4 new AE tutorials + new course launches this month!


👋 Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly motion design newsletter, where I bring you fresh tutorials, a sneak peak of what’s coming soon, a handy tip, and a random recommendation!

🥳 New

I published 4 new YouTube videos last month!

Is Learning Animation Still Worth It in the AI Era?

video preview

5 Steps to Create Any Animation in After Effects

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After Effects for Beginners: Create Your First Animation in 5 Easy Steps

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The #1 Mistake Beginner Motion Designers Make

video preview

🤫 Sneak Peak

My new beginner course, After Effects, Explained, is launching this month!

This is the course I wish I had when I was first getting started. You'll learn the essential skills to become a professional motion designer—from setting up your first composition to animating explainer videos. I'm confident that anyone who goes through the course (and creates the projects) will leapfrog what took me years to master.

Waitlist members will get early access, plus a special launch discount. 🎉

⚡ Quick Tip

In the new After Effects course, I’ll show you how to animate to a voiceover. You can import audio files into After Effects and drop them into compositions.

To see the waveform of an audio layer in the timeline, hit L twice on the keyboard (with the audio layer selected).

You’ll hear the audio when you preview your animation, but if you want to hear the audio when scrubbing through the timeline, hold command or Ctrl.

👉 Random Recommendation

I know that some artists and designers are fully embracing AI and some completely avoid it and anyone who uses it. I’m taking more of a middle ground. This email newsletter is entirely written by me and 100% of my illustrations and animations are AI-free.

However, I’m still trying to learn all that I can about AI, because of it’s far-reaching impact on the world. I’m absolutely NOT interested in using generative AI art in my work (watch this video for more on that).

If you’re also interested in learning more about AI, or how to use AI in a way that works with your own human creativity and not against it, check out the resources I linked in the description of my recent video on AI and motion design.

Megan Friesth

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Hi! I'm Megan Friesth.

I’m an explanimator–I write, illustrate, and animate educational animations. I’m a self-taught motion designer, striving to help you learn motion design–mostly After Effects–more efficiently than I did. Sign up for my monthly newsletter which includes tutorials, classes, and quick tips.

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