third-party sources such as Photutorial and Capterra, and neither is official, so check adobe.com for the current price. Klakix is not affiliated with Adobe.

AI tools such as Fliki and VideoGen market themselves as AI motion graphics generators for kinetic text, animated stats, title cards and lower thirds. Many landing pages say "free," but those limits weren't verified here, so read the plan details for watermarks, length caps and export quality. Also know that general text-to-video models draw letters as pixels, so on-screen words and numbers can come out garbled, which matters when your video is mostly text.

1. Get a .mogrt file: Download a motion graphics template in .mogrt format; these are built in After Effects for use in Premiere Pro.
2. Open the install menu: In Premiere Pro, go to the top menu and choose Graphics > Install Motion Graphics Template.
3. Select the file: Browse to the .mogrt file on your computer and open it.
4. Open Essential Graphics: Find the Essential Graphics panel on the right side of the window, or open it from Window > Essential Graphics.
5. Add it to your timeline: Look under Local Templates and drag the template onto your timeline.
6. Customize it: Select the clip and change the text, colors and other exposed settings in the Essential Graphics panel.

How to make a motion graphics video with AI on Klakix

On Klakix, the tool for motion graphics videos is Motif Video: you type a topic, pick one of 46 templates, and Motif writes the script and the code for a 30, 45, 60 or 90 second video with voiceover, captions and motion graphics. Because the visuals are drawn in code rather than painted pixel by pixel, the text and numbers in the video come out exactly as written.

1. Open Motif Video: Go to the Motif Video tool on Klakix after signing in.
2. Type your topic: Describe what the video should explain; you can paste up to 3,000 characters, such as one of the script patterns above.
3. Pick a template: Choose one of the 46 templates that fits your structure.
4. Choose a style: Select a visual style such as Corporate, Notebook, Bright, Tech, Playful or 8-bit Arcade.
5. Set format and length: Pick 9:16, 1:1 or 16:9 and a length of 30, 45, 60 or 90 seconds.
6. Check the cost and generate: Start the generation, then download the finished video when it's ready.

A Motif video costs 139 to 217 credits; the default 45 second, 9:16 video is 159 credits. Our math: that's about $8.10 on the Standard pack (275 credits for $14) or about $7.10 on the Pro pack (650 credits for $29), plus tax. The Mini pack (75 credits) doesn't cover one Motif video. If a generation fails, the credits are refunded automatically. Full prices are on the pricing page.

Related tools can fill gaps around a motion graphics project. AI voiceover with Voice v4 costs 2 credits per 200 characters if you need narration for something else, Nano Banana 2 in the AI image generator (8 to 16 credits) handles accurate lettering for static title cards and thumbnails, and Viral Clips (15 credits) cuts captioned vertical clips from a long video you upload.

Motion graphics designer salary and job outlook

Motion graphics designers in the U.S. fall under the BLS category special effects artists and animators, which had a median pay of $102,030 a year in May 2025. BLS doesn't track motion designers separately; KORE1 notes they belong to this category and reports a Glassdoor average of $104,050 for "motion designer."

For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Most of the yearly openings come from replacing workers who leave, not from new roles.

This post was drafted with AI assistance. Facts were checked against the sources above, and model, credit and price details were checked automatically against the site's current price list.