/manimgl-best-practices

Camera and Frame in ManimGL

ManimGL's camera system is centered around the CameraFrame, accessible via self.camera.frame. This provides powerful control over both 2D and 3D perspectives.

Accessing the Camera Frame

from manimlib import *

class CameraExample(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        # Get the camera frame
        frame = self.camera.frame

        # frame is a Mobject, so it has all Mobject methods
        # move_to, shift, scale, rotate, etc.

2D Camera Movement

Basic Movement

# Shift the camera
self.play(frame.animate.shift(RIGHT * 2))

# Move to a specific position
self.play(frame.animate.move_to([3, 2, 0]))

# Scale (zoom)
self.play(frame.animate.scale(0.5))  # Zoom in
self.play(frame.animate.scale(2))    # Zoom out

Following Objects

class FollowObject(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        dot = Dot(color=RED)

        # Camera follows dot
        frame.add_updater(lambda m: m.move_to(dot))

        # Move dot around
        self.add(dot)
        self.play(dot.animate.shift(RIGHT * 5), run_time=3)
        self.play(dot.animate.shift(UP * 3), run_time=2)
        self.wait()

Frame Dimensions

# Set frame width/height
frame.set_width(10)
frame.set_height(6)

# Animate frame size
self.play(frame.animate.set_width(20), run_time=2)

3D Camera Orientation

reorient() Method

The reorient() method is the primary way to set 3D camera orientation in ManimGL.

# Signature:
# frame.reorient(theta, phi, gamma=0, center=ORIGIN, height=8)

# Parameters:
# - theta: Rotation around z-axis (azimuthal angle) in degrees
# - phi: Angle from z-axis (polar angle) in degrees
# - gamma: Roll angle in degrees (optional)
# - center: Point the camera looks at (optional)
# - height: Frame height (optional)

# Common views:
frame.reorient(0, 0)        # Front view (XY plane)
frame.reorient(20, 70)      # Isometric-like view
frame.reorient(0, 90)       # Top-down view (XY plane from above)
frame.reorient(90, 90)      # Side view (YZ plane)
frame.reorient(45, 45)      # Diagonal view

Euler Angles

# Set angles individually
frame.set_theta(30 * DEGREES)
frame.set_phi(70 * DEGREES)
frame.set_gamma(0 * DEGREES)

# Set all at once
frame.set_euler_angles(
    theta=30 * DEGREES,
    phi=70 * DEGREES,
    gamma=0 * DEGREES
)

# Get current angles
theta = frame.get_theta()
phi = frame.get_phi()
gamma = frame.get_gamma()

Incremental Rotation

# Increment angles (useful for animations)
frame.increment_theta(10 * DEGREES)
frame.increment_phi(5 * DEGREES)
frame.increment_gamma(2 * DEGREES)

# Animated increments
self.play(frame.animate.increment_theta(90 * DEGREES))

Animating Camera

Simple Camera Animations

class AnimateCamera(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame

        cube = Cube()
        self.add(cube)

        # Reorient to isometric view
        self.play(frame.animate.reorient(20, 70), run_time=2)
        self.wait()

        # Rotate around object
        self.play(frame.animate.increment_theta(360 * DEGREES), run_time=8)
        self.wait()

Continuous Camera Motion

class ContinuousRotation(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        frame.reorient(20, 70)

        sphere = Sphere(radius=2, color=BLUE)
        self.add(sphere)

        # Add continuous rotation updater
        frame.add_updater(lambda m, dt: m.increment_theta(20 * dt))

        # Let it rotate for 10 seconds
        self.wait(10)

        # Stop rotation
        frame.clear_updaters()
        self.wait()

Camera Zoom In/Out

class ZoomEffect(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame

        objects = VGroup(*[Square() for _ in range(5)])
        objects.arrange(RIGHT, buff=1)
        self.add(objects)

        # Zoom out to see all objects
        self.play(frame.animate.set_width(20), run_time=2)
        self.wait()

        # Zoom in on first object
        self.play(
            frame.animate.set_width(2).move_to(objects[0]),
            run_time=2
        )
        self.wait()

Fixing Mobjects in Frame

fix_in_frame() Method

Keep 2D elements fixed in screen space while the camera moves.

class FixedInFrame(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        frame.reorient(20, 70)

        # 3D object that moves with camera
        cube = Cube(color=BLUE)
        self.add(cube)

        # 2D label that stays fixed
        title = Text("Rotating Cube", font_size=60)
        title.to_edge(UP)
        title.fix_in_frame()  # Fixes it to screen space
        self.add(title)

        # Rotate camera - cube rotates, title stays fixed
        self.play(frame.animate.reorient(60, 80), run_time=3)
        self.wait()

Multiple Fixed Elements

class MultipleFixed(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        frame.reorient(30, 70)

        # 3D content
        surface = Sphere(radius=2, color=BLUE, opacity=0.7)
        self.add(surface)

        # Fixed UI elements
        title = Text("3D Visualization", font_size=48)
        title.to_edge(UP)
        title.fix_in_frame()

        subtitle = Text("Interactive Camera", font_size=30, color=GREY)
        subtitle.next_to(title, DOWN)
        subtitle.fix_in_frame()

        controls = Text("Press 'd' to rotate", font_size=24)
        controls.to_corner(DL)
        controls.fix_in_frame()

        self.add(title, subtitle, controls)

        # Rotate camera
        self.play(frame.animate.increment_theta(180 * DEGREES), run_time=6)

Reset Camera

# Reset to default state
frame.to_default_state()

# Animate reset
self.play(frame.animate.to_default_state())

Camera Center

# Set what the camera looks at
frame.set_center([2, 3, 0])

# Animate center change
self.play(frame.animate.set_center([0, 0, 2]))

# Get current center
center = frame.get_center()

Advanced Camera Patterns

Orbit Camera Around Object

class OrbitCamera(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        frame.reorient(30, 70)

        # Central object
        torus = Torus(r1=2, r2=0.5, color=YELLOW)
        self.add(torus)

        # Orbit 360 degrees
        self.play(
            frame.animate.increment_theta(360 * DEGREES),
            run_time=10,
            rate_func=linear
        )

Camera Following Path

class CameraPath(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame

        # Create path
        path = Circle(radius=5)
        self.add(path)

        # Dot to follow
        dot = Dot(color=RED)
        dot.move_to(path.point_from_proportion(0))

        # Camera follows dot
        frame.add_updater(lambda m: m.move_to(dot))

        # Move dot along path
        self.play(
            MoveAlongPath(dot, path),
            run_time=8,
            rate_func=linear
        )

Multiple Camera Positions

class CameraTour(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame

        # Create scene
        objects = VGroup(
            Square(side_length=2, color=RED).shift(LEFT * 3),
            Circle(radius=1, color=BLUE),
            Triangle(color=GREEN).shift(RIGHT * 3)
        )
        self.add(objects)

        # Tour each object
        for obj in objects:
            self.play(
                frame.animate.set_width(3).move_to(obj),
                run_time=2
            )
            self.wait()

        # Return to overview
        self.play(
            frame.animate.set_width(14).move_to(ORIGIN),
            run_time=2
        )

Dynamic Camera with Updater

class DynamicCamera(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame

        # Moving object
        dot = Dot(color=RED)

        # Camera tracks and zooms based on distance from origin
        def update_frame(frame):
            frame.move_to(dot)
            dist = np.linalg.norm(dot.get_center())
            frame.set_width(max(8, dist * 2))

        frame.add_updater(update_frame)

        # Move dot around
        self.add(dot)
        self.play(dot.animate.shift(RIGHT * 5 + UP * 3), run_time=4)
        self.play(dot.animate.shift(LEFT * 8 + DOWN * 2), run_time=4)
        self.wait()

Light Source

Accessing and Moving Light

class LightControl(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        frame = self.camera.frame
        frame.reorient(20, 70)

        # Get light source
        light = self.camera.light_source

        # Create 3D object
        sphere = Sphere(radius=2, color=BLUE)
        sphere.set_gloss(0.8)
        self.add(sphere)

        # Show light position (for debugging)
        light_indicator = Dot(color=YELLOW)
        light_indicator.add_updater(lambda m: m.move_to(light.get_center()))
        self.add(light_indicator)

        # Move light around
        self.play(light.animate.move_to([5, 5, 5]), run_time=2)
        self.wait()
        self.play(light.animate.move_to([-5, -5, 5]), run_time=2)
        self.wait()

Best Practices

1. Store frame reference: frame = self.camera.frame at the start
2. Use reorient() for 3D: Cleaner than setting angles individually
3. fix_in_frame() for UI: Keep labels and titles readable
4. Smooth transitions: Use appropriate run_time for camera movements
5. rate_func=linear: For continuous rotations
6. to_default_state(): Reset camera when needed
7. Updaters for following: Use updaters to track moving objects

Common Patterns

Zoom and pan

def zoom_to(self, mobject, scale_factor=1.5):
    frame = self.camera.frame
    self.play(
        frame.animate
            .set_width(mobject.get_width() * scale_factor)
            .move_to(mobject),
        run_time=2
    )

360-degree showcase

def showcase_3d(self, mobject):
    frame = self.camera.frame
    frame.reorient(20, 70)
    self.play(
        frame.animate.increment_theta(360 * DEGREES),
        run_time=8,
        rate_func=linear
    )

Picture-in-picture effect

# Small inset camera view
small_frame = self.camera.frame.copy()
small_frame.set_width(4)
small_frame.to_corner(UR, buff=0.5)
small_frame.fix_in_frame()