video/.claude/skills/manimgl-best-practices/rules/animations.md

ManimGL Animations

Animation System Overview

ManimGL's animation system is built around the Animation base class. Specialized subclasses handle creation, transformation, and indication effects.

Playing Animations

# Single animation
self.play(ShowCreation(circle))

# Multiple animations simultaneously
self.play(
    ShowCreation(circle),
    Write(text),
)

# With run_time
self.play(ShowCreation(circle), run_time=2)

# With rate function
self.play(ShowCreation(circle), rate_func=smooth)

Creation Animations

Animation	Description
ShowCreation	Draw a VMobject's path (NOT Create like in ManimCE)
Write	Write text or LaTeX
DrawBorderThenFill	Draw outline then fill
FadeIn	Fade in with optional direction
FadeOut	Fade out with optional direction
GrowFromCenter	Scale up from center
GrowFromPoint	Scale up from a point
GrowArrow	Specialized for arrows

# ShowCreation for paths
self.play(ShowCreation(circle))

# Write for text
self.play(Write(Tex(R"\pi")))

# FadeIn with direction
self.play(FadeIn(square, shift=UP))

Transform Animations

Animation	Description
Transform	Morph one mobject into another (modifies original)
ReplacementTransform	Replace source with target
TransformMatchingShapes	Match similar shapes
TransformMatchingTex	Match LaTeX parts
FadeTransform	Fade while transforming
MoveToTarget	Move to mobject's .target

# Transform (modifies circle, becomes square)
self.play(Transform(circle, square))

# ReplacementTransform (removes circle, adds square)
self.play(ReplacementTransform(circle, square))

# Using .target
circle.generate_target()
circle.target.shift(RIGHT * 2)
circle.target.set_color(RED)
self.play(MoveToTarget(circle))

Indication Animations

Animation	Description
Indicate	Flash/pulse to draw attention
ShowPassingFlash	Flash along a path
Flash	Burst of light
Circumscribe	Draw circle/rect around
Wiggle	Wiggle the mobject
FlashAround	Flash effect around object

self.play(Indicate(important_text))
self.play(FlashAround(equation, run_time=2))

Movement Animations

# Using .animate syntax
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT * 2))
self.play(circle.animate.scale(2).set_color(RED))

# Rotate
self.play(Rotate(square, PI/2))
self.play(Rotate(square, 90 * DEGREES))  # Same thing

# MoveAlongPath
path = Line(LEFT, RIGHT)
self.play(MoveAlongPath(dot, path))

LaggedStart and Groups

# Staggered animations
self.play(LaggedStart(
    *[ShowCreation(mob) for mob in mobjects],
    lag_ratio=0.2
))

# AnimationGroup for simultaneous
self.play(AnimationGroup(
    ShowCreation(circle),
    Write(text),
    lag_ratio=0  # Simultaneous
))

# Succession for sequential
self.play(Succession(
    ShowCreation(circle),
    Write(text),
))

Animation Parameters

Common parameters for all animations:

Parameter	Description
run_time	Duration in seconds
rate_func	Easing function (smooth, linear, etc.)
lag_ratio	Stagger ratio for grouped animations
remover	Remove mobject after animation
introducer	Add mobject at animation start

self.play(
    ShowCreation(circle),
    run_time=3,
    rate_func=there_and_back,
)

Rate Functions

Common rate functions:

• smooth - Default smooth easing
• linear - Constant speed
• rush_into - Fast start, slow end
• rush_from - Slow start, fast end
• there_and_back - Go and return
• double_smooth - Extra smooth

Waiting

self.wait()       # Default pause
self.wait(2)      # 2 second pause
self.wait(0.5)    # Half second