How to Create an Animated PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint animations can make your slides more dynamic, engaging, and easier to follow—if you use them correctly. Whether you’re adding simple text entrance animations or building a fully animated slide, the process is easier than you think.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to insert animation in PowerPoint, how to animate text and images, how to use “on click” triggers, and how to customize your animation timing like a pro.

Let’s get started.

1. What Exactly Are PowerPoint Animations?

Animations in PowerPoint are visual effects that control how content appears, moves, or disappears on your slide. They help guide your audience’s attention and improve understanding.

PowerPoint offers four main animation types:

Entrance (Fade In, Fly In, Zoom)
Emphasis (Pulse, Spin)
Exit (Fade Out, Fly Out)
Motion Paths (Custom movement along a path)

We’ll cover how to apply all of these in the steps below.

Want animation add automatically in PowerPoint?

With WorkPPT AI maker, you can turn any idea into a ready-to-use PPT in minutes.

2. Quick Start: Insert Your First Animation

If you’re new, this is the fastest way to add an animation in PowerPoint.

Step 1 — Select an object

Click the text box, image, shape, or icon you want to animate.

Step 2 — Go to Animations

In the top ribbon, click Animations.

Step 3 — Choose an animation effect

Pick an Entrance animation like:

Fade
Wipe
Fly In
Zoom

You’ll instantly see a preview.

Step 4 — Adjust Effect Options

Depending on the animation, you can change:

direction (from left/right)
angle
sequence (for bullet points)

Step 5 — Play the slide

Press Preview to test it.

That’s how you insert your first animation—quick and simple.

✍ [Related Tips]: How to Make a Perfect PowerPoint

3. How to Add Animation to Text, Images, and Charts

Different objects behave differently, so here’s how each one works.

3.1 Add animation to text

1. Select the text box
2. Choose an animation
3. Under Effect Options, choose text animation settings:
- - “By Paragraph” (animates bullet points one by one)
  - “All at Once”
  - “By Word”
  - “By Letter”

✍ [Related Tips]: Add Text Box Like a Pro in PowerPoint

3.2 Add animation to images or shapes

1. Click the object
2. Apply entrance or emphasis animation
3. Images usually work best with Fade, Zoom, or Grow/Shrink

✍ [Related Image Edit Tips]: How to Flip Picture in PowerPoint

3.3 Add animation to charts

PowerPoint lets you animate charts by series, by category, or by element. This is great for business or academic presentations.

✍ [More Chart Edit Tips]: How to Make a Pie Chart in PowerPoint

4. Add “On Click” Animation in PowerPoint (Most Important Skill)

Most people want animation to happen only when they click the mouse—this keeps your presentation under control.

Here’s how to add animation on click:

Select the object
Go to Animation Pane
Click the animation
Under Timing, set- Start: On Click

Other options include:

With Previous (plays at the same time as another animation)
After Previous (automatically triggered)

But for presentations, On Click gives you full control.

5. Add Motion Path Animation (For More Dynamic Effects)

If you want objects to move across the slide:

Select your object
Choose Add Animation
Scroll to Motion Paths
Select:

Lines
Arcs
Turns
Custom Path

You can draw your own path for complex movements.

Pro tip: Use motion paths sparingly—too much movement can distract your audience.

6. How to Create an Animated PowerPoint Slide (Full Workflow)

If you want the entire slide to come alive, follow this structure:

1. Animate the title first

Use a simple Fade In.

2. Animate bullet points

Set them to Fade In → By Paragraph → On Click

3. Add subtle emphasis animations

Examples:

Pulse to highlight key stats
Grow/Shrink for icons
4. Add transitions

At the slide level, choose a simple transition like Fade.

5. Check animation order

Use the Animation Pane to:

rearrange sequences
delete unnecessary effects
adjust timing

You now have a clean, professional animated slide.

😀 Things you can do:

😥 Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Auto-Generate Animated Slides with AI

If you want animated slides without doing the manual work, WorkPPT AI tools can help.
You can upload your topic or outline, and WorkPPT will generate a ready-to-edit animated deck in minutes.

FAQs About Animating a PowerPoint Slide

Q1: How do you add animations to PowerPoint?

A: Go to Animations → Select object → Pick an effect.

Q2: How to put animation in PowerPoint on text?

A：Click the text box → choose an animation → set “By Paragraph” if needed.

Q3: How to animate a PowerPoint slide?

A: Use multiple animations + the Animation Pane to control order.

Q4: How to create an animated PowerPoint presentation?

A: Combine entrance, emphasis, and transition effects with consistent timing.

Q5: How to insert animation “on click” in PowerPoint?

A: Select the animation → Timing → Start → On Click.

💬 Conclusion:

WordArt in PowerPoint So do you know how to add animation in PowerPoint? If you have more question, let us know in comment.

And if you’re rather skip the manual work, WorkPPT best AI PPT Maker can create a perfect slides for you in just one click.

⭐728323 presentations made

How to Insert Animation in PowerPoint: Step-By-Step Tutorial (2025)

1. What Exactly Are PowerPoint Animations?

2. Quick Start: Insert Your First Animation