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Motion Design Inspiration: Analog Motion Graphics

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Let’s take a trip through the history of Motion Design.

In an industry with an average age of 32 it can be easy to think that our industry has just emerged within the last few decades, but the reality is the digital MoGraph industry goes back over 40 years.

THE SCANIMATE

Before there was After Effects or Cinema 4D, or even personal computers for that matter, there was the Scanimate. Scanimate was a revolutionary technological invention that made it possible to animate text and shapes with a computer instead of animating by hand. In a way the scanimate was the very first digital Motion Graphics machine.

Scanimate David Sieg.jpg

David Sieg has preserved the first Scanimate in his workshop. The device produces Motion Graphic pieces that simply look more raw and organic than modern Motion Graphic applications. This documentary from Viceland gives you a look into how the Scanimate works. The coolest takeaway is the fact that in order to change a look you literally have to ‘plug-in’ an oscillator. Does that term sound familiar?

Our good buddy Nick Campbell from Greyscale Gorilla interviewed David Sieg and Roy Weinstock to talk about the process of creating analog MoGraph work. Fascinating stuff here...

STRANGER THINGS

Perhaps the best modern example of analog Motion Graphic work is the intro titles for Stranger Things. While the titles themselves were not created by Scanimate, they were inspired by 1980s analog sequences.

Vox put together this really cool microdoc about how the Motion Designers for Scanimate put together the titles. The whole thing is a combination of digital techniques and analog looks. It’s so dang cool.

SAUL BASS

If you go back even further than the Scanimate, industry pioneers like Saul Bass had to create their MoGraph sequences with scanned-in pieces of paper and film. Can you imagine creating a Motion Graphic project like that? Here’s a reel with some of his title design work.

It’s crazy cool to think that our industry has a rich history. Now if you excuse us we need to go find the nearest Scanimate for our next MoGraph project.

EXPLORE ALL COURSES

Dive into real-time 3D with our Unreal Engine beginner's course by Jonathan Winbush. Master importing assets, world-building, animation, and cinematic sequences to create stunning 3D renders in no time! Perfect for motion designers ready to level up.

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Unlock the secrets of character design in this dynamic course! Explore shape language, anatomy rules, and motifs to craft animation-ready characters. Gain drawing tips, hacks, and Procreate mastery (or any drawing app). Ideal for artists seeking to elevate their craft.

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Elevate your freelance motion design career with our guide to client success. Master a repeatable method for finding, contacting, and landing clients. Learn to identify prospects, nurture leads, and develop a thriving freelance philosophy amidst chaos.

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Rev up your editing skills with After Effects! Learn to use it for everyday needs and craft dynamic templates (Mogrts) for smarter teamwork. You'll master creating animated graphics, removing unwanted elements, tracking graphics, and making customizable templates.

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Stand out with Demo Reel Dash! Learn to spotlight your best work and market your unique brand of magic. By the end, you'll have a brand new demo reel and a custom campaign to showcase yourself to an audience aligned with your career goals.

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Illuminate your 3D skills with Lights, Camera, Render! Dive deep into advanced Cinema 4D techniques with David Ariew. Master core cinematography skills, gain valuable assets, and learn tools and best practices to create stunning work that wows clients.

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Master After Effects at your own pace with Jake Bartlett's beginner course. Perfect for video editors, you'll learn to create stylish animated graphics, remove unwanted elements, and track graphics into shots. By the end, you'll be equipped for everyday AE needs and more.

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Revolutionize your Premiere workflow with customizable AE templates! Master creating dynamic Motion Graphics Templates (Mogrts) in After Effects to speed up your team's work. By the end, you'll craft easily-customizable templates for seamless use in Premiere Pro.

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Not sure where to start?

If you’re a beginner, here are some great courses to help you get started:

After Effects Kickstart

Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course.

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Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed

Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course.

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Design Kickstart

An introduction to the design principles behind all great work.

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More Advanced?

If you’re a more advanced student looking to up your game, here are some great options:

Animation Bootcamp

Learn the art and principles of creating beautiful movements in Adobe After Effects.

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Design Bootcamp

Learn to design for motion in this intermediate-level, project-based course.

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Cinema 4D Basecamp

Learn Cinema 4D from the ground up in this exciting introductory C4D course.

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Now is the time to learn the skills you need to advance in your motion design career: