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Create an Animated Presentation

Learn how to animate text, pictures, shapes, charts, and other objects in Microsoft PowerPoint to create engaging presentations.

PowerPoint Tutorial Progress Lesson 47 of 50

Study the lesson, complete the practical activity, and take the quiz.

Introduction to Animation

Animation in PowerPoint controls how an object appears, moves, emphasizes information, or disappears during a presentation. You can animate text, pictures, icons, shapes, and charts.

Animations can help explain a process step by step, highlight important points, and make a presentation more interesting. However, too many effects can distract the audience.

1. What Is Animation in PowerPoint?

An animation is a visual effect applied to an object on a slide. It controls how that object behaves when the presentation is played.

Example: On a slide about computer parts, you can make the monitor appear first, followed by the keyboard and mouse.

2. Understand the Four Main Animation Categories

  • Entrance: Makes an object appear on a slide.
  • Emphasis: Highlights an object already visible.
  • Exit: Makes an object disappear from the slide.
  • Motion Paths: Moves an object along a defined path.
Example: Use an Entrance effect to display a heading, an Emphasis effect to highlight a word, and an Exit effect to remove an object before showing the next step.

3. Open the Animations Tab

  1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Select the slide containing the object.
  3. Click the object you want to animate.
  4. Open the Animations tab on the ribbon.
  5. Choose an animation from the available effects.

The available animation effects may vary depending on your PowerPoint version.

4. Apply an Entrance Animation

Entrance animations control how objects first appear on a slide.

  1. Select a text box, picture, or shape.
  2. Open the Animations tab.
  3. Choose an effect such as Appear, Fade, or Fly In.
  4. Use Preview to see the effect.
Tip: Fade and Appear are useful for professional presentations because they are simple and clear.

5. Apply an Emphasis Animation

Emphasis effects draw attention to an object that is already visible on the slide.

Depending on the selected object and PowerPoint version, effects may include:

  • Pulse
  • Grow/Shrink
  • Teeter
  • Color changes or other highlighting effects
Example: Apply a subtle emphasis effect to the final answer in a classroom quiz.

6. Apply an Exit Animation

Exit animations control how an object leaves the slide. They are helpful when presenting information in stages.

  1. Select the object.
  2. Open the Animations tab.
  3. Choose an appropriate Exit effect.
  4. Preview the result.
Example: Make a question disappear before displaying its answer.

7. Use Motion Path Animations

Motion paths move an object along a selected or custom path. They can demonstrate movement, directions, and processes.

  1. Select a picture or shape.
  2. Open the Animations tab.
  3. Choose Add Animation.
  4. Select a motion path, such as Lines or Arcs, if available.
  5. Adjust the path and preview the movement.
Example: Animate a small car moving along a road drawn on the slide.

8. Animate Text and Bullet Points

Text animation can reveal a heading or bullet points one at a time, helping the audience follow the explanation.

  1. Select the text box.
  2. Apply an entrance animation.
  3. Open the effect options when available.
  4. Choose an option such as By Paragraph if supported.
  5. Preview the sequence.
Use paragraph-by-paragraph animation when you want to discuss each point before showing the next one.

9. Animate Pictures and Shapes

Pictures and shapes can be animated to introduce objects gradually or demonstrate how something works.

  • Select the picture or shape.
  • Choose an animation from the Animations tab.
  • Adjust its timing and sequence.
  • Use Preview to check the effect.
Example: In a computer lesson, reveal the CPU, monitor, keyboard, and mouse one at a time.

10. Use Add Animation for Multiple Effects

If you select a new effect directly from the animation gallery, you may replace the object's existing animation. Use Add Animation when you want to add another effect to the same object.

  1. Select the object that already has an animation.
  2. Open the Animations tab.
  3. Click Add Animation.
  4. Select another effect.
  5. Preview both effects in the intended order.
Multiple effects can make a slide complicated. Add them only when they serve a clear purpose.

11. Understand Start, Duration, and Delay

  • On Click: Starts when you click during the slideshow.
  • With Previous: Starts together with the preceding effect.
  • After Previous: Starts after the preceding effect finishes.
  • Duration: Controls how long the effect runs.
  • Delay: Waits for a specified time before starting.
Example sequence: A title appears On Click, a picture appears With Previous, and a caption appears After Previous.

12. Manage Animations with the Animation Pane

The Animation Pane displays the animations applied to objects on a slide and helps you manage their sequence.

  1. Open the Animations tab.
  2. Click Animation Pane.
  3. Review the listed effects.
  4. Select an effect to change its settings.
  5. Reorder effects when needed.

Use the pane to identify unnecessary effects and make the sequence easier to manage.

13. Animate Charts and SmartArt

Animating a chart or SmartArt graphic can reveal information gradually instead of displaying everything at once.

  • Select the chart or SmartArt graphic.
  • Apply an available animation.
  • Explore effect options for displaying elements in stages.
  • Preview the result and verify that the data remains clear.
Avoid animation that makes charts difficult to understand. Accuracy and readability are more important than visual effects.

14. Preview and Improve Your Animated Presentation

Before presenting, review all animations carefully.

  • Check that effects start in the correct order.
  • Make sure text remains readable.
  • Remove effects that do not support the message.
  • Check for overlapping or unexpected movement.
  • Test all slides in Slide Show mode.
  • Save the final presentation using Ctrl + S.

15. Practical Project: Create an Animated Presentation

Create a five-slide presentation on Introduction to Computers.

  1. Create a title slide with an entrance animation.
  2. Add a slide explaining computer components.
  3. Animate bullet points one at a time.
  4. Apply an emphasis effect to an important term.
  5. Use a motion path to move a suitable object.
  6. Open Animation Pane and review the sequence.
  7. Adjust the timing of at least two effects.
  8. Preview the complete presentation.
  9. Save it as Animated_Computer_Presentation.pptx.
Challenge: Create a second version using fewer animations. Compare both versions and decide which communicates the information more clearly.

Key Points to Remember

  • Animations control how objects appear, move, change, or disappear.
  • Entrance, Emphasis, Exit, and Motion Paths serve different purposes.
  • Use Add Animation to apply additional effects to an object.
  • On Click, With Previous, and After Previous control animation starts.
  • Duration controls the time an effect takes; Delay postpones its start.
  • Use Animation Pane to organize and reorder effects.
  • Animate charts and text only when it helps explain the information.
  • Preview the presentation before delivering it.

Quick Quiz

Answer all three questions to check your understanding.

1. Which animation category makes an object appear on a slide?

2. Which PowerPoint feature helps you view and reorder animations?

3. What does After Previous do?

Complete This Lesson

Once you have studied the lesson and attempted the quiz, mark this lesson as complete.

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