Uploaded October 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
(Updated 2021!) 🪲 This After Effects tutorial shows how to quickly create a swarm of bugs flying around an outdoor light at night. The effect uses the "Swarms" template from Creation Effects, found at creationeffects.com/swarms.
The Swarms template can be used to create custom swarms of insects that you can customize and control. Choose from 18 species of insect, and tell them where to fly in three dimensions. The random flight and swarming behavior produces very realistic results. Swarms lets users easily create realistic, 3D insect animations in Adobe After Effects. Animate bugs individually, or combine them in unlimited numbers to form a 3D swarm that automatically moves with realistic swarming behavior - you just tell them where to fly! With Swarms, even After Effects novices can create high-quality, 3D swarms for compositing into their shots!
Check out the Swarms demo video here: youtu.be/STDibE9ltgk
Template features:
18 Species - Includes 18 high-resolution 3D models: A bee, dragonfly, firefly, housefly, grasshopper, ladybug, mayfly, mosquito, praying mantis, rhinoceros beetle, wasp, and 7 species of butterfly (monarch, swallowtail, bredow’s sister, duskywing, melissa blue, orange sulfur, and sagebrush white).
Controlled Flight and Landing - Control where the swarm flies in three dimensions simply by adding two or more Position keyframes. Their custom and automatic random behavior adds realistic variation to the individual insects' flight path. Land your insects, and even fold back their wings to a resting pose.
Completely Customizable - Using easy controls, you can customize each insect’s physical appearance, its wing flapping, and the swarm’s flight behavior. Adjust or keyframe the swarm's density, speed, direction, synchronization, random flight behavior, and much more.
Swarms Of Any Size - Animate a single insect, or a swarm of tens of thousands. Choose between 2D or 3D insects to optimize your render speed.
Works With 3D Lights & Cameras - The insects are created with 3D layers, allowing them to work with light and camera layers. Adjust the lighting to match the angle, intensity, and color of the light source in your background footage. Cast realistic shadows from the insects to help sell the effect. Adjust the camera position and angle to match your background footage for realistic compositing.
Add Your Own Species - Create new insects by swapping out the images. (You will need a profile image, a bottom-view or top-view image, and a wing image, all with transparent backgrounds.)
Demo Animations Included - A separate project file for the Swarms demo video is included. Dissect the comps to see how each animation was made.
(Updated 2021!) 🪲 This After Effects tutorial shows how to quickly create a swarm of bugs flying around an outdoor light at night. The effect uses the "Swarms" template from Creation Effects, found at creationeffects.com/swarms.
The Swarms template can be used to create custom swarms of insects that you can customize and control. Choose from 18 species of insect, and tell them where to fly in three dimensions. The random flight and swarming behavior produces very realistic results. Swarms lets users easily create realistic, 3D insect animations in Adobe After Effects. Animate bugs individually, or combine them in unlimited numbers to form a 3D swarm that automatically moves with realistic swarming behavior - you just tell them where to fly! With Swarms, even After Effects novices can create high-quality, 3D swarms for compositing into their shots!
Check out the Swarms demo video here: youtu.be/STDibE9ltgk
Template features:
18 Species - Includes 18 high-resolution 3D models: A bee, dragonfly, firefly, housefly, grasshopper, ladybug, mayfly, mosquito, praying mantis, rhinoceros beetle, wasp, and 7 species of butterfly (monarch, swallowtail, bredow’s sister, duskywing, melissa blue, orange sulfur, and sagebrush white).
Controlled Flight and Landing - Control where the swarm flies in three dimensions simply by adding two or more Position keyframes. Their custom and automatic random behavior adds realistic variation to the individual insects' flight path. Land your insects, and even fold back their wings to a resting pose.
Completely Customizable - Using easy controls, you can customize each insect’s physical appearance, its wing flapping, and the swarm’s flight behavior. Adjust or keyframe the swarm's density, speed, direction, synchronization, random flight behavior, and much more.
Swarms Of Any Size - Animate a single insect, or a swarm of tens of thousands. Choose between 2D or 3D insects to optimize your render speed.
Works With 3D Lights & Cameras - The insects are created with 3D layers, allowing them to work with light and camera layers. Adjust the lighting to match the angle, intensity, and color of the light source in your background footage. Cast realistic shadows from the insects to help sell the effect. Adjust the camera position and angle to match your background footage for realistic compositing.
Add Your Own Species - Create new insects by swapping out the images. (You will need a profile image, a bottom-view or top-view image, and a wing image, all with transparent backgrounds.)
Demo Animations Included - A separate project file for the Swarms demo video is included. Dissect the comps to see how each animation was made.
