Adobe After Effects is difficult to use. I was trying to make a Junior emulation this past week but the settings are complicated to use. I guess you need to be a pro in graphic designing to use this program. :/
You really dont need to know how to design graphics like a pro to use AE.. i suck at graphics design but what you need to know is how to animate those graphics.. I really suggest you look at tutorials on how to use AE to the extent you want it to be used. I havent even mastered the usage of AE yet! A really good website to search for some tutorials is
Creative Cow.

In other news, I just found an XL with v3 graphics included.. and my parents are actually determined to let me get ahold of it!!