Animating a Liquid Reveal in After Effects

In this After Effects workflow tutorial, I breakdown my easy process for creating this liquid reveal animation. I'm using this amazing illustration from the wonderfully talented Pierre Kleinhouse.
Follow Pierre:
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Check out his KZbin channel:
/ @pierrekleinhouse
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►Music:
Massive thanks to madmomentsgo for providing that amazing music for my intro!
check out his other brilliant work here: bit.ly/2ER0bJF
"Magic Scout - Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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~ God bless Kevin ~

Ben, thank you so much for pointing out at the end how long it took to animate this scene. It's a super important reminder to all those people that thinks that creative work is all about talent only and completely forget the amount of labor involved in it.

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks man! I'm going to start doing that at the end of all my videos. I remember being baffled when I learned how long some animations can take, even really simples ones.

[@TheSpendog]

Not a lot of people ever think about the time needed :/

[@Kasradesign]

Exactly :)

[@pleasurecomplex7061]

@@BenMarriott 5 hours for you.. approximately 5 days/weeks for me. Just dipping my toes into motion graphics having dragged my heels for years as a rostrum animator and film maker - your tutorials are EXCELLENT and cover EVERYTHING - so thank you and well done! I'll say hi again if/when I get it down to 5 hours.

[@DonoVideoProductions]

This information is gold! I always think I take too long to accomplish my animations. This shows me not only that I don't, but I can confidently estimate timeline for clients without guilt. Thank you!

[@YitzharVered]

Ben explains it all so well that it makes me feel like it's so simple I could've come up with it myself. Obviously I couldn't, but still, it goes to show how great Ben is.

[@alexheusch3036]

simply the best

[@marsh8795]

I have no idea how all these works but screw it this is Really intresting!!

[@BenMarriott]

Haha, Thank youuuu :D

[@hack2sorry242]

One of the BEST channels to learn Motion Graphics, FOR FREE! Thank you kind sir

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks so much! :D That's so awesome of you to say

[@Sycoloha]

" we always label our layers" with drop shadow👍

[@smellslikeyourmama]

*Watching Ben's video for the first time* - Intro zooms into a bat's arse - *Clicks Subscribe*

[@katerclickbait887]

This is insane. I'm learning so mich in so little time and I've been watching animation tutorials for YEARS. Thanks ben, keep em comming bro

[@KunalDeo]

I started using AE like 15 days back and even this complex animation seems relatively simple to make cause Ben just explains it so calmly.

[@squareinsquare2078]

It's pretty genius. And from watching enough Ben videos I kind of guessed before he was doing something what he was going to do. Cheaper than university and I learn a lot more. Thanks chief!

[@BenMarriott]

Haha, thanks for watching anyway :D I really appreciate it my friend!

[@squareinsquare2078]

@@BenMarriott Always worth the watch!

[@Manu-il9cb]

YOU ARE AMAZING OMGGGGGGG!!! Im hoping to learn a loooot from you

[@thej8172]

I'm learning after effects and have been so excited that I'm staying up late to learn for the first time in seven years after I had a bad burn out. Your tutorials have been an amazing help, thank you!

[@mushrifahmed8107]

You are a genius when it comes to both animation and motion knowledge. I'm a rookie in animation, so when I see how much detail you put into your animation and all the subtle, secondary movements that you add that brings more of an illusion of physics, I'm just blown away! And it's one thing to know what to do but to be able to do it so simply I am in constant awe of that as well! And I always love how precise and concise your videos are. I realized that's a little rare. Cheers! PS: I'm a big fan.

[@BenMarriott]

Wow, thank you so much :D That's so amazing of you to say :) I really appreciate it!

[@ogamasennin9883]

Incredibly helpful and insightful!!!

[@Itsjustra]

When you mentioned the time at the end I felt so SEEN holy shit. I take a long time animating and I'm always so demoralized by sped up videos around the internet (although I understand we don't want to watch five hours). But yeah wow 🤩

[@CondePablo]

excelent, excelent work!

[@romniya8004]

5 HOURS?? Jeez, i'd take me like WEEKS, this is so inspiring! It all comes down to skill and learning, and we can achieve anything uwu

[@mikexirou]

Ben is the coolest kid on the AE block.

[@nirdeshshrestha9056]

early bird gets the ben's reacc

[@BenMarriott]

Haha, You've certainly earned it! Great work :D

[@nirdeshshrestha9056]

@@BenMarriott now I am going to screenshot and cherish this for life

[@michaelgorczyca]

This was surprisingly way easier than it looked! You are very talented and great at explaining. Thank you!

[@PierreKleinhouse]

What an amazing process Ben!! Thanks again for this awesome collab🔥💀🔥💀

[@BenMarriott]

It was my absolute pleasure :D Especially with such clean files.

[@iandoesdesign4827]

awesome work!

[@vyouttar]

You are a gift!

[@mefisth8678]

It's possible to make simple animations and become awesome when you design is great like this!

[@Ekestoms]

Ben, i really love your work as a creator, simple, direct and honest tutorials that teach a lot without all the useless fillers 90% of channels put it. It might not always seem like it, but i asure you all of your viewers notice it and apreciate it! Keep up the good work!

[@videoarkade]

What an absolute legend.

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks so much! :D Glad you liked the video. It was amazing to work with Pierre's design

[@muchonice]

The small tutorials are filled with great information with a wonderful pace.

[@disco_bard]

That loop trick! Of course, duh! Always learn something new you are just the besttttt!!!!

[@AjClarkPROJECTJDM]

Subtle animation is everything man. You're extremely detailed - love your techniques mate well done.

[@annamariabarsi2791]

Ben, you are handing out pure gold for free.

[@uliwoo8807]

learn a lot. thank you Ben(from Taiwan)

[@BenMarriott]

Thank you so much! Glad you've found these videos helpful!

[@JUSTINBUISSON]

Thank you so much for doing this

[@bradleyconners657]

Love the bubble technique, has a craftier feel than just using Particular

[@petergrant600]

Holy crap that’s epic!!!!😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@karol6871]

I love that when you see the preview of those projects they seem insanely complicated, definitely requiring some long forgotten AE black magic. And then he does it all with just a few position keyframes, masks and posterize time. Oh and also tons of skill and talent.

[@BenMarriott]

Haha, that's so awesome of you to say :D I love to read comments like that. AE can seam really mystical, but 80% of animation is just keyframing the position & rotation of stuff :)

[@karol6871]

@@BenMarriott When you started with this simple matte animation I was like "Wait. That can't be it". Spoiler alert - it was. I guess devil's in the detail and a lot of that great look comes down to those subtle effects (head bob, skull bouncing off the jar, delicate warp etc). Animating them just right must be a key element in making everything work.

[@BenMarriott]

@@karol6871 These are my favourite types of animations to work on. The main animation is really basic to there's lots of times to add those little touches and polish :)

[@karol6871]

@@BenMarriott And it shows, they are all absolute fantastic to look at. You keep up the great work and I will surely find enough time one day to not just watch these, but create my own projects. based on all those tutorials. Thanks man!

[@motionlabstudio]

Nice one Ben!

[@MM-xw9qm]

I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos. First thing is that I don't have to slow down the speed to understand what are you saying:)))

[@greggunther]

OMG! That was so cool and helpful. You made it look so easy. Then mentioned it took five hours! Crazy.

[@phoemela7199]

Beautiful result! The way you explain is amazingly efficient. I'm a beginner with animation but this tutorial made me go- hey! I could actually do that. Can't believe this is free!

[@safaeayat749]

Love it love it lovvvvvve it 😍

[@Frimson]

Brilliant, thank you!

[@sebastianviqueira6783]

Amazin illustration doh!

[@juanalessandro5942]

i hate and love how fast you did it, it could take me years

[@AhmadyasinOrMickeyMoses]

You are AMAZING!!!

[@constantinosschinas4503]

nice animation, very lively. thanks for sharing.

[@bonsaiRocket]

i really can't express how much i learn from watching your videos! thank you so much for making them

[@garobi5523]

WONDERFUL

[@ricardomorales6754]

This is gold

[@rataratarata]

I think you are pretty awesome!

[@echomotion]

That idea of turning a living human head to skull when the whisky inside the bottle drains was so creative, I wish I could think something that creative in the future too

[@keeshanocal5801]

ty for the amazing tutorial

[@sk8mcbang]

Loved it 💯

[@MrDaim1993]

YOU ARE AWESOME

[@jonathanellis900]

Simply brilliant!

[@VKIID]

Ben, this is amazing. Definitely gonna be coming back to you again and again as I improve my own After Effects skills for future projects!

[@Otawee]

dude such wonderful animation with so simple effects

[@thamireshelenacarvalho3990]

I can´t describe how your videos are helping me with my motion . You are a incredible person , continue this way pls Sorry the bad english i am brazilian

[@prymestudio]

Damn... you are amazing. Been following you since the start and You continue to surprise me everytime.

[@sherifmuhammad4635]

Oh wow this is a great process video! It's nice to see the thinking behind all the little details. Normally I would approach this thinking only about the major stuff like the matte and liquid motion but the small stuff like the line on the liquid, bubbles, skull jaw, smirk and so on make this come to life and takes it to a much higher level. Thanks for sharing, Ben!

[@DaveHuxtableLanguages]

Amazing attention to detail!

[@Lenniefinch]

Great tutorial Ben

[@EA-nr9hc]

aaaaaaaah Ben! I can't get enough of your tutorials! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing work! Loved it as always! :D you rock!

[@alithomaga]

thanks dude for this !

[@Kasradesign]

Good liquid tutorial. Thanks for sharing .

[@monicasloane4546]

Wonderful tutorial as always, thank you so much for sharing. I love that you include how long it took you to animate. It can be easy to get a feeling of inadequacy watching your short 8 minute snippets when it actually takes hours!

[@alexdib3915]

that thumbnail was enough for the thumbs up - looks super cool

[@morgand3777]

wow that was amazing youre so good

[@carlosmunoz3603]

Thanks so much!! I’ve never been able to properly use Set Matte but now I know the trick! Continuously rasterize

[@porchedivasive]

You’re the 🌟 bestttt

[@Psyduck119]

this is so cool👌

[@biancalouback1936]

Amazing! Love your tutorials, the way you explain things.

[@jula_fernan]

Everytime I see your notifications it's a bless

[@AustinThomasFilms]

Wonderful techniques, these are some of the most educational AE videos I've come across!

[@ahmadfauzanperdana5703]

A "We always label our layers" T-shirt would be awesome

[@michaelgorczyca]

YES

[@cailreagh9398]

JUST GREAT work. Excellent tut.

[@yanayuiko4281]

amazing!!!

[@Jurr]

Really interesting to see how you use effects to achieve different results for each technique. I'm not as much into animating but it's very enjoyable to watch and I always pick up a technique or two that I find myself using later on in my own projects!

[@tarokamara23]

Literally no dislikes because what kind of person would dislike this amazing content?!

[@Rockberries]

Another great tutorial. You always make it look so easy and smooth, that's real talent! Your attention to details and to the little things that sell the animation is fascinating. And Pierre's work is simply wonderful!

[@terrapsevdo5489]

I love your lessons! It's the real treasure , and you show it to us for free. You are awesome person:3

[@UrLocalMaricapoo]

0:05 this bat is so T H I C C

[@HowToAnimateTutorial]

so amazing tutorial. Thank Ben so much

[@heinschultz8970]

Ah man, awesome breakdown as always! Nice job!

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks so much :D Glad you found it useful

[@Otawee]

I started animating 2 weeks ago and I understand everything. Thanks Ben

[@Workbenchtv]

Great style, and nice work bringing it to life!

[@Workbenchtv]

Also, congrats on 200K! Nice!

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks so much man!! I really appreciate it :)

[@Workbenchtv]

@@BenMarriott You're welcome. It's much deserved!

[@seifamir6085]

Lets gooooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@arulanandhans]

You are awesome bro....

[@ohneweil2644]

Thank you Ben! I´m learning so much with you!!

[@gamelabpc6591]

Dude this one is sick tutorial. So many useful tips , I love it.keep going buddy 🔥

[@KamauMau1]

Wow!

[@ResurrectTheFlesh]

WE ALWAYS LABEL OUR LAYERS!!!

[@rillaaa5740]

danm this was dope

[@muchachon5]

Amazing as always

[@DaftRebel]

TREMENDO

[@jegkompletson1698]

I don't even use After Effects, but I just love watching your videos fsr

[@EnriqShockwave]

As always, great stuff!

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks Adam! :D

[@sayt.calligraphy]

Awesome benn! Looks great. What a beautiful file organization of the design. Saves a lot of extra job

[@yodzcellacay3648]

Amazing!

[@juanleon8097]

Wow Excelent!

[@biacremonini3766]

bro u are insane