How We Recreated the Stranger Things Intro in After Effects (Free Template + Tools!)
How We Recreated the Stranger Things Intro in After Effects (Free Template + Tools!)
When it comes to iconic intros, few match the atmospheric brilliance of the Stranger Things title sequence. That glowing red serif font slowly emerging from blackness, synced to a minimalist synth soundtrack—it’s chilling, nostalgic, and instantly recognizable.
But what if you could create your own version of it, fully customizable and editable in Adobe After Effects? That’s exactly what we set out to do—and in this article, we're taking you behind the scenes to show you exactly how it was made, how you can make it your own, and how our custom tools take the process from tedious to seamless.
🎬 Spoiler: You can download the full Stranger Things After Effects template for free at Filmit.io — no strings attached.
From Netflix Vibes to Your Timeline
Back in 2019, right when Stranger Things mania was at its peak, Max (the creator behind the Filmit.io tools) decided to challenge himself. No tutorials, no shortcuts—just a blank After Effects composition and a mission to rebuild the Stranger Things title sequence from scratch.
The result? A lovingly crafted, nearly frame-perfect version that captures the vibe, typography, and timing of the original intro. It wasn’t a commercial project. It wasn’t built for views. It was just a pure creative exercise that quickly became one of our most downloaded templates ever.
“Is it perfect? No. But it’s close—and it’s customizable, which makes it even more powerful for creators.”
And that's what set this template apart. It wasn’t just a static animation—it was designed to be editable, from the text to the colors to the final sparkle animation.
What’s Actually in the File?
The Stranger Things After Effects template isn't just a drag-and-drop experience—it's built to be manipulated, customized, and transformed into your own version of a cinematic opener.
You’ll get:
✅ A fully editable After Effects project file
✅ Global color control (with a master color controller layer)
✅ Flexible text layers for all titles and credits
✅ The signature sparkle and fade animation
✅ Fonts that match the Stranger Things aesthetic (or close enough)
✅ Organized layers for smooth editing
Want to switch the red glow to something neon blue for a cyberpunk vibe? Go for it. Need to localize the copy into Spanish or German? Easy. Looking to add your own name into the credits? Done in seconds.
This isn't just a template. It's a sandbox.
👉 Download the Stranger Things After Effects template here on Filmit.io
Dive In: How to Tweak It Your Way
Let’s walk through what it’s like to open up this AE project and start editing. It's all super straightforward, even if you're not a hardcore After Effects user.
Step 1: Open It Up
When you launch the project, you'll see clearly labeled compositions. There's no clutter. Each section—credits, main title, background effects—is organized for quick navigation.
Step 2: Swap the Text
All the text layers are editable. We’ve included a controller comp where you can update everything in one place. Just double-click the text, type in your new copy, and you’re good.
💡 Pro tip: Use our Text Pilot plugin (more on that below) to edit ALL your text at once.
Step 3: Play With Color
Go to the Controller layer and you'll see color options. Change the main hue from red to anything you like—green for Halloween, blue for sci-fi, even purple for a vaporwave aesthetic.
Step 4: Font Game
We included a lookalike font that vibes with the Stranger Things one. But you can swap in anything you prefer. Just make sure it's bold and serif-y for the full effect.
Step 5: That Sparkle
The glowing reveal and sparkle effect at the end is also modular. You can adjust the glow intensity, duration, or even replace it with your own custom effect.
Step 6: Export Like a Pro
Use Adobe Media Encoder or your preferred render setup. We recommend rendering out in ProRes or H.264 for clean playback.
The Plugin That Saves Hours: Text Pilot 🧠
If you've ever had to update dozens of text layers in After Effects, you know how much of a nightmare that is. So we made Text Pilot to fix that.
What Is Text Pilot?
Text Pilot is a powerful plugin for After Effects that lets you bulk-edit every text layer in a project — all from one interface.
Features:
Scan and list every text layer in your project
Copy all project text to your clipboard
Edit externally (Notion, Word, ChatGPT, etc.)
Translate full text bodies into different languages
Paste your new copy back into the plugin
Apply changes across every layer — instantly
We’ve had people use it to:
Localize entire videos into multiple languages 🌍
Parody film intros with new dialogue
Quickly update brand names, credits, and taglines
This isn’t just a plugin. It’s a time machine.
Filmit.io Tools That Creators Love 🔌
Filmit.io isn’t just a template shop. We build real tools that help motion designers, editors, and content creators save time and create better content.
🔲 GridMaker
GridMaker helps you divide footage or layout elements into perfect, responsive grids. This is a must-have for:
Social media tiles
Visual layouts
Split screen designs
✍️ Text Pilot
Bulk text editing in After Effects. If you’ve ever said “there has to be an easier way to change all this copy,” this is your answer.
🎨 ColorMaster (Coming Soon)
Quickly apply unified color presets across your project, maintain palette consistency, or adjust tones with a single slider.
These tools are made for real workflows. We're solving actual problems that we face daily in our own client work.
👉 Explore our full plugin library
Real Creator Projects That Blew Our Minds 😱
We love seeing how creators use our stuff. This Stranger Things intro has sparked some wild projects:
Haunted House Promos: Spooky overlays, flickering lights, creepy fonts.
YouTube Comedy Openers: Where Stranger Things turns into Stranger Wings (yes, a chicken wing parody intro). 😂
Short Films: Retro sci-fi and horror openings that rival pro studio quality.
Birthday Invites: Animated intro sequences for Stranger Things-themed parties. Iconic.
We’ve also seen:
Classroom projects go viral.
Twitch stream overlays built on this template.
International creators using Text Pilot to build multi-lingual intros.
Advanced Tips to Get More Out of the Template 💡
Want to take it further? Here are some power-user tips:
Match Music to the Mood: Use synth-heavy tracks to recreate the eerie vibe of the original. (Just make sure you have rights to the track.)
Add Particle FX: Use AE plugins like Trapcode Particular to add falling particles or mist.
Extend the Timeline: Duplicate the glow animation to make longer intros for trailers or YouTube segments.
Match the Grade: Apply Lumetri or Magic Bullet to get a darker, moodier finish.
Sync the Sparkle: Animate the sparkle effect to hit specific musical beats.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
Templates like this aren’t just about copying a cool intro. They’re gateways. They give new creators a launchpad to learn animation, practice After Effects skills, and bring their own flavor to pro-level production.
And with tools like Text Pilot and GridMaker, we’re hoping to make the creative process not just easier—but actually fun again.
We’re a small team, building stuff we genuinely use. When you download, use, or share our work, you're directly helping us keep creating.
So whether you're a YouTuber, student, editor, or agency pro—we got your back.
Go Make Something Awesome (Then Show Us)
This template is completely free. So are many of our tools. We believe in empowering creators with the kind of stuff we wish we had when we started.
🎁 Download the Stranger Things After Effects template now at Filmit.io
🧩 Try out our plugins like Text Pilot, GridMaker, and more.
💬 Join the Filmit.io Discord — Share your work, ask questions, or just hang out.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for making stuff. And thanks for being part of the creative crew.
Peace ✌️