Animations - ManimVTK

Animation Basics

Animations are transformations applied to mobjects over time. ManimVTK provides a rich set of animation classes for creating smooth, beautiful movements and effects.

All animations are played using self.play() in your scene’s construct() method

Playing Animations

Basic Syntax

from manimvtk import *

class BasicAnimation(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        
        # Play a single animation
        self.play(Create(circle))
        
        # Wait (pause animation)
        self.wait()

Multiple Animations

class MultipleAnimations(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        c1 = Circle().shift(LEFT)
        c2 = Square().shift(RIGHT)
        
        # Play animations simultaneously
        self.play(
            Create(c1),
            Create(c2)
        )
        
        # Play sequentially
        self.play(FadeOut(c1))
        self.play(FadeOut(c2))

Animation Parameters

self.play(
    Create(circle),
    run_time=2,          # Duration in seconds
    rate_func=smooth     # Timing function
)

Animation Types

Creation Animations

Animations that introduce objects to the scene:

Create
Write
FadeIn
GrowFromCenter

Draw the object from start to finish:

circle = Circle()
self.play(Create(circle))

Write text or equations:

text = Text("Hello, World!")
self.play(Write(text))

Fade object into view:

square = Square()
self.play(FadeIn(square))

Grow object from its center:

circle = Circle()
self.play(GrowFromCenter(circle))

Removal Animations

Animations that remove objects from the scene:

Uncreate
FadeOut
ShrinkToCenter

Reverse of Create:

self.play(Uncreate(circle))

Fade object out of view:

self.play(FadeOut(square))

Shrink to center point:

self.play(ShrinkToCenter(circle))

Transform Animations

Transform one object into another:

class TransformExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        square = Square()
        
        self.play(Create(circle))
        self.wait()
        
        # Transform circle into square
        self.play(Transform(circle, square))
        self.wait()

Types of transforms:

Transform - Morph one object into another
ReplacementTransform - Replace and morph
TransformFromCopy - Create copy that transforms
ClockwiseTransform - Transform with rotation

Movement Animations

Move objects around the scene:

class MovementExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        self.add(circle)
        
        # Using .animate syntax (recommended)
        self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT * 3))
        self.play(circle.animate.move_to(UP * 2))
        
        # Using explicit animations
        self.play(circle.animate.to_edge(LEFT))

Rotation Animations

Rotate objects:

class RotationExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        square = Square()
        self.add(square)
        
        # Rotate 90 degrees
        self.play(Rotate(square, PI / 2))
        
        # Or using .animate
        self.play(square.animate.rotate(PI / 2))

Indication Animations

Draw attention to objects:

Indicate
Flash
Wiggle
Circumscribe

Briefly highlight:

self.play(Indicate(circle))

Flash effect:

self.play(Flash(point))

Wiggle animation:

self.play(Wiggle(text))

Draw attention with shape around object:

self.play(Circumscribe(equation))

The .animate Syntax

The most intuitive way to animate transformations:

class AnimateSyntax(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        self.add(circle)
        
        # Chain multiple transformations
        self.play(
            circle.animate
                .shift(RIGHT * 2)
                .scale(1.5)
                .set_color(RED)
        )

Benefits:

Readable and intuitive
Supports method chaining
Works with most mobject methods

Examples:

# Movement
self.play(mob.animate.shift(UP))
self.play(mob.animate.move_to([1, 2, 0]))
self.play(mob.animate.to_edge(RIGHT))

# Scaling
self.play(mob.animate.scale(2))
self.play(mob.animate.stretch(2, 0))

# Rotation
self.play(mob.animate.rotate(PI / 4))

# Color
self.play(mob.animate.set_color(BLUE))
self.play(mob.animate.set_opacity(0.5))

# Combination
self.play(
    mob.animate
        .shift(RIGHT)
        .rotate(PI / 2)
        .set_color(RED)
)

Rate Functions

Control the timing and pacing of animations:

from manimvtk import *

class RateFunctions(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        self.add(circle)
        
        # Linear (constant speed)
        self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT), rate_func=linear)
        
        # Smooth (ease in and out)
        self.play(circle.animate.shift(LEFT), rate_func=smooth)
        
        # Rush into (accelerate)
        self.play(circle.animate.shift(UP), rate_func=rush_into)
        
        # Rush from (decelerate)
        self.play(circle.animate.shift(DOWN), rate_func=rush_from)

Common rate functions:

linear - Constant speed
smooth - Ease in and out
rush_into - Start slow, end fast
rush_from - Start fast, end slow
there_and_back - Go and return
running_start - Build momentum

Animation Composition

Succession

Animate one after another:

from manimvtk import Succession

self.play(
    Succession(
        Create(circle),
        FadeIn(square),
        Write(text)
    )
)

AnimationGroup

Group animations to play together:

from manimvtk import AnimationGroup

self.play(
    AnimationGroup(
        Create(circle),
        FadeIn(square),
        lag_ratio=0.5  # Stagger the animations
    )
)

LaggedStart

Start animations with a delay:

from manimvtk import LaggedStart

shapes = VGroup(*[Circle() for _ in range(5)])
shapes.arrange(RIGHT)

self.play(
    LaggedStart(*[Create(s) for s in shapes], lag_ratio=0.2)
)

Advanced Techniques

Custom Run Time

# Slow animation
self.play(Create(circle), run_time=3)

# Fast animation
self.play(FadeOut(square), run_time=0.5)

UpdateFromFunc

Animate based on custom function:

def update_func(mob, alpha):
    # alpha goes from 0 to 1
    mob.move_to(alpha * RIGHT * 3)

circle = Circle()
self.add(circle)
self.play(UpdateFromFunc(circle, update_func))

ValueTracker

Animate a value over time:

tracker = ValueTracker(0)

def update_circle(circle):
    circle.move_to(RIGHT * tracker.get_value())

circle = Circle()
circle.add_updater(update_circle)
self.add(circle)

self.play(tracker.animate.set_value(3), run_time=2)

Updaters

Continuous updates during animation:

def update_text(text):
    text.next_to(circle.get_center(), UP)

circle = Circle()
text = Text("Follow me")
text.add_updater(update_text)

self.add(circle, text)
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT * 3))

Animation Timing

Wait Duration

# Wait 1 second
self.wait()

# Wait 2 seconds
self.wait(2)

# Wait 0.5 seconds
self.wait(0.5)

Controlling Speed

# Default speed
self.play(Create(circle))

# Slow motion (2x slower)
self.play(Create(circle), run_time=2)

# Fast forward (2x faster)
self.play(Create(circle), run_time=0.5)

Best Practices

Appropriate timing

Choose run times that feel natural:

# Good - gives viewers time to process
self.play(Write(important_equation), run_time=2)
self.wait(1)

# Too fast - hard to follow
self.play(Write(important_equation), run_time=0.2)

Group related animations

# Good - simultaneous related actions
self.play(
    circle.animate.shift(RIGHT),
    square.animate.shift(LEFT)
)

# Less effective - sequential when simultaneous makes sense
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT))
self.play(square.animate.shift(LEFT))

Use appropriate rate functions

# Smooth for most animations
self.play(mob.animate.shift(UP), rate_func=smooth)

# Linear for constant motion
self.play(mob.animate.shift(RIGHT), rate_func=linear)

# Rush for dramatic effect
self.play(mob.animate.scale(2), rate_func=rush_into)

Use .animate for clarity

# Preferred - clear and concise
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT).scale(2))

# Avoid - more verbose
self.play(
    ApplyMethod(circle.shift, RIGHT),
    ApplyMethod(circle.scale, 2)
)

Common Patterns

Intro → Content → Outro

class StandardPattern(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        # Intro
        title = Text("My Topic")
        self.play(Write(title))
        self.wait()
        self.play(FadeOut(title))
        
        # Content
        circle = Circle()
        self.play(Create(circle))
        self.play(circle.animate.scale(2))
        self.wait()
        
        # Outro
        self.play(FadeOut(circle))

Build Up Gradually

class BuildUp(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        elements = VGroup(*[Square() for _ in range(4)])
        elements.arrange(RIGHT, buff=0.5)
        
        # Add one at a time
        for elem in elements:
            self.play(FadeIn(elem))
            self.wait(0.3)

Transform Chain

class TransformChain(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        shapes = [Circle(), Square(), Triangle(), Star()]
        
        current = shapes[0]
        self.play(Create(current))
        
        for next_shape in shapes[1:]:
            self.wait(0.5)
            self.play(Transform(current, next_shape))

Next Steps

Animations Reference

Complete animations API

Mobjects

Learn about animatable objects

Examples

Browse animation examples

Rate Functions

Explore timing functions

Getting Started

VTK Features

Core Concepts

Examples

Advanced Topics

Documentation Index

​Animation Basics

​Playing Animations

​Basic Syntax

​Multiple Animations

​Animation Parameters

​Animation Types

​Creation Animations

​Removal Animations

​Transform Animations

​Movement Animations

​Rotation Animations

​Indication Animations

​The .animate Syntax

​Rate Functions

​Animation Composition

​Succession

​AnimationGroup

​LaggedStart

​Advanced Techniques

​Custom Run Time

​UpdateFromFunc

​ValueTracker

​Updaters

​Animation Timing

​Wait Duration

​Controlling Speed

​Best Practices

​Common Patterns

​Intro → Content → Outro

​Build Up Gradually

​Transform Chain

​Next Steps

Animations Reference

Mobjects

Examples

Rate Functions

Animation Basics

Playing Animations

Basic Syntax

Multiple Animations

Animation Parameters

Animation Types

Creation Animations

Removal Animations

Transform Animations

Movement Animations

Rotation Animations

Indication Animations

The .animate Syntax

Rate Functions

Animation Composition

Succession

AnimationGroup

LaggedStart

Advanced Techniques

Custom Run Time

UpdateFromFunc

ValueTracker

Updaters

Animation Timing

Wait Duration

Controlling Speed

Best Practices

Common Patterns

Intro → Content → Outro

Build Up Gradually

Transform Chain

Next Steps