CTEv25 • Kinetic Taco Madness • Category: Portfolio
Project Introduction
Congratulations, you’ve just unlocked the most absurd assignment of the quarter: “It’s Raining Tacos” The Kinetic Typography Edition. That’s right. You’ll be listening to that song. Over. And over. And over again. And yes, it will be stuck in your head. No, you may not change the song. This is your life now. <insert diabolical laugh here>. Don’t worry, you think it’s bad for you… Imagine being the one GRADING these things dozens of times a year.
Your job? Use Adobe After Effects to create a kinetic typography animation using the provided audio clip of “It’s Raining Tacos.” You’ll animate the lyrics like they’re falling from the sky, and yes, you’ll also be designing at least one taco (possibly a whole family of tacos?) in Illustrator that makes a guest appearance in the chaos. If your project doesn’t make us laugh or question our sanity, you’re doing it wrong.
Creative & Technical Focus
This is a crash course in timing, humor, character animation, and not losing your mind. You’ll combine kinetic typography with basic object animation to sync up text and tacos with the beat of this cursedly catchy children’s song. The vibe should feel like a breakfast cereal commercial from the early 2000s. Use bold fonts, exaggerated motion, surprise transitions, and let your taco become the star it was always meant to be. The goal isn’t just motion graphics, it’s motion personality. Lean in. Make it ridiculous. Make it rain.
Project Requirements
You must submit all of the following (or risk being banished to the streaming void):
- Use the provided “It’s Raining Tacos” audio file (30–45 second section provided by instructor)
- Animate synced kinetic typography in Adobe After Effects
- Design and animate at least one original taco illustration created in Adobe Illustrator
- The taco must be fully animated — falling, spinning, dancing, or teleporting — just do something fun with it
- Include at least three lyric-specific visual gags or transitions
- Video must be 1920×1080, 30fps, H.264 .mp4
- Embed final video in your WordPress portfolio with a reflection post explaining how you survived this madness
Project Grading Rubric
Here is how your project will be graded.
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Typography Animation | Lyrics are creatively and clearly animated in sync with the music | +5% |
| Illustrator Taco Design | A custom taco is designed with love, humor, and actual Illustrator skills | +5% |
| Visual Gags & Transitions | At least 3 clever, funny, or weird transitions or lyric gags included | +5% |
| Tone and Timing | Overall animation matches the unhinged joy of the song | +5% |
| Portfolio Post & Reflection | WordPress post includes video and commentary on your artistic suffering | +5% |
| Total (possible) | 25% Extra Credit |
OCP & Standard Alignments
07.01 – Demonstrate proficiency in timeline-based editing software
You’ll use Adobe After Effects to sync layers, adjust keyframes, and match movement to audio cues in a real-world timeline.
05.05 – Demonstrate proficiency in using illustration software
That taco? It better be built in Illustrator. That means shape tools, pathfinder, and maybe even gradients if you’re feeling spicy.
05.05 – Demonstrate proficiency in using illustration software. Your logo, iconography, and flat graphics should be created in Illustrator for max scalability and clarity.
07.05 – Create multimedia projects using visual effects and motion graphics
Because syncing tacos and lyrics to a rainstorm of nonsense is an actual design challenge… somehow.
04.03 – Create a digital portfolio to showcase multimedia projects
This belongs on your site. Not just as evidence that you can animate — but as proof you survived “It’s Raining Tacos” with dignity intact.
04.13 – Demonstrate knowledge of presentation vocabulary and terms
You’ll need to talk about keyframes, easing, frame rate, audio sync, and probably “looping taco” as a professional term now.
07.02 – Demonstrate audio editing skills
You’ll be using waveforms, beat markers, and timing tools to match every word, drop, and “meat and cheese” reference.
Digital Media & Multimedia Design 