What It Does
PuzzleMotion replaces manual keyframing with a visual block editor. You drag directional and action blocks onto a panel timeline, click Apply, and the plugin generates expression-driven animation on your target layer. The result is a clean After Effects timeline with no scattered keyframes, since everything runs through expressions under the hood.
It works on any layer type: text, logos, shapes, images, nulls, or video footage.
Key Features
One-click AUTO mode. Select a text layer and hit AUTO. PuzzleMotion splits the text into individual characters, generates a random block pattern, and applies the full animation instantly. No setup, no dragging required. Good for quick title animations when you need something fast.
Visual block editor. The core workflow involves placing IN/OUT directional combo blocks, action blocks (jump, flip), and effect blocks onto the panel’s timeline in whatever order you want. The sequence you build is what plays back.
Random variations. A built-in randomizer cycles through motion style combinations on demand. Press it repeatedly to audition different looks without manually rearranging blocks.
Marker-based timing. PuzzleMotion places markers directly on the After Effects timeline. Drag them to stretch or compress the animation duration in real time, no panel interaction needed.
Restore with eyedropper. Select any previously animated layer and click the eyedropper to reload its full block layout back into the panel. Useful when returning to a project or copying a motion style to another layer.
mirAI integration. If you use the nebulaf mirAI plugin, you can type a natural language prompt like “enter from the right” and mirAI will place the appropriate blocks on the PuzzleMotion timeline automatically.
Who It’s For
Motion designers who build a lot of text reveals, logo animations, or layer-by-layer motion sequences will get the most out of this. The AUTO mode is practical for broadcast title work where you need to iterate quickly. The manual block system suits anyone who wants more control over animation staging without touching the graph editor.
It requires After Effects 2024 or later on Mac or Windows. A free trial is available on aescripts.com to check compatibility before buying.
Pricing
PuzzleMotion is a one-time purchase at $49. Single user and floating server license options are available at the same price point.