Overview
This skill enables Claude to create technically correct animations in Remotion by following Remotion-native rendering and animation principles.
Unlike traditional frontend animation workflows, Remotion relies entirely on deterministic frame-based rendering instead of browser-driven animation systems.
This workflow focuses on:
- proper use of
useCurrentFrame() - spring-driven motion systems
- deterministic rendering
- layout stability
- frame-based timing
- avoiding unsupported animation patterns
The goal is to ensure animations remain smooth, stable, render-safe, and consistent across all frames.
Setup
Before starting:
-
Install Node.js: https://nodejs.org
-
Verify installation:
node -v
npm -v
- Create a Remotion project:
npm init video
- Start development server:
npm run dev
- Open the project in VS Code.
Recommended tools:
- VS Code
- Remotion Preview
- React knowledge
- Prettier extension
Inputs Required
- Animation concept
- Video duration
- Scene structure
- Assets:
- text
- subtitles
- images
- audio
Optional:
- Branding guidelines
- Existing motion references
- Storyboards
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- creating Remotion animations
- building subtitle systems
- implementing transitions
- designing motion graphics
- creating reusable animation logic
- debugging unstable animations
- optimizing rendering consistency
When NOT to Use
Do NOT use this skill for:
- CSS-based animation systems
- browser-driven transition workflows
- static design tasks
- traditional video editors without React workflows
Example Use Case
Create animated subtitles for a startup launch video.
Claude should:
- Use
useCurrentFrame()for all animation timing - Apply spring physics for subtitle motion
- Avoid CSS transitions entirely
- Synchronize subtitle appearance frame-by-frame
- Maintain stable layout dimensions
- Ensure rendering remains deterministic across exports
Final output should:
- render consistently
- avoid timing glitches
- maintain smooth motion
- prevent layout instability
- remain export-safe
Core Remotion Principles
1. Everything Should Be Frame-Based
In Remotion, animation timing should always derive from the current frame.
Preferred APIs:
useCurrentFrame()interpolate()spring()
Example:
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
This ensures:
- deterministic rendering
- precise synchronization
- export consistency
Avoid:
setTimeout- browser timing systems
- uncontrolled animations
2. Use Spring Physics for Motion
Motion should use spring-driven systems whenever possible.
Preferred approach:
spring({
frame,
fps,
config: {
damping: 200,
},
});
Spring systems provide:
- smoother easing
- predictable movement
- natural motion behavior
Best use cases:
- scaling
- fade-ins
- subtitle reveals
- slide animations
- transitions
Avoid:
- CSS easing transitions
- uncontrolled interpolation
- browser-driven animation timing
3. Avoid CSS Transitions Entirely
CSS transitions are not reliable in Remotion workflows.
Incorrect approach:
transition: all 0.3s ease;
Problems caused by CSS transitions:
- inconsistent rendering
- export mismatches
- timing instability
- browser-dependent behavior
Preferred approach:
- calculate motion directly from frame values
- use interpolation or springs
4. Control Layout Stability
A common Remotion issue is layout shifting during animation.
Example issue:
- text jumps while typing animation plays
Recommended fix:
- render invisible full text in background
- overlay animated text separately
- preserve stable layout dimensions
Claude should proactively prevent:
- text reflow
- resizing during animation
- unstable positioning
- dynamic layout shifts
Stable layouts improve:
- render consistency
- subtitle readability
- animation smoothness
5. Keep Animations Deterministic
Animations should behave identically on every render.
Motion systems should:
- use predictable timing
- avoid randomness
- remain frame-controlled
- synchronize accurately with audio
Deterministic rendering improves:
- export reliability
- debugging
- synchronization
- production stability
Workflow
1. Define Animation Structure
Start by identifying:
- video duration
- scene breakdown
- subtitle timing
- transition requirements
Organize the animation into reusable scene components.
Example structure:
scenes/
Intro.tsx
Features.tsx
CTA.tsx
2. Implement Frame Logic
Use useCurrentFrame() inside scenes.
Example:
const frame = useCurrentFrame();
All animation state should derive from frame progression.
3. Add Motion Systems
Use:
spring()interpolate()
Preferred animation behaviors:
- smooth movement
- controlled scaling
- timed transitions
- synchronized subtitles
Avoid:
- CSS animation systems
- browser-controlled timing
- uncontrolled easing
4. Validate Layout Stability
Check for:
- text jumping
- resizing
- subtitle shifts
- unstable positioning
Fix instability before rendering.
5. Render Final Video
Before export validate:
- timing consistency
- motion smoothness
- subtitle synchronization
- layout stability
Render output:
npm run build
or:
npx remotion render
Preferred export:
- MP4
- platform-optimized settings
Output Expectations
The final output should include:
- smooth frame-based animation
- deterministic rendering
- stable layouts
- synchronized subtitles
- production-ready video export
The workflow itself should remain:
- reusable
- modular
- maintainable
- render-safe
Execution Strategy (for AI agents)
The agent should:
- Use Remotion-native animation systems only
- Control all motion frame-by-frame
- Avoid unsupported browser animation patterns
- Maintain deterministic rendering behavior
- Detect and prevent layout instability proactively
- Validate animation consistency before export
The workflow should optimize for:
- rendering consistency
- timing precision
- layout stability
- smooth motion
- export reliability
Best Practices
- Use
useCurrentFrame()for all timing - Prefer spring animations over manual easing
- Keep scenes modular
- Validate animations frame-by-frame
- Avoid layout-dependent motion
- Keep subtitle systems stable
- Reuse motion patterns across scenes
Notes
useCurrentFrame()is central to Remotion workflows- CSS transitions should never be relied on
- Spring systems produce more natural motion
- Stable layouts significantly improve render quality
- Deterministic rendering is critical for professional video workflows