How to Make a Basic Animated Video in PowerPoint

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Animated videos can be a fun and engaging way to present information. With PowerPoint, you can easily create basic animations and export them as video files to share online or present in person. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to make a simple animated video using PowerPoint.

Overview of the Process

Here is a quick overview of the process we’ll cover:

  1. Plan out your video storyboard
  2. Set up your PowerPoint file
  3. Add animations to objects on each slide
  4. Adjust animation timing and effects
  5. Add transitions between slides
  6. Record narration or add music/sound (optional)
  7. Export your presentation as a video file

Step 1: Plan Your Storyboard

Before jumping into PowerPoint, take a few minutes to plan out key scenes and flow for your animated video. Outline the main points and sequence them into a storyboard.

Consider what visuals, graphics, images or text blocks you’ll need to support the storyline. Sketch scenes if needed to visualize transitions and timing. Having an outline will make the animation process much smoother.

Step 2: Set Up Your PowerPoint File

Open PowerPoint and select the “Blank Presentation” template. This gives you a blank canvas to build your animated scenes.

Go to the Design tab and pick a theme with background colors/fonts that fit your video style.

Under Page Setup, choose “On-screen Show (16:9)” slide size to optimize exports for standard widescreen video formats.

Step 3: Add Animations to Objects

It’s now time to start constructing your animated scenes.

On the first slide, insert shapes, images, icons, text boxes or other objects needed for the scene. Use placeholders at first if you don’t have final assets ready.

To add animation effects:

  1. Select the object(s) you want to animate
  2. Go to “Animations” tab
  3. Click the animation style you want
  4. Customize animation effects in the popup menu

For example, have a dot enter from the left side flying in with a “Whoosh” sound effect. Or have a text block fade in gently.

Repeat for all objects you want animated on the first scene. Preview animations.

Step 4: Refine Animation Timing

For a polished animated video, take time to refine the timing and sequence of animations in each scene:

  • On the Animations tab, open the “Animation Pane” to view and rearrange the animation timeline
  • Stagger animations so they don’t all happen simultaneously
  • Adjust start/end delays for smooth scene flow
  • Set some objects to “appear” instantly without effects

Follow this process for all slides, playing around with arrangements to achieve your desired timing and flow.

Step 5: Add Slide Transitions

Once your individual slides are animated, it’s time to add transitions between them:

  1. Select the slide thumbnail in the left pane
  2. Go to Transitions tab
  3. Click a transition style and duration

I recommend keeping transitions simple. Fade or wipe transitions work well for basic PowerPoint videos.

Again, preview and arrange transitions for best timing between your animated scenes.

Step 6: Record Narration or Add Music/Sound (optional)

At this point your basic animation sequences are complete. Now you can add optional voice narration, background music or sound effects:

Narration

  • Go to Insert > Record Audio to narrate your script over the video
  • Trim audio clips and align narration timing with animations

Background music

  • Insert an audio file on the first slide
  • Adjust volume and trimming to loop

Sound effects

  • Add appropriate sounds for animations like swooshes, dings, etc
  • Adjust timing so sound aligns properly with motions

Take another pass previewing your animation video with audio for polish.

Step 7: Export Video File

You’re finally ready to export your animated PowerPoint as a standalone video file.

  1. Go to File > Export > Create a Video
  2. Choose MP4 or MOV format
  3. Select video quality
  4. Click Create Video

The export process will run through every slide, animations and transitions to render your presentation as a video file.

Once complete, your PowerPoint animation is ready to share! Upload to YouTube, social media or present directly.

Next Steps

And that covers the basics of authoring a simple animated video in PowerPoint! While basic, this process allows you to piece together animated scenes with smooth motion and timed narration.

Some next steps as you advance:

  • Explore using PowerPoint morph transitions for cool object transformations
  • Add interactions like click triggers to create choose-your-own adventures
  • Combine with other tools like Vyond for 2D character animation
  • Import to video editors like Premiere Pro for more robust post-production

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