# EXPLAINER.md: Explainer and data animation system
## Principles
- One idea per scene. One chart per scene.
- Every number on screen comes from the source file. If a number is missing, show [placeholder], never invent it.
- Show the source on screen, small, bottom right, whenever a number appears.
## Scene timing
- Each scene: 4 to 8 seconds. Build 1 to 1.5 s, hold at least 2 s, exit 0.5 s.
- Numbers count up over 1 s with ease out, then hold the final value.
- Narration leads, animation follows: the visual appears on the word, not before.
## Charts
- Bar charts start at zero. Always.
- Max 6 bars or 4 lines per chart. Group the rest as "Other".
- Highlight one data point in the accent color, everything else in muted gray.
- Labels directly on the bars or line ends, no legends when possible.
- Axis labels and units always visible. Round to what matters (18%, not 18.27%).
- Bars grow from the baseline with a 3 frame stagger, left to right.
## Type and color
- Use the motion brand system (DESIGN.md) for fonts, colors and easing.
- Numbers use tabular figures so they do not jitter while counting.
- Big number scenes: number at t-hero size, label under it at t-body.
## Structure for a 30 to 60 s explainer
1. Hook: the single most surprising number or claim.
2. Context: what we are measuring and since when.
3. Three beats: one chart or diagram each.
4. Takeaway: one sentence, held still for a voiceover.
## Never
- 3D pie charts, dual axes, truncated axes, animated gridlines that distract.
- Stock icons for every word. Use an icon only when it explains faster than text.
Before you run it Fill in anything in [brackets]. If it edits a project, use a duplicate and read the agent's plan before you say go
# DESIGN.md: Motion graphics brand system
Read this before creating any graphic, title, caption or transition. Fill in the brackets once, then never improvise outside these rules.
## 0. Dials
| Dial | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | [4] | 1 calm documentary, 5 clean YouTube, 10 hype trailer |
| Density | [3] | 1 one idea on screen, 10 dashboard |
| Motion | [5] | 1 cuts and fades only, 10 everything animates |
## 1. Canvas
- Masters: 1920x1080 (16:9) and 1080x1920 (9:16), [30] fps. Never mix frame rates in one project.
- Graphics safe area: keep text inside the central 90% of width and height (5% margin each side, following EBU R 95 graphics safe). Action safe: 93%.
Drop it into a Remotion project, a Claude Code folder or an After Effects MCP session so every title, lower third and transition shares the same type, color, easing and timing
# CAPTIONS.md: Caption and subtitle style system
Two modes. Pick one per video and say which in the job.
## Mode A: Subtitles (accessibility, long form, client work)
- Max 42 characters per line, max 2 lines.
- Reading speed: max 20 characters per second for adult viewers.
- Duration: min 0.83 s (20 frames at 24 fps), max 7 s.
- Gap between captions: at least 2 frames.
- Position: bottom center inside title safe. Move to top only when it would cover burned in text or a face.
- Style: [sans serif], white, 2 px black outline or a 60% black box, no animation.
- Line breaks: after punctuation, before conjunctions and prepositions. Never split a name, a number and its unit, or an article and its noun.
- Include [MUSIC] and speaker labels only when the speaker is off screen or unclear.
- Spelling: use the term list below exactly.
# THUMBNAILS.md: YouTube thumbnail system
## Canvas
- 1280x720 px, 16:9 (YouTube's recommended size). Export JPG or PNG.
- Design for the smallest place it shows: check it at 168x94 px. If you cannot read it there, it fails.
- Keep the bottom right 15% free of important content (the video length badge sits there).
## Layout (pick one per video, keep it for the series)
1. Face + 3 words: face on the right third, looking at the text or the viewer, text on the left two thirds.
2. Before / after: split down the middle, left "before", right "after", arrow or line between.
3. Object hero: one big object or screenshot, slightly rotated, text top left.
- One focal point. The eye should land in under a second.
## Text
# SHORTS.md: Social shorts template system
## Canvas
- 1080x1920, [30] fps, H.264, AAC 48 kHz.
- Length: [20 to 45] s. The first frame must already be interesting.
- Safe zone: keep text and faces out of the top 10%, the bottom 20% and the right 12% (platform UI). Main action lives in the middle 60%.
## Structure
| Part | Time | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | 0 to 2 s | Strongest line or visual first. Text hook on screen, max 6 words, matches what is said |
| Setup | 2 to 8 s | Why this matters, one sentence |
| Body | 8 s to end minus 4 s | One idea per 3 to 5 seconds. Cut or change framing at least every 3 s |
| Payoff | last 4 s | Answer the hook. End on a finished sentence |
# TITLES.md: Titles and lower thirds system
## Card types
| Type | Content | Position | Hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name strap | Name + role | Bottom left, safe area | 4 to 6 s, first appearance only |
| Location | Place, city | Top left | 3 s |
| Date or time jump | "Three months later" | Center | 2.5 s |
| Chapter | Number + title | Center or left column | 3 s |
| Source | "Source: [name]" | Bottom right, small | As long as the claim is on screen |
## Type
- Name: [typeface] Semibold, 44 px at 1080 tall.
- Role: same typeface Regular, 30 px, 75% opacity.
# LOOK.md: Color and grade look system
## Pipeline
- Color managed: DaVinci Wide Gamut / DaVinci Intermediate timeline, output Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 for web and TV. [Change if your deliverable is HDR or P3]
- Input transforms per camera, set once per clip on the INPUT node or via project color management. Never grade log footage by eye without a transform.
## Node template (same order on every clip)
1. INPUT CST (if not project managed)
2. EXPOSURE and WB
3. CONTRAST
4. SAT and HUE
5. SECONDARIES (skin, sky): qualifier windows only here
6. LOOK (shared group node or PowerGrade, never edited per clip)
7. OUTPUT CST