Choose the words before the movement
Write the final line and identify its important phrase. An entrance can introduce the phrase, a change in scale can emphasize one word and a quiet hold can let the viewer absorb the idea. Decide what each movement communicates before choosing an effect.
If the copy is still changing, keep the design flexible. A title that works only at one exact character count will be expensive to revise. Test a longer line early, especially when the same component will support several scenes.
Build a reading hierarchy
Choose which line should be read first and give it a clear advantage through size, weight or position. Supporting text should remain legible without competing with the main statement. Color can reinforce the hierarchy, but it should not be the only cue.
Do not ask the viewer to read a dense paragraph while every line is moving independently. Separate the introduction of information from the time needed to read it. When the content is technical, a still state often does more work than another flourish.
Use an entrance, hold and exit
For a four-second title at 30 fps, the composition contains 120 frames. One possible plan is a 15-frame entrance, a 90-frame hold and a 15-frame exit. This is a worked timing example, not an ideal duration for every title.
Ensure the hold begins after the text is readable. A slow entrance that occupies most of the scene leaves little effective reading time. When working with narration, align emphasis to the spoken thought rather than making every word follow a mechanical beat.
Derive animation from composition time
In a code-based renderer, evaluate the visual state from the current frame or explicit composition time. Do not accumulate motion based on how often a function was called. Seeking directly to a frame should produce the same title as playing into it.
Use the actual engine’s APIs for interpolation and layout. A conceptual timing plan is not a runnable API reference. Keep copy, palette and timing values clear so a future revision changes the intended parameter.
Inspect the awkward frames
Review the opening, an intermediate entrance frame, the settled title and the exit. Look for clipping, collisions, abrupt opacity changes and unexpected wrapping. Check each aspect ratio separately. Also inspect the cut into the following scene: a beautiful isolated title may still create an awkward transition.
Keep the animation reusable
Use a common title component for a family of scenes, then test it with different headlines. Retain a small visual review set so a change to the shared component can be checked across its uses. See the motion graphics brief and reusable project guide for a complete workflow.