# A countdown that plays before your event starts

> In Tella, choose Add clip → New Tella Motion clip and ask the Tella Agent for a countdown. Tella Motion builds it from live text and shapes, with numbers that change each second and an optional draining ring. Say how long it runs, the colors and the event title, then ask for changes until it looks right.

Page: https://www.tella.com/motion/animated-countdown-timer · Part of Tella Motion (https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion)

## How do I make an animated countdown to play before my webinar or live event?

In Tella, choose [Add clip → New Tella Motion clip](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion#add-a-tella-motion-clip) and ask the [Tella Agent](https://www.tella.com/agent) for a countdown. [Tella Motion](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion) builds it from live text and shapes, with numbers that change each second and an optional draining ring. Say how long it runs, the colors and the event title, then ask for changes until it looks right.

## Prompt to start from

```text
Make this Tella Motion clip a 60-second countdown. Show large white numbers from 60 to 0, one per second, on a dark navy background. Add a teal ring that drains as time runs out and "Starting soon: Product Q&A" above. Fade out on 0.
```

## More prompts

### Webinar host

```text
Build a 5-minute countdown titled "Planning your 2027 budget". Show minutes and seconds in large type, with "We'll start at 2:00 PM ET" above. Use a soft gray background with one orange accent. Scale up the last 10 numbers.
```

### Community manager

```text
Make a 30-second countdown for our meetup stream. Count from 30 to 1 in bold white sans-serif, each number scaling in and fading out. Drift three purple and pink circles behind them, then end on "Welcome to the October meetup".
```

## How to do it in Tella

1. Open your video and choose Add clip → New Tella Motion clip.
2. Tell the Tella Agent the countdown length and starting number.
3. Describe the background, font, event title and any ring or shapes.
4. Preview the clip, ask for changes, then share or export the video.

## Good to know

- Available to everyone: through the Tella Agent on a paid plan or the 7-day trial, or through Claude or ChatGPT on any plan.
- A new Tella Motion clip is 10 seconds long, so ask the agent to match your countdown length.
- A Tella Motion clip has no transcript, layouts or cuts, but you can add overlays on top.
- The countdown is a recorded animation, not a clock tied to your event's real start time.

## Questions people ask

### Can I match the countdown to my event branding?

Yes. Give the Tella Agent your colors and ask which fonts Tella Motion offers. You can also attach a reference image or point it to another Tella video in your workspace with the + button.

### Can I reuse a countdown for each event?

Yes. In Tella, duplicate the Tella Motion clip from its menu in the clip list, then ask the Tella Agent to change the title, date or length on the copy. The original stays as it was.

### Can Claude or ChatGPT build the countdown instead?

Yes. An AI app connected to Tella's [MCP server](https://www.tella.com/mcp) gets the same Tella Motion tools as the Tella Agent. Ask it for a countdown clip in your Tella video, and the clip appears in the open editor as it builds.

## Related

- [Matching title cards for every chapter](https://www.tella.com/motion/animated-title-cards.md): Intro, chapter and end cards, built by asking.
- [End your video with an animated call to action](https://www.tella.com/motion/animated-video-outro.md): End every video with an animated next step
- [Show viewers how far along they are](https://www.tella.com/motion/animated-progress-bar.md): A bar that fills as your lesson plays
- [Create motion graphics with Tella Motion](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion)
- [Edit with the Tella Agent](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/edit-with-the-tella-agent)
- [All of Tella's AI features](https://www.tella.com/ai.md)