Last updated on 1st December 2023
Kinetic typography is a diverse visual story-telling technique. And it’s been in use for as long as there has been video – evolving over the years and being utilised in a wide variety of ways.
In this article we’re going to take a look at 50+ amazing video examples of kinetic typography that will help to inspire you for your next project!
Contents
What is kinetic typography?
Kinetic typography simply means ‘moving text’. It’s an animation technique that pairs text with motion to convey ideas and evoke emotions in viewers.
There are many benefits to using kinetic typography in your video marketing strategy, especially if you want to future-proof your videos.
According to a report by the World Advertising Research Centre, 72% of internet users will be mobile-only by 2025. And most sites automatically mute videos when accessed by smartphones. By using kinetic typography, you can get your message across even with the sound off.
Plus, we all know the internet is a noisy place.
There are hundreds of hours of new videos being uploaded every minute, and you need people to pay attention to yours.
Kinetic typography helps to increase engagement by demanding attention from viewers, as they need to read the words to follow along.
Kinetic typography for marketing
Kinetic typography has many valuable uses, one of which is for marketing.
Kinetic typography, in addition to capturing the attention of people opting for soundless viewing, is a great way to tell your brand story and sell your services.
Take a look at these examples…
1. Build a Bigger Business (Shopify/Tony Robbins)
When speaking to entrepreneurs, you need to get to the point (fast!), and make every word count.
This inspirational video for Shopify, starring life-coach and business strategist, Tony Robbins does exactly that.
Typography aside, this video has a lot of energy, with fast-paced editing and a motivational soundtrack to really grasp the attention of viewers. The kinetic typography simply elevates this to the next level.
The theme of the video is ‘hunger’ and this word bursts onto screen several times, along with other keywords as they are spoken by Tony Robbins. This really works to drive home the message and make the video more memorable.
2. New York Times Turkish Edition (Quba Michalski)
The New York Times is built on words, so it’s poetic that this video builds recognisable landmarks from newspaper pages.
In fact, according to the video description on Vimeo, actual pages from the first issue of the Turkish Edition of The New York Times were used in the video.
The financial news pages were used for Wall Street and the entertainment news became Times Square.
As this video is all about bringing the American newspaper to Turkey, the video takes viewers on a tour from Manhattan to Istanbul, all with the wonder of typography!
3. Internal Communications (Poppulo)
When you only have thirty seconds to say what you want to say, you need to be fast. This video from Poppulo does not miss a beat!
The energetic text dances around the screen to the tune of a funky soundtrack. And the kinetic typography also works seamlessly alongside the icons in the video.
An example of this can be seen when the phrase ‘uncover your vision’ transforms into a blinking eye.
This video shows that you can have fun with typography and animation, even if your focus is on B2B topics.
4. Jump (Ford F-150)
A car advertisement is probably one of the last places you’d expect to see kinetic typography. And yet, in this video about the Ford F-150, the text is what carries the story.
30 seconds isn’t a lot of time to make an impact, and Ford seems to be aware of this, starting the video with the phrase, ‘OK, LOOK…’
This no-nonsense approach holds for the rest of the video, and works to grab the attention of viewers.
Ford uses big, bold text to match a big, bold car, and the result is a captivating video that gets their message across plain and simple!
5. Ahltea
This video by sustainable solutions company Ahlstrom uses kinetic typography and clever layering techniques to show us the science behind a good cup of tea.
Although the scenes are quite busy, the text is bold and stands out. The typography flows playfully from one scene to the next, making this an easy and engaging watch.
6. Keep Up (Honda)
This video by Honda uses kinetic typography to challenge the viewer to pay attention. A genius idea that led to the video going viral and being used around the globe, despite it being originally intended as a UK-only campaign.
The way the words appear on screen one at a time and then increase in pace as the ad progresses makes viewers feel like they’ve been challenged, and have ‘pushed their limits’ – which is the core message of the ad.
Instead of making the car the focus of the advert, Honda made the challenge the focus, and this made the video extremely shareable.
7. Burger King
This rebrand video for Burger King oozes style and personality, using a modern, upbeat soundtrack and simple, slick animation to get across multiple aspects of their new brand.
8. Apple
No list of amazing videos can be complete without an Apple ad. The purpose of this video is to underscore Apple’s commitment to a goal of every single Apple product around the world being carbon neutral by 2030 – from design to manufacturing to shipping, usage, and recycling.
9. Wyzowl
At Wyzowl, we created a kinetic typography video to announce our rebrand.
Kinetic typography was the perfect fit for this video because it allowed us to highlight the different achievements we’re proud of by showing figures on screen – as you can see, kinetic typography is an excellent way to present data.
The use of typography also allowed us to show the transformation from our old font to our new one. This just goes to show there are so many different ways to use kinetic typography in your videos!
10. Google
This product feature video of the Google Home device uses typography to add important information on-screen.
The typography is clean, clear, and minimalist – so it doesn’t detract from the features of the product.
This allows viewers to give their full attention to the product, something they may not have done if the video had used a voiceover instead of typography.
Voiceovers can sometimes be distracting, and they can also be limiting – for example, you have to settle on a gender and an accent. Typography, however, is universal.
11. Eyemart Express
Kinetic typography looks great, but it’s also often used for very practical purposes. Take this video by Eyemart Express, for example.
This video shows viewers 3 steps for finding the perfect fit when it comes to glasses. Kinetic typography is used, along with accompanying illustrations, to break each step down and make the points easier to digest.
12. Acomos
The kinetic typography in this video by Acomos isn’t the flashiest, but it captures the viewer’s attention in ways other than movement.
Important words appear in gold, which really helps to add emphasis considering the limited colour palette of the rest of the video.
Some of these important words also turn into icons, which is a fun way to play with the delivery of the message. For example, the phrase ‘real-time’ transforms into a clock.
13. Procrastination
The trailer for David McRaney’s highly acclaimed book, “You Are Not So Smart,” showcases an impressive display of animated typography. Produced by Plus3 Productions, this meticulously crafted trailer offers a concise glimpse into the book’s content, focusing on the theme of procrastination.
Through skillful animation and thoughtful design, the trailer effectively conveys the essence of the book, providing viewers with a sense of relatability and introspection. Each scene is carefully timed to deliver key messages, prompting nods of agreement and moments of reflection.
14. The Mother Rising
This emotionally resonant video combines impactful lyrics and dynamic typography with compelling footage, striking a deep chord within viewers.
The video sheds light on the challenges faced by mothers and family caregivers, who shoulder immense unpaid care and household responsibilities while also encountering high risks in their paid frontline care work. Particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these burdens and barriers have been exacerbated, disproportionately affecting those experiencing poverty, discrimination, and gender-based violence.
Through The Mother Rising, the Canadian Women’s Foundation aims to address these issues and advocate for gender justice. By encouraging individuals to join this movement, the video emphasises the importance of providing diverse mothers and caregivers in Canada with the support they need to rise above these challenges.
15. Wyzowl
Yes, that’s right. We’re listing ourselves twice! We know kinetic typography – and we’ve used it in a lot of videos, both for ourselves and for clients.
This short video uses kinetic typography sparingly, alongside icons, to highlight certain points.
The reason we’ve included this on the list is to show that kinetic typography doesn’t always have to be the star of the show. Even just a small burst of typography in your video can add the energy that you need to keep viewers engaged!
Kinetic typography for a motivational impact
Speeches are a great use case for kinetic typography. Animated text can really elevate the feeling behind the words to create a motivational impact and inspire viewers to take action.
Here are some examples…
16. Conan O’Brien (Jacob Gilbreath)
Kinetic typography really brings this farewell speech to life.
The stripped-back white and grey palette ensures that the viewer’s focus is on the message, rather than any other distractions on screen. And the yellow icons add a nice pop of colour, while also helping to emphasize certain points.
When the video zooms out at the end to show the whole speech, it demonstrates how carefully choreographed this 3D video is.
17. Kid President Peptalk (Taylor English)
Kid President is a young, motivational speaker. And the motion of the text in this video really helps to emphasise the passion and enthusiasm in his voice when he speaks. Whenever the peptalk becomes particularly emotive, the words burst on screen in big, bold letters.
The use of icons in conjunction with the kinetic typography also helps to tell the story in a fun, childlike manner that matches the voiceover.
This video was originally live action, so if you want to have fun comparing both versions then check out this article.
18. Be Water, My Friend (Júlio Cargnin Pereira)
This short video packs an incredible punch (pun absolutely intended). The audio, snipped from an interview conducted shortly before Bruce Lee’s untimely death is married up perfectly with the kinetic typography – and this superb editing has earned the video thousands of views.
Message aside, this video is a great example of how versatile kinetic typography can be. The words stretch, float, melt, flow – and do whatever else is required to complement the story. It shows that, just as water can be manipulated, so can typography.
19. Ira Glass on Storytelling
This clip from an interview with storyteller, Ira Glass has a powerful message for writers. And that message is elevated by this video.
The constant motion makes it easy for viewers to read along with the audio, and it’s great to see the text change depending on the way Ira Glass says something. For example, when he says something loudly it appears larger on screen, and when he stresses a word we can see it italicised.
The kinetic typography captures his speech so well that even viewed with the sound off the message would be just as effective.
20. Steve Jobs
The content of this video is similar to the Ira Glass one. It’s a clip from a speech that Steve Jobs gave at Stanford University in 2005.
Again, the typography is constantly moving, appearing on screen one word at a time so that we can read and listen. This doesn’t just look great, it makes the video more memorable.
According to our Power of Visual Communication infographic, people remember 20% of what they read, 10% of what they hear, and 80% of what they see.
Videos like this one cover all those bases – giving viewers the best chance of remembering the content long after they’ve stopped watching.
Kinetic typography for charity campaigns
Due to their nature, charities usually have tough topics to cover in their video campaigns. You may think that kinetic typography isn’t capable of conveying the level of emotion required for these videos.
But we’ve found some amazing examples that prove otherwise…
21. First Step (Childline)
This video uses kinetic typography to tackle a sensitive subject in a tasteful way.
The typography used for the child’s part of the conversation is animated in a way that matches the child’s emotions.
When the child feels stuck, the text sticks to the screen like bubble gum; and when the child feels embarrassed and frightened to talk, the words flutter away into nothingness.
In contrast, when the councillor speaks the scene is clear and the text is measured.
This Childline video shows the diversity of kinetic typography and how effective it can be in conveying emotions.
22. The Girl Effect
This video is over 10 years old now, and has more than a million views, so you may have seen it before. But we thought it important to include on this list as it tells the story of vulnerable girls and young women through typography alone.
The typography in this video is similar to the Apple video above (number 8 on this list) in that you can almost hear someone narrating the video in your mind because the text is so natural and emotive.
23. You can talk to us (Childline)
We had to include another video from Childline on this list because their video marketing is really impressive.
This 60 second video highlights different scenarios that may be familiar to vulnerable children.
The soundtrack and kinetic neon typography work together to powerfully convey the aggression and fear that these children experience.
24. Falling Whistles
This video by Falling Whistles tells the heartbreaking story behind the reason for the campaign.
Each word animates onto screen one at a time, demanding the full-attention of viewers. There is also subtle (yet thought-provoking) animation that conveys the meaning behind the words and phrases.
25. Marie Curie
This video by Marie Curie was another campaign that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The kinetic typography in this video is small and not very energetic – but that doesn’t mean it’s not memorable.
The fact that the text is unassuming actually adds to the impact of the campaign – and it shows that you don’t need to overthink these things.
Looking to create a video for your charity? Visit our charity video agency page.
Kinetic typography in film and TV
It’s unlikely that you’re reading this article because you’re interested in making a film or a TV show. Even so, it’s worth taking a look at how kinetic typography has been used in film and TV over the years.
As we’ll see, film is arguably where kinetic typography began…
26. North by Northwest
The graphic designer that created this title sequence was known as Saul Bass. He was famous in 20th century Hollywood for creating captivating sequences like this, and movie posters.
This sequence, from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, is widely regarded as the first ever use of kinetic typography in a feature film.
The way the text slides on and off screen, while this may seem primitive to us now, was revolutionary when the film was released.
27. Catch Me If You Can
Based on the North by Northwest example above, you may think that this opening sequence is another of Saul Bass’s movie credits. But this movie was actually made after his death, although it’s known to be a strong homage to his work – created by the visual creation duo, Kuntzel+Deygas.
This opening sequence is almost like a story before the story, with kinetic typography acting as one of the main characters.
The simple line art that runs through the sequence is cleverly manipulated to pair the names of the actors with props from the story.
The continuous motion here works to mesmerise viewers and grab their attention before the movie has even started.
28. Spider-Man
Although not part of the official Marvel Cinematic Universe, the 2002 Spider-Man film was possibly the first to feature Marvel’s iconic animated logo.
If that wasn’t enough to make this opening sequence amazing, then the kinetic typography will surely win you over.
The text, which looks to be made of webbing, tumbles on screen one letter at a time, and each word lands on a different spider’s web. This continuous motion creates a mesmerising effect and works to prepare the viewer for the world they are about to enter.
29. Breaking Bad
This fan-made video highlights a pivotal moment in the series Breaking Bad.
Kinetic typography is used to convey the emotions of the characters, and this is done really well with the use of animated bubbles and smooth transitions.
As this is a conversation between two characters, the animator has cleverly assigned the colour white to Skyler’s character and black to Walt’s character. This creates a powerful effect when they talk over one another.
30. Mad as hell
This is another fan-made video portraying a powerful scene from the 1976 movie, Network.
Kinetic typography is a great way to showcase these emotive scenes because the visualisation of the text allows the animator to add emphasis to certain words.
This is particularly impactful with speeches like this, where the character is getting angrier and louder as the scene progresses – this forces the typography to animate faster and faster, really gripping viewers.
31. Skyfall
The James Bond title theme is a coveted prize for any musician. When Adele had a chance with Skyfall in 2012, this kinetic typography music video was made to generate buzz for the song and the movie.
The video, which now has almost 400 million views (and counting!), hooks viewers instantly with the famous gun barrel sequence.
The kinetic typography isn’t as flashy as some that we’ve seen on this list, but it doesn’t need to be. The slow, hypnotising motion works well with the tense atmosphere of the song.
32. Into the Spiderverse
Here’s another music video for a movie soundtrack. Into the Spiderverse was a very different kind of film for Sony. The comic-book animation captured the attention of audiences and the movie even won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature!
This music video for one of the songs in the film hints at the style of the feature, using kinetic typography to make the video look like a comic-book that has come to life.
33. The Office
One more fan-made video! The typography for this video has been taken from a well-known scene in the American sitcom, The Office.
This video shows how much fun can be had with kinetic typography, and also how diverse it is.
Kinetic typography for storytelling
So, we’ve looked at how kinetic typography has been used for marketing purposes, to tug on people’s heartstrings and to motivate and empower people.
But, at the heart of it, all of this comes back to one thing – storytelling.
Kinetic typography is a great vehicle for storytelling, and here are a few videos that best highlight that…
34. Apocalypse Rhyme
This animated poem has won several awards, including a British Animation Award for best motion graphics.
Kinetic typography really is the star of this show. Not only is text used to display the poem on screen, it is also used in place of icons and illustrations – the ocean, an eye, an altar – everything in this video is made of letters.
35. My Proper Tea
This video uses the audio from comedian Doc Brown’s rap about making the perfect cup of tea.
It’s largely character-based but kinetic typography features as a way to emphasise certain lyrics and to add more humour to the storyline.
36. Tomorrow I’ll be Brave (Jessica Hische)
Tomorrow I’ll be Brave is a children’s bedtime story by Jessica Hische. This animated video uses kinetic typography to bring the pages of the book to life in this fun, short trailer.
The most interesting thing about this video is that the words themselves are used to create entire scenes. For example, the word ‘STRONG’ becomes the tunnels of an ant farm, and the word ‘CONFIDENT’ is the battleground for a knight slaying a dragon.
This approach makes the video quite different to typical book trailers and presents an interesting way to use kinetic typography.
37. Procrastination
Here’s another book trailer. While just as effective as the Tomorrow I’ll be Brave video, it’s also completely different – highlighting the range of what you can do with kinetic typography. The possibilities are practically endless!
Like the Acomos video above (number 12 on the list), this video pairs images with kinetic typography to create engaging scenes that go beyond typical icon-led videos.
38. How to be gorgeous (Stephen Fry)
Stephen Fry is perhaps the world’s most well-known linguaphile (that’s someone who loves words!), so it seems only apt that someone should make a kinetic typography video featuring one of his anecdotes.
This video uses a range of different fonts, colours, and motion to bring the story to life.
7 Kinetic typography GIFs
GIFs, also known as animated graphics, are everywhere these days. And this is another medium where kinetic typography excels.
Take a look at these examples…
39. All Day Long
This GIF is simple yet clever in its design.
The font ‘All Day Long’ loops infinitely – creating a visual representation of the phrase.
40. Reinvent (The Legal Innovation Hub)
This GIF by The Legal Innovation Hub takes kinetic typography to the next level by implementing clever wordplay.
The way that the words rearrange to create something new is mesmerising, and the bold colours really make this pop.
41. Fight for Freedom
What a powerful image!
This GIF uses kinetic typography to cleverly reveal opposing words hidden behind the word ‘Freedom’. The delivery of the message in this way makes for a memorable and shareable result.
42. Step it up!
Simple, yet effective.
This GIF is pretty self-explanatory. As you can see, the phrase ‘step it up’ has been repeated and positioned in a way that creates the effect of an endless staircase.
43. Counter
Kinetic typography doesn’t always have to be about letters – numbers work too!
This ‘counter’ GIF shows one number morphing into the next with slick animation that hooks viewers and keeps their attention.
44. Dash Bash
This GIF doubles up as the animated logo for motion design festival, Dash Bash.
As you can see, each word morphs into the next making it almost impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.
45. COVID-19 Feels
This candid and touching GIF captures the many fluctuating emotions that a lot of people have felt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By using typography in place of a mouth the designer has been able to create a simple but powerful effect.
6 MORE kinetic typography videos
We’re spoiling you today! Let’s finish up the article by looking at 6 more kinetic typography videos.
These videos didn’t fit into any particular category. Hopefully they’ll offer you even more inspiration for the many ways you can use kinetic typography…
46. The Ten Commandments
Kinetic typography is a great way to explain things – whether that’s your brand story, how something works, or an idea. This video does just that by using typography to explain the Ten Commandments.
One reason why you might want to use kinetic typography for videos like this is because it frees you from attachments – you don’t need to pick a voiceover or a character and risk excluding or alienating some of your audience.
47. Guillaume Drigeard
If you thought you’d seen every different kind of example there was by now, think again. This video CV highlights an interesting use case for kinetic typography.
It’s no secret that job markets are becoming more and more crowded and competitive, and a video can be a great way to stand out in an employer’s inbox.
This video by Guillaume Drigeard isn’t especially flashy. The typography animates in a simple way, but it gets each point across clearly. And it’s been viewed over 30,000 times – pretty great for a CV!
48. From Paper to Screen (Thibault de Fournas)
This video by Thibault de Fournas uses typography to explain typography – pretty clever, right?!
This real-time demonstration is divided into two parts, with the first part displaying the basic rules of typesetting and the second telling a history of kinetic typography in film.
This divide also has a secondary function in that it shows us just how diverse typography can be. The first half of the video, with the letters moving around the screen in time to Debussy’s Clair De Lune is world’s apart from the second half of the video, which is more dramatic and intense.
49. Typography Tutorial
This video is similar to the previous one in that it uses kinetic typography to explain different rules that can help you improve your use of typography.
This video is filled with practical tips and tricks, and also benefits users by showing as well as telling – something that video allows you to do well (particularly if you include kinetic typography).
50. The Things I Love
This video love letter uses kinetic typography in a number of interesting ways that keeps viewers guessing as each new scene appears.
It doesn’t go over the top with lots of motion and different fonts, instead keeping things simple and sleek. And it works!
51. Headspace
The last video on the list is actually something you can play along with – a mini meditation.
Headspace is killing the video marketing game with their humorous storylines and recognisable, colourful style.
The kinetic typography in this video complements the voiceover, so that people can watch it with or without sound. This is a great use case for kinetic typography as viewers like to have the option!
Final Thoughts
Kinetic typography is such a diverse technique that it can be used to tell almost any story – as the 50+ examples in this article demonstrate.
Looking to create one of your own? Take a look at our video examples.
