awwwards-animations

SKILL.md

Awwwards Animations

Create premium web animations at Awwwards/FWA quality level. React-first approach. 60fps non-negotiable.

Decision Matrix

Task
Library
Why

Scroll-driven animations
GSAP + ScrollTrigger + useGSAP
Industry standard, best control

Smooth scroll
Lenis + ReactLenis
Best performance, works with ScrollTrigger

React-native animations
Motion (Framer Motion)
Native React, useScroll/useTransform

Simple/lightweight effects
Anime.js 4.0
Small footprint, clean API

Complex timelines
GSAP
Unmatched timeline control

SVG morphing
GSAP MorphSVG or Anime.js
Both excellent

3D + animation
Three.js + GSAP
GSAP controls Three.js objects

Page transitions
AnimatePresence or GSAP
Motion for React, GSAP for complex

Geometric shapes (vector)
SVG + GSAP/Motion
Native, animable

Geometric shapes (canvas)
Canvas 2D API
Programmatic, performant

Pseudo-3D shapes
Zdog
Flat design 3D, ~2kb

Creative coding/generative
p5.js
Rich ecosystem

Audio reactive
Tone.js
Web Audio, synths, effects

Physics 2D
Matter.js
Gravity, collisions, constraints

Algorithmic/generative art
Canvas 2D + p5.js
Math-driven visuals

Fractals/L-systems
Canvas 2D recursivo
Recursive rendering

Tessellations/geometric puzzles
SVG + GSAP
Precise animated transforms

Kinetic typography advanced
GSAP SplitText + Canvas
Per-char control

Glitch effects
CSS + GSAP
Layered RGB split, clip-path

Brutalist animation
CSS raw + Motion
Hard cuts, no easing

Minimalist animation
Motion springs
Subtle, purposeful motion

Installation (Latest Stable - 2025)

# GSAP + React hook (v3.14.1)
npm install gsap @gsap/react

# Lenis (v1.3.17) - includes React components
npm install lenis

# Motion (Framer Motion)
npm install motion

# Anime.js (v4.0.0)
npm install animejs

React Setup

1. GSAP Configuration (app-wide)

// lib/gsap.ts
'use client' // Next.js App Router

import gsap from 'gsap'
import { ScrollTrigger } from 'gsap/ScrollTrigger'
import { useGSAP } from '@gsap/react'

// Register plugins once
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger, useGSAP)

export { gsap, ScrollTrigger, useGSAP }

2. Lenis + GSAP ScrollTrigger Integration (Critical)

// components/SmoothScroll.tsx
'use client'
import { ReactLenis, useLenis } from 'lenis/react'
import { useEffect } from 'react'
import { gsap, ScrollTrigger } from '@/lib/gsap'

export function SmoothScroll({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const lenis = useLenis()
  useEffect(() => {
    if (!lenis) return
    lenis.on('scroll', ScrollTrigger.update)
    gsap.ticker.add((time) => lenis.raf(time * 1000))
    gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(0)
    return () => { gsap.ticker.remove(lenis?.raf) }
  }, [lenis])

  return (
    <ReactLenis root options={{ lerp: 0.1, duration: 1.2, smoothWheel: true }}>
      {children}
    </ReactLenis>
  )
}
// Wrap in layout: <SmoothScroll>{children}</SmoothScroll>

Core Patterns (React)

Detailed implementations in references:

GSAP + useGSAP: See references/gsap-react.md

Motion (Framer Motion): See references/motion-patterns.md

Anime.js 4.0: See references/animejs-react.md

Lenis React: See references/lenis-react.md

Geometric Shapes: See references/geometric-shapes.md (SVG, Canvas, Zdog, p5.js, Tetris-style)

Audio Reactive: See references/audio-reactive.md (Tone.js, Web Audio, scroll audio)

Physics 2D: See references/physics-2d.md (Matter.js, collisions, constraints)

Advanced (Three.js, WebGL): See references/advanced-patterns.md

Algorithmic & Generative Art: See references/algorithmic-art.md (fractals, L-systems, flow fields, attractors, noise, sacred geometry)

Advanced Text Effects: See references/text-effects.md (glitch, kinetic typography, morphing, explosion, circular text, scramble)

Geometric Puzzles: See references/geometric-puzzles.md (Dudeney, tangram, tessellations, Penrose, polyominoes)

Design Philosophy: See references/design-philosophy.md (brutalist, minimalist, abstract, mixing styles, palettes)

Performance: See references/performance.md

Quick Patterns (React)

1. Magnetic Cursor (GSAP + useGSAP)

'use client'
import { useRef, useEffect } from 'react'
import { gsap, useGSAP } from '@/lib/gsap'

export function MagneticCursor() {
  const cursorRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
  const pos = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0, cx: 0, cy: 0 })
  useEffect(() => {
    const h = (e: MouseEvent) => { pos.current.x = e.clientX; pos.current.y = e.clientY }
    window.addEventListener('mousemove', h)
    return () => window.removeEventListener('mousemove', h)
  }, [])
  useGSAP(() => {
    gsap.ticker.add(() => {
      const p = pos.current
      p.cx += (p.x - p.cx) * 0.15; p.cy += (p.y - p.cy) * 0.15
      gsap.set(cursorRef.current, { x: p.cx, y: p.cy })
    })
  })
  return <div ref={cursorRef} className="fixed w-10 h-10 border border-white rounded-full pointer-events-none mix-blend-difference z-[9999] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2" />
}

2. Magnetic Button (Motion)

'use client'
import { useRef, useState } from 'react'
import { motion } from 'motion/react'

export function MagneticButton({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const ref = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null)
  const [pos, setPos] = useState({ x: 0, y: 0 })
  const onMove = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
    const { left, top, width, height } = ref.current!.getBoundingClientRect()
    setPos({ x: (e.clientX - left - width / 2) * 0.3, y: (e.clientY - top - height / 2) * 0.3 })
  }
  return (
    <motion.button ref={ref} onMouseMove={onMove} onMouseLeave={() => setPos({ x: 0, y: 0 })}
      animate={pos} transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 150, damping: 15 }}
      className="px-8 py-4 bg-white text-black rounded-full">{children}</motion.button>
  )
}

3. Parallax Hero (GSAP + useGSAP)

'use client'
import { useRef } from 'react'
import { gsap, ScrollTrigger, useGSAP } from '@/lib/gsap'

export function ParallaxHero() {
  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)

  useGSAP(() => {
    gsap.to('.parallax-bg', {
      yPercent: 50,
      ease: 'none',
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: containerRef.current,
        start: 'top top',
        end: 'bottom top',
        scrub: true,
      },
    })

    gsap.to('.hero-title', {
      yPercent: 100,
      opacity: 0,
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: containerRef.current,
        start: 'top top',
        end: '50% top',
        scrub: true,
      },
    })
  }, { scope: containerRef })

  return (
    <div ref={containerRef} className="relative h-screen overflow-hidden">
      <div className="parallax-bg absolute inset-0 bg-cover bg-center" />
      <h1 className="hero-title absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center text-6xl">
        Hero Title
      </h1>
    </div>
  )
}

4. Text Character Reveal (Motion)

'use client'
import { motion } from 'motion/react'

const container = {
  hidden: { opacity: 0 },
  visible: {
    opacity: 1,
    transition: { staggerChildren: 0.02 },
  },
}

const child = {
  hidden: { opacity: 0, y: 50, rotateX: -90 },
  visible: {
    opacity: 1,
    y: 0,
    rotateX: 0,
    transition: { type: 'spring', damping: 12 },
  },
}

export function TextReveal({ text }: { text: string }) {
  return (
    <motion.span
      variants={container}
      initial="hidden"
      whileInView="visible"
      viewport={{ once: true }}
      className="inline-block"
    >
      {text.split('').map((char, i) => (
        <motion.span key={i} variants={child} className="inline-block">
          {char === ' ' ? '\u00A0' : char}
        </motion.span>
      ))}
    </motion.span>
  )
}

5. Image Reveal (GSAP)

'use client'
import { useRef } from 'react'
import { gsap, useGSAP } from '@/lib/gsap'

export function ImageReveal({ src, alt }: { src: string; alt: string }) {
  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)

  useGSAP(() => {
    gsap.from(containerRef.current, {
      clipPath: 'inset(100% 0% 0% 0%)',
      duration: 1.2,
      ease: 'power4.inOut',
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: containerRef.current,
        start: 'top 80%',
      },
    })

    gsap.from('.reveal-img', {
      scale: 1.3,
      duration: 1.5,
      ease: 'power2.out',
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: containerRef.current,
        start: 'top 80%',
      },
    })
  }, { scope: containerRef })

  return (
    <div ref={containerRef} className="overflow-hidden">
      <img src={src} alt={alt} className="reveal-img w-full h-full object-cover" />
    </div>
  )
}

6. Glitch Text Effect (CSS + GSAP)

'use client'
import { useRef, useEffect } from 'react'
import { gsap } from '@/lib/gsap'

export function GlitchText({ text }: { text: string }) {
  const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)

  useEffect(() => {
    const layers = ref.current!.querySelectorAll('.g-layer')
    const tl = gsap.timeline({ repeat: -1, repeatDelay: 3 })
    tl.to(layers[0], { x: -5, duration: 0.05, ease: 'none' }, 0)
      .to(layers[0], { x: 5, duration: 0.05 }, 0.05)
      .to(layers[0], { x: 0, duration: 0.05 }, 0.1)
      .to(layers[1], { x: 5, duration: 0.05 }, 0.02)
      .to(layers[1], { x: -5, duration: 0.05 }, 0.07)
      .to(layers[1], { x: 0, duration: 0.05 }, 0.12)
    return () => { tl.kill() }
  }, [])

  return (
    <div ref={ref} className="relative font-mono text-5xl font-black">
      <span className="relative z-10">{text}</span>
      <span className="g-layer absolute inset-0 text-cyan-400 mix-blend-multiply" aria-hidden>{text}</span>
      <span className="g-layer absolute inset-0 text-red-400 mix-blend-multiply" aria-hidden>{text}</span>
    </div>
  )
}

7. Fractal Tree (Canvas 2D)

'use client'
import { useRef, useEffect } from 'react'

export function FractalTree({ depth = 10, angle = 25 }: { depth?: number; angle?: number }) {
  const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null)

  useEffect(() => {
    const canvas = canvasRef.current!
    const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d')!
    canvas.width = canvas.offsetWidth * 2; canvas.height = canvas.offsetHeight * 2; ctx.scale(2, 2)
    let progress = 0, raf = 0

    function branch(x: number, y: number, len: number, a: number, d: number) {
      if (d > depth || len < 2) return
      const dp = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, progress * depth - d))
      if (dp <= 0) return
      const ex = x + Math.cos(a * Math.PI / 180) * len * dp
      const ey = y - Math.sin(a * Math.PI / 180) * len * dp
      ctx.beginPath(); ctx.moveTo(x, y); ctx.lineTo(ex, ey)
      ctx.strokeStyle = `hsl(${120 + d * 15}, 60%, ${30 + d * 5}%)`
      ctx.lineWidth = Math.max(1, (depth - d) * 1.5); ctx.stroke()
      branch(ex, ey, len * 0.72, a + angle, d + 1)
      branch(ex, ey, len * 0.72, a - angle, d + 1)
    }
    const animate = () => {
      progress = Math.min(1, progress + 0.008)
      ctx.clearRect(0, 0, canvas.offsetWidth, canvas.offsetHeight)
      branch(canvas.offsetWidth / 2, canvas.offsetHeight, canvas.offsetHeight * 0.28, 90, 0)
      if (progress < 1) raf = requestAnimationFrame(animate)
    }
    animate()
    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(raf)
  }, [depth, angle])
  return <canvas ref={canvasRef} className="w-full h-full bg-gray-950" />
}

See references/algorithmic-art.md for L-systems, flow fields, attractors, noise, sacred geometry.

8. Geometric Dissection (SVG + GSAP)

'use client'
import { useRef, useState } from 'react'
import { gsap } from '@/lib/gsap'

const P = [
  { id: 'A', tri: 'M 0,173 L 50,87 L 100,173 Z', sq: 'M 0,0 L 100,0 L 100,87 L 0,87 Z', c: '#f43f5e' },
  { id: 'B', tri: 'M 50,87 L 100,0 L 150,87 Z', sq: 'M 100,0 L 200,0 L 200,87 L 100,87 Z', c: '#8b5cf6' },
  { id: 'C', tri: 'M 100,173 L 150,87 L 200,173 Z', sq: 'M 0,87 L 100,87 L 100,173 L 0,173 Z', c: '#06b6d4' },
  { id: 'D', tri: 'M 50,87 L 100,173 L 150,87 L 100,0 Z', sq: 'M 100,87 L 200,87 L 200,173 L 100,173 Z', c: '#f59e0b' },
]
export function GeometricDissection() {
  const svg = useRef<SVGSVGElement>(null)
  const [isSq, setSq] = useState(false)
  const morph = () => {
    const t = !isSq
    P.forEach((p, i) => {
      const el = svg.current!.querySelector(`#d-${p.id}`)
      if (el) gsap.to(el, { attr: { d: t ? p.sq : p.tri }, duration: 1.5, ease: 'power2.inOut', delay: i * 0.15 })
    }); setSq(t)
  }
  return (
    <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4">
      <svg ref={svg} viewBox="-10 -10 220 200" className="w-64 h-64">
        {P.map(p => <path key={p.id} id={`d-${p.id}`} d={p.tri} fill={p.c} stroke="#000" strokeWidth="1.5" />)}
      </svg>
      <button onClick={morph} className="px-6 py-2 bg-white text-black font-mono text-sm">{isSq ? '△' : '□'}</button>
    </div>
  )
}

See references/geometric-puzzles.md for tangram, tessellations, Penrose tiles, polyominoes.

9. Brutalist Grid (Motion)

'use client'
import { motion } from 'motion/react'

export function BrutalistGrid({ items }: { items: string[] }) {
  return (
    <div className="grid grid-cols-3 border-2 border-black">
      {items.map((item, i) => (
        <motion.div key={i}
          className="border-2 border-black p-6 font-mono font-black uppercase text-2xl"
          style={{ mixBlendMode: i % 2 === 0 ? 'normal' : 'difference' }}
          initial={{ opacity: 0 }} whileInView={{ opacity: 1 }} viewport={{ once: true }}
          transition={{ duration: 0, delay: i * 0.1 }}
          whileHover={{ backgroundColor: '#000', color: '#BAFF39', transition: { duration: 0 } }}
        >{item}</motion.div>
      ))}
    </div>
  )
}

Design Philosophy (Quick Reference)

Style
Motion Feel
Easing
Typography
Key Trait

Brutalist
Hard, instant, jarring
none / steps()
Mono, 15-30vw
Raw honesty

Minimalist
Smooth, subtle, slow
power2.out
Sans-serif light
Purposeful restraint

Abstract
Noise-driven, parametric
Organic/sine
Varies
Mathematical beauty

Neo-Brutalist
Bold but controlled
power1.out
Mono + color
Brutalism + restraint

See references/design-philosophy.md for full guide with color palettes and mixing strategies.

Easing Reference

Feel
GSAP
Motion

Smooth
power2.out
[0.16, 1, 0.3, 1]

Snappy
power4.out
[0.87, 0, 0.13, 1]

Bouncy
back.out(1.7)
{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 300, damping: 20 }

Dramatic
power4.inOut
[0.76, 0, 0.24, 1]

Timing

Micro-interactions: 150-300ms

UI transitions: 300-500ms

Page transitions: 500-800ms

Stagger: 0.02-0.1s per item

Accessibility

// Motion: useReducedMotion() → conditionally disable/reduce animations
import { useReducedMotion } from 'motion/react'
const reduced = useReducedMotion() // true if prefers-reduced-motion: reduce

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

Performance Rules

Only animate transform and opacity

Use will-change sparingly

Always cleanup: useGSAP handles it automatically

Scope GSAP selectors to container refs

Use contextSafe() for event handlers with GSAP

Memoize Motion variants objects

Common Pitfalls

Not integrating Lenis with ScrollTrigger

Missing scope in useGSAP

Not using contextSafe() for click handlers

React 18 Strict Mode calling effects twice

Forgetting 'use client' in Next.js App Router

Not calling ScrollTrigger.refresh() after dynamic content

Testing Checklist

 60fps on scroll (Chrome DevTools Performance)

 Keyboard navigation works

 Respects prefers-reduced-motion

 No layout shifts (CLS)

 Mobile touch works

 ScrollTrigger markers removed in prod

 No memory leaks on unmount

Inspiration

Active Theory, Studio Freight, Locomotive, Resn, Aristide Benoist, Immersive Garden
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