universal-patterns

Universal Animation Patterns

Apply Disney's 12 principles as baseline defaults for any animation.

Core Timing Scale

Category	Duration	Use For
Instant	100-150ms	Hovers, toggles, micro-states
Fast	150-250ms	Feedback, small transitions
Standard	250-400ms	Modals, reveals, state changes
Slow	400-600ms	Page transitions, sequences
Deliberate	600-1000ms	Dramatic reveals, celebrations

Universal Easing Library

:root {
  /* Standard easings */
  --ease-out: cubic-bezier(0, 0, 0.2, 1);        /* Entrances */
  --ease-in: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1);         /* Exits */
  --ease-in-out: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);   /* State changes */

  /* Spring easings */
  --ease-spring: cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);  /* Overshoot */
  --ease-bounce: cubic-bezier(0.68, -0.55, 0.27, 1.55); /* Playful */
}

The 12 Principles Quick Reference

1. Squash & Stretch: Scale 0.95-1.05 range for organic feel
2. Anticipation: 2-3px reverse movement or 50ms pause before action
3. Staging: Animate toward user attention, clear visual hierarchy
4. Straight Ahead vs Pose-to-Pose: Define keyframes, plan states
5. Follow Through: Overshoot by 2-5%, settle back
6. Slow In/Slow Out: Always ease, never linear (except spinners)
7. Arcs: Combine X+Y movement, natural paths
8. Secondary Action: Layer 2-3 properties max (opacity + transform + shadow)
9. Timing: Match duration to distance/importance
10. Exaggeration: Subtle for UI (under 10% deviation)
11. Solid Drawing: Maintain visual consistency during motion
12. Appeal: Motion should feel helpful, not performative

Base Animation Classes

/* Standard entrance */
.animate-in {
  animation: fade-in 250ms var(--ease-out) forwards;
}

/* Standard exit */
.animate-out {
  animation: fade-out 200ms var(--ease-in) forwards;
}

/* State transition */
.animate-state {
  transition: all 200ms var(--ease-in-out);
}

@keyframes fade-in {
  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(10px); }
  to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}

@keyframes fade-out {
  from { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
  to { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-10px); }
}

Universal Rules

1. 100ms Response Time: User actions must trigger visible change within 100ms
2. Under 400ms for UI: Functional animations shouldn't exceed 400ms
3. Reduce Motion: Always provide prefers-reduced-motion alternative
4. GPU Properties: Use only transform and opacity for smooth 60fps
5. Exit < Enter: Exits 20-30% faster than entrances

Accessibility Default

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  *, *::before, *::after {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
  }
}

Decision Tree

1. Is element entering? → Use ease-out, 200-300ms
2. Is element exiting? → Use ease-in, 150-250ms
3. Is element changing state? → Use ease-in-out, 150-250ms
4. Is it continuous? → Use linear (rotation) or ease-in-out (pulse)
5. Is it responding to gesture? → Use ease-out with overshoot, under 200ms

When uncertain, start with: 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1)