animejs vs gsap vs jquery-ui vs velocity-animate
JavaScript Animation Libraries
animejsgsapjquery-uivelocity-animateSimilar Packages:

JavaScript Animation Libraries

JavaScript animation libraries provide developers with tools to create dynamic, visually engaging web applications. These libraries simplify the process of animating elements on a webpage, allowing for smoother transitions, enhanced user experiences, and improved interactivity. They often come with various features such as easing functions, timelines, and support for complex animations, making it easier to implement animations without extensive coding. Choosing the right library depends on the specific needs of the project, such as performance, ease of use, and the complexity of animations required.

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animejs067,7381.96 MB1013 days agoMIT
gsap024,5576.26 MB719 days agoStandard 'no charge' license: https://gsap.com/standard-license.
jquery-ui011,3434.61 MB1563 months agoMIT
velocity-animate017,225-418 years agoMIT

Feature Comparison: animejs vs gsap vs jquery-ui vs velocity-animate

Performance

  • animejs:

    Anime.js is lightweight and optimized for performance, allowing for smooth animations without significant overhead. It uses requestAnimationFrame for rendering, which helps in achieving high frame rates and reducing CPU usage.

  • gsap:

    GSAP is renowned for its exceptional performance, capable of handling complex animations with minimal lag. It optimizes animations to run smoothly across all devices and browsers, making it a preferred choice for high-end animations.

  • jquery-ui:

    jQuery UI animations are generally less performant compared to dedicated animation libraries. While it provides basic animations, it may not handle complex animations efficiently, especially on lower-end devices.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js offers performance improvements over jQuery's native animations by using requestAnimationFrame and batching DOM updates. It is designed to be faster and more efficient, making it suitable for both simple and complex animations.

Ease of Use

  • animejs:

    Anime.js has a straightforward API that is easy to learn, making it accessible for beginners. Its declarative syntax allows for quick implementation of animations with minimal setup.

  • gsap:

    GSAP has a slightly steeper learning curve due to its extensive features, but it provides comprehensive documentation and examples, making it easier to master for developers looking to create advanced animations.

  • jquery-ui:

    jQuery UI is easy to use for those already familiar with jQuery. It offers a simple way to add animations to existing jQuery projects without needing to learn a new library.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js maintains a jQuery-like syntax, making it easy for jQuery users to adopt. It provides a familiar API while offering enhanced performance and features.

Animation Complexity

  • animejs:

    Anime.js supports complex animations involving multiple properties, easing functions, and timelines, allowing for intricate sequences and choreographed animations.

  • gsap:

    GSAP excels in handling complex animations with advanced features like timelines, staggering, and callbacks, making it suitable for intricate animation sequences and professional-grade projects.

  • jquery-ui:

    jQuery UI is limited in terms of animation complexity. It provides basic effects and transitions but lacks the advanced capabilities needed for more sophisticated animations.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js supports complex animations and can handle multiple properties and easing functions, making it a good choice for projects that require a balance of simplicity and complexity.

Community and Support

  • animejs:

    Anime.js has a growing community and good documentation, providing support through forums and GitHub. However, it may not have as extensive a user base as some other libraries.

  • gsap:

    GSAP has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums. It is widely used in the industry, ensuring a wealth of resources for developers.

  • jquery-ui:

    jQuery UI benefits from the large jQuery community, with ample resources and documentation available. However, it is less frequently updated compared to newer libraries.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js has a smaller community compared to GSAP but still offers decent documentation and support. It is less commonly used in new projects, which may affect the availability of resources.

Integration

  • animejs:

    Anime.js can be easily integrated with other libraries and frameworks, making it versatile for various projects. It works well with React, Vue, and other modern frameworks.

  • gsap:

    GSAP is highly compatible with other libraries and frameworks, including React, Vue, and Angular. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing projects, enhancing animation capabilities without conflicts.

  • jquery-ui:

    jQuery UI is designed to work with jQuery, making it easy to integrate into existing jQuery projects. However, it may not be the best choice for modern frameworks that do not rely on jQuery.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js can be integrated with jQuery and works well with other libraries, but it may not be as flexible as GSAP for modern frameworks. It is best suited for projects already using jQuery.

How to Choose: animejs vs gsap vs jquery-ui vs velocity-animate

  • animejs:

    Choose Anime.js for lightweight, flexible animations with a simple API. It excels in animating CSS properties, SVG, DOM attributes, and JavaScript objects, making it ideal for projects that require intricate animations without a heavy footprint.

  • gsap:

    Choose GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) for high-performance animations and complex timelines. GSAP is known for its robustness, extensive features, and compatibility across all major browsers, making it suitable for professional-grade animations in large-scale applications.

  • jquery-ui:

    Choose jQuery UI if you are already using jQuery and need a set of pre-built UI components with basic animations. It is useful for adding simple effects and interactions to existing jQuery projects, but it may not be as performant as other libraries for complex animations.

  • velocity-animate:

    Choose Velocity.js for a jQuery-like syntax that provides improved performance and features over jQuery's built-in animations. It is ideal for projects that require both simple and complex animations while maintaining a familiar API for jQuery users.

README for animejs

Anime.js

Anime.js V4 logo animation

Anime.js is a fast, multipurpose and lightweight JavaScript animation library with a simple, yet powerful API.
It works with CSS properties, SVG, DOM attributes and JavaScript Objects.

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Sponsors

Anime.js is 100% free and is only made possible with the help of our sponsors. Help the project become sustainable by sponsoring us on GitHub Sponsors.

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Usage

Anime.js V4 works by importing ES modules like so:

import {
  animate,
  stagger,
} from 'animejs';

animate('.square', {
  x: 320,
  rotate: { from: -180 },
  duration: 1250,
  delay: stagger(65, { from: 'center' }),
  ease: 'inOutQuint',
  loop: true,
  alternate: true
});
Anime.js code example

V4 Documentation

The full documentation is available here.

V3 Migration guide

You can find the v3 to v4 migration guide here.

NPM development scripts

First, run npm i to install all the necessary packages. Then, execute the following scripts with npm run <script>.

scriptaction
devWatches for changes in src/**/*.js, bundles the ESM version to lib/ and creates type declarations in types/
dev:testRuns dev and test:browser concurrently
buildBundles ESM / UMD / CJS / IIFE versions to lib/ and creates type declarations in types/
test:browserStarts a local server and runs all browser-related tests
test:nodeStarts Node-related tests
open:examplesStarts a local server to browse the examples locally

© Julian Garnier | MIT License