If you’re a fan of Johnny Harris or Vox’s documentary videos, you’ve probably noticed the sharp newspaper-style animations, kinetic headlines, and seamless transitions. Good news? You can replicate that exact aesthetic inside Adobe After Effects — no fancy plugins needed.
In this video tutorial, you’ll learn:
- 🔹 How to create ripped newspaper overlays using paper texture PNGs and masking
- 🔹 Kinetic typewriter text effects with typewriter and opacity animations
- 🔹 Subtle zoom-ins on maps and headlines for dramatic emphasis
- 🔹 Luma fades and matte transitions to jump from one frame to another like a news montage
- 🔹 Use of grain overlays + sepia tones for vintage authenticity
🎯 Pro Tip: Keep your camera movements minimal but purposeful. Combine push-ins with sound cues and voiceover pauses to mimic the classic Johnny Harris rhythm.
Whether you’re crafting a political explainer, a historical reel, or a geo-narrative story — this style adds instant credibility and cinematic polish.
✅ Tools Used:
- Adobe After Effects
- Free paper textures (from Pexels or Unsplash)
- Fonts: Bebas Neue, Times New Roman
- Sound FX: Typewriter clicks, grain noise, subtle background swells
📌 Final Thought:
Mastering this style doesn’t just make your video look cool — it helps tell stories visually and hold attention in a scroll-happy world.