Add a ballon or bubble as in a cartoon

[Tom Scott]

First, from my own observations, cartoons don’t use “thought bubbles” or “speech balloons” at all. Cartoons usually use audio for thought dialog, usually with a touch more reverb than spoken dialog (as an example, look at old episodes of “Married With Children”, noting how the dog “talks”). Comic books use “thought bubbles” and “speech balloons”.

While it’s probably a matter of personal preference, I find the use of “thought bubbles” and “speech balloons” in video/film to look corny (which is okay if you’re making a Monty Python-like video). Personally, I’d use close-ups of the cat, in conjunction with a vocal track (with extra reverb).

As to your question, you really only asked one thing:
“I was wondering if, after I complete editing this video, and export it out to a .mov file, if I could import that .mov file to AE, scrubb along the timeline to the spot where I would like to add the text ballon, and add it to the movie in AE, and then export it back out (with its audio, etc) with the added cartoon like balloon?”
And the answer is simply, “Yes”.

[Eric Holzapfel]

Hello Tom,

Thanks for the reply, even if somewhat terse.
I was looking for a simple way to begin using Adobe After Effects. Hokey and or corny would have worked in my case, not being critical if something is a “cartoon” or a “comic strip” and the various was characters express themselves.

I tend to be a narrow thinker at times, BUT, the suggestion to use close-up of cat, with audio, is a good
suggestion.

Thanks,

Eric