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Participant
March 4, 2026
Question

Why can't I animate a shape along the path of another shape?

  • March 4, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 41 views

This is definitely user error, but I’m clearly forgetting some of the most basic AE knowledge. Nothing on Google is helping me. I have two shapes. A line and a circle. I’m trying to copy the ellipse’s path to the line’s position so the line will follow along the circle’s path. Yes, I’m aware of just using a trim path on the circle but that’s not the end goal here. Anytime I copy the ellipse’s path and paste it on the line’s position, it just pastes a “Group 1.” How can I properly copy the ellipse’s path so that the line follows it?



 

 

2 replies

thepixelsmith
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 5, 2026

What Nishu said will work.

Right-click on the Elipse Path in Contents (Contents > [Slipse 1 > Elipse Path 1) and choose Convert to Bezier Path from the menu.

Locate the newly convert Path property (the one with the stopwatch) and You’ll then be able to use copy/paste as motion path or keyframe assistant (Null Tracing Along Path)

nishu_kush
Legend
March 5, 2026

Thanks for reaching out.

 

You can use the Ellipse path as an animation path. You’d need to convert the ellipse to Bezier path before copying it (check out the GIF). However, the line (in the screenshot) will not bend as per the shape of the ellipse. It’ll only animate the layer's position.

Let me know if it helps.

 

Thanks,

Nishu