user29618: Can anyone please advise: I'm looking for a recommendation on free video editing software that can:

Overlay a sprite (static image with transparency, e.g. .gif) atop a video,
Move and rotate the overlaid sprite over some specifiable portion of the video,
Mask the sprite, (i.e. create a movable/changeable shape that covers the sprite but is invisible in the video).

Sorry if my terminology is primitive - it's been years since I last dabbled with video editing software; I'm not sure how terminology has evolved since then.

I'd be grateful if the recommended software also had a tutorial -- either built-in or easily findable online -- on how to do the above.

user24155: A great tool for this is Davinci Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve. It is very capable, has an excellent free version and can easily accomplish the desired tasks.
A quick intro to Animating a Spite/Image over Video is shown here:  

 -- Davinci Resolve - How to Move Images (Animate Movement)
A quick intro to Masking can be seen here: 

 -- Masks in DaVinci Resolve 16

29618: <p>Can anyone please advise: I'm looking for a recommendation on free video editing software that can:</p>

<ol>
<li>Overlay a sprite (static image with transparency, e.g. .gif) atop a video,</li>
<li>Move and rotate the overlaid sprite over some specifiable portion of the video,</li>
<li>Mask the sprite, (i.e. create a movable/changeable shape that covers the sprite but is invisible in the video).</li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry if my terminology is primitive - it's been years since I last dabbled with video editing software; I'm not sure how terminology has evolved since then.</p>

<hr>

<p>I'd be grateful if the recommended software also had a tutorial -- either built-in or easily findable online -- on how to do the above.</p>
 24155: <p>A great tool for this is Davinci Resolve: <a href="https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve</a>. It is very capable, has an excellent free version and can easily accomplish the desired tasks.</p>

<p>A quick intro to Animating a Spite/Image over Video is shown here:  <div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGuHNHQO2Xw?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div> -- <em>Davinci Resolve - How to Move Images (Animate Movement)</em></p>

<p>A quick intro to Masking can be seen here: <div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kmfjITxh1sg?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div> -- <em>Masks in DaVinci Resolve 16</em></p>
