The opening sequence of a video is one of the most important parts of the production. It’s the first thing viewers see and can set the tone for the video content. A well-designed introduction or opener can capture the viewer’s attention and keep them engaged throughout the rest of the video.
Creating an opener from scratch can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with After Effects or on a tight deadline. Thankfully, many free, pre-built templates and presets are available to help you create a professional intro or opener in a snap.
We share some of the best free opener templates for After Effects in this collection. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these free AE templates are an excellent resource for creating engaging openers for your videos.
The free video templates come in various styles, themes, and designs, ranging from simple and minimalistic to complex and intricate, so choose the one that best suits your project’s aesthetic.
If you would like to learn some new skills in After Effects, you might like to take a look at our collection of tutorials.
How to Import a Template into After Effects
- Open After Effects and create a new project.
- Go to
File>Importand navigate to the template file that you want to use. - After selecting the file, click
Opento import the template into your project. - Once the template has been imported, it will appear in the Project panel on the left side of the screen.
- Double-click on the template in the Project panel to open it in the Composition panel.
- Customize the template as needed using the various layers and controls available.
- When you’re finished customizing the template, go to
Composition>Add to Render Queueto prepare it for rendering. - In the Render Queue panel, select your desired output settings and click
Renderto export your video with the template applied.
Dynamic Instagram Opener After Effects Templates (Free)
Use this dynamic opener to engage your Instagram audience and stand out in their feed. The template comes with 27 image and video placeholders, 20 editable text layers, and one logo placeholder.
Colorful & Modern AE Opener Template
This creative and colorful opener template is perfect for travel, fashion, or kid’s brand. This opener is a great way to create simple video or photo slideshows, showreels, corporate presentations, or a family album.
Classic Youtube Opener After Effects Template (Free)
This classic Youtube opener can be used in business and corporate projects. It comes with full-color control, and you can easily change the text and other elements to your own.
Glitch Media Opener for After Effects
For any grunge or retro-style project, check out this Glitch Media opener template. The template includes a detailed help file and complete color control, making it easy to customize the colors and animated fonts.
Mozaic Opener Template for After Effects
This versatile Mozaic Opener template can be used in various projects and industries. The template features a unique mosaic design, and you can easily add your text and adjust the colors.
3D Light After Effects Intro with Smoke (Free)
This modern intro template features bold typography and a bright neon color scheme as a starting point, and then produces a stunning 3D text effect that’s somethered in smoke. This template would be perfect for a business that caters to a younger audience.
Dynamic & Fast After Effects Opener
Another template that would work well for a company that advertises to a young crowd is this After Effects opener, which features a dynamic and fast animation style. It comes with 16 image or video placeholders and six text placeholders.
Parallax Opener After Effects Template (Free)
If you’re looking for a stylish and elegant opener, look no further than this parallax opener. The template includes a stunning parallax animation and comes with eight editable text layers, eight photo or video placeholders, and one logo placeholder.
Dark & Light Glitch Effect Intro for After Effects (Free)
Looking for a sleek and edgy way to introduce your video? Check out this glitch template for After Effects. The best part is that no plugins are required – simply edit and render. Even if you’re new to After Effects, you’ll find this glitch intro template easy to customize to your needs.
Creative & Modern Opener
Try this template if you want a modern and unique opener. This template features a fast-paced animation in slideshow style. You can easily change the colors and the fonts, add your own elements, and render the project.
Big Bold Typography Intro or Opener
This free opener template, as the name suggests, offers overly large bold text, with some lovely clip transitions. It would be perfect as the opener or intro of any travel or vacation related video.
Retro Wave Intro Template for After Effects (Free)
This free Retro Wave Intro template is perfect for any vintage or retro project. The template has a colorful design, two editable text layers, one logo placeholder, and a full-color controller.
Elegant Corporate Intro AE Template
This Elegant Corporate Intro template can be used in corporate-style videos, but you can also use it on wedding or fashion projects. The template includes eight text and image placeholders, and a detailed help file.
Short Opener After Effects Template (Free)
If you need something simple to create a video opener quickly, this is the free After Effects intro template you need. The template is as simple as it can be, and you can easily customize colors and add your chosen text.
Cyberpunk Intro Template for After Effects
If you’re a fan of the cyberpunk style, don’t miss this Cyberpunk Intro. This is an excellent choice if you’re trying to achieve a more cinematic look in your videos, and it would also be an ideal fit for a tech company.
Smooth After Effects Intro Template (Free)
This free intro template features bold titles and duotone colors. You will get five image or video placeholders, four text placeholders, one logo placeholder, and a custom color controller.
Bold & Modern Intro Template for After Effects
The Modern Intro template features a bold and modern design. The template includes several styles, and you can easily customize the text, colors, and other elements used in the introduction.
Photographic AE Intro Template
This cute intro is an excellent choice if you’re a photographer working on a video presentation of your work or trying to create a personal video presentation. Drop in your photos, change colors, and you’re good to go.
Modern Website Presentation AE Template
If you need a creative and unique way to present your web design client work or your portfolio, try this Modern Website Presentation template. You can also use it to showcase your website templates or CMS themes.
Clean & Elegant After Effects Intro Templates (Free)
This free After Effects intro template comes with 15 different image placeholders and can be used for corporate videos or any video that promotes a fashion or a jewelry brand.
Scribble Logo Intro Project File for After Effects (Free)
This free After Effects template showcases your logo with a touch of elegance. The animation starts by drawing the outline of your logo and gradually revealing the full design, creating a captivating visual effect. The simplicity of the animation adds to its beauty, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a refined and polished way to showcase their brand.
Corporate & Business Video Intro Template for After Effects (Free)
This bright and clean After Effects intro template comes with seven image or video placeholders and seven text placeholders. It features an elegant animation that’s perfect for corporate or business video projects.
What You Can Create With Intro or Opener Templates in After Effects
Intro templates provide a versatile canvas for creating captivating and engaging video openings and offer a range of creative possibilities to make your videos stand out from the start.
Here’s what you can create with intro and opener templates:
- Branded Introductions: Craft branded intros that showcase your logo, tagline, and visual identity, setting the tone for your video content.
- Dynamic Intros: Create dynamic and attention-grabbing intros that instantly captivate viewers and draw them into your video.
- Video Series Intros: Design consistent intros for video series, establishing a recognizable opening sequence across episodes.
- Event Introductions: Craft intros for event videos, webinars, or workshops that create anticipation and excitement among participants.
- Product Reveals: Use intros to unveil products or services in a visually appealing and enticing manner.
- Promotional Videos: Create intros for promotional videos that highlight special offers, discounts, or new releases.
- Cinematic Openings: Design dramatic intros with cinematic effects and music, giving your videos a cinematic touch.
- YouTube Channel Intros: Craft intros for your YouTube channel that reinforce your content’s style and instantly engage subscribers.
- Documentary Intros: Create intros for documentaries that introduce the subject matter and set the documentary’s mood.
- Corporate Presentations: Use intros to elevate the beginning of corporate presentations, capturing attention and professionalism.
- Event Highlights: Design intros that capture the highlights of events, conferences, or gatherings, generating interest.
- Vlogs & Travel Videos: Craft intros that embody the vibe of your vlogs or travel videos, providing a visual introduction to your adventures.
- Educational Videos: Create intros for educational content that sets the tone for learning and introduces the topic.
- Creative Expression: Experiment with effects, transitions, and animations to create intros that reflect your unique style and creativity.
Intro or opener templates in After Effects allow you to quickly create impactful and memorable openings for your videos.
By setting the right tone and capturing viewers’ attention from the start, these templates can contribute to a more engaging and immersive viewer experience.
Whether you’re telling a story, promoting a product, or sharing insights, intro and opener templates will enhance the visual appeal of your video content.