How to add animation to PowerPoint objects

PowerPoint has a number of built in functions that can enhance the impact of your slide presentations. One of the features that can make your slides more dynamic and engaging is animation. PowerPoint Animation is the movement or transformation of objects on your slide, such as text, shapes, images, charts, etc. You can use animation in PowerPoint to draw attention to important points, show the sequence of steps or events, reveal or hide information, and more.

In this blog post, we will show you how to add animation to PowerPoint objects in a few simple steps. We will also give you some tips and best practices for using animation effectively in your presentations.

Step 1: Select the object/s you want to animate on your PowerPoint slide

Select each of the shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide you wish to add animations

In the above image I have selected all three arrows.

Step 2: Go to the PowerPoint Animations tab

The next step is to go to the Animations tab on the PowerPoint ribbon. This is where you can access all the animation options and settings for your objects.

Step 3: Choose an animation effect

The PowerPoint Animations tab has a gallery of animation effects that you can apply to your selected object. You can choose from four categories of effects: Entrance, Emphasis, Exit, and Motion Paths.

• Entrance effects make your object appear on the PowerPoint slide, such as Fade, Fly In, Zoom, etc.
• Emphasis effects highlight your object on the PowerPoint slide, such as Grow/Shrink, Spin, Pulse, etc.
• Exit effects make your object disappear from the PowerPoint slide, such as Fade Out, Fly Out, Wipe, etc.
• Motion Paths effects move your object along a predefined or custom path on the PowerPoint slide, such as Line, Curve, Circle, etc.

To apply an animation effect, simply click on the effect you want in the gallery. You can also click on the More button at the bottom right corner of the gallery to see more effects in each category.

Step 4: Adjust the PowerPoint animation settings

After you apply an animation effect to your object, you can adjust its settings to customize its behavior and appearance. You can use the following tools on the PowerPoint Animations tab:

• Animation Pane: This shows you a list of all the animations on your PowerPoint slide. You can use it to reorder, edit, delete, or preview your animations. You can also change the timing and trigger of your animations by clicking on the arrow next to each animation and selecting from the drop-down menu.

• Effect Options: This lets you modify the properties of your animation effect in PowerPoint, such as direction, speed, size, color, etc. The options vary depending on the type of effect you choose.

• Add Animation: This lets you add more than one animation effect to the same object in PowerPoint. You can combine different types of effects to create complex animations for your object.

• Animation Painter: This lets you copy an animation effect from one object to another in PowerPoint. You can use it to apply consistent animations across your slide or presentation.

You can also access the Animation Painter on the PPT Productivity Format Toolbar

Step 5: Preview and test your animation

The final step is to preview and test your animation in PowerPoint, to make sure it works as intended and looks good on your slide. You can use the following tools on the Animations tab:

• Preview: This lets you see how your animation will play on your PowerPoint slide. You can also press F5 to start a slideshow and see how your animation will look in full screen mode.

• Reorder Animation: This lets you change the order of your animations on your PowerPoint slide. You can drag and drop the animations in the Animation Pane or use the Move Earlier or Move Later buttons on the Animations tab.

• Timing: This lets you change the duration and delay of your animations in PowerPoint. You can enter a specific value in seconds or use the arrows to increase or decrease the time.

Below is a preview of my slide with animations. You can see in the right hand side Animations panel the duration and order of each animation.

Tips and best practices for using animation in PowerPoint

Animation can enhance your presentation if used wisely and sparingly. Here are some tips and best practices for using animation in PowerPoint:

• Use animation to support your message and purpose. Don't use animation just for decoration or distraction. Think about what you want to achieve with your animation and how it can help you communicate your key points.
• Use animation sparingly and consistently. Don't overuse animations or apply too many effects to one object. Too much animation can make your PowerPoint presentation look cluttered and confusing. Use animation only when necessary and apply it consistently across your slides.
• Use appropriate and suitable effects. Don't use effects that are too flashy or irrelevant for your presentation. Choose effects that match your content and tone. For example, use subtle and smooth effects for professional PowerPoint presentations and save the fun and lively effects for more informal presentations.
• Use transitions between slides. Transitions are another type of animation that you can use in PowerPoint. Transitions are effects that occur when you move from one slide to another. You can use transitions to create a smooth flow between your slides and add some variety and interest to your presentation.