📸 Canva Just Bought Cavalry & MangoAI For Their Next-Gen Ecosystem!
Canva Acquires Cavalry and MangoAI — What This Means for Designers
In February 2026, Canva made a surprise announcement. The company revealed it was simultaneously acquiring Cavalry, a professional motion graphics tool, and MangoAI, an AI video generation platform. It's no wonder the design community is buzzing. This isn't just a corporate acquisition—it's a clear signal that "Canva is seriously targeting After Effects' territory."
Let's break down what this means for designers and creators, and what you should start preparing for right now.
📸 Design in motion: Canva expands professional creative ...
What is Cavalry? — An After Effects Competitor
Cavalry is 2D motion graphics software developed in the UK. Compared to After Effects, it has some unique features:
- You can create animations using a procedural approach. Change a value, and the entire motion automatically follows.
- It's particularly strong in data visualization and infographic animations.
- It's widely considered easier to learn than After Effects.
- It's optimized for brand identity and social media content creation.
In simple terms, think of it as "the perfect tool for anyone just starting with After Effects." And Canva has acquired it lock, stock, and barrel.
📸 We're welcoming MangoAI 🥭 and @cavalry__app 🎬 to Canva ...
What About MangoAI? — AI-Powered Video Creation
MangoAI is a tool that automatically generates short videos from text or image prompts. Similar to Runway or Kling, but designed with Canva ecosystem integration in mind.
Here's a real-world example:
- "15-second summer-themed ice cream shop promo video" → MangoAI generates a draft
- → Add brand logo motion with Cavalry
- → Add text and background music in Canva
The key point is that all three steps can be completed within a single platform.
📸 Canva Education - Technology 4 Learning
How the Canva Ecosystem Will Change — Expected 2026 Roadmap
Combining the hints Canva has dropped since the acquisition announcement:
1. Integrated Video Editing Workspace
Canva Video, Cavalry, and MangoAI will likely merge into a single timeline. Right now, Canva only supports simple slide-based videos, but soon you'll be able to produce complete brand videos.
2. Hybrid AI + Manual Editing
A workflow where MangoAI generates drafts and Cavalry refines them with professional motion graphics. Marketers and social media managers can create high-quality content without needing a dedicated video editor.
3. Brand Kit + Motion Automation
Canva already has a Brand Kit feature. When combined with Cavalry's brand animation automation, you'll be able to generate logo intros and brand stingers in seconds.
Threat or Opportunity for Motion Designers?
Honestly speaking, repetitive tasks will decrease. Things like adding logo animations to 16:9 social media banners will be handled by AI.
But looking at it from another angle:
- Lower barriers mean increased demand. More companies will think "let's try video content," and among them, quality-focused projects will still seek out professionals.
- Designers skilled in Cavalry will see their value rise. Fewer people will be able to handle advanced work within the Canva ecosystem.
- There's still plenty AI can't do. Brand storytelling, emotional direction, and targeted messaging still require human expertise.
3 Things to Prepare Right Now
1. Start Cavalry's Free Trial
Cavalry offers a personal free plan. Learning it before Canva integration means you'll adapt quickly once the merger is complete. Download it from the official site (cavalry.scenegroup.co).
2. Fully Utilize Canva Pro Features
Start using Canva Pro's Brand Kit, Magic Studio, and Video features now. When integrated features launch post-acquisition, you'll be ready to apply them immediately.
3. Design Your AI Video Workflow
Even before MangoAI integration, establish a workflow using Canva + Runway/Kling. Deciding in advance where to use AI and where to refine manually will make the transition much faster after integration.
Wrapping Up
Canva's latest acquisition is a declaration: "We're not just an amateur design tool." It's an ambition to pack professional motion graphics and AI video into one platform.
Whether this is a crisis or opportunity for designers ultimately depends on how quickly you adapt to new tools. Just as there was a time when we didn't know After Effects, mastering Cavalry and AI video tools now is how you stay 2-3 years ahead.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments! 😊
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