Flying Bats Effect

What is it?

The Flying Bats Effect allows users to create realistic 3D bat animations in After Effects. Animate a single bat, or add as many bats as you want to create an entire colony. Simply animate the 3D position of a single "leader bat" with two or more keyframes, and the other bats will follow - but with their own automatic zig-zagging, swooping, and other random bat-like flight behavior. The bats are ideal for halloween-themed animations, or even for creating realistic colonies flying in the distance, when composited over footage. A "Control Layer" with over 50 neatly-organized controls allow you to customize the bats' appearance, flight behavior (like automatic wing-flapping), and colony characteristics (like randomness and 3D spread). Or to save time, go with with the default settings. A link to an in-depth video tutorial is included.

3D models are constructed from 2D images in AE (see rotating bat in video). When the bats are in the distance or moving quickly, they appear to have mass and are very convincing. This template is not for animating bats that are landed. Music & backgrounds not included. This effect works in any resolution. Compatible with AE v.16.x and up.