Animation & Motion Design

VerifiedSafe

Create smooth, purposeful animations with Framer Motion and CSS. Covers enter/exit animations, gestures, scroll animations, and performance optimization.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentIntermediate
3/1/2026
Claude CodeCursorWindsurfCopilotCodex
#react#framer-motion#animation#micro-interactions#ui

Recommended for

Automated summary

A practical guide for adding smooth animations and micro-interactions to React interfaces with Framer Motion and CSS.

Strengths

  • Provides concrete examples for enter/exit animations, gestures, lists, layout transitions, and scroll effects.
  • Emphasizes performance-friendly properties such as transform and opacity, along with short transition durations.
  • Covers reduced-motion preferences and encourages a consistent easing language.

Limitations

  • Heavily focused on React and Framer Motion, with little CSS content despite the description.
  • The provided file is truncated and does not cover installation, version compatibility, or testing.
  • Examples assume a TSX/Tailwind stack and do not address every front-end framework.
When to use it

Use it when you need to add polished, accessible UI animations quickly in a React project.

When not to use it

Avoid it if your project does not use React/Framer Motion or if you need a dependency-free, CSS-only animation approach.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score80/100

This is a purely instructional front-end design document containing React/Framer Motion and CSS code snippets. It declares no tools and contains no shell commands, network calls, filesystem operations, or obfuscated payloads. The only executable-looking content is ordinary UI code examples, so there is no meaningful execution risk.

No concerns found

How this analysis is made

Examples

Modal enter/exit animation
Add an accessible modal to my React app with Framer Motion: backdrop fade and content scale/fade using AnimatePresence, 200ms duration, and respect prefers-reduced-motion.
Staggered card list
Create a staggered reveal animation for a list of dashboard cards using Framer Motion variants with 0.1s stagger and a subtle slide-up.
Animated tabs indicator
Build a tab bar in React where the active indicator slides between tabs using Framer Motion layoutId and a spring transition.

name: animation-motion description: Create smooth animations and micro-interactions with Framer Motion and CSS. Covers enter/exit animations, gestures, scroll animations, loading states, and performance optimization. Use for polished UIs, interactive elements, and engaging user experiences.

Animation & Motion Design

Create smooth, purposeful animations that enhance user experience.

Instructions

  1. Animate with purpose - Every animation should serve a function
  2. Keep it subtle - 200-400ms for most UI transitions
  3. Respect reduced motion - Honor user preferences
  4. Optimize performance - Use transform and opacity
  5. Use consistent easing - Create a motion language

Framer Motion Basics

Simple Animations

import { motion } from 'framer-motion';

// Fade in on mount
<motion.div
  initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
  animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
  transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
>
  Content
</motion.div>

// Slide up with spring
<motion.div
  initial={{ y: 20, opacity: 0 }}
  animate={{ y: 0, opacity: 1 }}
  transition={{
    type: 'spring',
    stiffness: 300,
    damping: 30,
  }}
>
  Content
</motion.div>

Exit Animations

import { AnimatePresence, motion } from 'framer-motion';

function Modal({ isOpen, onClose, children }) {
  return (
    <AnimatePresence>
      {isOpen && (
        <>
          {/* Backdrop */}
          <motion.div
            className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/50"
            initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
            animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
            exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
            onClick={onClose}
          />

          {/* Modal content */}
          <motion.div
            className="fixed inset-0 flex items-center justify-center"
            initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
            animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
            exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
            transition={{ duration: 0.2 }}
          >
            {children}
          </motion.div>
        </>
      )}
    </AnimatePresence>
  );
}

Gesture Animations

import { motion } from 'framer-motion';

<motion.button
  whileHover={{ scale: 1.05 }}
  whileTap={{ scale: 0.95 }}
  transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 400, damping: 17 }}
>
  Click me
</motion.button>

// Drag
<motion.div
  drag
  dragConstraints={{ left: 0, right: 300, top: 0, bottom: 300 }}
  dragElastic={0.1}
  whileDrag={{ scale: 1.1 }}
>
  Drag me
</motion.div>

List Animations

import { motion } from 'framer-motion';

const container = {
  hidden: { opacity: 0 },
  show: {
    opacity: 1,
    transition: {
      staggerChildren: 0.1,
    },
  },
};

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

function List({ items }) {
  return (
    <motion.ul
      variants={container}
      initial="hidden"
      animate="show"
    >
      {items.map((data) => (
        <motion.li key={data.id} variants={item}>
          {data.title}
        </motion.li>
      ))}
    </motion.ul>
  );
}

Layout Animations

import { motion, LayoutGroup } from 'framer-motion';

function Tabs({ tabs, activeTab, onTabChange }) {
  return (
    <LayoutGroup>
      <div className="flex space-x-2">
        {tabs.map((tab) => (
          <button
            key={tab.id}
            onClick={() => onTabChange(tab.id)}
            className="relative px-4 py-2"
          >
            {tab.label}
            {activeTab === tab.id && (
              <motion.div
                layoutId="activeTab"
                className="absolute inset-0 bg-blue-100 rounded-lg"
                style={{ zIndex: -1 }}
                transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 500, damping: 30 }}
              />
            )}
          </button>
        ))}
      </div>
    </LayoutGroup>
  );
}

Scroll Animations

import { motion, useScroll, useTransform } from 'framer-motion';

function ParallaxHero() {
  const { scrollY } = useScroll();
  const y = useTransform(scrollY, [0, 500], [0, 150]);
  const opacity = useTransform(scrollY, [0, 300], [1, 0]);

  return (
    <motion.div
      style={{ y, opacity }}
      className="h-screen flex items-center justify-center"
    >
      <h1 className="text-6xl font-bold">Welcome</h1>
    </motion.div>
  );
}

// Scroll-triggered animation
import { useInView } from 'framer-motion';

function FadeInSection({ children }) {
  const ref = useRef(null);
  const isInView = useInView(ref, { once: true, margin: '-100px' });

  return (
    <motion.div
      ref={ref}
      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 50 }}
      animate={isInView ? { opacity: 1, y: 0 } : { opacity: 0, y: 50 }}
      transition={{ duration: 0.5 }}
    >
      {children}
    </motion.div>
  );
}

CSS Animations

Keyframe Animations

/* Tailwind config */
animation: {
  'fade-in': 'fadeIn 0.3s ease-out',
  'slide-up': 'slideUp 0.3s ease-out',
  'spin-slow': 'spin 3s linear infinite',
  'pulse-subtle': 'pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite',
},
keyframes: {
  fadeIn: {
    '0%': { opacity: '0' },
    '100%': { opacity: '1' },
  },
  slideUp: {
    '0%': { transform: 'translateY(10px)', opacity: '0' },
    '100%': { transform: 'translateY(0)', opacity: '1' },
  },
}

Transition Classes

// Hover transitions
<button className="
  transition-all duration-200 ease-out
  hover:scale-105 hover:shadow-lg
  active:scale-95
">
  Click me
</button>

// Color transitions
<div className="
  transition-colors duration-300
  bg-gray-100 hover:bg-gray-200
  dark:bg-gray-800 dark:hover:bg-gray-700
">
  Content
</div>

Loading States

Skeleton Loading

function SkeletonCard() {
  return (
    <div className="animate-pulse">
      <div className="h-48 bg-gray-200 rounded-lg" />
      <div className="mt-4 space-y-3">
        <div className="h-4 bg-gray-200 rounded w-3/4" />
        <div className="h-4 bg-gray-200 rounded w-1/2" />
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Spinner Component

function Spinner({ size = 'md' }) {
  const sizes = {
    sm: 'w-4 h-4',
    md: 'w-6 h-6',
    lg: 'w-8 h-8',
  };

  return (
    <svg
      className={`animate-spin ${sizes[size]} text-blue-600`}
      xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
      fill="none"
      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
    >
      <circle
        className="opacity-25"
        cx="12"
        cy="12"
        r="10"
        stroke="currentColor"
        strokeWidth="4"
      />
      <path
        className="opacity-75"
        fill="currentColor"
        d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4z"
      />
    </svg>
  );
}

Reduced Motion Support

import { useReducedMotion } from 'framer-motion';

function AnimatedComponent() {
  const shouldReduceMotion = useReducedMotion();

  return (
    <motion.div
      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: shouldReduceMotion ? 0 : 20 }}
      animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
      transition={{ duration: shouldReduceMotion ? 0 : 0.3 }}
    >
      Content
    </motion.div>
  );
}

// CSS approach
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  * {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
  }
}

Performance Tips

  1. Animate transform and opacity only - GPU accelerated
  2. Use will-change sparingly - For complex animations
  3. Avoid layout thrashing - Don't animate width/height
  4. Use AnimatePresence mode="wait" - Prevent animation overlap
  5. Lazy load animations - For below-fold content
// GPU-optimized animation
<motion.div
  animate={{ x: 100 }}  // Good: transform
  // animate={{ left: 100 }}  // Bad: layout property
/>

// will-change for complex animations
<div style={{ willChange: 'transform' }}>
  Heavy animation here
</div>

Best Practices

  1. 200-400ms for transitions - Feels responsive
  2. Spring for interactive elements - Natural feel
  3. Ease-out for enter - Elements arrive and settle
  4. Ease-in for exit - Elements accelerate away
  5. Stagger lists - 50-100ms between items
  6. Match motion to meaning - Slide for navigation, fade for content

When to Use

  • Page transitions and navigation
  • Modal and dialog animations
  • Loading and progress states
  • Micro-interactions and feedback
  • Scroll-driven effects
  • Interactive data visualizations

Notes

  • Test on lower-end devices
  • Always respect prefers-reduced-motion
  • Keep animations consistent across the app
  • Don't animate everything - be selective

From the file to a first result

The download contains exactly the content displayed on this page. This copy may differ from the latest version in the source repository.

View the source and supporting files

This download contains SKILL.md only. Any scripts, references, templates and dependencies are not included. Get the required files from the source, preserving their directory structure, before continuing.

1. Download the file

Download SKILL.md

From the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md, or use the command below. This folder is for inspecting the skill before installation.

Command for macOS/Linux or WSL: requires a POSIX shell and curl. On Windows without WSL, use the download button and create the folder manually.

mkdir -p '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/download' --output '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md'

2. Check prerequisites

Read SKILL.md before using it. If it references scripts or external services, inspect them and prepare the required access in your test environment.

No recognized prerequisites section in this file. This does not mean it is self-contained: libraries, tools and access requirements may be mentioned elsewhere in the content or source repository.

The platforms on this page are catalog indications. The paths below follow tool documentation; they do not prove this skill has been run in those tools. No minimum tool version is confirmed for this listing.

3. Load the skill

After inspection, copy the complete folder into your project using one of the commands below, then open a new tool session. The command stops if a folder with the same name already exists: compare the files before replacing it.

Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/animation-motion' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99' '.claude/skills/animation-motion'

Cursor
test -f '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.cursor/skills' && test ! -e '.cursor/skills/animation-motion' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99' '.cursor/skills/animation-motion'

Codex
test -f '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.agents/skills' && test ! -e '.agents/skills/animation-motion' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99' '.agents/skills/animation-motion'

OpenSkills

OpenSkills must already be installed. The local install/read procedure is checked with OpenSkills 1.5.0, which requires Node.js ≥ 20.6.0. Catalog slugs are not resolved automatically.

Official OpenSkills installation
openskills install './.skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99'

openskills read 'animation-motion-design-mm78no99'

Reading should display the installed file content and its base directory. It does not run the skill or install its dependencies.

For an agent that reads AGENTS.md, then sync the index. This command changes AGENTS.md: review the diff before using it.

openskills sync

Manual method or another tool: attach SKILL.md to a conversation, or open it in an agent that can read files. Include any required supporting resources. No universal folder is recognized by every tool.

4. Try a first task

Use a short, synthetic input: an API endpoint, a small document or an interface brief. In a new conversation, attach the file or give the agent its path, then adapt this request:

Read .skill-downloads/animation-motion-design-mm78no99/SKILL.md and apply its instructions to this example: [describe a test input]. Identify any missing files, dependencies or access. Produce the result requested by the skill without inventing data or running unreviewed scripts.

Expected result: output matching the skill instructions, or a precise list of missing prerequisites. A read confirmation alone does not validate a first use. If an external resource is unavailable, that path remains untested.

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