FLMC 2331 · Advanced Motion Graphics in After Effects
A project-driven follow-on to the foundational course. Ten advanced skills built on the first ten, tuned to After Effects 2026 — across four portfolio projects and one capstone. 16 weeks · 15 class meetings · 10 new skills · 4 projects.
How this course works
One new skill per class, then a whole week to build with it.
- In class: one skill — concept plus a live demo — then a short in-class exercise (the exercise booklet), then start applying it to the current project.
- Homework (~6–10 hrs): push the project forward using that skill — the deliverable, not a throwaway exercise.
- Wrap-up classes: every project ends in a dedicated critique-and-finish class before it's submitted.
The 15-meeting structure
Ten new-skill classes + one applied class (the title system, Week 10) + three project wrap-ups + one capstone showcase. Project spans are balanced 5 / 3 / 3 / 5 weeks. Week 14 is Thanksgiving break — no class — landing mid-capstone. That leaves 15 meetings across the 16 calendar weeks.
Semester schedule
| Week | Class | Project | Homework focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project Architecture (+ course setup) | P1 kickoff | Modular precomp rig with Essential Properties |
| 2 | Vector Pipelines | Project 1 | Convert brand art to shape layers |
| 3 | Advanced Shape Animation | Project 1 | Animate an icon set + two transitions |
| 4 | Kinetic Typography 2.0 | Project 1 | Variable-font kinetic type; assemble |
| 5 | Project 1 Wrap-Up | P1 due — Branded Vector Explainer | Submit Project 1 |
| 6 | Native 3D Meshes | P2 kickoff | Model / extrude the logo in 3D |
| 7 | 3D Look Development | Project 2 | Substance materials + HDRI lighting |
| 8 | Project 2 Wrap-Up | P2 due — 3D Product / Logo Reveal | Submit Project 2 |
| 9 | Cinematic Cameras & DOF | P3 kickoff | Camera rig + rack-focus pull test |
| 10 | Designing & Animating the Title System | Project 3 | Design & animate the title-card system |
| 11 | Project 3 Wrap-Up | P3 due — Cinematic Title Sequence | Submit Project 3 |
| 12 | AI-Assisted Compositing | P4 kickoff (capstone) | Isolate the subject (AI Object Matte / roto) |
| 13 | Match-Moving & Mixed Media | Project 4 | Track a shot; lock 3D/graphics into the plate |
| 14 | Thanksgiving break — no class | Capstone work time | Keep building the capstone |
| 15 | Expressions, Rigging & MOGRTs | Project 4 | Rig the project; export a MOGRT |
| 16 | Final Class — Capstone Showcase | P4 due — Mixed-Media VFX Spot + Template | Deliver the capstone |
Grades
A 100-point semester. Exercises are graded on completion + hitting each drill's “Done when”; projects are scored on the rubric (0–100) × their point value.
| Component | How it's counted | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly attendance | 15 meetings × 1 pt | 15 |
| Exercises (drills) | 10 × 2 pts — one per new skill | 20 |
| Project 1 · Branded Vector Explainer | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 2 · 3D Product / Logo Reveal | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 3 · Cinematic Title Sequence | Rubric score × 15 | 15 |
| Project 4 · Mixed-Media Capstone | Rubric score × 20 — the portfolio centrepiece | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Grade scale: A 90–100 · B 80–89 · C 70–79 · D 60–69 · F below 60. A project that is portfolio-ready (80+) lands at the A/B boundary.
Project & capstone rubric
Each project is scored 1 (Beginner) to 4 (Portfolio-Ready) per criterion; weighted score = Σ (level ÷ 4 × weight), max 100. Portfolio-ready at 80+.
| Criterion (weight) | 1 · Beginner | 2 · Developing | 3 · Proficient | 4 · Portfolio-Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Craft & Timing (15%) | Mechanical, evenly-spaced motion with no weight. | Some easing; timing uneven or generic. | Confident spacing and weight throughout. | Polished, purposeful timing with anticipation & follow-through. |
| Technical Execution & Cleanup (15%) | Jitter, chatter, broken rigs or messy mattes. | Mostly clean with a few unstable moments. | Clean keys, tidy mattes/roto, stable tracks and rigs. | Flawless — no chatter, slip or stray keyframes anywhere. |
| 3D & Compositing Integration (15%) | Elements look pasted on; wrong scale or light. | Readable, but edges or lighting give it away. | Believable integration; matched light and grounding. | Seamless — 3D, graphics and footage read as one shot. |
| Color, Look & Finishing (15%) | Flat or clashing color; no deliberate look. | A grade exists but is inconsistent. | Cohesive, intentional grade; scopes legal. | Distinctive, controlled look that elevates the piece. |
| Concept, Design & Art Direction (15%) | No clear idea; random effects strung together. | An idea exists but design choices are generic. | Clear concept with coherent type, layout and palette. | Original, memorable, with strong art-directed taste. |
| Systems & Reusability (10%) | No structure; flat timeline, nothing reusable. | Some pre-comps, but fragile and ad hoc. | Clean architecture; Essential Properties or rigs used. | Robust, documented rig/template another editor could drive. |
| Technical Breadth (10%) | Fewer than 4 of the 10 advanced skills used. | 4–5 skills used, some only superficially. | 6–7 skills used meaningfully in service of the idea. | 8+ skills woven in naturally, each earning its place. |
| Delivery & Craft (5%) | Wrong settings, render errors, audio out of sync. | Plays back, but codec/runtime/sync need work. | Correct export, resolution, frame rate; audio in sync. | Spec-perfect master + clean template, ready to hand off. |
Breadth check: the capstone should put at least 6 of the 10 advanced skills to meaningful use.
Before Week 1 — prerequisites
- Comfort with all ten foundational skills (the beginner course, or equivalent).
- After Effects 2026 (26.x) — native 3D, variable fonts, SVG import and the AI Object Matte require it.
- A reasonably fast machine/GPU; native 3D and AI matting are demanding.
- Gather a brand kit, vector art, variable fonts, and a few short live-action clips to track.
- Keep one versioned project + reel folder across all four projects.
See the Tutorial Links page for free videos and official guides per skill, and the Vocabulary page for key terms. Each skill week has its own Exercise page.