Micro Animations (100-200ms)
The 100-200ms range is the sweet spot for micro-interactions. Fast enough to feel responsive, slow enough to be perceived as intentional motion.
Disney Principles at Micro Speed
Works Well
Squash & Stretch: Light application - 5-10% works for bouncy buttons, appearing elements.
Anticipation: Micro-anticipation possible - 20-30ms wind-up before 150ms action.
Staging: Single focal point - one element moving, rest static.
Straight Ahead/Pose to Pose: Either works - simple enough for straight ahead, controlled enough for poses.
Follow Through: Minimal overshoot - 2-5% past target, settle quickly.
Slow In/Slow Out: ease-out dominates - elements should arrive confidently.
Arcs: Slight curves possible - dropdown items can arc subtly rather than straight down.
Secondary Action: One secondary max - icon rotates while menu opens.
Timing: 6-12 frames at 60fps. Enough for smooth motion.
Exaggeration: Moderate - scale 0.9-1.1, rotation up to 30 degrees.
Solid Drawing: Simple transforms - scale, opacity, short translations.
Appeal: Quick animations feel modern and polished.
Doesn't Work
- Long travel distances
- Complex choreography
- Heavy physics simulations
- Multi-stage reveals
- Elaborate anticipation sequences
Easing Recommendations
/* Standard micro-interaction */
transition: all 150ms ease-out;
/* Appearing elements - start fast, land soft */
transition: opacity 120ms ease-out, transform 150ms ease-out;
/* Bouncy micro-feedback */
transition: transform 180ms cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
Best Use Cases
- Tooltip appearance
- Dropdown menus opening
- Icon state changes
- Small hover animations
- Notification badges
- Tab switches
- Accordion headers
Implementation Pattern
.tooltip {
opacity: 0;
transform: translateY(-4px) scale(0.95);
transition: opacity 120ms ease-out,
transform 150ms ease-out;
}
.trigger:hover .tooltip {
opacity: 1;
transform: translateY(0) scale(1);
}
.dropdown-item {
opacity: 0;
transform: translateY(-8px);
transition: all 150ms ease-out;
}
Key Insight
Micro-animations are felt more than watched. Users notice when they're missing but don't consciously observe them. This is where polish lives.
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