An animated background is an easy way to add polish to your edits. They’re a handy shortcut to creating stand out, professional-looking content. But knowing how to get animated backgrounds for your video can be tricky, and depending where you look they can be expensive too!
The good news is that you don’t need an army of animators, green screen expertise or a Netflix studio budget to add an animated background to your video. There are backgrounds to suit all types of creators - from nature-inspired backdrops for relaxing content, right through to electrifying animations for gaming creators.
No matter what content you create, an eye-catching background is one of the best ways to give your footage a lift. To save you time hunting around for animations you can use, we’ve rounded up where you’ll find the best animated backgrounds for your videos. What’s more, we’ll give you invaluable tips on the best ways to use them too.
- What are animated backgrounds?
- How animated backgrounds could elevate your content
- Where to find animated backgrounds for your videos
- 6 tips for making the most of animated backgrounds
Animated backgrounds explained
In a nutshell, animated backgrounds are any moving visuals used to enhance or replace the backdrop of your video. Instead of being plain and static images, animated backgrounds make your visuals engaging and dynamic.
Lots of creators use animated backgrounds to maintain their viewers’ interest or give their content a certain vibe. See how Marques Brownlee uses a clean-looking animated background that matches the sophisticated tech vibe of his content. Or the way Half as Interesting use animated backgrounds to keep viewers visually engaged as they explain the concept of an unorthodox basketball throw.
As you can imagine, animated backgrounds come in a whole range of different forms – ranging from lifelike scenes to something more subtle and abstract. Here are some of the most commonly used animated backgrounds:
Abstract loops
These will add texture to your video without taking away from the main subject of your content by using subtle, seamless patterns like this rippling effect or eye-catching elements such as animated gradients.
Cinematic landscapes
Instantly transport your views with real-life scenes taken from the world around us – like rolling clouds, underwater views, or the aurora borealis.
Cartoon illustrations
Animations can help complement the story you’re telling in a way that helps break up your footage and hold your audience’s attention. This could be anything from an animated park scene to accompany a fitness video, to a retro video game quest.
Textured effects
Adding different textures to your edits can completely change the vibe of your content. For example, glitch effects might work well for tech-related content, or a soft gradient effect can bring a calming quality to your videos.
Why use animated backgrounds?
Adding animated backgrounds to your videos isn’t just about aesthetics – it boosts your content’s production value and keeps viewers engaged. Here are some of the main benefits to using animated backgrounds in your next edit:
Make your content more engaging – Static backgrounds can feel dull and contribute to viewers losing interest. Make sure that doesn’t happen with eye-catching animated visuals that help hold their attention longer.
Give your videos a professional look – Your background makes a big difference to how people view your content. A dimly-lit room looks far less appealing than a slick animated background. They can instantly add a high-quality, polished look to your edits.
Set the right mood and tone – Backgrounds are an instant visual clue that shows your audience what they can expect. Whether you want a calm vibe for your latest upload, or to keep your footage high-energy, animated backgrounds help shape the tone of your content.
Enhance your content’s branding and style – Make your videos instantly recognizable to your viewers and you’ll stand out even more when they’re scrolling through content. Custom animated backgrounds create a signature visual style, making your videos instantly recognizable.
Capture attention with your intros, outros and transitions – Your intro can make or break whether someone watches your entire video or not. An animated background can help keep viewers hooked straight away. They can also be used to smoothly transition between scenes, introduce topics, or add emphasis to key moments.
Create awesome green screen content – Green screens are used by everyone from Hollywood studios to your local weather presenter to give content a visual lift. Whether you’re a YouTuber, live streamer, or educator, putting footage of yourself in front of animated backgrounds creates a more immersive experience for your viewers.
Where to find animated backgrounds for video (free and paid options)
The hunt for animated backgrounds can be daunting. There are tons of places to download assets, but not all of them offer high-quality, copyright-free backgrounds. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best sites for animated backgrounds, whether you're looking for free options or premium quality assets.
1. Uppbeat
Best for high-quality free backgrounds curated for creators 😍
Why creators love it: Uppbeat offers professional-quality animated backgrounds you can download for free. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! Uppbeat is a platform designed specifically for content creators, making it easy to find stylish, royalty-free backgrounds that fit your style.
What’s the catch? To unlock the full library and unlimited downloads, you’ll need a Premium or Business subscription. But considering you also get full access to music, sound effects and loads more motion graphics, it’s well worth the low monthly fee!
2. Mixkit
Great for finding free video backgrounds 💵
Why creators love it: If you’re looking for quick, hassle-free motion backgrounds, Mixkit offers a solid selection of free animations that don’t require attribution. It’s perfect for creators who need simple, ready-to-use assets without any extra steps.
What’s the catch? Customization options are limited – unlike paid alternatives, you won’t be able to tweak colors, adjust animations, or edit templates to fit your specific needs. Plus, the library can be difficult to navigate with hundreds of assets, and limited ways to filter them.
3. Motion Array
Best for high-end videographers working for brands 💎
Why creators love it: Motion Array is a go-to platform for professional videographers and studios that make video content for big brands. With an extensive library of dynamic animated backgrounds, it’s a platform built for high-end video production.
What’s the catch? If you want to tap into assets used by big brands, you’re going to have to pay for the privilege. The platform requires a hefty monthly subscription which might not be ideal for casual creators or those on a budget – the lowest price is almost twice as much as Uppbeat Premium.
4. Envato Elements
Best for customizable templates 🎨
Why creators love it: If you want full creative control, Envato Elements provides thousands of high-end animated backgrounds and editable templates for After Effects and Premiere Pro. It’s an excellent choice if you need customizable assets to match your unique branding and aesthetic.
What’s the catch? You’ll need a paid subscription and serious knowledge of pro editing software like After Effects or Premiere Pro to fully customize the templates. If you’re looking for drag and drop animated backgrounds, you might want to explore simpler alternatives.
Six tips to make the most of animated backgrounds
The ideal animated background can massively improve your content, but you’ll want to watch out for some common creator pitfalls. Even the best motion backgrounds won’t work well if they’re used incorrectly. Follow these pro tips to make the most of them:
1. Keep it subtle – Avoid overpowering your main footage with overly flashy backgrounds otherwise you risk distracting your viewers and taking away from the main content. Try keeping to one or two animated backgrounds across the video.
2. Match your brand – Use colors and styles that align with your content’s branding and aesthetic. The last thing you want is a background that jars with your typical look and feel!
3. Sometimes less is more – The impact you get when you add an animated background can be lost if you use it throughout your video. Pick and choose where a new background will be most effective.
4. Create a consistent look – Combine backgrounds with overlays like text animations, lower thirds, or motion graphics to create a cohesive look. It’ll look like you’ve hired a team of animators to help with your video!
5. Loop backgrounds for longer videos – Some animated backgrounds you’ll come across are short clips. To ensure smooth, continuous playback throughout your content, loop the background so it matches the duration of your scene.
6. Create eye-catching intros and outros – Animated backgrounds and intro templates are perfect for grabbing attention at the start of your video and leaving a lasting impression at the end.
Transform your videos with animated backgrounds
Adding an animated background to your content is about more than just aesthetics – it’s a simple but effective way to seriously boost the production value of your videos and make them even more watchable.
When it comes to backgrounds, the creative options are endless. You can create an eye-catching intro that hooks your audience, emphasize key information with subtle backdrops that don’t distract viewers, or even create a whole branded look for your channel.
Ready to find the ideal background for your content? Explore high-quality, royalty-free animated backgrounds by checking out Uppbeat’s motion graphics library and start downloading for free.
