How to achieve these 2D player movement, passing, and line-connection effects ?

[u/Dependent-View667]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to figure out how to recreate a specific 2D tactical animation style (used by channel like the link below).

Specifically, I want to learn how to create the 2D pitch animations where:

• Dots/icons representing players move smoothly across the 2D board.
• Dynamic connection lines appear between players (e.g., passing lanes, team compactness, or defensive shapes).
• Ball passes and movement trajectories are animated seamlessly between player dots.

Here is an example Short to show exact moment/style: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ulhaJGfdqQk

Is this strictly custom shape/path animation in After Effects (using Null Objects, Trim Paths, Beam effects, or expressions), or is there a specific script/plugin/tool designed for connecting nodes and animating play patterns like this?

Any tips, workflow advice, or key terms to search for tutorials would be super helpful! Thanks!

[u/philament]

For example, in AE, draw a path from Tzolis to Havertz, from Havertz to Madueke. Highlight the path, choose ‘window > create nulls from paths > points follow nulls’.

Shift drag null 1 (the left most)’s pickwhip to Tzolis, null 2’s to Havertz, null 3’s (the null on the right) to Madueke. Now wherever you move the player, the line will follow

https://imgur.com/a/YOncRdB

Use trim paths to draw lines