Manim

Manim — Mathematical Animation Engine (Python)

The engine behind 3Blue1Brown videos. Creates precise programmatic animations for math, science, algorithms, and data storytelling.

Overview

• Repo: github.com/ManimCommunity/manim (community fork, actively maintained)
• Original: github.com/3b1b/manim (72K+ stars, by Grant Sanderson)
• Language: Python
• License: MIT
• Install: pip install manim
• Docs: docs.manim.community

Setup

# Install manim (community edition)
pip install manim

# System dependency
brew install ffmpeg

# Optional for LaTeX support
brew install --cask mactex-no-gui

# Verify installation
manim --version

Core Concepts

Scene Structure

Every animation is a Scene class with a construct method:

from manim import *

class MyScene(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        circle = Circle(radius=1, color=BLUE)
        self.play(Create(circle))
        self.wait(1)
        self.play(FadeOut(circle))

Basic Objects (Mobjects)

# Shapes
circle = Circle(radius=1, color=BLUE, fill_opacity=0.5)
square = Square(side_length=2, color=RED)
rect = Rectangle(width=4, height=2, color=GREEN)
line = Line(LEFT * 2, RIGHT * 2, color=WHITE)
arrow = Arrow(LEFT, RIGHT, color=YELLOW)
dot = Dot(point=ORIGIN, color=WHITE)

# Text
text = Text("Hello World", font_size=48, color=WHITE)
math = MathTex(r"\int_0^1 x^2 dx = \frac{1}{3}")
code = Code("example.py", language="python", font_size=24)

# Groups
group = VGroup(circle, square).arrange(RIGHT, buff=1)

Animations

# Creation
self.play(Create(circle))          # Draw shape
self.play(Write(text))             # Write text
self.play(FadeIn(square))          # Fade in
self.play(GrowFromCenter(circle))  # Grow from center

# Transformation
self.play(Transform(circle, square))  # Morph shape
self.play(ReplacementTransform(a, b)) # Replace with new
self.play(circle.animate.shift(RIGHT * 2))  # Move right
self.play(circle.animate.scale(2))    # Scale up
self.play(circle.animate.set_color(RED))  # Change color

# Removal
self.play(FadeOut(circle))
self.play(Uncreate(circle))

# Multiple simultaneous
self.play(
    circle.animate.shift(RIGHT),
    square.animate.shift(LEFT),
    run_time=2
)

# Sequential with wait
self.play(Create(circle))
self.wait(0.5)
self.play(circle.animate.shift(UP))

Positioning

# Constants: UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, ORIGIN, UL, UR, DL, DR
circle.move_to(ORIGIN)
circle.shift(RIGHT * 2 + UP * 1)
circle.next_to(square, RIGHT, buff=0.5)
circle.align_to(square, UP)

# Arrange groups
VGroup(a, b, c).arrange(RIGHT, buff=0.5)
VGroup(a, b, c).arrange_in_grid(rows=2)

Graphs and Charts

# Number line
number_line = NumberLine(x_range=[-5, 5, 1], length=10)

# Axes
axes = Axes(
    x_range=[0, 10, 1],
    y_range=[0, 10, 1],
    x_length=8,
    y_length=6,
)

# Plot function
graph = axes.plot(lambda x: x**2, color=BLUE)
label = axes.get_graph_label(graph, label="x^2")

# Bar chart
chart = BarChart(
    values=[3, 5, 2, 8, 4],
    bar_names=["A", "B", "C", "D", "E"],
    bar_colors=[BLUE, GREEN, RED, YELLOW, PURPLE],
)

Camera Movement

class MyCameraScene(MovingCameraScene):
    def construct(self):
        self.play(self.camera.frame.animate.scale(0.5))  # Zoom in
        self.play(self.camera.frame.animate.move_to(RIGHT * 3))  # Pan

Commands

# Render scene (low quality preview)
manim -ql scene.py MyScene

# Render medium quality
manim -qm scene.py MyScene

# Render high quality (1080p)
manim -qh scene.py MyScene

# Render 4K
manim -qk scene.py MyScene

# Preview (opens viewer)
manim -p -ql scene.py MyScene

# Save as GIF
manim -ql --format=gif scene.py MyScene

# List scenes in file
manim scene.py --list

Best Practices

1. Start with low quality (-ql) for fast iteration
2. Use VGroup to organize related objects
3. Use .animate syntax for clean transformations: obj.animate.shift(RIGHT)
4. Add self.wait() between animations for pacing
5. Use run_time parameter to control animation speed
6. LaTeX for math: MathTex(r"\frac{a}{b}") for beautiful equations
7. Color constants: BLUE, RED, GREEN, YELLOW, WHITE, GREY
8. Rate functions: rate_func=smooth, rate_func=there_and_back

When to Use Manim

• Mathematical proofs and concepts
• Algorithm visualization (sorting, pathfinding, etc.)
• Data storytelling with animated charts
• Physics simulations
• Educational content (any STEM topic)
• Conference talks with mathematical content

Agent Skill Source

• Community agent skill: github.com/adithya-s-k/manim_skill
• NLU video generator: github.com/rohitg00/manim-video-generator
• Math-to-Manim AI pipeline: github.com/HarleyCoops/Math-To-Manim