Create Action Backgrounds for Anime Scenes in After Effects

Welcome to a brand-new and exciting lesson in Adobe After Effects! Today, we’ll be learning how to create action backgrounds for high-energy anime scenes. These backgrounds are not just visual effects—they are a crucial element in enhancing motion and speed within a scene. Without them, shots can feel flat and lack impact. So, let’s dive in and learn how to design them from scratch, step by step.

1. Setting Up the Project and Layers in After Effects

1. Create a New Project: Open Adobe After Effects, then go to File → New → New Composition.

2. The Composition Settings window will appear. You can rename your composition to something like “Speed Lines” or any name of your choice.

3. Click OK to proceed.

2. Creating the Base for Action Backgrounds for Anime

1. In the Timeline panel, right-click and select New → Solid.

A blank screen will appear. Right-click in the left panel and select New → Solid again

We will add two layers:

• One for the background (white solid).

• Another for the speed lines (on top of the background layer)

3. Coloring the Background and Adding Effects

1. Open the Effects & Presets Panel on the right side.

2. In the search box, type Fill, then drag the effect onto the background layer.

3. In the Effect Controls Panel, change the background color to orange to give the scene a dramatic tone.

   
   

4. Creating the Speed Line Effect

1. Go back to the Effects & Presets Panel and search for Fractal Noise.

1. Drag and drop it onto the speed lines layer.

2. In the Effect Controls Panel, adjust the settings as follows:

   • Contrast: 843

   • Brightness: 164

     
     

• Scale Width: 2222

• Scale Height: 29

  
  
  
  

Close up image

• Apply the Extract effect to the same layer and drag the threshold slider from right to left to remove the white background, keeping only the black speed lines.

• Search for Fill again, apply it to the speed lines layer, and change the color from black to brown.

  
  

5. Animating the Speed Lines

1. Select the speed lines layer, then go to Offset Turbulence in the Effect Controls Panel.

2. At frame 1, add a Keyframe and set the Offset Turbulence value to 50.

3. Move to frame 50, add another Keyframe, and set the Offset Turbulence value to 50000.

   
   

Now, the speed lines will move rapidly from left to right, creating a strong motion effect.

6. Adding Shiny Streaks for Extra Impact

1. Duplicate the speed lines layer by pressing Ctrl + D or right-clicking and selecting Duplicate.

2. Change the color of the duplicated layer to yellow or light orange using the Fill effect.

3. Adjust the Offset Turbulence settings to make these lines move at a different speed.

   
   

1. Repeat the process to create a third layer, this time coloring it white.

2. Modify the thickness of the lines by adjusting the contrast and brightness settings.

3. Add a Glow effect from the Effects & Presets Panel to the white layer, then fine-tune the glow intensity.

   
   

7. Exporting the Final Background

Now that the action background is ready, we need to export it with high quality. Follow these steps:

1. Go to File → Export → Add to Render Queue.

In the Render Queue window, adjust the settings:

• Format: Choose QuickTime or MP4 (H.264) for optimal file size.

  
  

• Output Module: Click it and select RGB + Alpha if you need a transparent background.

• Output To: Choose the destination folder.

• Click Render and wait for the export to complete.

You can buy and get my custom Anime Speed Lines Here

Now that we’ve created a professional action background for anime scenes, you can easily integrate it into your projects and tweak the effects for even greater impact. These backgrounds add a dynamic element to any shot, making the animation feel more intense and fast-paced.

What do you think of this technique? Do you have any ideas to enhance action backgrounds? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Want pre-made action backgrounds for your anime projects? Download them here!