# Lottie Overlay

> Describe the overlays and an AI model places and times Lottie animations, such as confetti, hearts or arrows, or your own Motion Graphics, over a video.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/lottie-overlay

The **Lottie Overlay** node adds timed animations on top of a video. You describe what should appear, where and when, for example "confetti falling from the top during the first 3 seconds". An AI model then chooses the animations, places them and times them. The node returns an overlay plan that [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video) turns into the finished clip.

- Found in: Video › Titles, Graphics & Captions
- Output: video
- API type: `lottie-overlay`

## When to use it
- You want celebration effects, such as confetti, sparkles or fireworks, at a key moment.
- You want an animated icon or indicator, such as an arrow or a check mark, at a set time.
- You want eye-catching animated elements on a social media video.
- You want to place a lower third or a title that you made with [Motion Graphics](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/motion-graphics) over your footage.

## Quick start
### Add the node

Press Tab on the canvas and choose **Video › Titles, Graphics & Captions › Lottie Overlay**.

### Connect the video

Drag from the output of any video node to the **Video** input. The node needs a video to run.

### Describe the overlays

In the settings panel, write what should appear, where and when under **Overlay Prompt**, or choose a factory preset. Set **Duration (s)** to the length of your video.

### Run it and render it

Click **Run**. A preview of the overlay plan appears in the settings panel. Connect the **Composition** output to a [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video) node and run it.

Workflow: A lower third authored by Motion Graphics is placed and timed over an interview, then rendered.

- Upload Video → Lottie Overlay (video)
- Motion Graphics → Lottie Overlay (lottie)
- Lottie Overlay → Render Video (composition)

## Inputs
| Input | Accepts | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Video** | Video nodes | The video to put the animations on. Required. |
| **Lottie** | The **Lottie JSON** output of a Motion Graphics node on the Lottie engine | Optional. Your own animation, which the AI model places and times over the video like a built-in one. |

The output, **Composition**, is the overlay plan. It connects only to [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video).

## Settings
| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **AI Model** | The language model that plans the overlays. The default is **Claude Sonnet 4.6**. The model's tier (**Economy**, **Standard** or **Premium**) sets the price. |
| **Reasoning Effort** | Shown for models that can reason. **Auto (model default)** keeps the price. **Very high** and **Max** may bill one tier up. |
| **Advanced mode** | Gemini models only. Unlocks **Temperature**, **Max Tokens** and the full reasoning range, and costs one credit tier more. |
| **Overlay Prompt** | What should appear, where on the screen, and when. |
| **FPS** | `24`, `30` or `60` frames per second. The default is `30`. Under **Settings**. |
| **Duration (s)** | From 1 to 300 seconds. The default is 10. Under **Settings**. |

## The built-in animations

The AI model chooses from twelve animations that Nodaro hosts. You do not need to supply any animation files.

| Group | Animations |
| --- | --- |
| **Celebration** | Confetti burst, Fireworks, Party popper, Stars sparkle |
| **Social / Reactions** | Heart pulse, Thumbs up, Fire emoji |
| **UI / Indicators** | Loading spinner, Checkmark success, Arrow pointer |
| **Ambient / Decorative** | Floating particles, Glowing ring |

Continuous effects loop for as long as they are on screen: Stars sparkle, Heart pulse, Fire emoji, Loading spinner, Arrow pointer, Floating particles and Glowing ring. One-shot effects play once: Confetti burst, Fireworks, Party popper, Thumbs up and Checkmark success.

## Factory presets

Lottie Overlay ships 13 factory presets in four folders. Choose one from the preset menu on the node or at the top of the settings panel. See [Presets](https://nodaro.ai/docs/concepts/presets).

| Folder | Presets |
| --- | --- |
| **Connected Graphic** | Overlay Connected Graphic, Full-Canvas Graphic, Intro Sting, Outro Sting, Corner Bug (Loop), Reaction Pop |
| **Celebration & FX** | Celebration Moment, Grand Finale, Ambient Particles |
| **Reactions & Social** | Heart Reaction, Hype Combo |
| **Emphasis & UI** | Point It Out, Success Beat |

The **Connected Graphic** presets place the graphic wired into the **Lottie** input. They center it, stretch it over the full frame, play it at the start or the end of the video, loop it as a corner bug, or pop it in as a reaction. The other folders use the built-in animations. A preset does not change the node's **Duration (s)**, so the overlay timeline keeps following your video.

### Timing variables in preset prompts

Preset prompts mark their timing and placement choices as variables with a default value:

```text
Overlay the connected graphic {position || centered} over the video, starting at
{start time || 1 second}. Play it {play mode || once at its natural duration, then remove it}.
```

You can use each variable in three ways:

1. **Run the preset unedited.** Every variable uses its default.
2. **Type over a variable.** Replace `{start time || 1 second}` with `3 seconds`.
3. **Connect a node with the same label.** A [Text](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/automate/text) node labeled `start time` fills that variable when the workflow runs. A published app or earlier logic can then drive the timing.

Read more in [Prompt variables](https://nodaro.ai/docs/concepts/prompt-variables).

## Credits
Lottie Overlay costs credits in two steps:

1. **Writing the plan.** The price follows the tier of the **AI Model**: Economy, Standard or Premium. The range is shown in the box at the top of this page.
2. **Rendering the plan.** [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video) costs 50 credits per render on Nodaro Cloud.

## Tips
- **Say what, where and when.** For example, "arrow pointing down at 0:05 for 2 seconds in the bottom-right corner".
- **Time overlays to the video.** Refer to moments in your footage, and keep **Duration (s)** equal to the video's length.
- **Place full-canvas graphics full frame.** A lower third or a title made on a full transparent canvas in [Motion Graphics](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/motion-graphics) has its own layout. Place it over the whole frame, so that layout decides where the content sits. The **Full-Canvas Graphic** preset does this.
- **Keep text in Motion Graphics.** Use Lottie Overlay for decorative and informational animations. For text-heavy graphics, author them in [Motion Graphics](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/motion-graphics).
- **Placing still images instead?** [Video Overlay](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/video-overlay) shows logos, screenshots and product cards over a video at set times, without an AI model.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which animations does Lottie Overlay include?

Twelve built-in animations in four groups. Celebration has confetti, fireworks, a party popper and sparkling stars. Reactions has a heart, a thumbs up and a fire emoji. Indicators has a loading spinner, a check mark and an arrow. Decorative has floating particles and a glowing ring.

### Can I place my own animation with Lottie Overlay?

Yes. Author the animation with a Motion Graphics node on the Lottie engine, then connect its Lottie JSON output to the Lottie input. The AI model then places and times your animation over the video.

### How do I control when an overlay appears?

Say it in the prompt, with the time and the length, for example "arrow pointing down at 0:05 for 2 seconds in the bottom-right corner". The factory presets also have timing variables that you can type over or fill from another node.

### Why does Lottie Overlay not give me a video file?

The node writes an overlay plan, not a video. Connect its Composition output to a Render Video node to get the MP4 with the animations on it.

### How many credits does Lottie Overlay cost?

Writing the plan costs credits by the tier of the AI Model you choose. Rendering it with Render Video costs 50 credits on Nodaro Cloud.