---
slug: "animate-skill"
source_type: "skill_md"
source_url: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/delphi-ai/animate-skill@main/SKILL.md"
repo: "https://github.com/delphi-ai/animate-skill"
source_file: "SKILL.md"
branch: "main"
---
---
name: animate
description: Animation patterns and best practices for Next.js/React applications. Use this skill when implementing animations, transitions, hover effects, page transitions, modals, or any motion in React components. Based on Emil Kowalski's "Animations on the Web" course.
---

# Next.js Animations

## Overview

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for implementing smooth, performant, and accessible animations in Next.js and React applications. It covers CSS animations, Framer Motion, easing principles, and accessibility considerations.

## Quick Reference

### Easing Cheat Sheet

| Animation Type | Easing | Duration |
|----------------|--------|----------|
| Element entering | `ease-out` | 200-300ms |
| Element moving on screen | `ease-in-out` | 200-300ms |
| Element exiting | `ease-in` | 150-200ms |
| Hover effects | `ease` | 150ms |
| Opacity only | `linear` | varies |

### CSS Custom Properties (Recommended)

```css
:root {
  --ease-out-quint: cubic-bezier(.23, 1, .32, 1);
  --ease-in-out-cubic: cubic-bezier(.645, .045, .355, 1);
  --ease-out-cubic: cubic-bezier(.33, 1, .68, 1);
}
```

## Common Animation Patterns

### 1. Hover Lift Effect

```css
.card {
  transition: transform 200ms var(--ease-out-quint),
              box-shadow 200ms var(--ease-out-quint);
}
.card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-4px);
  box-shadow: 0 12px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
}
```

### 2. Button Press

```css
.button {
  transition: transform 100ms ease-out;
}
.button:active {
  transform: scale(0.97);
}
```

### 3. Fade In on Mount (Framer Motion)

```tsx
<motion.div
  initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 20 }}
  animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
  transition={{ duration: 0.3, ease: [.23, 1, .32, 1] }}
>
  Content
</motion.div>
```

### 4. Modal with Exit Animation

```tsx
<AnimatePresence>
  {isOpen && (
    <motion.div
      initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
      animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
      exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
      transition={{ duration: 0.2, ease: "easeOut" }}
    >
      {children}
    </motion.div>
  )}
</AnimatePresence>
```

### 5. Tab Indicator (Shared Layout)

```tsx
{tabs.map(tab => (
  <button key={tab} onClick={() => setActive(tab)} className="relative px-4 py-2">
    {tab}
    {active === tab && (
      <motion.div
        layoutId="tab-indicator"
        className="absolute inset-0 bg-blue-500 rounded -z-10"
        transition={{ type: "spring", stiffness: 400, damping: 30 }}
      />
    )}
  </button>
))}
```

### 6. Staggered List Animation

```tsx
const container = {
  hidden: { opacity: 0 },
  visible: {
    opacity: 1,
    transition: { staggerChildren: 0.1 }
  }
}

const item = {
  hidden: { opacity: 0, y: 20 },
  visible: { opacity: 1, y: 0 }
}

<motion.ul variants={container} initial="hidden" animate="visible">
  {items.map(i => <motion.li key={i} variants={item}>{i}</motion.li>)}
</motion.ul>
```

## Golden Rules

1. **Exits faster than enters**: Exit animations should be ~75% of enter duration
2. **Only animate transform and opacity**: These are GPU-accelerated
3. **200-300ms is the sweet spot**: Most animations should be in this range
4. **Always respect prefers-reduced-motion**: See accessibility section in references
5. **Use springs for interruptible animations**: Better UX when users interrupt

## Examples

Complete working examples from the course are in the `examples/` directory:

| Example | Description | Key Techniques |
|---------|-------------|----------------|
| `card-hover.tsx` | Slide-up description on hover | CSS transitions, transform, opacity |
| `toast-stacking.tsx` | Animated toast notifications | CSS custom properties, data-* triggers |
| `text-reveal.tsx` | Staggered letter animation | @keyframes, animation-delay, calc() |
| `shared-layout.tsx` | Element position/size morph | Framer Motion layoutId |
| `animate-height.tsx` | Smooth height changes | useMeasure, animate height |
| `multi-step-flow.tsx` | Directional step wizard | AnimatePresence, custom variants |
| `feedback-popover.tsx` | Button-to-popover expansion | Nested layoutId, form states |
| `app-store-card.tsx` | iOS-style card expansion | Multiple layoutId elements |

To use an example, read it with: `Read examples/<name>.tsx`

## References

For detailed documentation, read the reference files:

- `references/easing-and-timing.md` - Easing functions, timing guidelines, spring configuration
- `references/css-animations.md` - Transforms, transitions, keyframes, clip-path
- `references/framer-motion.md` - Motion components, AnimatePresence, variants, layout animations, hooks
- `references/performance-accessibility.md` - 60fps optimization, prefers-reduced-motion, accessibility

## When to Use What

| Scenario | Recommended Approach |
|----------|---------------------|
| Simple hover effects | CSS transitions |
| Enter/exit animations | Framer Motion + AnimatePresence |
| Layout changes | Framer Motion `layout` prop |
| Shared element transitions | Framer Motion `layoutId` |
| Scroll-linked animations | Framer Motion `useScroll` |
| Complex orchestrated animations | Framer Motion variants |
| Drag interactions | Framer Motion drag gestures |
| Performance-critical | CSS-only with transforms |

## Dependencies

For Framer Motion examples, install:
```bash
pnpm add framer-motion react-use-measure usehooks-ts
```