PROTOTYPE — THROWAWAY

Motion Design Playbook

Decision tool for LeadGrow video pipeline. Derived from frame-by-frame analysis of 2 reference videos.

Pick Your Hook Strategy

Two proven patterns from the reference videos. Choose based on video type.

V1 Strategy — Narrative

Animated Composition Flow

Fewer cuts, longer continuous animation sequences. Elements build inside a single frame for 10-12 seconds. Premium feel.

4 cuts / 30s
12s longest animation
82% graphics in hook
Best for: Narrative videos, story-driven content, "here's what we built" format. When you want to create awe, not urgency.
V2 Strategy — Rapid

Rapid Cut + Zoom Energy

More cuts, zoom cuts on TH, B-roll screenshots, lower-third overlays. Creates urgency and pace. Tutorial-friendly.

10 events / 30s
5s max dead TH
2 zoom cuts on TH
Best for: Listicle videos ("6 ways to..."), tutorials, demos, screenshare-heavy content. When you want pace, not polish.

What is the speaker saying?

Match the spoken content to the right fullscreen graphic slot. Click a card to see the full spec.

Check Your Cadence

Enter your storyboard's TH and graphic durations. The checker flags any segment that breaks the "never more than 8s without visual change" rule.

Format: TH:5, G:3, TH:8, G:4 — TH = talking head, G = graphic/B-roll/overlay

Iron Rules — Never Break These

Patterns consistent across both reference videos. These are the non-negotiables.

Hard Cuts Only

Every transition between TH and graphics is an instant hard cut. Zero dissolves, zero wipes, zero slides. Motion is INSIDE the graphic, not between them.

Verified: V1 all 4 cuts · V2 all 10 events

Fullscreen Graphics

Graphics REPLACE the talking head — they fill the entire 1920×1080 frame. Never a floating card on top of the speaker (lower-third stats/pills are the exception, not the rule).

Verified: V1 7/7 slots · V2 5/5 new slots

≤ 8s Dead TH (Hook)

In the first 30 seconds, never go more than 8 seconds of static talking head without a visual event. After hook, max 20-22s TH stretch is acceptable.

V1 max: 8s (23-30s) · V2 max: 5s (15-19s)

Word-Build = Speech Sync

Text-build animations cascade word-by-word at speech pace. ~150ms per word. Never dump a full sentence — each word lands as the speaker says it.

Verified: V1 text-build · V2 text-build-light + dark

Minimal SFX

Sound effects ONLY on graphic entries (soft whoosh). Never on cuts. Never on TH. No typing sounds, no tech beeps. Voice carries all transitions.

V1 + V2: identical SFX philosophy

Three Visual Systems

Every LeadGrow fullscreen must have: (1) Pixel emblem, (2) Eyebrow pill (JetBrains Mono caps), (3) Whiteboard sketch or Caveat annotation. Missing any = incomplete.

LeadGrow brand rule — differentiator vs reference

Never: Dissolves or Wipes

PowerPoint transitions destroy premium feel instantly. Even 200ms crossfades are banned. If it's not a hard cut, it doesn't exist.

0 dissolves across 240 analyzed frames

Never: Floating Cards on Screenshare

During screenshare/demo segments, the screen IS the content. No overlay cards. Facecam bubble is the only exception — circular, bottom-right, ~200px.

V2 screenshare: clean screen + facecam only

V1 vs V2 Side-by-Side

Same channel, different strategies. See exactly what changed between videos.

V1 — Narrative

MetricValue
Cuts in first 30s4 hard cuts
Zoom cuts on TH0 — static framing
Longest animation12s continuous
Hook graphics ratio82%
Max dead TH (hook)8s
Max dead TH (body)22s
TH overlaysBrand watermark only
Background modeDark only
ScreenshareNone
B-rollAnimated compositions only
Card styleMac window chrome

V2 — Rapid

MetricValue
Cuts in first 30s8+ hard cuts + 2 zoom
Zoom cuts on TH2 — tighter/wider for energy
Longest animation~3s per element
Hook graphics ratio~60%
Max dead TH (hook)5s
Max dead TH (body)17s
TH overlaysStats + keyword pills
Background modeDark + light (pain/solution)
ScreenshareEnters at 28s, dominates body
B-rollWebsite screenshots + Ken Burns
Card styleRounded rect, no chrome
V1 First 30 Seconds
V2 First 30 Seconds
TH
Graphic
Light Graphic
B-Roll
Animation Run
Overlay