Randomize Repeater Trim Paths

Question

I'm trying to create an animated "radiating light" using only trim paths in AfterEffects. I'm aiming for a flat, single-color, line-art style (see the Illustrator sketch below):

Currently, in AfterEffects, I have a single line animated with trim paths. I then used a repeater and rotated it to make it a radiating animation. This works great if I want each instance of the line to be exactly syncronized with the original, but I want each instance of the repeater to animate randomly so that it looks similar to the sketch in illustrator. Is there a way to do this?

Here's a screenshot of what it currently looks like in AE:

Any input on this would be great! Thank you!

Dan Ebberts · Answer

You could set up one path shape with its animation, add expressions to set a different angle for each copy and to randomize the animation, then duplicate the shape as many times as necessary. For example, the rotation expression might be like this (which would spread the rays evenly around the circle):

n = thisProperty.propertyGroup(3).numProperties;
(thisProperty.propertyGroup(2).propertyIndex-1)*(360/n)

The animation randomizing expression would depend on the nature of your animation and how you want it to operate.

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