Create short-form videos with video building blocks
You can create engaging short-form videos by combining video building blocks. These modular templates help you build videos that feel original and native to platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
Unlike full-length templates, building blocks are compact (under eight seconds) and focus on one creative moment. Start with a strong hook and combine sound and text effects blocks to craft videos that capture attention.
Types of video building blocks
Video building blocks come in three categories, each designed to solve a specific creative challenge.
Hooks
Short, high-impact opening moments (under five seconds) designed to immediately capture attention:
- Physical POV hooks for immersive first-person moments
- Movement-driven hooks with dynamic camera movement or action
- Object interaction hooks for product showcases
- Motion effect hooks with zoom punch-ins, glitch transitions, and color flashes
Type blocks
Narrative-driven blocks (under eight seconds) that emphasize your message through text:
- Decorative and expressive typography
- Creative captions with positioning, styling, and calls to action
- AI voiceovers to strengthen your message
- Animated typography with timed movement and sound
SFX blocks
Audio blocks (under five seconds) that shape mood and add character:
- Transition sound effects like whooshes, risers, drops, and clicks
- Themed sound packs for specific styles (gamified, vlog, trailer, camera sounds)
Find video building blocks
From the homepage
- Go to Templates.
- Select Video from the options under the search bar. You can also go to Explore templates and select Mobile Video.
- Find the Engage users with video building blocks section.
- Choose from Video Hooks, Video Sound Effects, or Video Text Effects.
From the editor
- Open or create a mobile video design (Mobile video, Instagram Reel, or TikTok video).
- From the editor, select Templates on the side panel.
- Go to the Video Hooks, Video Sound Effects, or Video Text Effects section. Select See all to view more templates.
- Select your preferred template to apply it to your video.
Preview and customize templates
After selecting a building block category, you can preview templates before using them.
- Select a template for a larger preview, then select Customize this template to start designing.
- You can also hover your cursor over templates to preview them. More options will appear.
- Select the Play or Pause button to control playback.
- Select the Mute or Unmute button to control sound.
- Select the icon to access options like Customize this template, Preview template, Translate this template, or Report.
- Select the Favorite icon to add the template to your favorites.
FAQs
Why are video building blocks so short?
Video building blocks are intentionally designed to be under eight seconds because they're modular components you can mix and match. Think of them as creative ingredients rather than complete recipes. To create longer content, combine multiple building blocks in your video timeline or add your own footage between them.
I can't find video building blocks
Video building blocks are only available for vertical video formats:
- Mobile video
- Instagram reel
- TikTok video
If you're using a landscape format video template, video building blocks won't appear. Create or open a vertical video design to access them.
Do video building blocks require a paid subscription?
Video building blocks are available to all Canva users. However, some building block templates contain Premium elements. The availability of individual templates varies based on the assets used in each design.
Additional resources
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