/manimgl-best-practices

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

# 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

# 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

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:

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