Creating retro effects can look challenging, but After Effects has a few simple, built-in effects that together can create convincing 80s looking title sequences for your videos. Whether you are making an 80s inspired web series or a compilation of home movies, these 80s intros After Effects ideas will get you started.
Summary
Part 1: How to Make a 80’s Intro in After Effects
To create a retro intro sequence, there are several elements you can choose to give it an 80s vibe. Once you know how to make an element, you can mix and match and design how you like, giving you endless options.
Creating a Grid Style
A common theme in the 80s intros is moving grid patterns, which are super easy to create in After Effects.
- Create a Solid layer and add a Gradient Ramp Effect to create a gradient background.
- Create a second Solid Layer and add the Grid Effect. Play around with the Grid settings in the Effects Control Panel until you are happy with your element’s look.
- Add Keyframed animation to the grid to give it some movement, using either the Position, Scale, or Rotation settings.
- If you want to create the effect of the grid fading into the distance, add another solid layer, and mask the portion you want to fade out. Set the Grid layer to Alpha Matte, your third Solid layer.
Fun 80s Text
Choosing the right 80s style font is just the first step in creating your titles. You should also animate them to give that retro feel.
- Add and place your Text on screen, choosing the font and color, or adding a Gradient Ramp for that extra flair.
- Add Keyframes to your Text to make it scale up from the distance.
- Duplicate the text layer. In the Character Control Panel, turn off the text color and add a Stroke.
- Keyframe the Stroke layer to continue growing after the main Title animation has stopped. Add a small fade out at the end of the Stroke animation so that it disappears.
- Duplicate the Stroke layer and cut the clip on the middle Scale keyframe, so the layer starts when your Main Title finished scaling up.
- Duplicate the second Stroke layer several times, moving each a few frames along the timeline to create the tunnel style stroke pattern.
- For a finishing touch, you can add Motion Blur to each of the Stroke Layers.
Test Reflections
Another simple effect is creating some speedy reflection effects as if the light was passing across your text element.
- Duplicate your Main Text Layer, and trim to where you want the reflection animation to begin.
- Create a Solid below this text layer, and set it to Alpha Matte, the new text layer.
- Using the Pen tool, create slanted bars of varying width across your Text.
- Create two Position Keyframes in the Solid Layer, and move the bars across your text element.
Light Transitions from Footage
The final thing you need to think about is how your footage transitions to your title. Editors in the 80s were big fans of light effects and dissolves.
- Set your Background Layer to 80% Opacity.
- Select everything in your Timeline and press Command/Control C to Compound the elements.
- Add your Clip below the title.
- To the New Title Comp, and a small fade-in, to complete before the text animation begins.
- In the Effects Control Panel, search for Curves, and add to your clip.
- Create a Curves Keyframe half a second before the Title Comp starts fading in, and a second Curves Keyframe when the fade has finished.
- At the second Keyframe, change the curves to pull out the colors in your shot that match your background until you are happy with the look.
Part 2: 17 Totally Rad 80s Intro Templates for After Effects
1. Synthwave 80s Intro
We’ll kick things off with something as 80s as shoulder pads with the cyberpunk-themed Synthwave 80s Intro After Effects template. Easily customize the color to suit; its vintage style makes this ideal for game trailers, TV intros, or reviews for retro movies/games.
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2. Retro Wave Intro
With its funky 80s themed graphics and era-appropriate Text, Retro Wave Intro offers a friendly and nostalgic opener for your brand, trailers, game reviews, or presentation. Easy to use, and with one logo placeholder and three editable text layers, this is a great entry-level template.
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3. Neon Fire Promo
This high energy After Effects template provides eye-catching transitions and trendy text animations. Neon Fire Promo has plenty of editable elements, including a full-color controller, giving your trailers, TV show openers, or presentations an action-packed edge.
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4. Type Noise
This fast and funky After Effects template has seven text and image placeholders to add a colorful edge to your event videos, social media content, and so much more. Fully loaded with lively transitions, it’s guaranteed to wow your audience.
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5. Retro Future Logo
If you’re looking to recreate an 80s video game opening menu, then the Retro Future Logo is the After Effects template you need. Super easy to use, this awesome template is ideal for game review videos, social media adverts, or YouTube openers.
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6. Neon Limelight
Neon Limelight offers a range of striking and elegant glowing text animations with ten editable text layers. Add that touch of class to your TV show or film opening credits, trailers, or intro videos with this voguish template.
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7. Retro Disco Opener
Get the party started 80s style with the Retro Disco Opener, energetically animated with a dance floor, skyline, and disco balls. Add that extra something to your live event videos, DJ sets, or even as a TV show opener.
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8. Retro Wave City Logo
If you need your logo to look similar to a digital transfer of an old VHS tape, this is the template for you. The wacky design, bright colors, VHS distortion, and warp effects work seamlessly together to create a genuinely 80s vibe.
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9. Enigmatic World
This stunning title sequence is ideal for a TV show and movie credits. The minimalist neon designs move seamlessly in the background, creating cool retro shapes, while a subtle film dust effect gives the impression of a camera passing giant neon letters.
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10. Retro Logo Style
The Retro Logo Style template is a stunning 80s design, with all the advantages of modern technology. The clean, bright lines lack the fuzziness of traditional retro designs, but that makes this template ideal for documentaries, and 80s themed events.
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11. Retro Title
Get that authentic 80s look with Retro Title to impact your audience with flashy animations and a hint of VHS grain. Offering a dynamic logo reveal with two text placeholders; this is perfect for social media openers, logo stings, and event videos.
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12. Retro Wave Intro
Reminiscent of 80s gaming and music TV shows, this fun and trendy template would be ideal as a web show intro. The bold title zooms in to a shot against retro mountains and grid background, all in a beautiful 80s color palette.
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13. VHS Freeze Frame Opener
This VHS style opener includes 12 media and text placeholders, ideal for intro sequences, showreels, and music videos. The simple slide transitions are used perfectly with a fuzzy VHS distortion and warp, and the big, bold titles highlight your messaging.
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14. Retro VHS Logo
The Retro VHS Logo opener is an 80s inspired futuristic-looking template, with a lot of shine. The spherical silver grid pulls your viewer into the action before the bold titles with cool neon borders come in to shot.
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15. Retro Wave Logo
Retro Wave Logo beautifully recreates a retro desktop computer with an 80s style arcade-style that gradually pulls back to reveal your logo. What it lacks in customizability, it makes up for with old school charm that would suit review videos, gaming shows, and nostalgic commercials.
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16. Lightning Logo
Looking for a lightning themed intro for your title sequence, social media videos, YouTube Channel worthy of the God of Thunder? Then The Lightning Logo has what you need with its 80s metallic bold Text and powerful bolts of lightning to reveal your title, logo, or message.
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17. Wonder 80s Cinematic Title
This vibrant After Effects template has everything you need to make an impactful trailer or teaser for your movie. Bold, bright lettering, and an instant cinematic feel, it’s perfect for setting that 80s vibe that’s super simple to use.
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Part 3: How to Use 80’s Intro Templates
Using templates can save you a lot of time, as well as letting you explore effects beyond your skill level. The first thing is to choose, download, and open your template project. All After Effects are structured in a similar way to make customizing them as easy as possible.
- In the Project browser, locate the Media Placeholder Comps. Open each in turn and add your media/logos.
- Next, find the Text Placeholder Comps and add your message to each in turn. You can also change the font, size, weight, and color of your Text.
- Return to the Final Comp and check you are happy with how everything is displayed. Export, and you are done.
If you are looking to create that relaxed eighties vibe, then these effects are sure to help. Intro templates are a great time saver and can be used in a variety of ways, such as event promos, music videos, and of course, video openers. If you enjoyed our 80s Intros in After Effects tutorial, check out how to create your own Glitch Effect in After Effects.
