How to Use the MotionText Canva App to Create Eye-Catching Animated Text (Step-by-Step)

Want your posts and stories to grab attention without spending hours in a video editor? The MotionText Canva App is a fast, fun way to add animated text to your graphics. It is perfect for Facebook posts, Instagram Stories, Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even website sections where a short looping video can do the talking. In this guide, you will learn where to find the app, how to create and style animated quotes, how to resize for different platforms, and how to organize your assets so you can reuse them later.

If you create content daily, you will love how quick this is. We will use Magic Write inside Canva to generate short sayings, then drop them into Motion Text to animate them. You will also see how to add brand colors, simple motion, and folders that keep your uploads tidy. By the end, you can build a set of reusable animated text assets that save time and look polished. Let us get into it.

What is the MotionText Canva App?

The MotionText Canva App is an app inside Canva that turns your text into an animated clip. You type a short line, choose an animation style, set outline and background options, then generate a ready-to-use asset you can add to any design. It is great for quick quotes, calls to action, and slides where you want words to move.

Why this matters:

• Animated text draws the eye on crowded feeds.
• You can generate a library of branded text assets and reuse them across designs.
• It works with common sizes, so you can make content for Stories, Reels, or posts in minutes.

If you want extra context on text animation fundamentals in Canva, this guide from Canva is a helpful reference on using text effects and animations.

Start with the right canvas size

Begin with the format you need right now. You can always resize later.

• For a Facebook post or square content, choose a square canvas.
• For Stories and Reels, start with mobile video or Instagram Story size.
• If you are unsure, start with a Facebook post, then copy and resize later.

Set a simple background color to make your text pop. Solid colors work well, but a soft gradient or textured background looks great too.

Generate short sayings with Magic Write

If you already have a quote, skip this. If not, use Canva’s Magic Write to brainstorm.

• Add a text box on your canvas so you have a working area.
• Use Magic Write to prompt ideas. Example prompt: “Five short sayings for digital content creators.”
• Pick a line that is punchy and short. Shorter lines read better in motion

Tip: Keep lines to 2–8 words per screen. If you have more than that, split it into two lines or two scenes\

Open the MotionText Canva App

• Go to Apps inside Canva.
• Search for “Motion Text.”
• Open the MotionText Canva App panel.

You will see fields to type your text, animation style options, outline controls, and background choices.

Build your first animated text

Paste your chosen line into the app. Then tune the settings. Here is what to try first:

• Background: Dark or light, based on your design. Dark backgrounds help bright outlines glow.
• Outline color and width: Pick a color that fits your brand. Thin outlines look clean, wider ones feel bold.
• Animation style: Try Bounce, Bolt, or Wave. Each has a different rhythm.
• Speed: Slow for reflective quotes, faster for playful lines.
• Scale factor: Adjust if you want the motion to zoom in or feel larger. If you are not sure, leave it as is.

When it looks good in the preview, click Add to design. The app will render and place your animated text as a video element on your canvas. It may take a moment to load. Once it lands on your page, you can resize it, layer it over backgrounds, or stack it with other elements.

Quick tweaks that make a big difference

• Break long lines: Split your sentence into two lines for stronger impact, like “Write with passion” on line one and “share with purpose” on line two.
• Update design if the app offers a button to refresh after edits.
• Try a light background version and a dark background version, then save both for variety.

MotionText settings at a glance

Setting	What it does	Tip for best results
Background	Chooses light or dark clip background	Match your design’s background color
Outline color	Sets the stroke color around your letters	Use brand colors or high contrast accents
Outline width	Controls stroke thickness	Keep it thinner for longer phrases
Animation style	Picks the movement pattern	Test Bounce for fun, Wave for smoother feel
Speed	Slows or speeds the animation	Slow down for quotes, speed up for CTAs
Scale factor	Adjusts relative size during motion	Subtle changes keep it readable

For more advanced motion ideas beyond text, try Canva’s Create Motion Path Animation feature. It lets you animate other elements along a path and pairs well with Motion Text clips.

Save, reuse, and build a small library

After you add Motion Text to your canvas, it appears in your design panel as a video element. You can duplicate the page to create a series with the same style. You can also find generated pieces in your library panel for later use when the app saves them there. Reusing styles keeps your brand consistent and saves time.

Pro tip: Generate several phrases in the same session. Stick to one or two animation styles and one color palette. Now you have a mini pack of animated quotes ready to drop into any project.

Resize for Stories, Reels, and more

You do not have to rebuild from scratch. Use Canva’s resize options.

• Click Resize or Copy and resize.
• Pick formats like Instagram Story, Mobile video, or Facebook post.
• Open as a copy so your original stays intact.

Once the new size opens:

• Re-center your animated text.
• Adjust margins so nothing gets cut off.
• If needed, scale up the text a bit for tall formats.

This is an easy way to turn one square post into a vertical Story or a Reel in seconds.

Add images, remove backgrounds, and animate elements

Want to take it further? Bring in a photo or character and add movement.

• Add an image, then use Background Remover to isolate the subject.
• Place your animated text above or below the image.
• Animate the image with a simple entrance, like Fade or Sketch, so it complements the text motion.

Keep it simple. One animated text plus one subtle element animation looks polished. Too many moving parts can distract from your message.

Apply brand colors and logo

Your animated text should feel like your brand at a glance.

• Switch to your Brand Kit colors for the outline and text color.
• Add your logo to a corner at a small size.
• Keep consistent padding around the edges.

This helps you build a recognizable look across platforms. A little consistency goes a long way.

Export and share

Once your design is ready:

• Choose MP4 for animated posts and Stories.
• Keep the duration short. Most quotes read well in 3 to 6 seconds.
• Test on your phone before posting to confirm legibility.

Animated text works everywhere. Use it in Instagram Stories, Reels, Facebook, and even embed it on a website as a looping background video for a section header.

Organize uploads with folders in Canva

If you reuse assets often, folders will save you time.

• Open your Uploads panel for Images, Video, or Audio.
• Create a new folder for your theme or project.
• Select multiple items and Move to your folder.

When you keep frequently used images, logos, and animated clips in a folder, you can grab them fast. This is perfect if you run multiple series, like daily quotes or product tips.

Real examples you can create today

• Daily inspiration series: One quote per slide with a bold outline and a dark background. Post to your Facebook group every morning.
• Story teaser: A two-line call to action with Wave animation. Use brand colors and add a swipe-up arrow.
• Reel opener: Short animated title like “New in the shop” that sits on top of a product clip.
• Website banner: Loop a simple animated text line above a clean background for a hero section.

Troubleshooting and smart tips

• The clip did not appear yet: Give the app a moment to render. Watch for the loading indicator, then it will drop into your canvas.
• All caps vs. sentence case: If your font defaults to caps, toggle the uppercase setting in your font controls or choose a font without caps styling.
• Text feels cramped: Split long phrases into two lines, then increase line spacing a bit.
• Animation is too fast: Lower the speed in Motion Text or extend the clip duration in the timeline.
• Color clashes: Use high contrast between background and text. If your background is busy, add a semi-opaque overlay.

Why the MotionText Canva App works so well

Short animated text is perfect for busy feeds. It is readable, flexible, and quick to produce. The MotionText Canva App keeps your focus on message first, style second, which helps you avoid over-designing. It is ideal for creators, coaches, and sellers who want content that looks lively without a full video edit.

To keep quality high:

• Favor fewer words and larger type.
• Pick one animation style per series.
• Use one to two brand colors, plus a neutral or high-contrast background.
• Save your best versions to reuse later.

Animated text does not have to be hard. With the MotionText Canva App, you can turn simple lines into polished clips in minutes, then resize and reuse them everywhere. Generate a few short sayings, test a couple of animation styles, and build a small branded library you can drop into any post or Story. Ready to try it now? Make one animated quote, save it as MP4, and post it today. Then come back and tell me which style you liked best.

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