Static websites are a thing of the past. Today’s web experiences demand motion and interactivity through carefully crafted CSS animations. From subtle hover effects to complex keyframe animations, the right animation properties can transform your site from bland to brilliant.
In this guide, we’ll explore practical CSS animation examples that elevate user experience through motion design and visual feedback animations. Whether you’re looking to implement simple button animations or complex scroll animations, you’ll find code snippets and techniques you can apply immediately.
We’ll cover essential concepts like animation timing, easing functions, and transform properties while showcasing cross-browser animations that work across platforms. You’ll learn how to use the @keyframes rule effectively and understand when to apply different animation-fill-mode options for optimal results.
No need for complex JavaScript or WebGL animations — pure CSS is more powerful than you think.
CSS animation examples
Simple Loading Spinners
See the Pen
Simple HTML & SVG Loading Spinners by Stephen Delaney (@sdelaney)
on CodePen.
Ever notice those little spinning icons while loading a web page? They’re not there just for fun. These CSS animations smooth the wait time effortlessly. Look into the Simple Loading Spinners on CodePen by Stephen Delaney for inspiration.
Morphing Cube Animation
Picture this: A cube that elegantly changes shape. The transformation is slick. It’s an ideal example for web designers aiming to add a touch of motion design.
Cloudy Spiral
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Cloudy Spiral CSS animation by Hakim El Hattab (@hakimel)
on CodePen.
When clouds meet spirals, it’s an eye-catcher. CSS properties work in harmony to produce this effect.
Candles (Pure CSS Animation)
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Candles (Pure CSS Animation) by Akhil Sai Ram (@akhil_001)
on CodePen.
Two candles, full of character, purely with CSS. One candle lights up, the other withers. It’s a simple, creative animation.
CSS Mouse Hover Transition Effect
See the Pen
CSS mouse-out transition effect by Adam Argyle (@argyleink)
on CodePen.
Sometimes subtlety is key. Hover over text, and watch it light up. This straightforward change in user interface (UI) proves the effect.
Dragon Loading Animation
A dragon that gives a playful touch while your content loads. Ideal for a child-centric web page.
Signature Animation
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Signature animation by Damian Drygiel (@drygiel)
on CodePen.
Signatures, whether digital or handwritten, are personal. This animation brushes that essence beautifully.
Bits & Bytes | CSS Animation
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Bits & Bytes | CSS Animation by Ollie (@Olwiba)
on CodePen.
Astronauts floating in a sea of colors—what’s not to adore? Engaging animated sequences draw users’ eyes.
Animated Submit Button
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Submit Button pure css animation by Dead Pixel (@dead_pixel)
on CodePen.
No such thing as boring buttons when a quick, delightful spin can draw attention.
Poster Circle Animation
Rotation is mesmerizing. For a touch of dynamic movement, check out Poster Circle Animation. Perfect for bringing content navigation to life without fuss.
CSS Flame Animation
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CSS Flame Animation by Adrian Payne (@dazulu)
on CodePen.
It’s getting hot in here! An animated flame, brought to life using just… guess what? CSS animations!
CSS Animation Indoors or outdoors
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CSS Animation: Indoors or outdoors? by Olivia Ng (@oliviale)
on CodePen.
Meet this dude in a yellow sweater. Indoors? Outdoors? Where will he go? Only the CSS knows.
Opening Envelope
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Animated CSS Mail Button by Jake Giles-Phillips (@jakegilesphillips)
on CodePen.
The joy of getting mail, captured in an animation. Details so fine, you’ll think it’s real. Perfect for buttons or scroll triggers.
Store Loading Animation
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CSS open store animation by Mariana Beldi (@marianab)
on CodePen.
A quirky store that comes alive as it loads. Cool, right? All thanks to some mad design skills.
Pure CSS Animated Bubbles
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Pure CSS Animated Bubbles by Mark Bowley (@Mark_Bowley)
on CodePen.
Bubbles. Floating. Everywhere. And guess what? All with HTML and CSS. Mind blown.
Magnifying glass scrolling loop animation
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Magnifying glass scrolling loop animation by Yancy Min (@yancy)
on CodePen.
Searching for a rad background? Peek into this magnifying glass. Props to Yancy Min for this sleek piece of art.
File Drawers
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Pure CSS Drawers ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ ︵ ┻━┻ by Jhey (@jh3y)
on CodePen.
Got menus? Want to make ’em pop? Imagine a file drawer, but way cooler and all jazzed up. That’s this CSS animation for ya.
Stepper 3D Transition Animation
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Stepper 3D by Oleg Frolov (@Volorf)
on CodePen.
Now picture this: Something steps out, but in 3D! I mean, if you’re looking to add some zing to your site, this is where it’s at.
CSS Animation Material Design
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CSS Animation Material Design by Zoë Bijl (@Moiety)
on CodePen.
HTML and CSS teaming up to give you that sleek Material Design vibe. And of course, there’s animation.
Pure CSS Moustached Nanny
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Pure CSS “Moustached Nanny” by Julia Miocene (@miocene)
on CodePen.
If you’re after something that shouts “LOOK AT ME!”, this one’s got you. A nanny, a moustache, and tons of character. All decked out in pure CSS. Your site will be the talk of the town.
Hot Coffee
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Hot Coffee by Zane Wesley (@zanewesley)
on CodePen.
Who doesn’t love a good cuppa joe? This animation’s like that warm feeling you get sipping on a latte. Simple, but oh-so-effective.
CSS Ghost Loading Animation
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ghost by Beep (@scoooooooby)
on CodePen.
Spooky season or not, this floaty ghost is here to make your page load fun! Especially if you’re reaching out to the little ones.
Card Swipe Animation
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Card Swipe Animation Material Design by Zoë Bijl (@Moiety)
on CodePen.
Swipe left? Swipe right? No, it’s not that app. It’s a card animation, and it’s pretty fly.
The Handbook Download Animation
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The handbook download animation by Yancy Min (@yancy)
on CodePen.
Alright, let me paint you a picture: an online library, shelves stacked with books, and all of ’em just a click away. Yancy Min brought this to life, and it’s like… chef’s kiss.
Color Fan
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Color Palette with Pure CSS Animation by Nitish Khagwal (@nitishkmrk)
on CodePen.
Need to show off your colors? Why stick to squares when you can fan it out? Yep, it’s an animation that fans out colors. Artsy and classy!
Click Button Animation
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CSS Particles button by Nikhil Krishnan (@nikhil8krishnan)
on CodePen.
Remember those times when you just click and something magical happens? Yeah, that magic’s thanks to folks like Nikhil Krishnan.
CSS & SVG Waves Animation
See the Pen
CSS & SVG Waves Animation by Ted McDonald (@tedmcdo)
on CodePen.
Ride the wave! But, like, digitally. Super smooth, slick, and does wonders for your site’s vibe.
Windmill (Pug + SCSS) – Responsive + Animated
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Windmill (Pug + SCSS) – Responsive + Animated by Ashish Bardhan (@AshBardhan)
on CodePen.
Windmills. Fields. A breezy day. All of this, right on your webpage. Shoutout to Ashish Bardhan for bringing in the chill countryside feels with this one. Those wings? Spin city!
Coffee Machine
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Coffee Machine Pure CSS Animation by Henrique Rodrigues (@hjdesigner)
on CodePen.
Hey, ya ever wanted a coffee that not just tastes but feels good? The CSS animation on this one doesn’t make things too jazzy. Instead, it’s like a sweet background tune that makes everything around it sound even better.
Login Eye Animation
Picture this: You’re typing away, signing up on a rad new website, and there’s this eye, right? As you’re filling stuff in, it’s opening and closing, kinda like it’s watching.
Not in a creepy way, more like an “I gotchu” way. Super interactive vibes!
Flat Design Amusement Park With CSS Animation
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Flat design amusement park svg by Lina (animation powered by CSS) by Volodymyr Hashenko (@gxash)
on CodePen.
Ever been to a theme park and thought, “Man, if only this were 2D and on my screen!”? Nah, me neither. But this design? It’s like riding a roller coaster, but just with your eyes. All thanks to the magic of CSS3.
Animation Example for SocialMediaLink
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Animation Example for SocialMediaLink by Dmitriy Dubravin (@Dmitriy_Dubravin)
on CodePen.
Three words: Circles. Colors. Movement. Dive into this animated ocean where circles just can’t stay still. And honestly, why should they?
Three Dots Loading
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CSS Loader with dots by Aliaksei Peterson (@petersonby)
on CodePen.
Those three dots? Yeah, you know ’em. It’s like they’re telling you, “Hold on, we’re getting there!” All jazzed up with CSS animations.
Tricky CSS Hover Animation
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Tricky CSS hover by Piotr Galor (@pgalor)
on CodePen.
Piotr Galor’s the name, and cooking up slick CSS animations? That’s the game.
Animated Back Glow
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Animated Back Glow by George Hastings (@georgehastings)
on CodePen.
So we’ve got this pseudo element thing going on, and it’s making waves with gradient animations and blurs. Check. It. Out.
H2O – chemical flask (animation)
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H2O – chemical flask (animation) by Ekaterina Vasilyeva (@ekaterina_vasilyeva)
on CodePen.
Ekaterina Vasilyeva’s spinnin’ the chemistry wheel with a flashy flask that says H2O. Trust me, it’s not your regular water!
Submarine
See the Pen
Submarine with CSS by Alberto Jerez (@ajerez)
on CodePen.
Dive deep with this one! Flat, vibrant, and all kinds of animated fun. Who said submarines can’t have flair?
Responsive CSS3 Content Navigation Animation
If you’re out here hunting for that perfect navigator design in CSS3, stop scrolling. This is it. Your quest is over.
CSS Reveal Animation
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CSS Reveal animation text and image by Anthony Fessy (@antho-fsy)
on CodePen.
This ain’t your regular peek-a-boo. It’s an animation that’s unveiling stuff, but like, with some drama.
CSS Cassette
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CSS Cassette by Tony Banik (@banik)
on CodePen.
Tony Banik’s bringing back the 90s! But instead of playing a tune, this cassette’s jammin’ on a blue note.
Cool CSS Animation
Want to up your CSS animation game? Dive into a world where you can code the coolest effects and make those web pages pop!
Whale and the Moon
See the Pen
Whale and the Moon by Aswin Behera (@aswinbehera)
on CodePen.
Picture a night sky in the hottest shade of pink. Now, add a whale. Dreamy, right? This background’s exactly that, but animated.
FAQ on CSS Animation Examples
What’s the difference between CSS transitions and keyframe animations?
Transitions trigger when element properties change (like on hover), while @keyframes animations run independently. Transitions are simpler with start/end states, whereas keyframe animations allow multiple states and more complex motion design. Use transitions for simple interactive effects and keyframes for continuous or multi-step animations.
How do I make CSS animations work across all browsers?
Ensure cross-browser animations by including vendor prefixes (-webkit-, -moz-, -o-) with your animation properties. Test in different browsers, use simple transform properties that have good support, and consider feature detection with JavaScript animations as fallbacks. Tools like Autoprefixer can automatically add necessary prefixes.
What are the best tools for creating CSS animations?
Popular CSS animation tools include:
- Animation generators like Animista and Animate.css
- CodePen examples for inspiration
- GSAP animations framework for complex sequences
- Browser DevTools Animation panel
- CSS animation playgrounds like Keyframes.app
- Visual editors like Webflow for interactive effects
How can I optimize CSS animations for performance?
Improve animation performance by:
- Animating only
transformandopacityproperties - Using
will-changeproperty selectively - Avoiding animating many elements simultaneously
- Using requestAnimationFrame for JavaScript animations
- Testing on mobile devices
- Keeping animations simple on low-power devices
How do I pause and play CSS animations?
Control animation-play-state through JavaScript or CSS:
.animation {
animation: slide 2s linear infinite;
}
.paused {
animation-play-state: paused;
}
Toggle the paused class with JavaScript to control animation state. This works for both simple and complex keyframe animations.
What are easing functions and how do I use them?
Easing functions control animation progression timing for natural movement. Use built-in values (ease-in, ease-out) or custom cubic-bezier curves:
.element {
animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.9, 0.3, 1.0);
}
Different easings create various motion feels—bouncy, elastic, or smooth Web animations.
How can I create hover animations with CSS?
Create hover effects by applying transitions or animations within :hover selectors:
.button {
transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}
.button:hover {
transform: scale(1.1);
}
These create responsive micro-interactions that provide instant visual feedback animations to users.
How do I create looping animations?
Set animation-iteration-count to infinite for continuous loops:
.spinner {
animation: spin 1s linear infinite;
}
@keyframes spin {
from { transform: rotate(0deg); }
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
This creates perfect animation loops for loading animations and continuous effects.
How do I synchronize multiple animations?
Coordinate animation timing by:
- Using the same animation-duration values
- Setting specific animation-delay values
- Grouping animations with a parent container
- Creating an animation timeline with staggered starts
- Using the same animation-iteration-count for consistent cycling
How do I create scroll-triggered animations?
Implement scroll animations using:
- Intersection Observer API
- CSS
scroll-behavior: smooth - Libraries like AOS (Animate on Scroll)
- Animation frameworks like ScrollReveal
- Combining CSS classes added on scroll events
These create engaging web animation trends that respond to user scrolling behavior.
Conclusion
CSS animation examples provide endless possibilities for creating engaging web experiences. From subtle micro-interactions to complex state transitions, these techniques transform static pages into dynamic interfaces that respond to user actions and guide their attention.
Mastering animation-direction and transform: rotate properties opens new creative avenues for your projects. Remember that the best animations serve a purpose—whether improving UX animation patterns or providing necessary visual feedback.
When implementing animations, consider:
- Browser compatibility across different platforms
- Using CSS Variables for flexible, maintainable animations
- Testing with Chrome DevTools Animation panel
- Exploring animation inspiration on sites like CodePen examples
- Learning the W3C Animation specifications
The world of web motion graphics continues to evolve, making it essential to stay updated with modern interaction design principles. Whether you’re creating simple button animations or complex parallax effects, thoughtful implementation will elevate your designs from good to remarkable.
If you liked this article about CSS animations, you should check out this article about CSS tooltips.
There are also similar articles discussing CSS headers, CSS carousels, CSS perspective, and CSS slideshows.
And let’s not forget about articles on CSS animated backgrounds, CSS cards, CSS progress bars, and CSS parallax effects.
