What format should my CSV be in for chart animation?

For Framechart, use a simple two-column CSV: first column contains labels (company names, dates, categories) and second column contains numeric values. Row 1 should be column headers. Export from Excel or Google Sheets as UTF-8 encoded CSV.

Can I animate multiple data series from a CSV?

Framechart currently supports one X column and one Y column per chart — ideal for single-series comparisons, rankings, and time series. For multi-series charts, export separate CSVs for each series and create individual chart animations.

How to Create an Animated Video From CSV Data

The fastest method for video use: drop the framechart effect onto a clip in DaVinci Resolve, point it at your CSV, choose a chart type and template — the chart renders live in your timeline in minutes. No coding, no keyframing, no After Effects required.

This guide covers all available approaches — from browser tools to Python — so you can choose the right method for your workflow and skill level.

Methods Compared

Method	Time	Skill	Output
framechart	10–15 min	No code	Live in your Resolve timeline
After Effects	2–4 hours	AE expertise + scripting	MP4, ProRes, PNG sequence
Flourish	15–30 min	No code	Interactive web embed
Python (matplotlib/Plotly)	1–3 hours	Python programming	MP4, GIF

Step-by-Step: CSV to Animated Video Using Framechart

Step 1: Prepare Your CSV

Your CSV needs a minimum of two columns: one for labels and one for values. Row 1 must be column headers.

Company,Revenue
Apple,383
Microsoft,212
Alphabet,305
Amazon,525

Export from Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv). Export from Excel: File → Save As → CSV UTF-8.

Step 2: Add framechart in DaVinci Resolve

Drop the framechart effect onto a clip in your timeline, then point it at your CSV file. In the Inspector, select your label column as X axis and value column as Y axis. Set the chart title.

No account required. Your data stays on your machine — nothing is uploaded to any server.

Step 3: Choose Chart Type

→Bar chart: Best for rankings, comparisons, and single time-point snapshots
→Line chart: Best for trends, time series, and continuous data over time
→Data table: Best for comparison tables, leaderboards, and multi-metric data

Step 4: Set Format and Template

→16:9 landscape for YouTube and widescreen video
→9:16 vertical for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
→1:1 square for social media feed posts
→Use a cinematic template for standalone videos, or clean template if compositing over footage

Step 5: Render in Your Timeline

The chart renders live on the GPU, right in your timeline — no server upload, no separate render step. Export from Resolve as usual:

→MP4 (H.264) — ready for direct upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or import into your NLE. Free with a watermark; $19/month or a one-time $99 removes it.
→ProRes 4444 with alpha — for compositing in Premiere Pro or After Effects. In Resolve itself, the plugin composites with transparency directly in your timeline, so this is only needed for other NLEs.

Alternative Methods

After Effects

After Effects can animate any chart type from CSV data, but requires either manual keyframing (hours of work) or a third-party script like Motion Bro or Data-Driven Animations. Best for motion designers who need fully custom chart designs and already work in the Adobe ecosystem. Not practical for high-volume data video production without dedicated AE expertise.

Flourish

Flourish creates interactive animated charts for web publishing. It does not export MP4 or PNG sequences — it is not designed for video production. Not recommended if your output is a video file.

Python (matplotlib / Plotly / Manim)

Python libraries can generate animated chart videos programmatically. Good for data scientists who prefer code-based workflows and need to automate large-batch chart generation. Requires Python environment setup, coding knowledge, and significantly more development time per chart. Visual quality is lower than natively GPU-rendered tools without significant customization.

Download framechart Free — No Account Required

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn a CSV file into an animated video?

Drop the framechart effect onto a clip in DaVinci Resolve, point it at your CSV, select your X and Y axis columns, choose a chart type and template. The chart renders live in your timeline in minutes — no coding or keyframing required.

What format should my CSV be in?

Use a simple CSV with column headers in row 1. Minimum two columns: one for labels (X axis) and one for values (Y axis). Export from Excel or Google Sheets as CSV UTF-8 format.

Can I animate CSV data without After Effects?

Yes. framechart is a free DaVinci Resolve plugin that animates CSV data into chart videos without After Effects. It works on Windows and Linux now, with macOS coming soon.

Can I make a transparent background chart from CSV?

Yes. In DaVinci Resolve, the framechart plugin renders charts from CSV data with a transparent background directly in your timeline for compositing over any layer. For other NLEs, render the chart in Resolve as ProRes 4444 with Export Alpha enabled and import that file.

Last reviewed: April 2026