/manimce-best-practices

Creation Animations

Animations that introduce mobjects to the scene.

Create

Draws a VMobject progressively along its path.

from manim import *

class CreateExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()
        self.play(Create(circle))

Best for: Geometric shapes, lines, arrows.

Write

Simulates handwriting. Best for text and equations.

class WriteExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        text = Text("Hello World")
        equation = MathTex(r"E = mc^2")

        self.play(Write(text))
        self.wait()
        self.play(Write(equation))

Write automatically sets appropriate timing based on text length.

DrawBorderThenFill

Draws the outline first, then fills in the shape.

class DrawBorderExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        square = Square(fill_opacity=0.8, color=BLUE)
        self.play(DrawBorderThenFill(square))

Best for: Shapes with fills where you want to emphasize the outline first.

FadeIn / FadeOut

Simple opacity transitions.

class FadeExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()

        # Fade in
        self.play(FadeIn(circle))
        self.wait()

        # Fade out
        self.play(FadeOut(circle))

Directional Fades

# Fade in from a direction
self.play(FadeIn(square, shift=UP))      # Fade in while moving up
self.play(FadeIn(square, shift=LEFT))    # Fade in from right

# Fade out to a direction
self.play(FadeOut(square, shift=DOWN))   # Fade out while moving down

Scale Fades

self.play(FadeIn(circle, scale=0.5))   # Fade in while growing
self.play(FadeOut(circle, scale=2))    # Fade out while shrinking

GrowFromCenter / ShrinkToCenter

class GrowExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle()

        self.play(GrowFromCenter(circle))
        self.wait()
        self.play(ShrinkToCenter(circle))

GrowFromPoint

Grow from a specific point.

self.play(GrowFromPoint(circle, ORIGIN))
self.play(GrowFromPoint(circle, LEFT * 3))

GrowFromEdge

Grow from a specific edge.

self.play(GrowFromEdge(square, LEFT))   # Grow from left edge
self.play(GrowFromEdge(square, DOWN))   # Grow from bottom edge

SpinInFromNothing

Object spins in while growing.

self.play(SpinInFromNothing(circle))

Uncreate

Reverse of Create - erases the mobject.

self.play(Create(circle))
self.wait()
self.play(Uncreate(circle))  # Erases in reverse

AddTextLetterByLetter

Types text one character at a time.

class TypingExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        text = Text("Hello World")
        self.play(AddTextLetterByLetter(text, time_per_char=0.1))

Note: Only works with Text, not MathTex.

Best Practices

1. Use Write for text - Looks more natural than Create
2. Use Create for shapes - Clean progressive drawing
3. Use FadeIn for quick introductions - When drawing isn't important
4. Match removal to creation - If you Create, use Uncreate; if FadeIn, use FadeOut