Motion Design Blog
Sharp notes, strange discoveries, and frame-by-frame wisdom from the motion design universe.
FREE TOOL: Node Ninja for Unreal Engine
Setting up PBR materials in Unreal Engine by hand is a grind. We built a free plugin to automate the whole process.
:quality(82))
FREE DOWNLOAD | Node Ninja for Cinema 4D + Redshift
Setting up materials for Redshift in Cinema 4D can be a real time suck. We built a FREE tool to massively speed up that process.
:quality(82))
Introducing Unreal Engine for Broadcast Design
Master Unreal Engine for broadcast design. Build polished lower thirds, transitions, and full-screen GFX with real-time 3D workflows in this 4-hour course.
:quality(82))
How to Achieve Your Goals and Make All Your Dreams Come True
Struggling to stick to your creative goals? Learn practical methods for setting targets, tracking ideas, and staying motivated on your artistic journey.
:quality(82))
Why Houdini's Procedural Workflow Is Changing Motion Graphics Forever
Discover the power of procedural workflows in Houdini and learn how they can transform your motion graphics process.
:quality(82))
How We Created Tron "Rezzing" Effects in Unreal Engine
Learn how to create Tron-style voxel VFX and motion graphics!
:quality(82))
How I Used Rive to Build a Punchable Pixel Art Character for My Portfolio Site
In this comprehensive Rive tutorial, Joey demonstrates how to build an interactive hero section for a portfolio website featuring a pixel art character that tracks mouse movement and responds to clicks.
:quality(82))
Cinema 4D FINALLY Got LIQUIDS (But Are They Any Good?)
Curious about Cinema 4D’s new liquid simulations? EJ dives into real-world testing to show what they’re really capable of—and where they fall short. Includes full workflow breakdown + project files to follow along.
:quality(82))
Text Animators in After Effects
Learn to create complex-looking text animations in After Effects with practical techniques and insider tricks that'll level up your motion design game.
:quality(82))
The Future of Motion Design: Live Talk from AEPDX 2025
In this keynote from Portland, Joey explores "The Futurey Feeling" - that sensation when you recognize the next big shift in motion design before everyone else catches on. Drawing from 25+ years in the industry, Joey breaks down three massive technological shifts happening right now:
:quality(82))
3 Animation Principles to Transform Your Blender Work
Level up your Blender animations instantly with these 3 pro animation principles! Master SQUASH & STRETCH for realistic weight and exaggeration, OVERLAPPING ACTION for fluid motion, and TIMING & SPACING for that professional polish.
:quality(82))
How to Create Studio Ghibli Textures in Substance Painter 11
Create a Studio Ghibli look for 3D without AI! Learn how to transform your 3D textures into beautiful painterly styles with Substance Painter 11's powerful new Stylization filter.
:quality(82))
After Effects Kaleidoscope Rig with FREE PRESET
Learn how to craft stunning, organic kaleidoscopic animations using After Effects' native tools.
:quality(82))
How Studios Use Unreal Engine in 2025
Learn how motion design studios are using Unreal Engine.
:quality(82))
The EASY Way to Rig Characters in Blender
Learn how to rig characters in Blender the easy way using Auto-Rig Pro!
:quality(82))
You're Learning Blender Wrong
Actionable tips and techniques to make learning 3D design in Blender fun.
:quality(82))
3D the Easy Way with Womp
Meet Womp - the browser-based 3D tool that makes modeling fun and accessible. Discover how to get started, fast.
:quality(82))
Your First Sculpt in ZBrush for iPad
Dive into the world of digital sculpting with this beginner-friendly tutorial on ZBrush for iPad.
:quality(82))
Bring Rigged 3D Characters into After Effects
In this tutorial EJ Hassenfratz shows you how to bring fully rigged and animated 3D characters into After Effects.
:quality(82))
Build an Interactive Spinner in Rive! (You CAN’T do this in After Effects!)
Create an interactive spinner animation with Joey as he explores advanced Rive features like constraints and state machines.
:quality(82))
Whoa! After Effects 3D Camera Into Unreal Engine!
Quickly send your motion tracked 3D camera from After Effects into Unreal Engine, then composite back in AE.
:quality(82))
Easy Rigging in Unreal Engine
Learn how to quickly set up a rigged object for animation in Unreal Engine.
:quality(82))
What’s New in Cinema 4D 2025: Particle Update
Cinema 4D’s particle system gets a big upgrade with new features, and our own EJ Hassenfratz shows you how to use them!
:quality(82))
Unreal Engine for After Effects Users
Learn how to integrate 3D into your motion design workflow using Unreal Engine with this step-by-step guide tailored for After Effects users.
:quality(82))
Ten Minute Blender Tutorial: Build an Animated Koi Pond
Rig a fish, animate lily pads, and build a volumetric water material in Blender—all in just 10 minutes!
:quality(82))
Easy Tunnel Loops in Cinema 4D
Learn how to create an infinite looping VJ tunnel effect in Cinema 4D with David Rickels, complete with lighting, texturing, and glowing mograph animations, then refine your visuals in After Effects.
:quality(82))
Create Realistic Fire in Unreal Engine
Create jaw-dropping fire effects in Unreal Engine with Aharon Rabinowitz's fun and easy tutorial, perfect for motion graphics and VFX.
:quality(82))
Easy 2D to 3D In After Effects
Go from a flat-shaded 2D look into a dynamic fully 3D design using the newest tools in After Effects.
:quality(82))
Do This to Your 3D Renders RIGHT NOW!
Boost your 3D renders with essential tips from Luis Miranda. Learn how compositing in Adobe After Effects can transform your work from good to amazing. Free project files included!
:quality(82))
Insanely Easy Character Animation in After Effects
Learn how to animate characters in After Effects with this step-by-step tutorial by Mike Labrow, featuring Duik plugin tips, character design insights, and a stop motion look.
:quality(82))
Texture a 3D Model with Adobe Substance Painter
3D motion designer Luis Miranda as he shows you the ins and outs of Adobe Substance Painter
:quality(82))
Animate in Unreal Engine With No Keyframes!
Discover Unreal Engine 5.4's latest tools—effortlessly create looping, repetitive, and random animations and sync them with audio, all in just a few clicks.
:quality(82))
C4D Gets a Toon Up with Redshift Toon Shading
Toon Shading has finally made its debut in Redshift V3.6 and we've got the tutorial to get you started.
:quality(82))
Unleashing the Power of Cinema 4D's New Simulations: A Quick Dive
Dive into the latest Cinema 4D simulation updates with EJ Hassenfratz as he explores faster, more accurate dynamics and jitter-free animations using virtual Lego bricks.
:quality(82))
3 Features that Point to the Future of After Effects
Let’s explore the new After Effects 3D system, Master Properties, and the improved Libraries feature, and try to to predict the future a bit!
:quality(82))
The Secret to Creating Dynamic Bends in After Effects
Unlock the power of After Effects expressions with our latest video, where Sky demystifies the if/else expression to automate your animations and achieve intricate results with minimal effort.
:quality(82))
Real-time Motion Design with Unreal Engine!
Create motion graphics in real-time with Unreal Engine’s brand new Motion Design tools!
:quality(82))
The 3 Most Important Tools in After Effects
Master the 3 essential tools in After Effects with our tutorial, and kickstart your journey as a motion designer by creating a dynamic social media animation.
:quality(82))
Star Wars Motion Graphics with Unreal Engine
Get ready to move at lightspeed as we explore a galaxy of real-time mograph in Unreal Engine. Learn to create materials, set up lighting, animate 3D elements and render it all out. Punch it, Chewie!
:quality(82))
The 5 Best Procreate Tools for Character Design
Elevate your digital art with tips on Quick Shape, Transfer Modes, Transform Tools, Layers & Clipping Masks, and Brush Stabilization.
:quality(82))
Animated Retro Text in Photoshop and After Effects
Discover the art of creating 80s-inspired animated text in Photoshop and After Effects. Learn to craft style frames, layer textures and colors, and apply animation techniques for that retro vaporwave magic.
:quality(82))
Essential Blender Techniques Tutorial: Modeling, Lighting, Shading, and Rendering
Get started in Blender CRAZY FAST! Dive into this engaging Blender tutorial with Elijah Sheffield, and tackle the foundations of 3D modeling.
:quality(82))
Sew What!? 3D Stitching Tutorial in Cinema 4D
In this Cinema 4D tutorial, David Rickels shows you how to bring a logo on screen and have it threaded to a cloth - super useful for sports and other broadcast graphics So pull up a chair and grab yourself some Gatorade and Crackerjacks. It's game time baby!
:quality(82))
Cinema 4D Shadowbox: Window to Another World
Transform a 2D shadowbox into a 3D masterpiece by crafting unique spline shapes, extruding them in C4D, and bringing your creation to life with dynamic lighting and textures.
:quality(82))
Motion Graphics just got WAY FASTER!
Motion Designers Dan Maurer & Kris Bargen of Cart and Horse show you why Unreal Engine is the next generation mograph tool you’ve been waiting for. Sure, Unreal is crazy fast at rendering 3D graphics, but that’s just the beginning. This video shows you 5 reasons Unreal should be your next 3D application.
:quality(82))
Design an Animated Eye in After Effects
Want to learn how to create an animated, blinking eyeball in After Effects? Want to give it a spooky vibe? If you answered yes to both of those questions (and we know you did), this is the motion graphics tutorial for you!
:quality(82))
Create Multi-Dimensional 3D Typography in Cinema 4D
Learn the secret to creating advanced 3d type in Cinema 4D with this in-depth video tutorial on multi-dimensional typography.
:quality(82))
Make an Instant Jungle in Unreal
In this video, Jonathan Winbush will show you some of the awesome new additions to Quixel Megascans including preanimated trees and show how to quickly create a forest using the Foliage Brush in Unreal Engine 5.
:quality(82))
TUTORIAL The secret to Isometric Mograph in After Effects
Isometric imagery is everywhere - video games, animation, motion design and more. If you’ve ever tried to create your own, you know it can be surprisingly challenging. In this video, Mahmoud Fawzy shows you how to easily design and animate isometric text and logos, using some of the new 3D features in After effects. You’ll be up and running with Isometric designs in no time flat! (see what we did there?)
:quality(82))
3D Camera Tracking In AE And C4D With Graham Hutchins
Get ready for a family-share sized portion of awesomeness in this C4D + After Effects tutorial by Graham Hutchins! You’ll learn how to 3D camera track in C4D, how to create a dynamic particle system that rains tacos (or whatever 3D object you want) onto the ground, and how to believably composite your CG elements with live action. Don’t forget to tip your waiter!
:quality(82))
3 Tools To Make Your Projects Go 10x Faster
With the tools mentioned in this video, you can speed up your client work and design workflow by extreme measures.
:quality(82))
The Best FREE After Effects Text Presets in 2026
Discover the best free After Effects text presets in 2026. These time-saving animation tools will transform your titles and typography in seconds.
:quality(82))
Should Motion Designers Learn Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine now has dedicated Motion Design tools for mograph artists. Here's what it offers, where it fits your workflow, and whether you should learn it.
:quality(82))
Walk Cycle Reference: The Ultimate List for Animators
The best walk cycle references for animators, from Muybridge classics to modern resources. Biped walks, quadruped gaits, and pro tips included.
How to Identify a Font: The Best Free Tools in 2026
Discover the best free font identification tools for 2026. From WhatTheFont to browser extensions, find the perfect typeface for your next project.
:quality(82))
Unreal Engine 6: What We Know So Far
Epic Games teased Unreal Engine 6 at RLCS Paris Major 2026. Here's what motion designers need to know about UE6's platform unification vision.
:quality(82))
You Don't Need a Motion Design Job - You Need a Life | FutureProof '26 Keynote
SoM founder Joey Korenman breaks down why chasing a job is the wrong goal, and how to design a career on your own terms.
:quality(82))
10 Things You'll Learn in Our Cinema 4D Courses That Will Change How You Work
Discover 10 essential skills you'll master in School of Motion's Cinema 4D courses -from parametric modeling to MoGraph animation systems!
:quality(82))
10 Websites with Great Animation in 2026
Looking for inspiration for adding great animated elements to your website? These 10 websites showcase scroll-triggered effects, 3D interactions, and microinteractions that'll make your portfolio website pop!
:quality(82))
Getting Started with Cavalry: 5 Things Every Beginner Should Know
Learn the 5 essential concepts every motion designer needs when starting with Cavalry, the procedural 2D animation tool.
:quality(82))
Why Cavalry Is the Houdini of 2D (And Why After Effects Artists Should Care)
Discover why Cavalry is transforming 2D motion design. Learn how procedural animation lets you create in minutes what takes hours in After Effects.
:quality(82))
New Courses: Cavalry Kickstart and Cinema 4D Insider!
Discover the future of procedural 2D animation and transform how you work in Cinema 4D — two brand new courses, available right now.
:quality(82))
7 Cinema 4D Hacks Every 3D Artist Needs in 2026
Speed up your Cinema 4D workflow with these 7 production-tested hacks. Master viewport navigation, the Commander, modeling tricks, and more.
:quality(82))
5 Hacks That Will Supercharge Your 2D Character Animation Workflow in After Effects
Learn 5 Hacks Professional Animators Use To Supercharge Their Workflow
:quality(82))
New to 2D Character Animation? Here Are The Most Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Elevate your 2D animations from beginner to pro by avoiding these common mistakes.
:quality(82))
What are School of Motion Self-Guided Courses?
Introducing a new way to learn at School of Motion. Get instant access to
Motion Design Salaries in 2026: Your Complete Guide to What You Can Earn (and How to Earn More!)
How much can you earn as a Motion Designer in 2026? Find out what salaries look like, and what you can do to earn more.
:quality(82))
New Course: Substance Painter for Motion Designers
Learn pro-level material authoring techniques with 3 projects and over 8 hours of video training from EJ Hassenfratz.
:quality(82))
After Effects Expressions: What You Need To Know To Get Started
Everything you need to know to get started with Expressions in After Effects!
:quality(82))
The Best After Effects Plugins and Effect Packs You NEED in 2026
We're breaking down the best After Effects plugins and effect packs for 2026, starting with free options and then moving into the paid powerhouses worth the investment.
:quality(82))
10 Websites with Great Animation in 2026
Great web animation guides users, tells stories, and creates memorable experiences. Here are 10 websites crushing it with motion design right now.
:quality(82))
The Best Unreal Engine Assets for Motion Designers in 2026
For motion designers jumping into Unreal Engine, we're breaking down the best places to find models, textures, and tools that'll help you build stunning scenes faster.
:quality(82))
Building a Career in Design: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Started
Honest lessons on growth, confidence, and staying in the design game.
:quality(82))
School of Motion's Spectacular 2025 Holiday Card
The holiday season is upon us, and that means celebrating with holiday traditions. One of our favorites is the School of Motion Community Holiday Card - and this year marks the 10th anniversary for this tradition!
:quality(82))
New Course: UX Animation Essentials
Learn to transform static interfaces into engaging experiences using industry-standard UX motion tools.
:quality(82))
Win Free Stuff! Our 12 Days of Mograph Celebration is on Now!
The year is coming to a close, which means it’s once again time for our 12 days of Mograph, where we give away prizes each day to artists all around the world.
:quality(82))
10 Game Changing Features in Blender 5.0 (2025 Update)
Blender 5.0 is here and we’re walking you through the top 10 new features.
:quality(82))
New Course: After Effects Insider
Level up your After Effects game with insider techniques that'll make you faster, sharper, and way more confident. Join Eran Stern for 12 hours of pro workflow hacks, hidden gems, and the kind of shortcuts that separate the pros from the pretenders.
:quality(82))
Building the ULTIMATE Unreal Engine Workstation
Find out how we made the ultimate computer for working in Unreal Engine, then check out our contest for a chance to win BIG!
:quality(82))
Behind the Scenes at Deep Sky Studios
Inside Deep Sky Studios: See their workspace, learn their design philosophy, and discover what they look for when adding new players to their team.
:quality(82))
Introducing Rive Academy Volume 2!
Learn to create complex, real-time responsive interactions for websites using Rive's powerful tools for interaction design.
:quality(82))
8 Free Rive Tools & Integrations You Can Use Right Now
Discover free Rive tools and integrations to bring your interactive vector animations to life on websites, apps, and games. From Webflow to React, explore the most popular ways to embed and enhance your .riv projects.
:quality(82))
Introducing Quarterly Pricing for All-Access
With School of Motion All-Access quarterly pricing, you get everything in All-Access annual, but with the freedom and flexibility of a 3-month subscription.
:quality(82))
Why Every Motion Designer Needs to Learn How to Edit
If you're trying to edit videos in After Effects, you're using the wrong tool for the job – and it's time to embrace a proper video editor like Premiere Pro.
:quality(82))
Introducing Premiere for Motion Designers
In Premiere for Motion Designers, taught by Kyle Hamrick, you’ll learn to leverage the art of video editing to increase your creativity and efficiency. Create better animatics, easily edit audio & music, and effortlessly add footage to your motion projects.
:quality(82))
Introducing SOM All-Access
We are super excited to officially launch our School of Motion All-Access program. Already immensely popular at some of the biggest studios and companies in the world, All-Access gives you everything you love about School of Motion, at an insanely affordable price.
:quality(82))
Big (AWESOME) Changes are Coming to School of Motion
With School of Motion All-Access you unlock everything we have, including every SOM course and workshop (including new ones we release), unlimited critique, 24/7 community and online events.
:quality(82))
Level Up: SOM Spring 2025 Registration Now Open
Feeling stuck? Ready to level up your creative skills? The wait is over. Spring 2025 registration has officially dropped, packed with fresh opportunities whether you're just starting out or looking to push your craft to new heights.
:quality(82))
10 C4D Hacks Every Motion Designer Needs to Know
Work faster than ever before with these must-know workflow tips for Cinema 4D.
:quality(82))
Introducing Blender for 3D Artists!
We are excited to release Blender for 3D Artists, a fast track to learning Blender for real-world projects.
:quality(82))
The Best Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator Training
Session B registration is officially open, and you can now sign up for two of our most popular courses: After Effects Kickstart and Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed!
:quality(82))
School of Motion's Spectacular 2024 Holiday Card
The holiday season is upon us, and that means celebrating with one of our favorite holiday traditions—the School of Motion Alumni Holiday Card.
:quality(82))
Rediscovering the Art of Interactive Design with 2Advanced Studios
From Flash to the future, we dive deep with interactive design legends Eric and Tony of 2Advanced Studios.
:quality(82))
SoM Winter 2025 Registration is HAPPENING NOW!
Jumpstart your motion design career with School of Motion's Winter 2025 courses—featuring top-tier content, expert critiques, and a thriving creative community.
:quality(82))
COMING SOON: 12 Days of Mograph!
The year is coming to a close, which means it’s once again time for our 12 days of Mograph, where we give away prizes each day to artists all around the world.
:quality(82))
Our Biggest Sale is On Now! Get 25% Off Everything!
Save 25% on individual courses and All-Access through Wednesday, December 4th!
:quality(82))
Introducing Rive Academy!
We are excited to release Rive Academy: Vol. 1, a new course designed to get you up and running fast in Rive! If you have been curious about this new motion and interaction design software or have been frustrated trying to learn it on your own, this course is what you’ve been looking for.
:quality(82))
Zbrush on iPad?! First look with EJ Hassenfratz
Maxon ZBrush just came to iPad and it’s insanely powerful! Plus more updates to Maxon tools.
:quality(82))
Fall 2024 Registration is HAPPENING NOW!
Stuck in a career rut? Struggling to level up your skills? You can change that starting now.
:quality(82))
The Founders of Rive Spill the Tea on Where Interactive Animation is Headed
Rive founders Guido and Luigi Rosso join Joey to discuss where interactive animation is headed—and why motion designers should be paying attention.
:quality(82))
Unpacking the State of Motion Design in 2025
Join Joey and the gang as we look back at the last year of the motion design industry and try to figure out what the next 365 days and beyond will look like.
:quality(82))
How to Turn Your Creative Anxiety Into Your Biggest Advantage
During his recent talk at Motion Plus Design, our own EJ Hassenfratz digs into something most artists never say out loud: anxiety isn’t just noise. It’s usually pointing right at the thing you care about most.
:quality(82))
How to Build a Tutorial Empire Like Ben Marriott
How to Negotiate Your Salary and Build a Creative Empire Like Ben Marriott (Plus: His Brutally Honest Take on AI)
:quality(82))
Why Motion Designers Are Having a Moment — with Adobe’s Michael Tanzillo
Adobe’s Michael Tanzillo joins EJ to talk motion design’s rising influence, 3D beyond film, and why your creative eye matters more than the software.
:quality(82))
Inside Wonder Dynamics: How AI Is Reshaping VFX and Filmmaking
Wonder Dynamics' Nikola Todorovic says the quiet part out loud about AI, VFX, and indie filmmaking. This episode may shift how you think about creativity, tools, and AI's influence on the industry.
:quality(82))
Why Moonvalley's Approach to AI Video Makes Sense | SOM Podcast
How Moonvalley is building ethical AI video tools by licensing footage from real artists instead of scraping copyrighted content. Plus, this approach creates better results for creators, really.
:quality(82))
Motion to Interactive: How One Disney Grad Built a Design Studio for Tomorrow
Disney animator turned studio co-founder Aradhana Bejarano shares the career mistakes that cost years, why 80% of her work is now interactive, and how small studios need to think like content creators to thrive.
:quality(82))
Sarah Beth Morgan Gets Real About Parenthood, Career Crisis & Her New Podcast
Sarah Beth Morgan, illustrator and School of Motion instructor, joins Joey to dish about the real stuff: moving across the country, having a baby, and navigating the ever-changing animation industry.
:quality(82))
Mack Garrison, Dash Studio, and Building Creative Community
Joey recently caught up with the main dude behind Dash Studio, Mack Garrison, for an episode of the School of Motion podcast that's creative rocket fuel.
:quality(82))
From Sidewalk to Spotlight: Already Been Chewed and the Journey to Motion Design Success
EJ jams with Barton Damer, the top creative muscle behind Already Been Chewed (ABC)...basically the Tony Hawk of motion design.
:quality(82))
Self-Taught Animator to Oscar Winner: Gints Zilbalodis on Creating "Flow"
Oscar-winning director Gints Zilbalodis just proved you don't need fancy film school or million-dollar software to snag that golden statue.
:quality(82))
Unreal Engine, Creative Communities, and Career Growth with Cart & Horse
Cart & Horse join Joey on the podcast to talk about Detroit’s motion design community, the evolution of real-time rendering, and how Unreal Engine is changing the game.
:quality(82))
Inside the Mind of Territory Studio: VFX, UI, and an Epic Dune Graphics Breakdown
Territory Studio’s creative minds behind Dune: Prophecy, Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and Vast Haven-1 spill the beans on designing for Hollywood, gaming, and the ever-evolving world of motion design.
:quality(82))
Mastering Blender and Navigating a Creative Career with Elijah Sheffield
Blender artist and motion designer Elijah Sheffield shares how he transitioned into 3D, built a standout demo reel, and turned personal projects into career-defining moments.
:quality(82))
Standing Out in Motion Design: Joel Pilger's Strategies for Success
Industry veteran Joel Pilger digs deep on the evolving motion design landscape and how studios can adapt to thrive.
:quality(82))
2024: Our EPIC Year-End Roundup of All Things Motion Design
In this comprehensive year-end roundup, Joey Korenman, EJ Hassenfratz, and Aharon Rabinowitz break down everything that shaped our industry in 2024 and peer into what 2025 might bring.
:quality(82))
Create Mind-Blowing Melting Effects with Cinema 4D Particles
In this step-by-step Cinema 4D tutorial, EJ Hassenfratz shows you how to harness C4D's powerful particle system to create mesmerizing liquid melting simulations.
:quality(82))
The State of 3D with PJ Richardson: Adapting, Thriving, and Staying Inspired
EJ chats with PJ Richardson, co-founder of Laundry Studio, to dig into the current state of 3D, creative burnout, and what it takes to succeed today.
:quality(82))
Yukai Du on Making Art, Finding Your Style, and Out-Creating AI: 5 Lessons for Creatives
Joey chats with Yukai Du, a Chinese-born, London-based illustrator and animator, about her journey into art and animation.
:quality(82))
Marvel’s Futuristic Magic: Perception Founders on Designing Tomorrow
In this episode of the School of Motion Podcast, Joey sits down with Perception founders Danny Gonzalez and Jeremy Lasky as they spill the ‘secret sauce’ that powers their studio’s success.
:quality(82))
DreamWorks, After Effects, and Raptors—Oh My! 1:1 with Daniel "Hashi" Hashimoto, Action Movie Kid
Join Daniel 'Hashi' Hashimoto on The School of Motion Podcast as he shares his journey from homegrown VFX to DreamWorks and viral fame, plus insights on After Effects, AI, and more.
:quality(82))
How Cavalry is Changing the Game for Motion Designers
Discover how Cavalry, a powerful 2D animation tool, is transforming workflows and unleashing creativity for motion designers in this must-listen School of Motion podcast.
:quality(82))
Mastering the BUSINESS of Motion Design with Hayley Akins
In this week’s School of Motion Podcast, Joey sits down with Hayley Akins, the founder of Motion Hatch, to uncover smart strategies for motion designers—from ditching outdated referral tactics to mastering LinkedIn and pricing your work with confidence.
:quality(82))
Figma Adds Animation + Adobe Buys Topaz Labs | Motion Mondays
Adobe is making a massive move by acquiring Topaz Labs, Figma just shipped a full native animation timeline, and a motion designer runs live experiments to find out if AI is finally taking his job.
:quality(82))
After Effects Killed Roto Brush + Unreal 5.8 Is Out | Motion Mondays
After Effects replaces Roto Brush with AI masking, Unreal Engine 5.8 ships with true 3D terrain sculpting and an experimental vibe-coding plugin, and Epic shares their AI concept pipeline to very mixed reactions.
:quality(82))
50,000 Shaders in After Effects + C4D's UV Editor Gets a Full Rebuild | Motion Mondays
Cinema 4D 2026.3 drops a completely rebuilt UV editor, Houdini 22 rigs and animates Gaussian splats, and a veteran commercial director asks if we're the last generation of 3D artists.
:quality(82))
Rive Does 3D Now + The Fastest Glow Plugin EVER? | Motion Mondays
Rive shipped a 25-kilobyte GPU layer that competes with Unity, X-Particles is coming to Blender, and there is a new After Effects glow plugin that makes the built-in one look embarrassing.
:quality(82))
The Viral Formula Unlocked + After Effects Plugin of the Year? | Motion Mondays
A long-hidden After Effects stylization extension comes to light, Epic (barely) teases Unreal Engine 6, and a developer just made all of his plugins free.
:quality(82))
Blender Gets Serious About Physics + a Motion Designer Built His Own App | Motion Mondays
A motion designer at Shopify built a whole new mograph app from scratch, and Blender is having a big week for physics simulations.
:quality(82))
Redshift Solves Repeating Textures + Free C4D Plugin | Motion Mondays
Redshift solves the repeating texture problem for good, Unreal 5.8 lands in preview with a list of quality-of-life fixes, and we just launched our first C4D plug-in, and it's free!
:quality(82))
Plugins for ALL + Maxon Doubles Down on Autograph | Motion Mondays
Maxon made Autograph free for entire studios this week, and there are more plugins dropping than we know what to do with.
No articles match those filters yet.
Tutorials & Videos
Step-by-step lessons, visual breakdowns, and watchable studio notes. How to Achieve Your Goals and Make All Your Dreams Come True
Struggling to stick to your creative goals? Learn practical methods for setting targets, tracking ideas, and staying motivated on your artistic journey.
Why Houdini's Procedural Workflow Is Changing Motion Graphics Forever
Discover the power of procedural workflows in Houdini and learn how they can transform your motion graphics process.
How We Created Tron "Rezzing" Effects in Unreal Engine
Learn how to create Tron-style voxel VFX and motion graphics!
How I Used Rive to Build a Punchable Pixel Art Character for My Portfolio Site
In this comprehensive Rive tutorial, Joey demonstrates how to build an interactive hero section for a portfolio website featuring a pixel art character that tracks mouse movement and responds to clicks.
Articles
Craft essays, career advice, and practical motion design thinking. The Best FREE After Effects Text Presets in 2026
Discover the best free After Effects text presets in 2026. These time-saving animation tools will transform your titles and typography in seconds.
Should Motion Designers Learn Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine now has dedicated Motion Design tools for mograph artists. Here's what it offers, where it fits your workflow, and whether you should learn it.
Walk Cycle Reference: The Ultimate List for Animators
The best walk cycle references for animators, from Muybridge classics to modern resources. Biped walks, quadruped gaits, and pro tips included.
How to Identify a Font: The Best Free Tools in 2026
Discover the best free font identification tools for 2026. From WhatTheFont to browser extensions, find the perfect typeface for your next project.
Podcast
Conversations and audio-first notes from the School of Motion archive. The Founders of Rive Spill the Tea on Where Interactive Animation is Headed
Rive founders Guido and Luigi Rosso join Joey to discuss where interactive animation is headed—and why motion designers should be paying attention.
Unpacking the State of Motion Design in 2025
Join Joey and the gang as we look back at the last year of the motion design industry and try to figure out what the next 365 days and beyond will look like.
How to Turn Your Creative Anxiety Into Your Biggest Advantage
During his recent talk at Motion Plus Design, our own EJ Hassenfratz digs into something most artists never say out loud: anxiety isn’t just noise. It’s usually pointing right at the thing you care about most.
How to Build a Tutorial Empire Like Ben Marriott
How to Negotiate Your Salary and Build a Creative Empire Like Ben Marriott (Plus: His Brutally Honest Take on AI)
Everything Else
The rest of the archive, sorted from recent to older posts. Figma Adds Animation + Adobe Buys Topaz Labs | Motion Mondays
Adobe is making a massive move by acquiring Topaz Labs, Figma just shipped a full native animation timeline, and a motion designer runs live experiments to find out if AI is finally taking his job.
After Effects Killed Roto Brush + Unreal 5.8 Is Out | Motion Mondays
After Effects replaces Roto Brush with AI masking, Unreal Engine 5.8 ships with true 3D terrain sculpting and an experimental vibe-coding plugin, and Epic shares their AI concept pipeline to very mixed reactions.
50,000 Shaders in After Effects + C4D's UV Editor Gets a Full Rebuild | Motion Mondays
Cinema 4D 2026.3 drops a completely rebuilt UV editor, Houdini 22 rigs and animates Gaussian splats, and a veteran commercial director asks if we're the last generation of 3D artists.
Rive Does 3D Now + The Fastest Glow Plugin EVER? | Motion Mondays
Rive shipped a 25-kilobyte GPU layer that competes with Unity, X-Particles is coming to Blender, and there is a new After Effects glow plugin that makes the built-in one look embarrassing.
The Viral Formula Unlocked + After Effects Plugin of the Year? | Motion Mondays
A long-hidden After Effects stylization extension comes to light, Epic (barely) teases Unreal Engine 6, and a developer just made all of his plugins free.
Unreal Engine 6: What We Know So Far
Epic Games teased Unreal Engine 6 at RLCS Paris Major 2026. Here's what motion designers need to know about UE6's platform unification vision.
You Don't Need a Motion Design Job - You Need a Life | FutureProof '26 Keynote
SoM founder Joey Korenman breaks down why chasing a job is the wrong goal, and how to design a career on your own terms.
Blender Gets Serious About Physics + a Motion Designer Built His Own App | Motion Mondays
A motion designer at Shopify built a whole new mograph app from scratch, and Blender is having a big week for physics simulations.
10 Things You'll Learn in Our Cinema 4D Courses That Will Change How You Work
Discover 10 essential skills you'll master in School of Motion's Cinema 4D courses -from parametric modeling to MoGraph animation systems!
Redshift Solves Repeating Textures + Free C4D Plugin | Motion Mondays
Redshift solves the repeating texture problem for good, Unreal 5.8 lands in preview with a list of quality-of-life fixes, and we just launched our first C4D plug-in, and it's free!
Plugins for ALL + Maxon Doubles Down on Autograph | Motion Mondays
Maxon made Autograph free for entire studios this week, and there are more plugins dropping than we know what to do with.
10 Websites with Great Animation in 2026
Looking for inspiration for adding great animated elements to your website? These 10 websites showcase scroll-triggered effects, 3D interactions, and microinteractions that'll make your portfolio website pop!
All-Access
Stop doomscrolling.
Start getting better.
Yeah, free content is awesome. We know... but you know what's even better? Unlimited critique on your work, live workshops, portfolio reviews and the best motion design training on earth.
Explore membership