Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Animation Vocabulary agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Animation Vocabulary skill gives an AI agent a built-in glossary of motion terms, so you can describe an effect you see, like a list that cascades in, and get back its precise name, such as stagger. It is useful for designers and developers who know what an animation looks like but not what it is called. After this guide you will know how to install the skill, how to phrase requests so the agent matches the right term, and what the skill will and will not do.
Animation Vocabularysickn33/agentic-awesome-skills · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the animation-vocabulary skill ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder to limit it to that project.
- 3Or upload it in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill there.
- 4Describe the effect. Describe the animation as you see or feel it, such as a popover growing from its button or a list cascading in.
- 5Check the alternates. If the first term is close but not right, ask for the alternates and compare the one-line differences.
- 6Use the term. Put the confirmed term into your search, spec or ticket, then ask for implementation help in a separate tool, since this skill does not write code.
What the Animation Vocabulary skill makes the agent do
An agent skill is a set of instructions that an AI agent loads so it can handle a specific kind of task. This one is focused on naming animation. You describe an effect loosely, and the agent returns the matching technical term from its glossary.
The glossary covers entrances and exits, sequencing and timing, movement and transforms, transitions between states, scrolling, and feedback and interaction. For a feel-based description like a popover that grows out of its button, the agent answers with origin-aware animation. For a spring-like pop, it can point to pop in or bounce.
Install the skill from the ZIP download
Download the skill ZIP from this page. Unzip it into one of two places: your personal skills folder at ~/.claude/skills/, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder if you want the skill available only in that project.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, instead of placing files on disk.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Single project: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need to use a special command. Describe the effect the way you would explain it to a colleague, focusing on what you see or feel. The skill is written to read for intent, not keywords, so words like springy, slides off, or draws itself in are enough.
If you invoke the skill without a question, it replies with a one-line statement that it is ready to name any motion effect you describe. It will not give other information until you ask something.
- What's it called when a popover grows out of the button that opened it?
- The thing where one image turns into another image.
- That iOS scroll where it resists and snaps back when you pull too far.
- A list where the items come in one after another.
Read the answers the skill gives you
The skill leads with the term in bold, followed by the glossary definition, which it quotes as written. When several terms could fit, the best match comes first, followed by one or two close alternates with a one-line note on how they differ.
For example, if you describe one image turning into another, the skill names morph and contrasts it with crossfade, which fades in the same spot, and shared element transition, which moves an element from one position to another. Use these contrasts to pick the term that matches your design.
- The term is listed first, in bold
- The definition is taken directly from the glossary
- Close alternates are explained so you can choose
What the skill needs and how safe it is
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. The package contains a single file, SKILL.md, which holds the instructions and the glossary.
Because it runs no code and makes no network calls, it only shapes how the agent answers. It is released under the MIT licence, with the copyright held by Emil Kowalski, and the licence is retained in the skill's source.
- Requirements: none listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files: SKILL.md
Tips and limits to know before you rely on it
The skill names effects. It does not write or run animation code. Use its term as the search keyword or the precise word in a ticket, then get implementation help elsewhere.
If a term is not in the glossary, the skill is designed to say so rather than invent one. It may still describe the effect using glossary words, such as a stagger of scale-in entrances. The glossary is a curated snapshot, so very specialised terms may be missing.
- Describe what you see, not what you think it is called
- Ask for alternates if the first match is not quite right
- Expect an honest 'not in the glossary' answer for missing terms
- Use the answer in specs and tickets to keep motion language consistent
What people use it for
- Naming an effect you saw in a product so you can search for how to build it
- Writing a design spec or ticket with consistent motion terms across a team
- Checking whether a feel-based description, such as a springy pop, maps to pop in or bounce
- Choosing between close terms like morph, crossfade and shared element transition before a design review
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the Animation Vocabulary agent skill?
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
Does the animation-vocabulary skill need anything else installed?
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network, and its package contains only the SKILL.md file.
Is the Animation Vocabulary skill free to use?
The skill is released under the MIT licence, with the copyright held by Emil Kowalski, and the licence is kept in the source. The page does not list a price.
Can the skill write animation code for me?
No. It only names effects and returns the matching term from its glossary. For implementation, use the term to search documentation or ask for code in a separate step.
What should I do if the skill says a term is not in its glossary?
The skill is designed to say when a term is missing rather than invent one. Rephrase the description in plainer terms, or accept its explanation of the effect using glossary words such as stagger or scale-in.
How is this different from searching the web for a motion term?
The skill works from a curated glossary grouped by entrances, timing, transforms, transitions, scrolling and feedback, and it explains close alternates. It is built for turning a loose description into a precise term, not for finding implementation examples.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you can describe an animation you see but do not know its name, or if your team needs consistent motion terms in specs and tickets. Pick something else if you need working animation code, or if you need terms outside a curated glossary of motion vocabulary.
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