Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This tutorial shows how to create panda bear animations in After Effects, using the "Panda Bear" template from Creation Effects. Learn more at creationeffects.com/panda-bear.
This template includes a giant panda 2D puppet. With the easy-to-use controls, you can “program” your giant panda to do almost anything (keeping a profile-view). Assign any combination of “primary actions”, such as walk, stand on two legs, or somersault, and smoothly transition from action to action. Use the “secondary action” controls to animate the head, paws, tail, mouth, ears, eyes, breathing and more. You can animate one panda bear, or create a group, and insert it into your motion designs or 3D scenes.
This template is compatible with CC2019 and up. No plugins required. Music and 3D scenes from video are not included. This panda bear is part of the "Beast" series from Creation Effects.
Watch the Panda Bear Demo Video here: youtu.be/pG52Kl1Ani8
How it works:
Panda Bear uses the Advanced Puppet Pin tool in After Effects on high-resolution profile images of giant pandas to create complex and realistic movements. Using the preset movements built into each panda bear, the amount of animation work required by you is minimal!
The eleven preset movements, called “Primary Actions”, range from walking to somersaults to standing on two feet. You can assign any combination of primary actions to a panda bear with a few clicks of a mouse, while maintaining control over the timing and duration of actions, and smoothly transitioning from action to action. Each panda bear is on a single layer, so once you have chosen your primary actions, all you need to do is animate your panda bear layer’s position to move across the frame.
“Secondary Actions” offer even more control, allowing you to make custom movements of the paws, head, tail, mouth, and more. Secondary actions have easy-to-use controls, so you can keyframe the different properties. Twitch the ears, blink the eyes, sniff the nose... even adjust the intensity and speed of the breathing. For animators who need even more control, the pins on the panda bear can always be adjusted.
00:00 - Intro to Panda Bear
03:00 - Simple scene example
05:40 - How it's made
08:40 - Rules for duplicating pandas
12:40 - Primary actions
17:50 - Secondary actions
22:00 - Helpful tips
This tutorial shows how to create panda bear animations in After Effects, using the "Panda Bear" template from Creation Effects. Learn more at creationeffects.com/panda-bear.
This template includes a giant panda 2D puppet. With the easy-to-use controls, you can “program” your giant panda to do almost anything (keeping a profile-view). Assign any combination of “primary actions”, such as walk, stand on two legs, or somersault, and smoothly transition from action to action. Use the “secondary action” controls to animate the head, paws, tail, mouth, ears, eyes, breathing and more. You can animate one panda bear, or create a group, and insert it into your motion designs or 3D scenes.
This template is compatible with CC2019 and up. No plugins required. Music and 3D scenes from video are not included. This panda bear is part of the "Beast" series from Creation Effects.
Watch the Panda Bear Demo Video here: youtu.be/pG52Kl1Ani8
How it works:
Panda Bear uses the Advanced Puppet Pin tool in After Effects on high-resolution profile images of giant pandas to create complex and realistic movements. Using the preset movements built into each panda bear, the amount of animation work required by you is minimal!
The eleven preset movements, called “Primary Actions”, range from walking to somersaults to standing on two feet. You can assign any combination of primary actions to a panda bear with a few clicks of a mouse, while maintaining control over the timing and duration of actions, and smoothly transitioning from action to action. Each panda bear is on a single layer, so once you have chosen your primary actions, all you need to do is animate your panda bear layer’s position to move across the frame.
“Secondary Actions” offer even more control, allowing you to make custom movements of the paws, head, tail, mouth, and more. Secondary actions have easy-to-use controls, so you can keyframe the different properties. Twitch the ears, blink the eyes, sniff the nose... even adjust the intensity and speed of the breathing. For animators who need even more control, the pins on the panda bear can always be adjusted.
00:00 - Intro to Panda Bear
03:00 - Simple scene example
05:40 - How it's made
08:40 - Rules for duplicating pandas
12:40 - Primary actions
17:50 - Secondary actions
22:00 - Helpful tips
