Knowing After Effects isnât enough.
Master the Principles That
Make Motion Come Alive
Learn how to apply the timeless principles of animation to motion design to create projects that feel natural, professional, and alive.
This essential course will take you from technically skilled to truly expressive.
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327,000+ StudentsÂ
have rated my courses 4.81 out of 5.
12+ Hours of Lessons
Focused, engaging video lessons that skip the fluff and teach you how to think like an animator, not just a button pusher.
From Amateur to Animator
Bridge the gap between knowing the tools and mastering the craft. Learn how to apply animation principles to your everyday motion design work.
Real World Projects
Each principle comes with a full breakdown of a real motion design project and a unique student assignment.
What Students Are Saying
Jake is, in my humble opinion, one of the best educators on YouTube or any platform. His teaching style is that you will understand not only the course material, but you'll also understand the fundamental principles underlying whatever it is that you are learning.
Beau Ryan
beauryancreative.com
Jake is an amazing teacher.
One of the things I love about Jake is that he explains why you're doing what you're doing.Â
Nicole Rodriguez
@creatingnicole
As a professional always learning every day in After Effects, it's super nice to know that I can always go to Jake's videos and I'm 100% sure that I'm going to learn something new every time.
Arnaud Mellinger
@xashadowin
Jake makes everything so digestible for any skill level. So you can be an absolute beginner and be able to follow along, or you can be someone like myself who's been in the industry for a while, and you're going to find plenty of stuff to improve your work.
Kaci Smith
@thekacismith @mothersofmograph
By the end of this course, you will:
Understand the âwhyâ behind great motion, not just the how.
Learn how each principle applies to motion design with clear, practical examples.
Use timing, spacing, overlap, and more to give your work life, weight, and personality.
Develop an animatorâs eye to spot what feels off and know exactly how to fix it.
Go from making your projects move to making them feel alive.
Hereâs What Youâll Learn
Through the 12+ hours of video lessons,
you'll learn the 8 Principles of Motion Design
Timing
Learn how timing gives meaning to motion. Discover how adjusting just a few frames can completely change the feel of your animation.
Spacing
Master the graph editor: the key tool that makes motion feel smooth, snappy, or weighty. Youâll learn to manipulate keyframes with absolute precision.
Anticipation
Set up every move with clarity and impact. This principle teaches how to prepare the viewerâs eye for whatâs coming next so every motion feels natural and intentional.
Follow Through
Energy continues beyond the main action. You'll learn how to add realism and finesse by letting parts of your animation settle naturally.
Overlap
Bring depth and character to your motion by staggering actions across elements. Overlap turns stiff movements into fluid, believable animation.
Motion Paths
Design movement, not just keyframes. Discover how to guide motion along intentional paths, making your animations flow naturally and feel handcrafted.
Secondary Action
Add personality and flair by layering supporting elements that enhance the main action.Â
Exaggeration
Break the limits of realism. Learn how to use squash and stretch to heighten impact, add elasticity, and bring your animations to life with whimsy.
Launch Sale Bonuses
In addition to the course material, you'll also gain exclusive access to the limited-run private community for Animation Principles for Motion Designers students.
Inside, you'll have a direct line of access to me for support, join regular live calls, and complete the course alongside other students.
This community is only available to students who purchase the course by November 21st.
Plugin Play is offering students who purchase the course during the launch sale 3 months of Plugin Play Premium!
Get full access to top AE and Premiere plugins + templates that speed up your workflow and help you apply what you learn even more efficiently.
Who is this course for?
This course is made for motion designers who already know their way around After Effects, but want to move beyond simply using it.
If you can keyframe, parent, and easy ease, but still feel like your animations donât have that polished quality, this course will bridge the gap. Youâll learn to think like an animator, applying principles of animation to your motion design work in a clear, practical way.
Whether youâve been animating for years or are just getting comfortable in AE, this course will teach you how to bring your work to life with intention, rhythm, and personality.
Buy NowGet Animation Principles for Motion Designers Now
What You'll Get:
đ Lifetime access to all course material
đŹ 12+ hours of focused video lessons
đ Project files & assets for every lesson
đ All future course updates
LAUNCH SALE PERKS:
đ°Â $100Â off full price through November 21st
đ„Â Exclusive community access with direct feedback and peer support
đ 3 Months of Plugin Play: unlock top AE plugins + templates to level up your projects - $75 value
$298 $198
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Buy NowThe Launch Sale Ends Soon!
Lock in $100 Off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an After Effects expert to take this course?
What if Iâve already learned about the 12 principles?
How long will I have access to the course?
Can I take the course at my own pace?
What do I need to take the course?
What if I donât love the course?
Will this help me get better clients?
Have more questions? Email me at [email protected].
Hey, I'm Jake Bartlett
I live in sunny Denver, Colorado, with my wife, two kids, and a Dalmatian named Pixel. I've been working professionally as a Motion Designer since 2010 and have been teaching people how to use After Effects for more than a decade.
I've created over 30 courses teaching more than 325,000 students how to use After Effects and become better motion designers. I also have a YouTube channel called Jake In Motion, where I create motion design tutorials regularly.
Teaching is my passion, and it shows through my videos. I'm genuinely excited to teach you, and I have an excellent track record of breaking down technical workflows and creative processes into easy-to-understand videos that are fun and engaging. I hope to leave a positive impact on your motion design journey.
