Guide · 5 min
Vertical map animations for Reels, Shorts and TikTok
Make a 9:16 animated travel map for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok, with safe areas, short timings and bold styles that read on a phone.
Updated
Set the video format to 9:16 in MapAnimate's Video panel, keep the line to 5–10 seconds, use a bold map style like Neon Night or Midnight, keep signs in the middle of the frame away from the app's buttons, and export a 1080×1920 MP4.
Step by step
- Open the editor and switch the Video format to 9:16 (vertical).
- Draw or import your route and add one or two key signs, not ten.
- Pick a high-contrast style: Neon Night, Midnight or Satellite.
- Use a Follow camera with heading-up rotation so the route runs up the screen.
- Set the line to 5–10 seconds plus a short hold at the end.
- Export at 1080×1920 and upload, or add music in your phone editor.
Design for the phone screen
A vertical video is watched on a 6-inch screen while someone scrolls, so less is more: a thick line, two or three signs and strong colours. The editor shows the 9:16 frame on the map, so you see exactly what goes into the video.
Mind the safe areas
Instagram, TikTok and YouTube put buttons, captions and the username over the right side and bottom of the video. Keep important signs in the upper-middle of the frame, and use the follow camera so the moving marker stays centred.
Heading-up camera
In the Camera panel, set the Follow rotation to Heading up. The map turns so travel always points to the top of the screen, which suits a tall frame and feels like a real journey.
Length
Viewers decide in a second or two. A 6–8 second map with a short hold at the end works well as the first clip of a Reel, followed by your footage.
Square and 4:5
For feed posts, the editor also exports square (1:1) and portrait 4:5 videos.
Ready to animate your trip?
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