Office Settings & Configuration

How to Make a Connector Follow an Animated Shape in PowerPoint

Rana Garcia Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to animate a shape in a presentation and have the attached connector line dynamically follow and reshape itself as the shape moves.

How to Make a Connector Follow an Animated Shape in PowerPoint

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating dynamic presentation animations involving connected flowcharts or diagrams.
Observed behavior: Standard Move animations do not dynamically update or reshape the connector line while the shape is moving. The connector either remains static or breaks during the animation sequence.

Before you start

Ensure that your shapes are correctly linked with a connector line before attempting to animate them. You will know they are linked when the connection points light up or change color upon attaching the line.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Morph Transition to Simulate Dynamic Connectors

Since standard Move animations do not dynamically update connector lines mid-slide, using the Morph transition across duplicate slides creates a seamless effect where the connector visually follows the shape.

The Morph transition analyzes the differences between two consecutive slides and animates the movement of objects, including the automatic reshaping of connector lines. This provides the exact visual effect of a dynamic, stretching connector that a standard motion path cannot achieve.

Create the Initial Layout

On your first slide, insert your shapes and connect them using a connector line. Ensure the ends of the line snap securely to the connection points on the shapes.

Duplicate the Slide

Right-click the slide thumbnail in the left navigation pane and select 'Duplicate Slide' to create an exact copy.

Move the Shape

On the newly created second slide, drag the shape to its new target position. The connector line will automatically stretch and adjust on the canvas to stay attached to the moved shape.

Apply Morph Transition

Select the second slide, navigate to the 'Transitions' tab on the ribbon, and click on 'Morph'. You can adjust the duration in the Timing group to make the animation slower and smoother.

Use Morph Transition to Simulate Dynamic Connectors

Version Compatibility: The Morph transition is available in newer versions of presentation software. If you save and open the file in an older version that lacks Morph support, this effect may default to a standard fade transition.

Seamless Presentation Animations

Create Engaging Flowchart Animations with WPS Presentation

WPS Presentation provides smooth transition effects, including the Morph transition, allowing you to easily animate shapes and dynamic connectors without complex animation paths.

1. Add Connected Shapes: Open WPS Presentation, go to the 'Insert' tab, select 'Shapes', and draw your objects and connecting lines on the slide.
2. Duplicate and Rearrange: Right-click the slide thumbnail to duplicate it, then drag the shapes to their new positions on the second slide. The smart connectors will adjust automatically.
3. Apply Morph Transition: Navigate to the 'Transitions' tab and select 'Morph' to effortlessly animate the connector stretching and moving between the slides.

Easily link shapes with smart connectors that auto-adjustUse the Morph transition for smooth, professional shape animationsFully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsLightweight application with intuitive presentation tools

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my connector disconnect when I apply a custom motion path?

Motion paths animate a specific object independently. The presentation software does not recalculate the connector's geometric path during an intra-slide animation, which is why the line appears disconnected until the shape finishes moving.

How do I ensure a line is truly connected to a shape?

When drawing or moving a connector line, hover the ends over a shape. The shape's anchor points will appear. Snap the end of the line to one of these points. The point will usually change color (e.g., to green or red) to indicate a successful lock.

Can I animate multiple connected shapes simultaneously using the Morph transition?

Yes. By repositioning multiple shapes on the duplicated slide, the Morph transition will automatically calculate and animate the movement and connector reshaping for all modified objects at once.

Will my animated connectors still work if I export the presentation to video?

Yes, if you use the Morph transition method and export your presentation as a video (MP4), the transition effects, including the dynamically moving connectors, will render exactly as they appear in the slide show.

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