Getting Started with Cavalry: 5 Things Every Beginner Should Know

The 2D animation world just got a serious upgrade. Here's how to hit the ground running.

You've seen the reels. You've heard the buzz. Now you want to try Cavalry for yourself - smart move.

If you already know your way around After Effects, you're not starting from zero. Your understanding of keyframes, timing, and the graph editor transfers directly. What will not transfer is the mental model of how Cavalry works, and that is where things get interesting.

Cavalry is a procedural 2D animation tool built from the ground up for motion designers. It renders in real time, works well with data, and lets you build animation systems instead of stacking layers. School of Motion just launched a new Cavalry course if you want a structured path, but first, here are five things that will save you time when getting started.

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1. Forget Layers - Think Systems

The core idea behind Cavalry is simple: anything can connect to anything. That is a major shift from After Effects, where you are stacking and parenting layers.

Instead of animating frame by frame, you build systems using Duplicators, Behaviours, and data connections.

• Instead of duplicating a shape 20 times and offsetting each one manually, you create one shape, drop it in a Duplicator, and let the system handle it
• Instead of writing a wiggle() expression, you right-click any attribute and attach a Noise Behaviour
• Instead of copy-pasting keyframes across layers, you connect elements so changes cascade automatically

Day one tip: Resist the urge to animate everything the After Effects way. Try making at least one element move using a Behaviour. That is usually the moment things click.

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2. The Duplicator is Your New Best Friend

The Duplicator is the most powerful tool in Cavalry. It's not just a copy machine - it's a system for generating and controlling multiple instances at once.

Quick example: Want 30 circles in a grid, each a slightly different size?

• Create one circle
• Add a Duplicator, set the count and distribution
• Right-click the radius attribute, and add a Random Behaviour
• Done - 30 unique circles in about 90 seconds

Every instance updates live. Change the source shape, and everything changes. The Duplicator can also pass the contents of String Arrays or spreadsheet data, which unlocks data-driven animation that would take serious scripting in AE.

Start here: One shape, one Duplicator. Experiment with grid, circle, and random distributions. This will be part of almost every project.

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3. Behaviours Replace Most of Your Expressions

Good news for anyone who's ever stared blankly at a broken expression: Cavalry has a better way.

Behaviours are animation "drivers" for values or attributes, with over 40 available - including Noise, Random, Morph, Bend, Modulate, and more. They're drag-and-drop, no code required.

The workflow:

• Select any element
• Right-click any attribute (position, rotation, scale, opacity - anything)
• Choose "Add Behaviour"
• Pick from the menu - Noise, Random, Stagger, etc.
• Tweak in the Attribute Editor

The tradeoff is that Behaviours are slightly less precise than custom expressions. However, for most motion design tasks, they are faster and easier to use.

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4. Real-Time Playback Will Change Your Workflow

One of the biggest differences in Cavalry is real-time playback. You can see changes instantly without waiting for previews.

What this means day-to-day:

• Hit play constantly - don't save it for when you think you're "done."
• Tweak timing and watch the result immediately
• Iterate faster because feedback is instant
• Build better timing instincts because you're always watching things move

One caveat: very heavy scenes with large Duplicator counts or complex particle systems can slow things down. But for typical work - lower thirds, logo animation, kinetic type, infographics - Cavalry stays snappy.

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5. The Interface Feels Weird for a Day, Then Clicks

Your first session in Cavalry will feel a little disorienting. The panels are different, the terminology is different. Here's a quick map:

Cavalry is designed to encourage exploration and experimentation. Its procedural workflow makes it easier to create flexible animations.

Best advice: Give yourself two sessions with no deadline. Follow the official quick-start tutorials - they're short and well-made. Don't stress if it takes a few hours to feel at home. It will.

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Quick Takeaways

• Cavalry is procedural - think in systems, not layers
• The Duplicator is essential - learn it first, use it always
• Behaviours replace most expressions - no code needed for the majority of tasks
• Real-time playback changes how you iterate - use it constantly
• The interface has a one-day learning curve - give it time before judging
• The free tier is genuinely powerful - download it today, no excuses
• Your AE fundamentals transfer - the tool is new, the craft isn't

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Ready to Go Deeper?

School of Motion recently launched a Cavalry course designed for motion designers who already understand animation and want to expand into procedural workflows.

For everything else, All-Access gives you the entire School of Motion course library - Animation Bootcamp, design fundamentals, the new Cavalry course, and a lot more - in one place.

Cavalry is one of the most exciting tools in motion design right now. Learning it early can open up new creative possibilities and workflows.

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FAQs

Is Cavalry free to use? Yes! It's free for individuals, and not in a watered-down way. It includes professional features like procedural rigs, real-time viewport, and data-driven sequences, with no restrictions or payment needed for Individuals, even for commercial use. However, studios/organizations will still need a paid Canva account (Canva Enterprise or Canva Education) to use it. Download at cavalry.scenegroup.co.

Do I need to know After Effects before learning Cavalry? You don't have to, but it helps. If you're brand new to motion design entirely, consider starting with Animation Bootcamp first to build your animation fundamentals.

Is Cavalry a full replacement for After Effects? Not quite yet. Cavalry excels at procedural 2D animation, data-driven graphics, and generative work. AE still wins on compositing, plugin support, and Adobe integration. Most designers use both, depending on the project.

What is a Behaviour in Cavalry? A drag-and-drop animation driver you attach to any attribute. Think of it as an expression without the code. Common ones include Noise (organic movement), Random (variation), and Stagger (offset timing).

Does Cavalry work on both Mac and Windows? Yes. Cavalry is available for both macOS and Windows, with installers available from your account after signing up.

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