Dolly Zoom
What is dolly zoom and what role does it play in altering perception?
GLOSSARY
Dolly Zoom is a cinematic technique adapted into motion graphics to create a disorienting visual effect that warps perspective. By simultaneously zooming in on an object while moving the camera away, or vice versa, it dramatically alters the viewer's perception of the scene, often used to convey tension, surprise, or the protagonist's realization.
A motion graphic piece might use a dolly zoom effect as a character approaches a revealing clue in a mystery, intensifying the moment of discovery and the emotional impact on the audience.
Technical definition
In motion graphics, the dolly zoom effect is simulated by animating the scale of the foreground independently from the background while adjusting the camera's position to maintain focus on the central subject.