Mastering Animation: A Comprehensive Guide to Changing Animation in PowerPoint

Changing animation in PowerPoint involves navigating the Animation Pane and strategically using its features to modify existing effects, adjust timing, and even replace animations entirely. It’s a process that empowers you to refine your presentation’s visual storytelling, ensuring your message is delivered with impact and clarity. This article will explore the intricacies of this process, offering insights and practical steps to elevate your PowerPoint animation skills.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Animation Pane

The Animation Pane is the control center for managing all animations within a slide. This is where you can view, modify, reorder, and remove animations. Mastering the Animation Pane is crucial for effectively changing any animation effect.

Accessing the Animation Pane

To open the Animation Pane:

Select the object you want to animate.
Go to the Animations tab on the Ribbon.
Click the Animation Pane button. It’s usually located on the far right side of the Animations tab.

The Animation Pane will appear on the right side of your PowerPoint window, listing all applied animations for the selected slide.

Modifying Existing Animations

Once the Animation Pane is open, you can begin modifying the animations already applied to your objects.

Changing the Animation Effect

The most fundamental change you can make is altering the animation effect itself.

In the Animation Pane, select the animation you want to change.
Click the dropdown arrow next to the animation’s name.
Choose Effect Options…. This opens a dialog box specific to the selected animation, allowing you to modify parameters like direction, intensity, sound, and after-animation color.
Alternatively, you can directly change the animation style by going to the Animations tab and selecting a new animation from the available gallery. This will replace the existing animation with the new one.

Adjusting Timing and Trigger

Timing refers to when an animation starts and how long it lasts. Triggers determine what action initiates the animation.

In the Animation Pane, right-click the animation you want to modify.
Select Timing…. This opens a dialog box where you can adjust the:
- Start: Defines when the animation begins (On Click, With Previous, After Previous).
- Delay: Specifies a pause before the animation starts.
- Duration: Determines how long the animation plays.
- Repeat: Sets how many times the animation repeats.
To set a trigger, select the animation, go to the Animations tab, click Trigger, and choose an object or event to trigger the animation. For instance, you can have an animation start when a specific shape is clicked.

Reordering Animations

The order in which animations play can significantly impact the flow of your presentation.

In the Animation Pane, simply drag and drop animations to rearrange their order. The animation at the top of the list will play first.
You can also use the Move Earlier and Move Later buttons (located at the top of the Animation Pane) to shift animations up or down the sequence.

Removing Animations

Sometimes, the best way to change an animation is to remove it entirely.

In the Animation Pane, select the animation you want to remove.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard, or right-click the animation and select Remove.

Advanced Animation Techniques

Beyond the basics, PowerPoint offers advanced techniques for creating sophisticated animations.

Using Motion Paths

Motion Paths allow you to move objects along a predefined path.

Select the object you want to animate.
Go to the Animations tab.
Click the Motion Paths dropdown menu.
Choose a predefined path (e.g., Line, Arc, Turns) or select Custom Path to draw your own.
Adjust the path by dragging the handles that appear around it.

Adding Multiple Animations to a Single Object

You can layer multiple animations on a single object to create complex effects.

Select the object.
Apply the first animation.
Apply the second animation. PowerPoint automatically stacks the animations.
Adjust the timing and triggers of each animation in the Animation Pane to achieve the desired effect.

Using Animation Painter

The Animation Painter is a handy tool for copying animations from one object to another.

Select the object with the animation you want to copy.
Go to the Animations tab and click the Animation Painter button.
Click on the object you want to apply the animation to. The animation will be copied, including all its timing and trigger settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How do I make an animation start automatically when the slide appears?

Set the Start option in the Timing settings to “With Previous“. This will make the animation start simultaneously with the previous animation in the sequence (or the slide’s appearance if it’s the first animation).

Q2: What’s the difference between “With Previous” and “After Previous” in the animation timing?

“With Previous” starts the animation at the same time as the preceding animation. “After Previous” starts the animation after the previous animation has finished playing.

Q3: How can I loop an animation continuously?

In the Timing settings, set the Repeat option to “Until End of Slide“. This will make the animation repeat until you advance to the next slide.

Q4: I accidentally added an animation I don’t want. How do I get rid of it?

Select the unwanted animation in the Animation Pane and press the Delete key, or right-click the animation and select “Remove“.

Q5: Why is my animation not playing during the slideshow?

Ensure that the animation is enabled and that the Start trigger is properly configured (e.g., “On Click” if you want it to start when you click, or “With Previous/After Previous” if you want it to start automatically). Also, check if the object is hidden or covered by another object.

Q6: Can I change the color of an object after it’s been animated?

Yes, you can use the “Effect Options” for certain animations, such as Entrance animations that support changing color on completion. Alternatively, you can add a separate animation that changes the object’s color after the initial animation finishes.

Q7: How do I add a sound effect to an animation?

In the Effect Options for the animation, you’ll find a “Sound” setting. Choose a sound effect from the dropdown menu or import a custom sound file.

Q8: What are the different types of animation categories in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint categorizes animations into four main types: Entrance (how an object appears on the slide), Emphasis (how an object draws attention to itself while on the slide), Exit (how an object disappears from the slide), and Motion Paths (how an object moves along a defined path).

Q9: Is there a way to preview all the animations on a slide at once?

Yes. In the Animations tab, click the “Preview” button. This will play all the animations on the current slide in sequence.

Q10: How can I make an object disappear halfway through its entrance animation?

This is tricky. You’d likely need to use layering and multiple animations. First, have the object appear with its entrance animation. Then, cover it with a shape of the same color that appears simultaneously using a “Wipe” entrance animation to visually hide it midway through its initial entrance animation. Precise timing is key!

Q11: How do I copy animations across multiple slides?

The Animation Painter works best for copying within a slide or to a single object on another slide. To copy to multiple objects across multiple slides, consider creating a Master Slide layout with the desired animations applied to placeholders. Any slide using that layout will inherit the animations.

Q12: My animations are choppy and don’t look smooth. What can I do?

Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for PowerPoint. Close unnecessary applications to free up resources. Reduce the complexity of your animations (fewer animations per slide, simpler effects). Also, try saving your presentation in the latest PowerPoint file format (.pptx) to take advantage of performance improvements.