Have you ever been in a situation where you had to endure a dull PowerPoint presentation and hoped the presenter had included some animation to make it more engaging?
Or you’ve created a PowerPoint deck but felt it needed more spark to engage your audience entirely.
If so, you’re not alone.
The truth is animation in PowerPoint can take a presentation from flat and forgettable to dynamic and unforgettable. But if you’re not well-versed in the software, adding animation can seem daunting or downright impossible.
In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on how to add animation in PowerPoint, with clear and concise steps. By the end of this blog, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to bring your PowerPoint presentations to life and keep your audience engaged from start to finish.
So let’s get started with how to add animation in PowerPoint!
Why should you Add Animation in PowerPoint Presentations?
Adding animation in PowerPoint presentations can significantly enhance their overall quality. Despite some individuals considering animation an unnecessary feature, there are several compelling reasons why you should consider including it in your upcoming presentation.
Below are a few reasons to add animation in PowerPoint presentations:
Grab your audience’s attention
Using animated elements in your presentation can seize your audience’s interest and enhance engagement. The motion displayed on the screen can aid in diversifying the mundane nature of slides crowded with text and pictures.
Emphasize important points
Animations can also be used to highlight key points or emphasize specific data. For example, if you’re presenting a graph, you can use animation to draw attention to the most critical data points and help your audience better understand your message.
Enhance understanding
Animated elements can help your audience to understand complex concepts better. Visualizing how something works or demonstrating a process can make it easier for your audience to follow.
Create a memorable experience
A presentation with animation can be more memorable than one without. Incorporating animations into your presentation can distinguish it from others and create a memorable impact on your viewers.
Show off your creativity
Adding animation to your presentation is an opportunity to showcase your creativity and design skills. It’s a chance to add a personal touch and make your presentation unique.
How to Add PowerPoint Animation to Any Element (Text, Image, Shape)?
One effective method to make your presentation more exciting and captivating is incorporating animation into your text, images, and shapes.
But how do you add animation to different elements in your presentation?
In this section, we’ll show you how to add animation to PowerPoint, whether text, images, or shapes.
1. Open your presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to add animation.
2. Choose the item you wish to animate, and then go to the ‘Animations’ tab in the top menu and click on it.
3. Choose the animation you want to apply from the list of available options.
4. To view the animations applied to an object, click on ‘Animation Pane.’ You can also re-arrange the animations in any order you prefer.
5. You can initiate the animation by clicking either ‘with previous’ or ‘after previous.’ Use the timing options to set the animation’s start time. Additionally, you can set the duration and delay before the animation begins to customize it according to your needs.
How to Add Animation to PowerPoint Slides on a PC?
If you’re looking to add some spark to your PowerPoint presentation, adding different types of animation to your slides can be an effective way to make them more engaging and dynamic. But if you need to familiarize yourself with adding animation to PowerPoint on a PC, the process can seem daunting.
In this section, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on adding animation to your PowerPoint slides on a PC.
1. First, open the presentation and go to the slide where you want to add the animation. Then, select the item that you want to animate.
2. Next, go to the ‘Animations’ tab in the top menu, and click on the ‘More’ arrow in the ‘Animations’ box to explore more animation options.
3. Depending on when you want the animation to occur, you can choose from Entrance, Emphasis, or Exit animations.
4. Once you have selected the animation you want to use, you will see it happen on your slide.
5. If you want to animate multiple items with the same animation, select the object, choose the animation, and select ‘Effect Options’ to decide whether you want the animation to happen all at once or to each item separately.
6. To adjust the animation’s details, such as its direction or timing, click ‘Animation Pane’ in the ‘Advanced Animation’ group on the ‘Animations’ tab.
7. Finally, select the animated item to remove an animation and click ‘None’ in the ‘Animations’ group.
When To Use PowerPoint Animations?
PowerPoint animations can be a valuable tool to make your presentation more engaging and memorable.
Here are some guidelines on when to use PowerPoint animations:
To introduce new ideas or concepts
When presenting something new or complex, animations can help break it into more manageable parts. Animations can be used to introduce each new idea, making it easier for your audience to follow along.
To emphasize essential points
If you want to emphasize specific points or data, animations can effectively draw attention to them. For example, you can use animations to make a key phrase or statistic stand out from the rest of the slide.
To add interest and variety
If you’re presenting a lot of information, it can be easy for your audience to become bored or disengaged. Animations can break up the monotony of a lengthy presentation and add visual interest.
To tell a story
Animations have the potential to convey a narrative or demonstrate a procedure. For example, if you’re presenting a case study, you can use animations to show the steps taken to achieve a successful outcome.
While animations can be effective, it’s essential to do them sparingly. Too many animations can be distracting or overwhelming, making it difficult for your audience to focus on the message you’re trying to convey.
Wrapping It Up
Adding animation in PowerPoint can significantly impact the overall quality of your presentation. Animation for PowerPoint can grab your audience’s attention, emphasize important points, enhance understanding, create a memorable experience, and showcase creativity. By using animation for PowerPoint thoughtfully and effectively, you can take your presentation to the next level and make it truly outstanding.
