Anime.js v4 — Web Animation Skill

When to use

• Lightweight JavaScript animations (smaller than GSAP)
• SVG path animations and morphing
• Timeline-based sequences
• Stagger effects on multiple elements
• Draggable interactions

Key APIs

Basic animation

import anime from "animejs";

anime({
  targets: ".element",
  translateX: 250,
  opacity: [0, 1],
  duration: 800,
  easing: "easeOutExpo",
});

Timeline

const tl = anime.timeline({
  easing: "easeOutExpo",
  duration: 750,
});

tl.add({ targets: ".header", translateY: [-30, 0], opacity: [0, 1] })
  .add({ targets: ".content", translateY: [20, 0], opacity: [0, 1] }, "-=400")
  .add({ targets: ".cta", scale: [0.9, 1], opacity: [0, 1] }, "-=300");

Stagger

anime({
  targets: ".grid-item",
  scale: [0.5, 1],
  opacity: [0, 1],
  delay: anime.stagger(100, { grid: [4, 4], from: "center" }),
});

SVG path animation

anime({
  targets: "path",
  strokeDashoffset: [anime.setDashoffset, 0],
  duration: 2000,
  easing: "easeInOutSine",
});

v4 changes from v3

• ES module support by default
• New createTimeline() API
• createDraggable() for drag interactions
• Scroll-linked animations with createScope()
• Improved TypeScript support

Performance tips

• Animate transform and opacity only for 60fps
• Use will-change: transform on animated elements
• Batch DOM reads before animation starts
• Remove completed animations to free memory

Common pitfalls

• Animating layout properties (width/height) → use transform instead
• Not cleaning up in SPAs → store and pause/remove references
• SVG animations not working → check stroke-dasharray is set

Tips for AI Agents

• Ask if Anime.js is already installed or needs adding.
• Confirm animation style (entrance, scroll, interaction, SVG).
• Consider prefers-reduced-motion for accessibility.