hermes-agent/skills/creative/manim-video/references/animations.md

Animations Reference

Core Concept

An animation is a Python object that computes intermediate visual states of a mobject over time. Animations are objects passed to self.play(), not functions.

run_time controls seconds (default: 1). Always specify it explicitly for important animations.

Creation Animations

self.play(Create(circle))          # traces outline
self.play(Write(equation))         # simulates handwriting (for Text/MathTex)
self.play(FadeIn(group))           # opacity 0 -> 1
self.play(GrowFromCenter(dot))     # scale 0 -> 1 from center
self.play(DrawBorderThenFill(sq))  # outline first, then fill

Removal Animations

self.play(FadeOut(mobject))         # opacity 1 -> 0
self.play(Uncreate(circle))        # reverse of Create
self.play(ShrinkToCenter(group))   # scale 1 -> 0

Transform Animations

# Transform -- modifies the original in place
self.play(Transform(circle, square))
# After: circle IS the square (same object, new appearance)

# ReplacementTransform -- replaces old with new
self.play(ReplacementTransform(circle, square))
# After: circle removed, square on screen

# TransformMatchingTex -- smart equation morphing
eq1 = MathTex(r"a^2 + b^2")
eq2 = MathTex(r"a^2 + b^2 = c^2")
self.play(TransformMatchingTex(eq1, eq2))

Critical: After Transform(A, B), variable A references the on-screen mobject. Variable B is NOT on screen. Use ReplacementTransform when you want to work with B afterwards.

The .animate Syntax

self.play(circle.animate.set_color(RED))
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT * 2).scale(0.5))  # chain multiple

Emphasis Animations

self.play(Indicate(mobject))             # brief yellow flash + scale
self.play(Circumscribe(mobject))         # draw rectangle around it
self.play(Flash(point))                  # radial flash
self.play(Wiggle(mobject))               # shake side to side

Rate Functions

self.play(FadeIn(mob), rate_func=smooth)          # default: ease in/out
self.play(FadeIn(mob), rate_func=linear)           # constant speed
self.play(FadeIn(mob), rate_func=rush_into)        # start slow, end fast
self.play(FadeIn(mob), rate_func=rush_from)        # start fast, end slow
self.play(FadeIn(mob), rate_func=there_and_back)   # animate then reverse

Composition

# Simultaneous
self.play(FadeIn(title), Create(circle), run_time=2)

# AnimationGroup with lag
self.play(AnimationGroup(*[FadeIn(i) for i in items], lag_ratio=0.2))

# LaggedStart
self.play(LaggedStart(*[Write(l) for l in lines], lag_ratio=0.3, run_time=3))

# Succession (sequential in one play call)
self.play(Succession(FadeIn(title), Wait(0.5), Write(subtitle)))

Updaters

tracker = ValueTracker(0)
dot = Dot().add_updater(lambda m: m.move_to(axes.c2p(tracker.get_value(), 0)))
self.play(tracker.animate.set_value(5), run_time=3)

Subtitles

# Method 1: standalone
self.add_subcaption("Key insight", duration=2)
self.play(Write(equation), run_time=2.0)

# Method 2: inline
self.play(Write(equation), subcaption="Key insight", subcaption_duration=2)

Manim auto-generates .srt subtitle files. Always add subcaptions for accessibility.

Timing Patterns

# Pause-after-reveal
self.play(Write(key_equation), run_time=2.0)
self.wait(2.0)

# Dim-and-focus
self.play(old_content.animate.set_opacity(0.3), FadeIn(new_content))

# Clean exit
self.play(FadeOut(Group(*self.mobjects)), run_time=0.5)
self.wait(0.3)