Anime.js
Lightweight JavaScript animation library with powerful timeline and stagger capabilities for web animations.
Overview
Anime.js (pronounced "Anime JS") is a versatile animation engine that works with DOM elements, CSS properties, SVG attributes, and JavaScript objects. Unlike React-specific libraries, Anime.js works with vanilla JavaScript and any framework.
When to use this skill:
- Timeline-based animation sequences with precise choreography
- Staggered animations across multiple elements
- SVG path morphing and drawing animations
- Keyframe animations with percentage-based timing
- Framework-agnostic animation (works with React, Vue, vanilla JS)
- Complex easing functions (spring, steps, cubic-bezier)
Core features:
- Timeline sequencing with relative positioning
- Powerful stagger utilities (grid, from center, easing)
- SVG morphing and path animations
- Built-in spring physics easing
- Keyframe support with flexible timing
- Small bundle size (~9KB gzipped)
Core Concepts
Basic Animation
The anime() function creates animations:
import anime from 'animejs'
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
rotate: '1turn',
duration: 800,
easing: 'easeInOutQuad'
})
Targets
Multiple ways to specify animation targets:
// CSS selector
anime({ targets: '.box' })
// DOM elements
anime({ targets: document.querySelectorAll('.box') })
// Array of elements
anime({ targets: [el1, el2, el3] })
// JavaScript object
const obj = { x: 0 }
anime({ targets: obj, x: 100 })
Animatable Properties
CSS Properties:
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
scale: 2,
opacity: 0.5,
backgroundColor: '#FFF'
})
CSS Transforms (Individual):
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250, // Individual transform
rotate: '1turn', // Not 'transform: rotate()'
scale: 2
})
SVG Attributes:
anime({
targets: 'path',
d: 'M10 80 Q 77.5 10, 145 80', // Path morphing
fill: '#FF0000',
strokeDashoffset: [anime.setDashoffset, 0] // Line drawing
})
JavaScript Objects:
const obj = { value: 0 }
anime({
targets: obj,
value: 100,
round: 1,
update: () => console.log(obj.value)
})
Timeline
Create complex sequences with precise control:
const timeline = anime.timeline({
duration: 750,
easing: 'easeOutExpo'
})
timeline
.add({
targets: '.box1',
translateX: 250
})
.add({
targets: '.box2',
translateX: 250
}, '-=500') // Start 500ms before previous animation ends
.add({
targets: '.box3',
translateX: 250
}, '+=200') // Start 200ms after previous animation ends
Common Patterns
1. Stagger Animation (Sequential Reveal)
anime({
targets: '.stagger-element',
translateY: [100, 0],
opacity: [0, 1],
delay: anime.stagger(100), // Increase delay by 100ms
easing: 'easeOutQuad',
duration: 600
})
2. Stagger from Center
anime({
targets: '.grid-item',
scale: [0, 1],
delay: anime.stagger(50, {
grid: [14, 5],
from: 'center', // Also: 'first', 'last', index, [x, y]
axis: 'x' // Also: 'y', null
}),
easing: 'easeOutQuad'
})
3. SVG Line Drawing
anime({
targets: 'path',
strokeDashoffset: [anime.setDashoffset, 0],
easing: 'easeInOutQuad',
duration: 2000,
delay: (el, i) => i * 250
})
4. SVG Morphing
anime({
targets: '#morphing-path',
d: [
{ value: 'M10 80 Q 77.5 10, 145 80' }, // Start shape
{ value: 'M10 80 Q 77.5 150, 145 80' } // End shape
],
duration: 2000,
easing: 'easeInOutQuad',
loop: true,
direction: 'alternate'
})
5. Timeline Sequence
const tl = anime.timeline({
easing: 'easeOutExpo',
duration: 750
})
tl.add({
targets: '.title',
translateY: [-50, 0],
opacity: [0, 1]
})
.add({
targets: '.subtitle',
translateY: [-30, 0],
opacity: [0, 1]
}, '-=500')
.add({
targets: '.button',
scale: [0, 1],
opacity: [0, 1]
}, '-=300')
6. Keyframe Animation
anime({
targets: '.element',
keyframes: [
{ translateX: 100 },
{ translateY: 100 },
{ translateX: 0 },
{ translateY: 0 }
],
duration: 4000,
easing: 'easeInOutQuad',
loop: true
})
7. Scroll-Triggered Animation
const animation = anime({
targets: '.scroll-element',
translateY: [100, 0],
opacity: [0, 1],
easing: 'easeOutQuad',
autoplay: false
})
window.addEventListener('scroll', () => {
const scrollPercent = window.scrollY / (document.body.scrollHeight - window.innerHeight)
animation.seek(animation.duration * scrollPercent)
})
Integration Patterns
With React
import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
import anime from 'animejs'
function AnimatedComponent() {
const ref = useRef(null)
useEffect(() => {
const animation = anime({
targets: ref.current,
translateX: 250,
duration: 800,
easing: 'easeInOutQuad'
})
return () => animation.pause()
}, [])
return <div ref={ref}>Animated</div>
}
With Vue
export default {
mounted() {
anime({
targets: this.$el,
translateX: 250,
duration: 800
})
}
}
Path Following Animation
const path = anime.path('#motion-path')
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: path('x'),
translateY: path('y'),
rotate: path('angle'),
easing: 'linear',
duration: 2000,
loop: true
})
Advanced Techniques
Spring Easing
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
easing: 'spring(1, 80, 10, 0)', // mass, stiffness, damping, velocity
duration: 2000
})
Steps Easing
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
easing: 'steps(5)',
duration: 1000
})
Custom Bezier
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
easing: 'cubicBezier(.5, .05, .1, .3)',
duration: 1000
})
Direction and Loop
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
direction: 'alternate', // 'normal', 'reverse', 'alternate'
loop: true, // or number of iterations
easing: 'easeInOutQuad'
})
Playback Control
const animation = anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
autoplay: false
})
animation.play()
animation.pause()
animation.restart()
animation.reverse()
animation.seek(500) // Seek to 500ms
Performance Optimization
Use Transform and Opacity
// ✅ Good: GPU-accelerated
anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
opacity: 0.5
})
// ❌ Avoid: Triggers layout
anime({
targets: '.element',
left: '250px',
width: '500px'
})
Batch Similar Animations
// ✅ Single animation for multiple targets
anime({
targets: '.multiple-elements',
translateX: 250
})
// ❌ Avoid: Multiple separate animations
elements.forEach(el => {
anime({ targets: el, translateX: 250 })
})
Use will-change for Complex Animations
.animated-element {
will-change: transform, opacity;
}
Disable autoplay for Scroll Animations
const animation = anime({
targets: '.element',
translateX: 250,
autoplay: false // Control manually
})
Common Pitfalls
1. Forgetting Unit Types
// ❌ Wrong: No unit
anime({ targets: '.element', width: 200 })
// ✅ Correct: Include unit
anime({ targets: '.element', width: '200px' })
2. Using CSS transform Property Directly
// ❌ Wrong: Can't animate transform string
anime({ targets: '.element', transform: 'translateX(250px)' })
// ✅ Correct: Individual transform properties
anime({ targets: '.element', translateX: 250 })
3. Not Handling Animation Cleanup
// ❌ Wrong: Animation continues after unmount
useEffect(() => {
anime({ targets: ref.current, translateX: 250 })
}, [])
// ✅ Correct: Pause on cleanup
useEffect(() => {
const anim = anime({ targets: ref.current, translateX: 250 })
return () => anim.pause()
}, [])
4. Animating Too Many Elements
// ❌ Avoid: Animating 1000+ elements
anime({ targets: '.many-items', translateX: 250 }) // 1000+ elements
// ✅ Better: Use CSS animations for large sets
// Or reduce element count with virtualization
5. Incorrect Timeline Timing
// ❌ Wrong: Missing offset operator
.add({ targets: '.el2' }, '500') // Treated as absolute time
// ✅ Correct: Use relative operators
.add({ targets: '.el2' }, '-=500') // Relative to previous
.add({ targets: '.el3' }, '+=200') // Relative to previous
6. Overusing Loop
// ❌ Avoid: Infinite loops drain battery
anime({
targets: '.element',
rotate: '1turn',
loop: true,
duration: 1000
})
// ✅ Better: Use CSS animations for infinite loops
@keyframes rotate {
from { transform: rotate(0deg); }
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
Resources
Scripts
animation_generator.py - Generate Anime.js animation boilerplate (8 types)timeline_builder.py - Build complex timeline sequences
References
api_reference.md - Complete Anime.js API documentationstagger_guide.md - Stagger utilities and patternstimeline_guide.md - Timeline sequencing deep dive
Assets
starter_animejs/ - Vanilla JS + Vite template with examplesexamples/ - Real-world patterns (SVG morphing, stagger grids, timelines)
Related Skills
- gsap-scrolltrigger - More powerful timeline features and scroll integration
- motion-framer - React-specific declarative animations
- react-spring-physics - Physics-based spring animations
- lightweight-3d-effects - Simple 3D effects (Zdog, Vanta.js)
Anime.js vs GSAP: Use Anime.js for SVG-heavy animations, simpler projects, or when bundle size matters. Use GSAP for complex scroll-driven experiences, advanced timelines, and professional-grade control.
Anime.js vs Framer Motion: Use Anime.js for framework-agnostic projects or when working outside React. Use Framer Motion for React-specific declarative animations with gesture integration.