The river beneath our streets
Survey maps and field notes cut around one word at 120 BPM. Play the six-second documentary intro, then replace the headline with yours.
Paper animation examples. Ready to make your own.
Watch a finished documentary intro or compare six motion studies made with the same paper star. Open any example to change the headline, photo or movement.
Each sample uses original artwork from Paper Animation. In the star studies, the subject stays the same so you can compare the edge, texture and movement before choosing a style for your own photo.
Download the original paper star (SVG)The studio gallery
Every setting below comes from the preset loaded by the linked editor button. Border and motion values are editor control values; the final appearance also depends on the shape and size of your image. A template changes the look of your asset and does not add a complete video timeline.
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Torn Reel
A punchy vertical cutout with stepped stop-motion energy. Use for a vertical reaction cutaway. The movement jumps between positions rather than gliding. Reduce intensity if the subject approaches the frame edge.
- Canvas
- 9:16
- Background
- paper
- Motion / speed
- stop-motion / 1.2
- Movement intensity
- 42
- Border / roughness
- 18 / 13
- Texture
- grain / 42
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Newspaper Fold
A fold-out reveal with newsprint texture and an ink-like edge. Use for an editorial reveal. A curved paper edge unrolls across the cutout, preserving the image proportions, then holds the full artwork.
- Canvas
- 4:5
- Background
- paper
- Motion / speed
- fold / 0.8
- Movement intensity
- 68
- Border / roughness
- 12 / 7
- Texture
- newsprint / 58
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Kraft Drift
Warm recycled-paper texture with a calm floating motion. Use behind a title or calm explainer. A slower float and warm texture keep the subject readable without a large shake.
- Canvas
- 4:5
- Background
- paper
- Motion / speed
- float / 0.7
- Movement intensity
- 26
- Border / roughness
- 10 / 6
- Texture
- kraft / 48
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Sticker Bounce
A clean white sticker edge with a quick social-ready bounce. Use for a square reaction sticker. Start with the white background; change to transparent if the destination supports alpha video.
- Canvas
- 1:1
- Background
- white
- Motion / speed
- bounce / 1.3
- Movement intensity
- 34
- Border / roughness
- 15 / 2
- Texture
- none
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Documentary Boil
A restrained handmade wiggle for interviews and explainers. Use for a landscape interview cutaway. This subtle boil moves and rotates the whole cutout; it does not redraw the outline frame by frame.
- Canvas
- 16:9
- Background
- paper
- Motion / speed
- boil / 0.7
- Movement intensity
- 18
- Border / roughness
- 9 / 5
- Texture
- grain / 24
Preparing preview…
Video downloads as MP4 where supported, otherwise WebM. GIF is a smaller, silent preview. All examples use our original artwork.
Product Pop
Bold clean edges and a sharp bounce for product highlights. Use for a product insert with a crisp white edge. Keep the item centered and leave space above it for the bounce.
- Canvas
- 4:5
- Background
- white
- Motion / speed
- bounce / 1
- Movement intensity
- 28
- Border / roughness
- 20 / 1
- Texture
- none
Choose an export for your next edit
| Goal | Start with | Check before delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail or collage | Transparent PNG | PNG contains one frame, not motion. |
| Animated overlay | Transparent WebM | Browser recording and your destination editor must both preserve transparency. Test a short clip first. |
| Editor without alpha WebM support | Green-screen video | Remove the green in your video editor with chroma key. Avoid green in the subject. |
| Finished social clip | Solid or paper background | The browser chooses a supported video codec. Use 720p for a lighter first export, then try 1080p. |
A 9:16 video export uses 720 × 1280 or 1080 × 1920 pixels. Longer HD clips use more memory, especially on mobile. The photo editor does not add audio, captions, or multiple scenes; finish those steps in your video editor.
For subject selection and paper styling, follow the step-by-step paper cutout guide. For the difference between moving a layer and redrawing a line, read how the boil effect works.
Finish it in your video editor
Recipes maintained by Paper Animation, the maker of this tool. Previewed with our original paper-star sample.