Text Animations & Future Words

Text animations add entry and exit effects to your video captions, enhancing visual engagement. The futureWords parameter, available with fade and blur animations, controls how upcoming words appear on screen before they are spoken. This combination is particularly effective for creating engaging, word-synchronized captions for social media content.

What You Will Learn

Text Animations

Apply entry and exit animation effects to scene captions

Future Words

Control the visibility of upcoming unspoken words on screen

Animation Types

Select from fade, blur, drift, wipe, text reveal, elastic, and typewriter effects

Social Media Ready

Produce scroll-stopping content for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following before proceeding:

A Pictory API key
Familiarity with Dynamic Captions fundamentals
AI voiceover enabled for word-level caption synchronization with audio

Available Animations

Entry Animations

Animation	`futureWords` Support	Direction	Description
`fade`	Yes	-	Words fade in smoothly as they are spoken
`blur`	Yes	-	Words transition from blurred to sharp focus
`drift`	No	`up`, `down`, `left`, `right`	Words slide in from the specified direction
`wipe`	No	`left`, `right`, `up`, `down`	Words are revealed with a sweeping motion
`text reveal`	No	-	Words uncover progressively
`elastic`	No	-	Words bounce in with a spring effect
`typewriter`	No	-	Words appear one letter at a time

Exit Animations

Animation	Direction	Description
`fade`	-	Words fade out smoothly
`blur`	-	Words blur out of focus
`drift`	`up`, `down`, `left`, `right`	Words slide out in the specified direction
`wipe`	`left`, `right`, `up`, `down`	Words are swept away
`text reveal`	-	Words are progressively hidden

elastic and typewriter are entry-only animations. They do not have exit variants.

The futureWords Parameter

The futureWords parameter controls the on-screen appearance of words that have not yet been spoken. This parameter is available exclusively with fade and blur entry animations.

Value	Appearance	Effect	Recommended For
`"hidden"`	Upcoming words are invisible	Words appear only when spoken, creating a maximum reveal effect	TikTok, Instagram Reels, high-energy content
`"subtle"`	Upcoming words are faintly visible	Viewers can preview upcoming text while attention remains on the current word	YouTube Shorts, educational content
`"prominent"`	Upcoming words are clearly visible but dimmed	Full text is readable with the spoken word highlighted	Professional videos, presentations

Visual Comparison

futureWords: "hidden" (words revealed as spoken)

Timeline:  "The future of AI is here"
t=0.0s:    [The] ______ __ __ __ ____        (only "The" visible)
t=0.3s:    The [future] __ __ __ ____         ("future" appears as spoken)
t=0.7s:    The future [of] __ __ ____         (words reveal one by one)
t=0.9s:    The future of [AI] __ ____
t=1.1s:    The future of AI [is] ____
t=1.3s:    The future of AI is [here]

futureWords: "subtle" (soft preview of upcoming text)

Timeline:  "The future of AI is here"
t=0.0s:    [The] future of AI is here         ("The" bright, rest faint)
t=0.3s:    The [future] of AI is here         ("future" brightens)
t=0.7s:    The future [of] AI is here         (spoken words remain bright)

futureWords: "prominent" (full text with active word highlighted)

Timeline:  "The future of AI is here"
t=0.0s:    [The] future of AI is here         ("The" highlighted, rest dimmed)
t=0.3s:    The [future] of AI is here         ("future" now highlighted)
t=0.7s:    The future [of] AI is here         (highlight follows the voiceover)

Complete Example

import axios from "axios";

const API_BASE_URL = "https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis";
const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

async function createAnimatedCaptionsVideo() {
  try {
    console.log("Creating video with animated captions...");

    const response = await axios.post(
      `${API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render`,
      {
        videoName: "animated_captions_demo",
        videoWidth: 1080,
        videoHeight: 1920,
        quality: "high",

        voiceOver: {
          enabled: true,
          aiVoices: [{ speaker: "Rachel", speed: 100 }],
        },

        scenes: [
          {
            story:
              "Five tips to grow your social media following this year. Number one, post consistently at least three times per week.",
            maxSubtitleLines: 1,
            subtitleStyle: {
              animations: [
                {
                  name: "fade",
                  type: "entry",
                  speed: "fast",
                  futureWords: "hidden",
                },
                { name: "fade", type: "exit", speed: "fast" },
              ],
            },
          },
          {
            story:
              "Number two, engage with your audience by replying to every comment within the first hour of posting.",
            maxSubtitleLines: 1,
            subtitleStyle: {
              animations: [
                {
                  name: "blur",
                  type: "entry",
                  speed: "medium",
                  futureWords: "subtle",
                },
                { name: "blur", type: "exit", speed: "fast" },
              ],
            },
          },
          {
            story:
              "Number three, use trending audio and hashtags to reach new audiences organically.",
            maxSubtitleLines: 2,
            subtitleStyle: {
              animations: [
                {
                  name: "fade",
                  type: "entry",
                  speed: "medium",
                  futureWords: "prominent",
                },
                { name: "fade", type: "exit", speed: "medium" },
              ],
            },
          },
        ],
      },
      {
        headers: {
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
          Authorization: API_KEY,
        },
      }
    );

    const jobId = response.data.data.jobId;
    console.log("Video creation started! Job ID:", jobId);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error:", error.response?.data || error.message);
  }
}

createAnimatedCaptionsVideo();

import requests

API_BASE_URL = 'https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis'
API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY'

def create_animated_captions_video():
    try:
        print("Creating video with animated captions...")

        response = requests.post(
            f'{API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render',
            json={
                'videoName': 'animated_captions_demo',
                'videoWidth': 1080,
                'videoHeight': 1920,
                'quality': 'high',

                'voiceOver': {
                    'enabled': True,
                    'aiVoices': [{'speaker': 'Rachel', 'speed': 100}]
                },

                'scenes': [
                    {
                        'story': 'Five tips to grow your social media following this year. Number one, post consistently at least three times per week.',
                        'maxSubtitleLines': 1,
                        'subtitleStyle': {
                            'animations': [
                                {
                                    'name': 'fade',
                                    'type': 'entry',
                                    'speed': 'fast',
                                    'futureWords': 'hidden'
                                },
                                {'name': 'fade', 'type': 'exit', 'speed': 'fast'}
                            ]
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        'story': 'Number two, engage with your audience by replying to every comment within the first hour of posting.',
                        'maxSubtitleLines': 1,
                        'subtitleStyle': {
                            'animations': [
                                {
                                    'name': 'blur',
                                    'type': 'entry',
                                    'speed': 'medium',
                                    'futureWords': 'subtle'
                                },
                                {'name': 'blur', 'type': 'exit', 'speed': 'fast'}
                            ]
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        'story': 'Number three, use trending audio and hashtags to reach new audiences organically.',
                        'maxSubtitleLines': 2,
                        'subtitleStyle': {
                            'animations': [
                                {
                                    'name': 'fade',
                                    'type': 'entry',
                                    'speed': 'medium',
                                    'futureWords': 'prominent'
                                },
                                {'name': 'fade', 'type': 'exit', 'speed': 'medium'}
                            ]
                        }
                    }
                ]
            },
            headers={
                'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                'Authorization': API_KEY
            }
        )
        response.raise_for_status()

        job_id = response.json()['data']['jobId']
        print(f"Video creation started! Job ID: {job_id}")

    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as error:
        print(f"Error: {error}")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    create_animated_captions_video()

Animation Examples

Fade with Hidden Future Words

Words appear only when spoken. Ideal for short-form social media content:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "fade", type: "entry", speed: "fast", futureWords: "hidden" },
      { name: "fade", type: "exit", speed: "fast" }
    ]
  }
}

Blur with Subtle Future Words

Words transition from blurred to sharp focus. Upcoming words are faintly visible:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "blur", type: "entry", speed: "medium", futureWords: "subtle" },
      { name: "blur", type: "exit", speed: "fast" }
    ]
  }
}

Drift Animation

Words slide in from a specified direction:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "drift", type: "entry", speed: "medium", direction: "up" },
      { name: "drift", type: "exit", speed: "medium", direction: "down" }
    ]
  }
}

Wipe Animation

Words are revealed with a sweeping motion:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "wipe", type: "entry", speed: "medium", direction: "left" },
      { name: "wipe", type: "exit", speed: "medium", direction: "right" }
    ]
  }
}

Typewriter Animation

Words appear one letter at a time:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "typewriter", type: "entry", speed: "fast" }
    ]
  }
}

Elastic Animation

Words bounce in with a spring effect:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "elastic", type: "entry", speed: "medium" }
    ]
  }
}

Text Reveal Animation

Words uncover progressively:

{
  subtitleStyle: {
    animations: [
      { name: "text reveal", type: "entry", speed: "medium" },
      { name: "text reveal", type: "exit", speed: "fast" }
    ]
  }
}

Platform Recommendations

Platform	Aspect Ratio	Recommended Animation	futureWords	maxSubtitleLines
TikTok / Reels	9:16	`fade`	`"hidden"`	1
YouTube Shorts	9:16	`blur`	`"subtle"`	1-2
YouTube	16:9	`fade`	`"prominent"`	2
LinkedIn	16:9	`fade`	`"prominent"`	2
Instagram Feed	4:5	`blur`	`"subtle"`	2

Animation Parameters Reference

Parameter	Type	Required	Values	Description
`name`	string	Yes	`"fade"`, `"blur"`, `"drift"`, `"wipe"`, `"text reveal"`, `"elastic"`, `"typewriter"`	The animation type to apply
`type`	string	Yes	`"entry"`, `"exit"`	Specifies when the animation plays
`speed`	string	Yes	`"slow"`, `"medium"`, `"fast"`, `"custom"`	The animation playback speed
`customSpeedValue`	number	When speed is `"custom"`	Minimum 0.5	Custom speed multiplier
`futureWords`	string	No	`"hidden"`, `"subtle"`, `"prominent"`	Controls upcoming word visibility. Available only with `fade` and `blur` entry animations
`direction`	string	When using `drift` or `wipe`	`"up"`, `"down"`, `"left"`, `"right"`	The direction of the animation movement

Constraints:

The futureWords parameter is available only with fade and blur entry animations
Each scene supports a maximum of 2 animations (1 entry + 1 exit)
elastic and typewriter are entry-only animations with no exit variant
When AI voiceover is enabled, futureWords synchronizes word highlighting with the spoken audio
The futureWords parameter must be specified on the entry animation, not the exit animation

Best Practices

Select futureWords Based on Platform

TikTok / Reels: "hidden" for maximum engagement through word reveal
YouTube Shorts: "subtle" to provide a preview of upcoming words
YouTube / LinkedIn: "prominent" for professional, fully readable captions
Instagram Feed: "subtle" for a balance between engagement and readability

Match Animation Speed to Voiceover Pace

Select an animation speed that complements the voiceover delivery:

"fast" for quick-paced speakers and short-form content
"medium" for a balanced pace suitable for most content
"slow" for dramatic pauses and emphasis
"custom" with customSpeedValue for precise control

Use Low maxSubtitleLines with futureWords

For the most effective animated caption experience:

maxSubtitleLines: 1 delivers the strongest impact for short-form content
maxSubtitleLines: 2 provides a good balance for most platforms
Higher values display more text simultaneously, which can reduce the visual impact of word-level animations

Vary Animations Across Scenes

Different animations can be applied to individual scenes for visual variety:

scenes: [
  { story: "...", subtitleStyle: { animations: [{ name: "fade", ... }] } },
  { story: "...", subtitleStyle: { animations: [{ name: "blur", ... }] } },
  { story: "...", subtitleStyle: { animations: [{ name: "drift", ... }] } }
]

Troubleshooting

Words Not Highlighting in Sync With Audio

Cause: Captions appear but words do not highlight at the correct time relative to the voiceover.Resolution:

Verify that futureWords is set on the entry animation, not the exit animation
Confirm that type is set to "entry" on the animation containing futureWords
Ensure AI voiceover is enabled for automatic word-level timing synchronization
Verify that the animation name is either "fade" or "blur", as these are the only types that support futureWords

futureWords Parameter Rejected by API

Cause: The API returns an error when futureWords is included in the request.Resolution:

Confirm the animation name is "fade" or "blur". Other animation types do not support futureWords
Remove futureWords from any drift, wipe, text reveal, elastic, or typewriter animation configurations

All Words Appear Simultaneously Despite Hidden Setting

Cause: Setting futureWords: "hidden" does not produce the expected word reveal behavior.Resolution:

Confirm that futureWords is specified on the entry animation, not the exit animation
Verify that maxSubtitleLines is set at the scene level
Enable AI voiceover to synchronize word appearance with the spoken audio

Next Steps

Dynamic Captions

Learn the fundamentals of dynamic captions and the maxSubtitleLines parameter

Custom Subtitle Style

Customize font, color, and background of your captions

Highlight Keywords

Emphasize important words within captions

AI Voiceover Guide

Configure AI voices for your videos

​What You Will Learn

Text Animations

Future Words

Animation Types

Social Media Ready

​Prerequisites

​Available Animations

​Entry Animations

​Exit Animations

​The futureWords Parameter

​Visual Comparison

​Complete Example

​Animation Examples

​Fade with Hidden Future Words

​Blur with Subtle Future Words

​Drift Animation

​Wipe Animation

​Typewriter Animation

​Elastic Animation

​Text Reveal Animation

​Platform Recommendations

​Animation Parameters Reference

​Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Dynamic Captions

Custom Subtitle Style

Highlight Keywords

AI Voiceover Guide

What You Will Learn

Prerequisites

Available Animations

Entry Animations

Exit Animations

The futureWords Parameter

Visual Comparison

Complete Example

Animation Examples

Fade with Hidden Future Words

Blur with Subtle Future Words

Drift Animation

Wipe Animation

Typewriter Animation

Elastic Animation

Text Reveal Animation

Platform Recommendations

Animation Parameters Reference

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps