In this three part tutorial, I’ll show you three ways you can bend layers along paths in After Effects and Cinema 4D.  Starting with part 1, I’ll show you how you can use a free plug-in called Omino Snake to achieve this look in After Effects.  Next, in part 2, I’ll use the Puppet Tool in After Effects and show how I got the same type of effect.  Finally, in part 3, I’ll demonstrate how we can bend an object along a more complex path/spline using Cinema 4D and design it so it looks 2D.  By doing so, we will be able to seamlessly blend it inside our 2D design in After Effects.

Download free Omino Plug-in here.  (UPDATE:  Version 2.1 has been released and it now supports Windows!)

Tutorial Part 1

Tutorial Part 2

Tutorial Part 3

The inspiration for this tutorial comes from the “bendy arms” in this beautifully done animation created by XYZ Studios: