TypeMonkey is an AE script by Dan Ebberts & Orrin Zucker that generates complex kinetic type animations, camera included, which are dynamically tied to markers for easy customization.
TypeMonkey distributes “words evenly over the length of the composition (or Work Area if that is selected). It will also create a parented camera that points to each successive word as it transitions on.
Markers are labeled with the corresponding word on the Timing Control layer. By sliding the marker, both the timing of the word, and the camera move will adjust with it. Keep in mind, the Type Animation Speed won't change (eg: if you select Fast, when you slide a marker, it won't slow down), it will just make it later in time. Each word is comprised of two layers, a control layer and a text layer. Both are defaulted to shy, but are visible in the building process.“
The trial version at aescripts + aeplugins has a 7-day limit and allows for a maximum of 10 words.
While TypeMonkey takes away some of the drudgery, the results can sometimes seem similar to one another, so it's really up to the designer to push it in different ways. You can easily run the default, or undo and run again with Randomize on to get different results. Work can also be done in chunks with different styles, speed and auto-animation (see reference below), and users can also tweak parameters in the Timeline and add other effect filters. It seems like a longer text string — with certain fonts — makes for long renders, so it might be better to work in smaller comps reflecting your storyboard or use a standard font, but that theory needs a reality check with the creators. Later, Orin Zucker found that in some cases, the Ray-Traced 3D renderer can cause the slowdown, so change the comp advanced setting to Classic 3D.
You might also like a newer script, LayerMonkey, which is similar but for layers. Look out also for the free MonkeyTools scripts for LayerMonkey and TypeMonkey.
Here's an example of work done with TypeMonkey:
There are a number of tips and tutorials at the TypeMonkey website and at aescripts + aeplugins:
In TypeMonkey and Animated Typefaces Tutorial, Lloyd Alvarez shows how to use Animated Typefaces with TypeMonkey. It also shows how to use the new script Characteristic to automate the Animated Type and and to use a Kuler color palette for the colorLibrary.
Later, Fernando Trujano released Tap Out the Lyrics of a Song Using the Free AudioSyncR Script. It covers “the basics of AudioSyncR and how to successfully 'tap' a song by adding markers to a layer. I will then cover how to deal with incorrect taps to achieve a perfect sync. In the second video, I will explain AudioSyncR's integration with other scripts like Type Monkey, and how you can create a full Typography music video in less than 30 minutes!” Here's AudioSyncR Tutorial with TypeMonkey:
VinhSon Nguyen also added a tutorial, Title Animations With TypeMonkey Script:
And Orrin Zucker, one of the creators, added a video leveraging Premiere Pro, TypeMonkey auto sync with voice over by using the Analyze Content of audio:
Among the wave of new tutorials and updates for TypeMonkey is Eran Stern's Kinetic Typography Tips and Tricks, which includes a video tutorial at the bottom of the article. Also available are AE scripts, TypeMonkey Hebrew Text Modifier from Lloyd Alvarez and TypeMonkey Arabic Text Modifier from Salahuddin Taha; demos are below:
Lloyd Alvarez adds yet more support and shows how to create extruded text or add any other effect to text layers in TypeMonkey Text Extruding and Effects Tutorial: