Pure CSS & SVG Animations

This post showcases powerful animations that don’t rely on complex JavaScript libraries, using only CSS and SVG techniques.

1. Cycling Animation

Originally created by Maria Duong on CodePen, this animation uses SCSS to manage keyframes and complex element positioning.

2. BetterUp “Insights” Gauge

Inspired by the BetterUp Insights Report, this animation demonstrates how to create a filling “pie chart” or gauge effect using a single SVG <path>.

The Technique

Instead of using complex charting libraries, we use the stroke-dasharray and stroke-dashoffset properties on a thick SVG stroke.

1. Path: We draw an arc (semi-circle).
2. Stroke Width: We set the stroke width equal to the radius, effectively creating a filled sector.
3. Animation: We animate the stroke-dashoffset from the full length of the arc (invisible) to a partial length (visible slice).

3. Simple Text Flip

A clever text replacement animation using pure CSS margin-top transitions to cycle through words. Simple, effective, and lightweight.

4. Sparkly Shiny Text

A delightful hover effect that combines text shadows, glare gradients, and SVG sparkles for a premium feel.

5. Secret Code Reveal

A sophisticated interaction using CSS :has(), trigonometric functions (sin()), and calc to create a “magnifying glass” blurring effect on hover.

[!NOTE] This animation requires a modern browser that supports specific CSS math functions and the :has() selector.

6. Single Keyframe Tricks

A comprehensive collection of single-keyframe animation tricks using modern CSS properties and easings. Click the buttons to toggle the animations!

[!TIP] This example uses open-props easings for that snappy elastic feel.

7. Realistic CSS Keyboard

A highly detailed Apple Magic Keyboard replica created entirely with CSS. It uses intricate box-shadows and borders to create depth and texture. Try tapping the Caps Lock key!

8. Worm Hopping Radio

A playful radio button selection animation where a little “worm” hops between your choices. This uses SCSS loops to generate the delays for each segment of the worm.

9. SVG Fireworks

A mesmerizing fireworks display using pure CSS animations on SVG elements. This example uses React to generate the complex SVG structure, demonstrating how to combine modern frameworks with advanced CSS animations.

10. Interactive Feedback UI

A deeply interactive feedback component with state transitions, particle effects, and a polished dark/light mode adaptable design. It guides the user through rating, commenting, and submission with smooth animations for every step.

11. Slot Machine 404

A creative 404 page concept featuring a slot machine animation that eventually settles on “404”. It uses the Web Animations API for the complex rolling sequences and logic.

12. Chinese Checkers 3D

A complex 3D-effect board animation created using pure CSS and SVG clip-paths. SCSS math is used to calculate the positions of holes and balls in a circle, and clip-paths handle the z-indexing illusion of balls going into holes.

13. CSS 3D Interactive Chest

An incredible purely CSS 3D chest of drawers using transform-style: preserve-3d. It cleverly uses the HTML details and summary elements to handle the “click to open” interaction without any JavaScript state management.

14. 3D Spinning Dice

A continuous 3D dice rotation animation. It uses transform-style: preserve-3d to create the cube, and complex keyframes to handle lighting changes, shadow flipping, and the rotation itself to ensure a realistic 3D effect.

15. Newton’s Cradle

A classic physics demonstration recreated with CSS animations. It uses transform-origin to set the pivot point for the swinging balls and ease-in/ease-out timing functions to simulate the momentum transfer.

16. Jumping Lego Bricks

A playful animation of a stack of Lego bricks jumping and rearranging themselves. It heavily utilizes SVG symbol for reusability and complex SCSS loops to generate color variations and staggered animations.

17. Infinite Card Stack

A mesmerizing infinite loop of cards being stacked. It uses transform-style: preserve-3d and precise translateZ animations to creating the illusion of depth and continuous movement.

18. Abstract 3D Fabric Hero

An artistic interpretation of the Twinbru hero section. It features a central sun-burst “fan” constructed from 90 individual rotated blades, paired with floating spheres that simulate fabric textures using SVG noise filters and radial gradients.