Kinetic typography can come in all shapes and forms. Whether it's a homage to a famous movie speech or song or an exploration of the typography itself, these creations are a feast for the eyes. If you want to create your own our selection of free fonts and After Effects tutorials will help you on your way.
Need a little inspiration? Here, we've picked some brilliant kinetic typography animations, including music videos, movie tributes and more. Enjoy!
01. Thank God for the Rain
Piotr Kabat brings Travis Bickle's famous monologue from Taxi Driver to life in this impressive piece of kinetic typography. It's a piece of traditional cel animation that he assembled in Photoshop, before experimenting with textures, colours and filters in After Affects to create its finished look.
02. OFFF Moscow / Film Titles
We love this experimental project by Universal Everything. From a wealth of inspirations including utopian city planning, Japanese paper houses, modular signage systems and rotating buildings, they created a set of prototypes for OFFF Moscow fusing kinetic architecture, typography and sound to construct audio-reactive buildings where words emerge from the structural movement.
03. From Paper to Screen
This masterpiece was, unbelievably, a graduation project by graphic designer Thibault de Fournas. The animation shows the evolution of typography from paper to screen in serious style. The first half of the video deals with the basic rules of typesetting, before moving on to the use of typography in cinema, with impressive effects running throughout – the tribute to Saul Bass being our favourite.
04. Language
Designer Matthew Rogers is the man behind this kinetic typography animation of the words of writer and actor Stephen Fry. A fan of this particular essay on language, Rogers decided to make it his first kinetic typography project using a combination of After Effects, Flash and Illustrator.
05. The Ten Commandments
In just under two minutes, this kinetic typography animation reveals the ten commandments in serious style. The man behind the piece is designer Vit Ryznar, who completed the project using After Effects.
06. Shine a Light
Let's be frank, this J-pop tune by DJ Takuma featuring Angella Guistini is pretty forgettable, and we imagine the lyrics were sugary nonsense even before they got translated from Japanese. But the vibrant typographic video by Bait makes everything better.
07. Childline: First Step
Ad agency YCN Studio recently collaborated with LA-based production company Buck on this powerful animation, which encourages children to talk about and report sexual abuse.
The video promotes the services of UK-based, confidential, free, 24-hour counselling service for children, Childline. Following a conversation between child and advisor, the four-minute animation uses kinetic typography and abstract art to get its message across. It's by no means an easy issue, and we think YCN Studio and Buck have done a sterling job at covering it in a powerful yet delicate way.
08. Breaking Bad
American TV show Breaking Bad has won multiple awards since it first aired back in 2008. Which is hardly surprising when it includes brilliant monologues like 'I am the danger', in which school teacher-turned-criminal Walter White convinces his wife that he's a dangerous man, capable of striking fear into hardened criminals.
Graphic designer, illustrator and animator Paul Cooper decided to pay homage to the infamous scene using kinetic typography. He visualises the intense scene through a series of black and white illustrations and text, all cleverly timed to each character's lines.
09. The Hush Sound - Lions Roar
Part of a two man team, designer Mig Reyes worked on this typographical motion graphic piece to The Hush Sound's Lions Roar song. Fan of the band, typography, design and heavily inspired by motion graphics studio MK12, the duo used After Effects to time the song's lyrics to the brilliant typography and graphics.
10. Procrastination
This trailer for David McRaney's international bestselling book You are Not So Smart uses cleverly animated typography to sum up its contents. Animated, designed and produced by Plus3 productions, the perfectly timed animation is all about proscratination, which'll have you nodding in agreement and smiling all the way through.
11. The Edge
Hunter S Thompson has influenced a generation of film-makers, writers and designers and this homage to the author by Piotr Kabat combines an array of design disciplines to showcase some of his finest words.
12. Apocalypse Rhyme
This is an amazing piece of work considering it was all done by one person. Oliver Harrison wrote the poem, composed the music and organised it all into a splendid animated whole for Channel 4's Random Acts, and his reward was the 'Best Motion Graphics' prize in the British Animation Awards 2014.
13. Bob
Oliver Smith is a 3D animator and compositor who can turn his hand at many aspects of the moving image. Inspired by 'Weird Al' Yankovic's Bob Dylan parody 'Bob', the song features Yankovic's signature style and comical lyrics. Although the amusing tune is the main influence for the video, it's Oliver's stunning array of graphic titles and typography that really stand out.
14. Anonymous
This super-cool infographic kinetic typography animation tells the story of how online hactivist group Anonymous came together in 2003 and subsequently went on to stage various protest actions. The 90-second animation, which uses 3D effects, electronics and text to convey the message, was created by multimedia designer Savva Tsekmas.
15. Shop Vac
Artist Jarrett Heather made this kinetic typography music video for Jonathan Coulton's Shop Vac. The humourous animation took Heather somewhere between 500 and 1000 hours to complete. At just under three-and-a-half-minutes long, the brilliant video features a number of different fonts, all perfectly suited to the story each tells.
16. Rolling Stones - Doom and Gloom
Celebrating their 50th anniversary with a series of comeback gigs last year, the old-time rock 'n' rollers even managed to release a new track that was pretty darned good. For the accompanying music video, Trunk Animation designed this great splatter style animation, which is reminiscent of Ralph Steadman's typography artistry.
17. Karloff
Another piece from graphic designer Thibault de Fournas who has combined modern typefaces Bodoni and Didot in this beautiful animated video which explores the idea how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole. Stylistically, the video is centred around a series of expanding and disappearing hairlines, with cuts complementing editorial typographic layouts.
18. Mad as Hell
Peter Finch's iconic "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this any more" speech from Network is still relevant 40 years on, and while it doesn't necessarily need any extra weight lending to it, this kinetic typography treatment by Aaron Leming makes a pretty good fist of it.
19. Alphabet
This alphabet in motion video is sublimly smooth. There's no accompanying soundtrack but the animation is so slick you don't notice. Former graffiti artist now turned motion graphic artist Pavel Pavlov morphs simple but beautiful lines and graphics together to form a unique design for each letter of the alphabet.
20. Conan O'Brien
Working from one solid artboard, this entertaining kinetic typography video recreates the dialogue on the final episode of NBC's The Tonight Show presented by Conan O'Brien. The camera pans between nicely set type, ending with a shot of the entire piece. The combination of eclectic typography and modern 3D letter forms achieved in Cinema 4D provides a contrast between old and new.
21. Make it better
Colour and morphing typography is wonderfully used in this video created by Climent Canal with animation by Sebastián Baptista. A beautiful video brings an inspiring message to vivid life.
22. ALQUIMIA Animated Type
Pavel Paratov has constructed a mesmerizing piece of golden kinetic typography here. The letterforms reshuffle to the electro beat by Satoshi Yoshitake, integrating abstract shapes into the mix.
23. Back to the Future
If you're anything like us, you'll already be a huge fan of Back to the Future. So, what could be better than kinetic typography of this priceless conversation between Marty McFly and his mother? Created by Melanie Burgess, the designer is still in her early days of kinetic typography. We love this original offering!
24. Alphagames
This inventive animation has quickly become one of the most popular kinetic typography videos on Vimeo. It was created by freelance editor and animator Evan Seitz, who has worked on commercials for Coca-Cola and the American Cancer Society – one of which went on to win a Telly Award at the 32nd Annual Convention.
25. Fight Club
There's plenty of Fight Club kinetic typography hovering around the World Wide Web but this more recent offering from Adrian Moran is a belter. The visual FX, motion graphics, and 3D artist has created this animation to accompany Brad Pitt's infamous Fight Club rule listing. We love the colours too!
26. Hello Hola Hallo Bonjour Ciao Ola
This adorable kinetic typography animation was made by Spanish graphic and motion designer, Daniel Moreno Cordero. Created using After Effects, Illustrator and some Photoshop, Daniel also used a typography entitled 'Granaina Limpia.'
27. Ira Glass on Storytelling
The producer and host of This American Life, Ira Glass, discusses what makes up the building blocks of a great story in this animation, made over three days by David Shiyang Lu using Illustrator and After Effects. You can catch the whole Ira Glass talk over on YouTube.
28. Elbow Grease - Habitat Promo
Motion design craftsman Joe Dunlap created this insightful promo for furniture giants Habitat. Through creative, kinetic typography and slick, dynamic animations this short public service announcement for Habitat for Humanity explains that it's easy for anyone to achieve something big. It's been getting a lot of love on Vimeo!
29. RocknRolla
Created by Siddharth Raj, this kinetic typography animation takes a speech from British action-thriller, 'RocknRolla' and brings it to life. We love how Siddharth has encorporated various font shapes and sizes to fit perfectly between each other.
30. Pulp Fiction
Gangster movie speeches seem to be cropping up a lot in this list but it's that they are the perfect accompianment for great kinetic typography. This Pulp Fiction number was created by Norweigian motion designer Christian Gjerde. Watch for the particularly clever 'car' moment at the end of the video.
31. Fusion Design
This animation combines motion graphics with kinetic typography to a faultless execution. There's not much information on this one by Dusan Tatalovic but we love the way he has managed to almost personify the typography throughout the musical accompianment.
32. 29 Ways to Stay Creative
Created by Japanese motion graphic design studio TO-FU the video is by far one of the most popular kinetic typography animations out there. It's easy to see why with its inventive graphics and helpful content.
33. Kid President peptalk
Motion media student Taylor English is the artist behind this fun, animated typography project. Studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, the video was created for her time-based typography class. The 90-second video is a visual representation of one of 9-year-old Robby Novak aka Kid President's motivational speeches.
34. The Alphabet
Founder and director of multidisciplinary design studio n9ve Alessandro Novelli captures his love for typography and animation in this 60-second Alphabet video. The gorgeous animation spells letters A through to Z, with a different font featured for each. The dancing letterforms are accompanied by Si Tu N'étais Pas Là by Fréhel, a track used in the movie Amelie.
35. Husbands - Dream
This music video for Husbands' latest single 'Dream' sees the lyrics light up as they're sung. To make it, French design duo Cauboyz created individual boxes with each word placed on the front using laser cut and hand-cut stickers. Wires were then attached to each box, complete with a handy switch to press once the word came up.
36. Coldplay: Atlas
Featured on the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, this video for Coldplay's latest single 'Atlas'. was created by New York-based agency Blind Pig – sister company to Absolute Post – in collaboration with creative agency Hugo & Marie. The team effort has executed one of the best uses of kinetic typography we've come across in a while.
Directed by Mario Hugo, the illustrations are largely based around the celestial sky map and myth by Micah Lidberg. Animation creative directors Ric Comline and Jonny Bursnell ensured that the video would be a seamless animation sequence, with both agencies providing gorgeous inspiration.
37. The Dead Words
The Dead Words project was begun by Karen To in 2010 as a way to express her love of both words and type. The graphic designer, illustrator and letterer is driven to promote and commemorate no-longer-used words before they are forgotten forever.
The project has generated much interest in the design community with well over 100 contributions to the project and counting, including everything from handcrafted to kinetic typography. Here is just one of the beautiful submissions, with many more to see on the website.
