Week 1 · Course Intro + Keyframes

Project 1 · Kinetic Typography Quote — Weeks 1–3

Today's skill: Keyframes

In class

Interface and workspaces, compositions and layers, the five transform properties, setting your first keyframes and playback preview — then Easy Ease, the Graph Editor (speed vs. value graphs), spatial vs. temporal interpolation, motion paths, and core animation principles like anticipation and follow-through. Today also covers course setup, the interface, and your project template.

In-class exercise

Exercise 1 · Move It, Feel It — Touch all five transform properties in an on/travel/off animation, then make it feel good with easing, anticipation, follow-through and the Graph Editor.

Work through this short hands-on drill in class to rehearse today's skill before you apply it to your project. Full step-by-step: see the Exercise 1 · Move It, Feel It page.

Homework this week

Set up your project template and asset folders; start timing your quote to its audio. Push your Kinetic Typography Quote forward with today's skill — build the deliverable, not a throwaway exercise. See the Assignment · Project 1 page for the full brief.

Helpful links

Keyframes

• After Effects Beginners Tutorial 2025 — Jake In Motion
• How To Use the Graph Editor — Jake Bartlett
• Animation Basics (official) — Adobe Help

Key terms: see the Vocabulary page. All links: see the Tutorial Links page.