Running Chair Animation Breakdown in After Effects

Max Kravchenko

Motion Designer & Tutor

New “How to” create a funny chair run cycle in After Effects.

Step-by-Step Guide: Runnning Chair Animation

The Running Chair Animation in After Effects is a creative and dynamic effect that can add visual interest and energy to your projects. It involves animating a chair to simulate movement as if it is running or sliding across the screen. This guide will provide a step-by-step breakdown of the process, from setting up the composition to animating the chair and adding finishing touches. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this tutorial will help you understand and master this effect in After Effects.

Setting Up the Composition

1. Launch After Effects and create a new composition by selecting “Composition” > “New Composition” from the menu bar or pressing Ctrl+N (Windows) or Command+N (Mac).
2. In the Composition Settings dialog box, set the desired dimensions, duration, and frame rate for your animation.
3. Click “OK” to create the composition.

Importing Assets

1. To import the chair image or footage, go to the “Project” panel, right-click, and choose “Import” or use the shortcut Ctrl+I (Windows) or Command+I (Mac).
2. Locate the chair image or footage file on your computer and click “Open” to import it into the project.

Creating the Chair Animation

1. Drag and drop the chair asset from the “Project” panel into the composition timeline.
2. Select the chair layer and press P on the keyboard to reveal the position property.
3. Move the playhead to the starting point of the animation (e.g., frame 0) in the timeline.
4. Click the stopwatch icon next to the position property to set the initial keyframe.
5. Move the playhead to the desired end point of the animation (e.g., frame 60) in the timeline.
6. Adjust the position of the chair layer to its final position on the screen.
7. After Effects will automatically create a keyframe at the current playhead position.

Refining the Animation

1. Select the chair layer and press U on the keyboard to reveal all keyframes.
2. To smoothen the animation, select the keyframes, right-click, and choose “Keyframe Assistant” > “Easy Ease” or use the shortcut F9.
3. Adjust the speed and timing of the animation by dragging the keyframes closer together or farther apart in the timeline.

Adding Motion Blur (Optional)

1. Motion blur can enhance the realism and fluidity of the animation.
2. Enable motion blur for the composition by clicking the “Toggle Switches/Modes” button at the bottom of the timeline to reveal the switches.
3. Enable motion blur for the chair layer by clicking the “Motion Blur” icon next to the layer in the timeline.
4. Adjust the “Shutter Angle” and “Samples Per Frame” settings in the “Composition Settings” dialog box for finer control over motion blur quality.

Applying Additional Effects (Optional)

1. You can further enhance the animation by applying effects to the chair layer.
2. Select the chair layer and choose “Effect” > “Generate” or “Effect” > “Stylize” from the menu bar.
3. Experiment with different effects like “Glow,” “Bevel Alpha,” or “Drop Shadow” to achieve the desired visual style.

Previewing and Rendering

1. To preview the animation, press the spacebar or click the “RAM Preview” button in the preview panel.
2. Once you’re satisfied with the animation, choose “Composition” > “Add to Render Queue” from the menu bar.
3. In the “Render Queue” panel, select the desired output settings, such as format, resolution, and destination.
4. Click the “Render” button to start rendering the animation.

Potential Applications

The Running Chair Animation can be used in various creative projects, including:

1. Advertisements: Add an element of surprise or whimsy to product promotions or commercials.
2. Title Sequences: Create engaging and unique opening titles for films, TV shows, or YouTube videos.
3. Presentations: Make your presentations more dynamic and memorable by incorporating animated elements.
4. Social Media Content: Grab attention on platforms like Instagram or TikTok with eye-catching animations.
5. Music Videos: Bring static objects to life, adding visual interest and energy to music video productions.

Creative Tips and Insights

• Experiment with different chair assets or illustrations to match your project’s style and theme.
• Play with the timing and speed of the animation to achieve different effects (e.g., slow-motion or fast-paced).
• Combine the Running Chair Animation with other elements, such as backgrounds or text, to create more complex compositions.
• Use the graph editor to refine and fine-tune the motion curves of the animation.
• Add sound effects or music to complement the animation and enhance the overall experience.