Step by Step Guide: How to Use Canva To Make Free Animated Video

Imagine scrolling through social media and stopping at an eye-catching, animated video. With Canva, creating animated videos has never been easier or more fun. This tutorial will guide you through the process, from start to finish, using only Canva’s free tools. By the end, you’ll be able to bring your videos to life and grab your audience’s attention like never before.

Step 1: Start a New Project

First, open Canva and start a new video project. You can choose any format you prefer, but for this tutorial, we’ll use a simple video size. Click on the “Create a Design” button and select “Video.” Once your canvas opens, you can start adding pages by clicking the “Add a New Page” button.

Step 2: Choose Your Background

Now, it’s time to set the scene. Go to the “Elements” tab, and select a suitable background from the graphics section. Drag it to fit the entire canvas. You can adjust the edges to make sure it’s perfect for your video.

Step 3: Add Your Animated Character

Next, we need a character for your story. Go back to “Elements” and select a character such as a “walking” character. Canva has many animated options, so pick one that fits your theme. Adjust the size and position it where you want it to begin.

Step 4: Animate Your Character

Here’s where the magic happens. Click on the character you just added, then click “Animate” at the top of the screen. Click “Element Animations” and select the tools of “Create an animation” option to bring your character to life. Hold the mouse and drag the character in the direction you want it to move. For a smooth look, select the “Steady” movement style and adjust the speed as desired. Click “Done”.

Step 5: Animate the Background

To make the video even more engaging, animate the background to move along with your character. Select the background, click “Animate,” and choose the same tools of “Create an animation” option. Hold the mouse and drag the background in the same direction as your character. This will create the illusion of movement and add depth to your animation.

Step 6: Add More Scenes

For the next scene, go to “Elements” and another background such as road for the character to walk on. You can also add other item such as a car animation to make it more dynamic. Adjust the car’s direction by flipping it, and set it on the road.

Step 7: Use Transitions for Smooth Scene Changes

To connect scenes, hover over the transition icon between the pages and choose one that suits your video. For example, try the “Match and Move” transition for a smooth scene change. Increase the duration to 2 seconds for a more polished effect. If needed, use the “Ctrl + S” shortcut to split and delete unnecessary parts of the video.

Step 8: Final Touches

To enhance your animation, bring your character to the back of the scene. Use a rectangle shape to hide the character behind objects like cars or buildings. Make sure the shape is transparent. Once the character is behind the car, select both the character and the shape and group them. Duplicate the group, go to “Layers,” and animate the new character the same way as before.

Step 9: Add Transitions Between Scenes

Finally, don’t forget to add transitions between different scenes to keep the flow smooth. Click the transition icon and select the one that best fits your story.

Conclusion

Creating animated videos with Canva is simple, fun, and completely free! With just a few steps, you can bring your ideas to life and create engaging content that will captivate your audience. So, start experimenting and let your creativity flow. Don’t forget to share your creations in the comments below! Happy animating!