How do I recreate this gif in after effects cc?

[ambitious_partner98A4]

I'm new to after effects and haven't used it much, so I don't know what technique it is

and thus I don't know what tutorials to look for either.

[Abambo]

looks for me as a morphing effect. So search for morphing in After Effects.

[Kyle Hamrick · Accepted solution]

My recommended workflow would be:
Create the shapes (using the polygon tool) on a shape layer (or layers). Line 'em up, convert to bezier paths, animate the paths.
Be mindful of setting your first vertex. Recreating this portion took me maybe 4 minutes.

There are probably procedural workflows available by using the new path point expression access, but if you're new to AE, I would stick with the above.