9 Types of Motion Graphics You Need to Know About

With the domination of video content online, more digital marketers are turning to different types of motion graphics as a way of producing videos without traditional video-making equipment. What are the types of motion graphics animation styles that you can utilize in your marketing efforts? Here are a few of the most popular ones!

Is motion graphics a type of graphic design?

Before we get into the specifics, what are motion graphics again? If you’re wondering, “is motion graphics a type of graphic design,” you’re not alone. Many people creating moving images (motion graphics) is vastly different from regular graphic design.

In fact - it isn’t. Motion graphics are created by adding design elements to time and space to create a sense of movement. Some types of motion graphics are easier to create (e.g., kinetic typography), while others require specific skills (such as illustration).

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9 Different types of motion graphics animation styles

Since marketing rarely involves creating feature-length animated films, motion graphics are more common. Whether it’s animating a logo or creating motion graphic elements for your explainer videos, this is the hot marketing trend right now.

Since close to 80% of global internet traffic are videos, this is something you have to include in your marketing strategy. However, with all the different aspects (editing, lighting, sound, costume, etc.), professional recording equipment can be very expensive. So, most marketers these days resort to creating videos with motion graphics instead.

In this section, we will discuss different types of motion graphics, that is, different types of animation techniques. So, without further ado, what are the types of motion graphics you should definitely know about?

Kinetic typography

One of the simplest and most useful types of animation in motion graphics is kinetic (moving) typography. Have you ever watched a lyrics video on YouTube? Or watched an explainer video instead of just listening to it? Chances are kinetic typography was a part of those.

One study suggests that we retain information almost twice as long if it’s presented in visual and audio format together (as opposed to visuals or audio alone). So, animated typography is often a key component of any explainer video.

Nowadays, you don’t even need a motion graphics designer for this type of animation. Plenty of DIY designer software (such as Canva) allow you to animate text with just a few clicks.

2D animation

As the name suggests, 2D animation adds movement to characters, elements, and backgrounds in a two-dimensional space. 2D animation usually refers to more complex projects (such as cartoons and longer animated videos) as opposed to “motion graphics,” which we will discuss below.

This is one of the types of motion graphics animation styles best suited for digital marketing since 2D animation can be as simple or as intricate as you want it to be (which isn’t the case with 3D animation). So, 2D animation can fit virtually any brand or business, from obvious choices such as children’s apparel to hospitals and even legal professionals.

Don’t believe me? Here’s an excellent example of an ad for people who wish to file claims with their insurance company. The animated characters help make this boring and, frankly, somewhat intimidating topic seem simple and accessible, which is the whole point of the ad. Ironically, the animated characters make the ad feel much more genuine than would be the case with stock photos/videos featuring real people.

What’s my super claim worth? from BluBlu Studios on Vimeo.

3D animation

One of the more complex motion graphic styles is 3D animation. Essentially, it works the same as 2D, with added depth, providing a more realistic environment and look of the objects/characters.

Since it’s more complex and expensive to produce, you won’t see these types of motion graphics all over the place. However, 3D animation doesn’t mean you have to create an entire world and setting (as is the case with popular animated films these days).

This terrific example from Toggle shows how adding 3D animation to a plain background can be very effective while still within a regular marketing budget.

Turn Your Team On to Productivity from Toggl Team on Vimeo.

Stop motion

We’ve already mentioned claymation as a famous type of animation style. In fact, claymation is merely a type of stop motion animation. As the name suggests, this type of animation revolves around moving an object (or image) and capturing those individual frames.

Does it sound like a lot of work? It is. Making a mere second of this type of claymation animation can take professional filmmakers weeks. And yet, in digital marketing, there’s still a way to use stop motion animation animated graphics in a way that makes sense time- and budget-wise.

Using letters and simple shapes is perfect for this type of animation in motion graphics. It can make for a striking social media post or even a fun motion design element on your website!

Whiteboard

This is definitely one of the most popular types of animation in motion graphics used for explainer videos. In whiteboard animation, you can see the illustrator physically drawing. Additional elements (such as an effect or background) are sometimes added subsequently to make the animation more interesting.

In theory, you would need an actual illustrator to create these types of motion graphics. However, there are software available nowadays that allows you to play around with templates to create whiteboard animation even without design knowledge.

Here’s a neat explainer video from the leading whiteboard animation software - Doodly. Of course, the downside of using these types of software is that your videos may lack a more custom look. However, for the purposes of teaching or explainer videos, they can be a great choice.

Flat design animation

Flat design is a digital design approach that removes stylistic elements like skeuomorphism (realistic textures and shadows) in favor of simple shapes, bright colors, and clear typography. This style enhances readability, faster load times, and a more user-friendly experience across devices.

So, you can imagine that this style makes for a particularly useful type of motion graphic.

It’s often used in websites and apps (especially in the hero section, such as the example below). However nowadays you’ll see lots of animated ads and social media posts with this type of animation.

Animated logos

Although you could technically put this under some of the previous categories (e.g. kinetic typography, or 2D animation), creating logo animations requires a pretty specific skill set.

Firstly, this means creating a good logo, which follows some basic rules, such as simplicity, versatility, and memorability.

When you create an animated logo, all of this still needs to apply, but in motion form. First and foremost, you need to know where and how the logo will be used, as well as how the animated version will complement the static one (used, e..g in print materials). 

Mixed media videos

This type of motion graphic design has gained increasing popularity in recent years. Many current graphic design and social media trends celebrate authenticity and breaking boundaries. So, a video collage (or mixed media video) is one very creative way to jump on this bandwagon.

Here’s a fantastic example from artist Marion Favier. It combines images from iconic films like Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita, with different types of animated elements, such as lines, typography, and transitions. 

Instead of the overused promotional videos, this video is a great way to create visual storytelling and add a bit of character to your brand. Best of all, you don’t need any expensive recording equipment!

UX animation

Last but not least a type of motion graphics we perhaps see the most, but don’t notice.

Motion graphics are one of the best ways to improve user experience in website and digital product design. 

Here are some different types of motion graphics that help to improve user experience.

Transitions

Using simple animations for transitioning from one section (website page) to another helps to create a more engaging experience, and keep users interested.

One of the most common types of animation used in website design is the parallax effect. This visual effect means that background images move at a different speed than foreground content as the user scrolls, creating a sense of depth and immersion.

Icons

Whether it’s the home menu, buttons, or a list of features - icons are a universal symbol language that helps to convey information clearly and fast.

If you want to make icons more noticeable, motion design is the way to go. For example, a common use is an animated mouse click icon on a CTA button to create a sense of urgency and draw users’ attention. 

Hero animation 

The hero section is definitely one of the most important parts of your website. Instead of a static image, adding a bit of movement to your hero images can help with that all-important first impression. 

It’s also a great way to keep your website’s loading speed optimized, as videos and live action footage often slows down a website considerably. 

Loading animation

One of the most vital rules of a good UI/UX design is to keep users informed. If a page takes a longer time to load, but the visitors don’t know about the process, they’ll likely leave your site.

Instead, a loading animation will inform them of the process and how long it will take. You can opt for a traditional progress bar or go with a more creative route, such as the one below. 

Hover animation

Keeping visitors on your site for a longer period of time will decrease your bounce rates, and help your site rank higher in search results.

One of the many tricks to do that are hover animations. They can help keep users interested and on the site long enough to decide to take action. 

Conclusion

Creative motion graphics can be a tremendous addition to your marketing strategy. They are extremely versatile and suitable for different target audiences and promoting all kinds of products and services.

You can find motion graphics templates on places like Canva, and hire skilled freelancers to create them. However, if you want to make motion graphics a regular part of your marketing or social media strategy, you’ll need a long-term motion design solution.

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