A little Googling seems to show a difference between "motion graphics" and "compositing". In the past I have learned some pretty nice AE motion graphics procedures from books by Trish and Chris Meyer, like this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0240814150?keywords=after%20effects%20trish&qid=1448831467&ref_=sr_1_2&s=books&sr=1-2

But for my short animations, I think I need more compositing tools, which Fusion seems to offer.