Animation

Canva now has simple but effective animation tools that allow you to create on-brand animations and videos without breaking the bank. These are perfect for day-to-day social content, giving your designs movement and extra visual interest.

High-End Motion Graphics

High-end animations are still best created by experienced motion designers using professional software. For example, we once briefed a motion designer to produce a dynamic graphic for a sport livestream. This type of work requires specialist skills, experience, and tools.

Day-to-Day Social Content

For everyday social posts, simple animated accents can elevate your design:

  • Subtle movement in graphic devices or fonts adds energy
  • Looping animations or short GIFs make posts feel alive
  • Animations can help highlight key information or calls-to-action

About Canva Animation

  • Push the tools tastefully – the goal is to enhance, not overwhelm
  • Best used to give punch to graphics, fonts, and icons
  • Consider looping length or duration so your audience has time to absorb information
  • For Stories, overlay a link rather than relying solely on “link in bio”
  • For email, use GIFs – emails don’t support video files directly, but a looped GIF adds movement and interest; you can also link thumbnails to YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok

Creative Possibilities

Some practical ideas for animations include:

  • Color pops – highlight key elements with a subtle flash
  • Speedy slideshows – cycle through multiple images or messages quickly
  • Accents like “For Sale” ribbons or subtle brand movement – create playful yet professional touches

Organizing Animations

When compiling your brand guidelines, it’s useful to:

  • Host animations on YouTube or another accessible platform
  • Include video or GIF files alongside your brand assets for easy reference
  • This helps maintain consistency and provides a clear picture of your brand’s visual language for future campaigns

Key Takeaway

Canva animation tools are a creative extension of your design toolbox. When used thoughtfully, they bring a brand to life across social media, stories, and email campaigns—without needing a professional motion designer for every piece.

We tend to utilise Canva animation creatively when we feel like we need to give a digital piece some extra level treatment. You don’t necessarily need to outline the exact type of animation in your brand guidelines, but it is good to create some mockups to illustrate the tone of voice of any animation used.