animation
Expert guidance for creating premium, performant animations in React using Motion (motion.dev). Covers all animation types, best practices, accessibility, and performance optimization.
Best use case
animation is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Expert guidance for creating premium, performant animations in React using Motion (motion.dev). Covers all animation types, best practices, accessibility, and performance optimization.
Teams using animation should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/animation/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How animation Compares
| Feature / Agent | animation | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Expert guidance for creating premium, performant animations in React using Motion (motion.dev). Covers all animation types, best practices, accessibility, and performance optimization.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Animation Skill
You are an expert in creating world-class, premium animations for React applications using **Motion** (motion.dev), the modern animation library for React.
## Installation
```bash
npm install motion
```
Import from `"motion/react"`:
```javascript
import { motion } from "motion/react";
```
---
## Core Concepts
### 1. The `<motion />` Component
The foundation of all animations in Motion. It's a React component that wraps any HTML or SVG element and supercharges it with animation capabilities.
**Basic Usage:**
```javascript
<motion.div animate={{ x: 100 }} />
<motion.button whileHover={{ scale: 1.1 }} />
<motion.svg whileTap={{ rotate: 90 }} />
```
**Key Props:**
- `initial`: Starting visual state (can be an object, variant name, or `false` to disable enter animation)
- `animate`: Target state to animate to
- `exit`: State to animate to when removed from DOM (requires `<AnimatePresence>`)
- `transition`: Customize animation timing and easing
- `variants`: Reusable animation states
- `style`: React style prop with support for MotionValues
---
## Animation Types
### 2. Enter Animations
Components automatically animate to `animate` values when they mount.
```javascript
<motion.div initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 50 }} animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }} />
```
**Disable enter animation:**
```javascript
<motion.div initial={false} animate={{ opacity: 1 }} />
```
---
### 3. Gesture Animations
Motion provides declarative gesture handlers that feel better than CSS or plain JavaScript events.
#### Hover
```javascript
<motion.button
whileHover={{ scale: 1.1, backgroundColor: "#ff0000" }}
transition={{ duration: 0.2 }}
/>
```
#### Tap/Press
```javascript
<motion.button
whileTap={{ scale: 0.95 }}
onTap={() => console.log("Tapped!")}
/>
```
#### Focus
```javascript
<motion.input whileFocus={{ borderColor: "#0099ff" }} />
```
#### Drag
```javascript
<motion.div
drag
dragConstraints={{ left: -100, right: 100, top: -100, bottom: 100 }}
whileDrag={{ scale: 1.1 }}
/>
```
**Drag Options:**
- `drag={true}`: Drag in all directions
- `drag="x"`: Horizontal only
- `drag="y"`: Vertical only
- `dragConstraints`: Limits (object or ref to container)
- `dragElastic`: Elasticity when out of bounds (0-1, default: 0.5)
- `dragMomentum`: Enable momentum on release (default: true)
---
### 4. Scroll Animations
#### Scroll-Triggered (whileInView)
Animate when element enters viewport:
```javascript
<motion.div
initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 100 }}
whileInView={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
viewport={{ once: true, amount: 0.5 }}
/>
```
**viewport options:**
- `once`: Only trigger once (default: false)
- `amount`: How much of element must be visible ("some", "all", or 0-1)
- `margin`: Offset from viewport edges
- `root`: Custom scroll container
#### Scroll-Linked (useScroll)
Link animations directly to scroll position:
```javascript
const { scrollYProgress } = useScroll();
return <motion.div style={{ scaleX: scrollYProgress }} />;
```
**useScroll returns:**
- `scrollX`, `scrollY`: Scroll offset in pixels
- `scrollXProgress`, `scrollYProgress`: Scroll progress (0-1)
**Advanced scroll tracking:**
```javascript
const { scrollYProgress } = useScroll({
target: ref, // Element to track
offset: ["start end", "end start"], // When to start/end
});
```
---
### 5. Layout Animations
Motion uses FLIP (First, Last, Invert, Play) to animate layout changes using performant transforms.
#### Simple Layout Animation
```javascript
<motion.div layout />
```
#### Shared Element Transitions
```javascript
{
isExpanded ? <motion.div layoutId="card" /> : <motion.div layoutId="card" />;
}
```
**Layout Props:**
- `layout`: Animate size and position changes
- `layoutId`: Shared element transitions between components
- `layoutDependency`: Force recalculation on value change
- `layoutScroll`: Animate within scrollable containers
**Performance Note:** Layout animations run at 60fps by animating transforms, not layout properties.
---
### 6. Exit Animations
Wrap components with `<AnimatePresence>` to enable exit animations:
```javascript
<AnimatePresence mode="wait">
{isVisible && (
<motion.div
key="modal"
initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
/>
)}
</AnimatePresence>
```
**AnimatePresence Props:**
- `mode`: "sync" (default), "wait", "popLayout"
- `initial`: Disable initial animations (default: true)
- `onExitComplete`: Callback when all exit animations complete
---
### 7. SVG Animations
Motion supports SVG-specific animations:
```javascript
// Line drawing
<motion.path
initial={{ pathLength: 0 }}
animate={{ pathLength: 1 }}
/>
// Morphing (same number of points)
<motion.path
animate={{ d: "M10,10 L20,20 ..." }}
/>
// Attributes
<motion.circle
animate={{
cx: 50,
r: 20,
fill: "#ff0000"
}}
/>
```
---
## Advanced Features
### 8. Variants
Reusable animation states with propagation and orchestration:
```javascript
const variants = {
hidden: { opacity: 0, y: 20 },
visible: {
opacity: 1,
y: 0,
transition: {
delay: 0.2,
when: "beforeChildren",
staggerChildren: 0.1,
},
},
};
<motion.ul variants={variants} initial="hidden" animate="visible">
<motion.li variants={variants} />
<motion.li variants={variants} />
</motion.ul>;
```
**Variant Orchestration:**
- `when`: "beforeChildren", "afterChildren"
- `staggerChildren`: Delay between child animations
- `delayChildren`: Delay before first child
- `staggerDirection`: 1 (forward) or -1 (backward)
**Dynamic Variants:**
```javascript
const variants = {
visible: (i) => ({
opacity: 1,
transition: { delay: i * 0.1 },
}),
};
<motion.div custom={index} variants={variants} />;
```
---
### 9. Transitions
Configure animation timing and behavior:
#### Tween (Time-based)
```javascript
<motion.div
animate={{ x: 100 }}
transition={{
duration: 0.5,
ease: "easeInOut", // or [.17,.67,.83,.67] for cubic-bezier
}}
/>
```
**Easing options:** "linear", "easeIn", "easeOut", "easeInOut", "circIn", "circOut", "circInOut", "backIn", "backOut", "backInOut", "anticipate"
#### Spring (Physics-based)
```javascript
<motion.div
animate={{ x: 100 }}
transition={{
type: "spring",
stiffness: 100,
damping: 10,
mass: 1,
}}
/>
```
**Spring Presets:**
- `bounce: 0.25`: Natural feel (default)
- `bounce: 0`: No bounce
- `bounce: 0.6`: Very bouncy
Or use `duration` with `bounce`:
```javascript
transition={{ duration: 0.8, bounce: 0.3 }}
```
#### Keyframes
```javascript
<motion.div
animate={{
x: [0, 100, 0],
backgroundColor: ["#ff0000", "#00ff00", "#0000ff"],
}}
transition={{
duration: 2,
times: [0, 0.5, 1], // Optional: control keyframe timing
ease: ["easeIn", "easeOut"], // Different easing per segment
}}
/>
```
---
### 10. Motion Values
Track and compose values without triggering re-renders:
```javascript
const x = useMotionValue(0);
const opacity = useTransform(x, [0, 100], [1, 0]);
return <motion.div style={{ x, opacity }} />;
```
**Key Hooks:**
#### useMotionValue
```javascript
const x = useMotionValue(0);
x.set(100); // Update without re-render
x.get(); // Get current value
```
#### useTransform
```javascript
// Map one range to another
const y = useTransform(scrollY, [0, 300], [0, 100]);
// Custom function
const color = useTransform(x, (latest) =>
latest > 50 ? "#ff0000" : "#0000ff",
);
```
#### useSpring
```javascript
const x = useMotionValue(0);
const smoothX = useSpring(x, {
stiffness: 100,
damping: 20,
});
```
#### useScroll
```javascript
const { scrollYProgress } = useScroll({
target: containerRef,
offset: ["start start", "end end"],
});
```
#### useInView
```javascript
const ref = useRef(null);
const isInView = useInView(ref, {
once: true,
amount: 0.5,
});
```
#### useVelocity
```javascript
const x = useMotionValue(0);
const xVelocity = useVelocity(x);
```
---
## Premium Components
### 11. AnimateNumber
Animate number changes with layout animations:
```javascript
import { AnimateNumber } from "motion/react";
<AnimateNumber value={count} transition={{ duration: 0.5 }} />;
```
---
### 12. Carousel
Production-ready carousel with infinite scrolling:
```javascript
import { Carousel } from "motion/react";
<Carousel.Root loop>
<Carousel.Viewport>
{items.map((item) => (
<Carousel.Item key={item.id}>{item.content}</Carousel.Item>
))}
</Carousel.Viewport>
<Carousel.Controls />
</Carousel.Root>;
```
---
### 13. Cursor
Custom cursor with auto-adaptation to interactive elements:
```javascript
import { Cursor } from "motion/react";
<Cursor className="custom-cursor" />;
```
---
### 14. Ticker
Infinite scrolling marquee:
```javascript
import { Ticker } from "motion/react";
<Ticker speed={50}>
<div>Scrolling content...</div>
</Ticker>;
```
---
### 15. Typewriter
Realistic typing animation:
```javascript
import { Typewriter } from "motion/react";
<Typewriter text="Hello, world!" speed={50} />;
```
---
### 16. Reorder
Drag-to-reorder lists:
```javascript
import { Reorder } from "motion/react";
<Reorder.Group values={items} onReorder={setItems}>
{items.map((item) => (
<Reorder.Item key={item} value={item}>
{item}
</Reorder.Item>
))}
</Reorder.Group>;
```
---
## Performance & Optimization
### 17. LazyMotion
Reduce bundle size by loading features on demand:
```javascript
import { LazyMotion, domAnimation } from "motion/react";
<LazyMotion features={domAnimation} strict>
<App />
</LazyMotion>;
```
**Features:**
- `domAnimation`: ~30kb (gestures, drag, layout)
- `domMax`: ~60kb (all features)
- Async loading: `features={() => import('./features')}`
---
### 18. MotionConfig
Configure all child motion components:
```javascript
<MotionConfig
transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
reducedMotion="user" // Respect prefers-reduced-motion
>
<App />
</MotionConfig>
```
---
### 19. Performance Tips
**Hardware Acceleration:** Motion automatically uses transforms for layout animations (60fps).
**Avoid animating:** `width`, `height`, `top`, `left` directly. Use `scale` and `x`/`y` instead.
**Good:**
```javascript
<motion.div animate={{ x: 100, scale: 1.2 }} />
```
**Bad:**
```javascript
<motion.div animate={{ left: 100, width: 200 }} /> // Forces layout recalc
```
**Will-change:** Motion automatically applies `will-change` when needed.
**Reduce render triggers:** Use MotionValues to update without re-renders.
---
## Accessibility
### 20. Reduced Motion
Respect user preferences:
```javascript
const shouldReduceMotion = useReducedMotion();
<motion.div
animate={shouldReduceMotion ? { opacity: 1 } : { opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
/>;
```
Or globally:
```javascript
<MotionConfig reducedMotion="user">
<App />
</MotionConfig>
```
---
## Best Practices
### 21. Premium Animation Guidelines
1. **Natural Motion:** Use spring animations for interactive elements
```javascript
transition={{ type: "spring", bounce: 0.25 }}
```
2. **Micro-interactions:** Add subtle hover/tap feedback
```javascript
whileHover={{ scale: 1.05 }}
whileTap={{ scale: 0.98 }}
```
3. **Stagger Children:** Create elegant cascading effects
```javascript
variants={{
visible: {
transition: { staggerChildren: 0.1 }
}
}}
```
4. **Smooth Scroll Links:** Use scroll-linked animations for parallax and progress
```javascript
const { scrollYProgress } = useScroll();
```
5. **Exit Animations:** Always animate elements out, don't just remove them
```javascript
<AnimatePresence mode="wait">{/* content */}</AnimatePresence>
```
6. **Layout Animations:** Use `layout` prop for seamless size/position transitions
```javascript
<motion.div layout />
```
7. **Performant Transforms:** Use scale/translate over width/height
```javascript
// Good
animate={{ scale: 1.2, x: 100 }}
// Bad
animate={{ width: 200, left: 100 }}
```
---
## Common Patterns
### 22. Page Transitions
```javascript
<AnimatePresence mode="wait">
<motion.div
key={router.pathname}
initial={{ opacity: 0, x: -20 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, x: 20 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
>
{children}
</motion.div>
</AnimatePresence>
```
### 23. Modal/Dialog
```javascript
<AnimatePresence>
{isOpen && (
<>
<motion.div
initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
onClick={onClose}
className="backdrop"
/>
<motion.div
initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9, y: 20 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1, y: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9, y: 20 }}
className="modal"
>
{content}
</motion.div>
</>
)}
</AnimatePresence>
```
### 24. Accordion
```javascript
<motion.div layout>
<motion.button onClick={toggle} layout>
{title}
</motion.button>
<AnimatePresence initial={false}>
{isOpen && (
<motion.div
initial={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
animate={{ height: "auto", opacity: 1 }}
exit={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
>
{content}
</motion.div>
)}
</AnimatePresence>
</motion.div>
```
### 25. Parallax Scroll
```javascript
const { scrollYProgress } = useScroll();
const y = useTransform(scrollYProgress, [0, 1], [0, -500]);
return <motion.div style={{ y }}>{content}</motion.div>;
```
### 26. Hover Cards
```javascript
<motion.div
whileHover={{
scale: 1.05,
boxShadow: "0px 10px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)",
}}
transition={{ type: "spring", stiffness: 300 }}
>
{content}
</motion.div>
```
---
## Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
**Layout animations not working:**
- Ensure element has defined dimensions
- Check parent isn't `display: inline`
- Verify no `transform` in CSS (conflicts with Motion)
**Exit animations not working:**
- Must be direct child of `<AnimatePresence>`
- Ensure unique `key` prop
- Check component isn't conditional before `<AnimatePresence>`
**Performance issues:**
- Avoid animating layout properties directly
- Use `will-change` sparingly (Motion handles this)
- Consider `LazyMotion` for bundle optimization
**SVG animations broken:**
- Set `layout="position"` instead of `layout={true}`
- Use `attrX`/`attrY` for SVG positioning
---
## Resources
- **Documentation:** https://motion.dev/docs/react
- **Examples:** https://motion.dev/examples
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/motiondivision/motion
---
## Summary
Motion is the most powerful animation library for React, offering:
- ✅ Declarative API with `<motion />` components
- ✅ Gesture support (hover, tap, drag, focus)
- ✅ Layout animations using FLIP
- ✅ Scroll-triggered and scroll-linked animations
- ✅ Exit animations with `<AnimatePresence>`
- ✅ SVG animation support
- ✅ Motion values for performance
- ✅ Accessibility with reduced motion support
- ✅ Premium components (Carousel, Ticker, Typewriter, etc.)
- ✅ Tree-shakeable and optimizable with LazyMotion
**Remember:** Always prioritize performance by using transforms, respect user preferences with reduced motion, and create premium experiences with natural spring animations and thoughtful micro-interactions.Related Skills
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