At TLC Creative, we use a technique we call the ‘waterfall’ to make animations feel smooth, connected, and dynamic. It’s all about overlapping animations—not stacking them, but letting each start just before the last begins.

Let’s build our waterfall using five simple shapes. You’ll see how just a few clicks can create a professional-looking sequence! 

For starters, a typical animation has every element set to “Click” on the slide: 

Or “After Previous” is set for every element: 

Let’s create an animation “waterfall” which is an effect only available in PowerPoint (not Google Slides, Keynote, or Canva).  

1. Remove all animations (if needed) and then Apply a “Fade” Animation to all elements: 

  • Select all of the shape elements 
  • Go to the Animations tab 
  • Choose “Fade” from the animation gallery 

2. Open the Animation Pane 

This will give you more detailed control. You’ll now see an animation entry for each box shape. 

3. Change the animation Start to “With Previous” as this is key to the waterfall effect: 

  • Select each animation (you can select them together) 
  • Change the animation Start from “On Click” to “With Previous”  

Why? This makes each shape element animate with one another, not waiting for a click or full completion. 

4. Adjust the Delay for Each Animation

Now the magic happens!

  • Select the second box and set a Delay of 0.30 seconds. 

  • Set the delay for the third box to 0.60 seconds 
  • Set the delay for the fourth box to 0.90 seconds 
  • Set the delay for the fifth box to 1.10 minute 

Each shape element now starts with the previous one but is delayed just a bit — producing a staggered, overlapping fade-in. 

This process can be a bit tedious – but the PowerPoint animation effect is worth the effort! However, the design team here at TLC Creative kinda cheats. We use the ToolsToo PowerPoint add-in to automate the animation settings process to make overlapping (aka waterfall) animations! 

Let’s continue the tutorial! Using ToolsToo, here’s what we do: 

  • Set the last shape element to the time you would like the animation to end 

  • Select the shapes in the order they will animate in, clicking on the final box last 

  • Navigate to the ToolsToo tab 
  • Ensure the “Stagger Animation” is selected 
  • With all shapes still selected, click “Animation Resequence”   

Now all of the shape animations are spaced out evenly in an animated sequence! (So much faster this way, right?) 

Animating slides is my happy place, so… happy animating waterfall animations! 

-Christie and the TLC Creative Design Team