creating-reanimated-animations

React Native Reanimated Code Generator

Generate performant animation code using React Native Reanimated. Supports both v3 and v4.

Version Detection

Check the project's package.json to determine the version:

• v4 (New Architecture only): requires react-native-worklets as separate dependency
• v3 (supports Legacy and New Architecture): single package install

Setup

Reanimated v4 (latest)

npm install react-native-reanimated react-native-worklets

Babel plugin: 'react-native-worklets/plugin' (must be last in plugins list). For Expo: no Babel config needed. Run npx expo prebuild after install.

Reanimated v3

npm install react-native-reanimated

Babel plugin: 'react-native-reanimated/plugin' (must be last in plugins list).

Core Pattern

Every animation follows three steps:

import Animated, { useSharedValue, useAnimatedStyle, withTiming } from 'react-native-reanimated';

function Component() {
  // 1. Create shared value (lives on UI thread)
  const offset = useSharedValue(0);

  // 2. Bind to style
  const animatedStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({
    transform: [{ translateX: offset.value }],
  }));

  // 3. Trigger animation
  const handlePress = () => {
    offset.value = withTiming(200, { duration: 500 });
  };

  return (
    <Animated.View style={[styles.box, animatedStyle]}>
      <Pressable onPress={handlePress}><Text>Move</Text></Pressable>
    </Animated.View>
  );
}

Animation Selection

User wants	Function	Key params
Smooth fixed-duration transition	withTiming(to, {duration, easing})	Default: 300ms, Easing.inOut(Easing.quad)
Natural bouncy feel	withSpring(to, {mass, damping, stiffness})	Default: mass=1, damping=10, stiffness=100
Momentum after fling	withDecay({velocity, clamp})	Needs initial velocity from gesture
Clamp spring range	withClamp({min, max}, withSpring(to))	v4: limits spring overshoot
Loop/pulse/shake	withRepeat(anim, reps, reverse)	reps=0 for infinite (v4), reps=-1 (v3)
Multi-step choreography	withSequence(anim1, anim2, ...)	Runs in order
Delayed start	withDelay(ms, anim)	Delays any animation

Spring tuning: lower damping (5–8) = more bounce, higher stiffness (150–200) = snappier, higher mass (2–3) = heavier.

Quick Patterns

Fade

const opacity = useSharedValue(0);
const style = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({ opacity: opacity.value }));
// Show: opacity.value = withTiming(1);
// Hide: opacity.value = withTiming(0);

Slide from side

const translateX = useSharedValue(-SCREEN_WIDTH);
const style = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({
  transform: [{ translateX: translateX.value }],
}));
// Enter: translateX.value = withSpring(0);

Scale on press

const scale = useSharedValue(1);
const style = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({
  transform: [{ scale: scale.value }],
}));
// In:  scale.value = withSpring(0.95);
// Out: scale.value = withSpring(1);

Interpolation

import { interpolate, Extrapolation } from 'react-native-reanimated';

const style = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({
  opacity: interpolate(scrollY.value, [0, 100], [1, 0], Extrapolation.CLAMP),
  transform: [{
    scale: interpolate(scrollY.value, [0, 100], [1, 0.8], Extrapolation.CLAMP),
  }],
}));

Scroll-linked animation

const scrollY = useSharedValue(0);
const scrollHandler = useAnimatedScrollHandler({
  onScroll: (event) => { scrollY.value = event.contentOffset.y; },
});
<Animated.ScrollView onScroll={scrollHandler}>{children}</Animated.ScrollView>

Or simpler with useScrollOffset (v4) / useScrollViewOffset (v3):

const ref = useAnimatedRef<Animated.ScrollView>();
const scrollOffset = useScrollOffset(ref); // auto-tracks scroll position
<Animated.ScrollView ref={ref}>{children}</Animated.ScrollView>

Layout Animations (Mount/Unmount)

Built-in presets — no shared values needed:

import Animated, { FadeIn, SlideInRight, SlideOutLeft } from 'react-native-reanimated';

<Animated.View entering={FadeIn.duration(400).delay(100)} exiting={SlideOutLeft.duration(300)}>
  {content}
</Animated.View>

Presets: FadeIn/Out, SlideIn/OutLeft/Right/Up/Down, ZoomIn/Out, BounceIn/Out, FlipInEasyX/Y, LightSpeedIn/Out, PinwheelIn/Out, RollIn/Out, RotateIn/Out, StretchIn/Out.

Modifiers: .duration(ms), .delay(ms), .springify(), .damping(n), .stiffness(n), .randomDelay(), .reduceMotion(), .withCallback().

Layout Transitions (position/size changes)

Animate when component position or size changes:

import { LinearTransition, SequencedTransition } from 'react-native-reanimated';

<Animated.View layout={LinearTransition.springify().damping(15)} />

Transitions: LinearTransition, SequencedTransition, FadingTransition, JumpingTransition, CurvedTransition, EntryExitTransition.

Keyframe Animations (complex entering/exiting)

import { Keyframe } from 'react-native-reanimated';

const enteringAnimation = new Keyframe({
  0: { opacity: 0, transform: [{ translateY: -50 }] },
  50: { opacity: 0.5, transform: [{ translateY: -25 }], easing: Easing.out(Easing.quad) },
  100: { opacity: 1, transform: [{ translateY: 0 }] },
}).duration(500);

<Animated.View entering={enteringAnimation}>{content}</Animated.View>

For custom animations, layout transitions, and list animations, read references/layout-animations.md.

CSS Animations (v4 only)

Declarative CSS-like animations using style props directly:

<Animated.View style={{
  animationName: {
    from: { opacity: 0, transform: [{ translateY: -20 }] },
    to: { opacity: 1, transform: [{ translateY: 0 }] },
  },
  animationDuration: '500ms',
  animationTimingFunction: 'ease-out',
}} />

Supported props: animationName, animationDuration, animationDelay, animationIterationCount, animationDirection, animationFillMode, animationPlayState, animationTimingFunction.

CSS Transitions (v4 only)

Automatic transitions when style values change:

<Animated.View style={{
  width: isExpanded ? 200 : 100,
  transitionProperty: 'width',
  transitionDuration: '300ms',
  transitionTimingFunction: 'ease-in-out',
}} />

Multiple properties: transitionProperty: ['width', 'opacity', 'transform'] with matching transitionDuration: ['300ms', '200ms', '500ms'].

For detailed CSS animations/transitions reference (keyframes, timing functions, examples), read references/css-animations-detailed.md.

Shared Element Transitions (Experimental)

Animate components between screens during navigation:

// Screen A
<Animated.Image sharedTransitionTag={`photo-${id}`} source={...} />

// Screen B (same tag)
<Animated.Image sharedTransitionTag={`photo-${id}`} source={...} />

Requires @react-navigation/native-stack and feature flag. For setup and customization, read references/shared-element-transitions.md.

Gesture Integration

For drag, pinch, fling, and other gesture-driven animations, read references/gesture-patterns.md.

Requires: react-native-gesture-handler + <GestureHandlerRootView> at app root.

Full API Reference

For complete hook signatures, animation parameters, v3↔v4 differences, and advanced APIs, read references/api-reference.md.

Worklets & Advanced APIs

For understanding worklets, 'worklet' directive, runOnJS/runOnUI, useAnimatedReaction, useFrameCallback, measure, dispatchCommand, and performance tips, read references/worklets-advanced.md.

Real-World Component Patterns

For full implementations of accordion, bottom sheet, flip card, and FAB, read references/component-patterns.md.

Testing, Colors & Supported Properties

For testing animations with Jest, animating colors with interpolateColor, and the full list of animatable properties by platform, read references/testing-and-properties.md.

Rules

• Always use Animated.View/Text/Image/ScrollView/FlatList — never animate plain RN components
• v4: use runOnJS/runOnUI (re-exported), or import scheduleOnRN/scheduleOnUI from react-native-worklets
• v3: use runOnJS(fn)() for heavy JS-thread logic
• Always use Extrapolation.CLAMP with interpolate unless you explicitly want extrapolation
• Combine: withSequence(withTiming(1.2, {duration: 100}), withSpring(1))
• Use useReducedMotion() to respect accessibility settings
• Test on real devices — simulator performance differs significantly
• v4: useAnimatedKeyboard is deprecated → use react-native-keyboard-controller

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Based on react-native-reanimated by Software Mansion (MIT License)