14 Figma animation plugins to create trending UI designs

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Figma has established itself as a design industry standard, providing a collaborative platform that bridges the gap between design and development. 

Its simple design and robust Figma Plugins make it an excellent choice for developing practical and visually appealing user interfaces and experiences. 

But Figma’s abilities go beyond static design. You can bring your ideas to life using Figma animation plugins, making them more interactive and exciting.

In this article from Design Journal, we will highlight several interesting Figma animation plugins for you to try out. 

List of 14 Figma animation plugins

These Figma animation plugins provide various features for creating compelling and interactive UI design elements with animations and smooth transitions.

1. Figmotion

The Figmotion animation plugin allows you to generate and export Figma animations in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

You can quickly develop dynamic animations and integrate them into web pages and apps. It is also among the most popular in the Figma community, with over 300,000 users.

2. Jitter

Jitter is a Figma plugin that animates your interfaces and content, including social media and movies. 

This Figma animation plugin allows you to develop a motion design system. It is straightforward to use and lets you make quick and easy animations. 

You can also export your animated designs as films, GIFs, or Lotties.

3. Morph

Do you want to create smooth animations between different forms in Figma? Then, you will need the Morph Figma animation plugin.

It is incredibly simple to use. Select any form, vector, or text layer, then apply a morph effect from the plugin, and you are done! The best part: it is entirely free to use. 

4. Flipbook Animation GIF

Are you looking to convert your Figma design animation into a GIF? Flipbook GIF Animator is here to help. 

It is a Figma plugin that automatically creates animations from static images and exports them to GIFs.

This Figma animation plugin includes a live preview function so you can see your animation in real-time and an editor to alter the speed of your animations. 

5. GIF Export

Exporting your animated GIF using animation plugins like this one is simple. 

With GIF Export, simply choose the composition frame with the GIF and perform the “Export GIF” plugin command. And that is how you make memes and GIFs with Figma. 

6. BeatFlyer

BeatFlyer is an excellent Figma animation plugin for adding rhythmic animations to your UI designs. 

It enables you to synchronize animations with audio elements, making it suitable for designs requiring a musical or rhythmic component. 

BeatFlyer allows you to build animations that react to beats or other auditory cues, bringing a new level of engagement to your designs.

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7. SVGMotion

SVGMotion is a versatile Figma plugin for animation that offers a variety of animation presets and customizable options. 

It streamlines the integration of smooth transitions and animated interactions into your designs. 

SVGMotion provides an easy-to-use interface for animating website elements and developing complicated interactions.

8. Parallax

This Figma animation plugin is ideal for adding depth and movement to your designs. 

Parallax allows you to animate SVG elements with a parallax effect, giving your designs depth and dynamism. 

It is highly effective for designing visually appealing interfaces that stand out.

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 9. LottieFiles

LottieFiles works with Figma to add lightweight, scalable animations to your projects. 

Lottie animations are known for their seamless performance and great quality, making them an excellent choice for creating complex animations without affecting app performance.

10. SVG Animate

SVG Animate is a powerful animation plugin that facilitates easy SVG animations within Figma. 

It allows designers to create intricate animations directly from vector graphics, enabling smooth transitions and interactions without extensive coding knowledge. 

The plugin supports various animation effects, making it suitable for simple and complex projects. 

With its user-friendly interface, you can preview animations in real time and export them in different formats, ensuring your designs look good and perform seamlessly across platforms.

11. Aninix

Aninix streamlines the process of adding animations to your Figma designs with its intuitive tools and features. 

This Figma animation plugin provides a variety of pre-built animation styles, allowing designers to quickly apply movements to their elements without starting from scratch. 

Aninix is particularly useful for those who want to enhance their user interface with dynamic elements while maintaining a straightforward workflow. 

You can customize the animations further to fit your project’s aesthetics and easily export them for your applications.

12. GiffyCanvas

GiffyCanvas is a versatile Figma animation plugin that empowers designers to create animated GIFs directly within Figma. 

With a wide range of templates and customization options, you can produce engaging animated content for your projects, including social media posts and marketing materials. 

The plugin simplifies the animation process, allowing you to adjust timing, speed, and effects to suit your needs. 

13. Lottielab

Lottielab integrates seamlessly with Figma, allowing you to work more effectively with Lottie animations. 

This Figma animation plugin enables designers to create high-quality, lightweight, and scalable animations, ideal for mobile apps and web interfaces. 

With Lottielab, you can easily import Lottie files and customize them directly within Figma, providing a smooth workflow from design to implementation. 

14. FigmAnimator

FigmAnimator is a robust plugin for incorporating animations into your designs within Figma. 

This Figma plugin offers various animation options, including transitions, easing, and keyframes, allowing for intricate control over the animation process. 

FigmAnimator’s intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners and experienced designers to create stunning animations that enhance the usability and appeal of their interfaces. 

How to choose the right Figma animation plugin for your project?

When selecting an animation plugin, consider ease of use, compatibility with your workflow, and the intricacy of the animations you require. Some plugins are better suited to simple animations, while others have more extensive features.

Evaluate your project’s requirements and select a plugin that meets them. For example, a plugin such as Figmotion may be suitable if you require precise control over animations. For simple interactions, Smart Animate may be adequate.

Best practices for creating animations with Figma.

Keep it simple

Avoid complex animations; they should enhance rather than distract. Easing functions can help animations feel more natural.

Consistency is key

Ensure that your animations are consistent throughout the design. 

Don’t overuse animations

Excessive animations can overload users. Make sure your animations do not have a detrimental influence on performance.

Lack of function

Animations should serve a function and enhance the user experience.

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The Future of Animation in UI UX Design

Trends to watch

The future UI UX design trends in animation are promising, with concepts such as 3D animations, augmented reality, and increasingly interactive online elements gaining traction. Keeping up with these trends can help you stay ahead in the design game.

The evolving role of animation

As technology advances, animation will become an increasingly important component of UI UX design. It will also become an increasingly important component of designing intuitive and compelling user experiences.

Animations can help your designs transform from static to dynamic, making them more engaging and user-friendly. 

Figma’s rich plugin ecosystem provides many tools for creating unique animations. By using the correct plugins and adhering to best practices, you can take your UI projects to new heights.

Conclusion

The Figma animation plugins provide powerful tools for developing dynamic, engaging UI designs. These animations can boost user experience and usability and make your designs stand out. 

Our advice is to get started immediately and gather design tools that will enable you to create consumer experiences with stunning UI designs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best animation plugin for Figma?

The best animation plugin for Figma depends on your specific needs. 

Still, popular choices include Figmotion for creating and exporting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript animations, LottieFiles for lightweight and scalable animations, and Morph for smooth transitions between shapes. 

Can you import animations into Figma?

Yes, you can import animations into Figma using plugins like LottieFiles and Aninix. These plugins allow you to bring Lottie animations directly into your Figma project, enabling you to customize and use them seamlessly within your designs.

How do you convert Figma animation to GIF?

To convert a Figma animation to a GIF, you can use the Flipbook Animation GIF plugin. This plugin automatically creates animations from your static designs and allows you to export them as GIFs. Additionally, you can use the GIF Export plugin to select frames and export them directly as GIFs.

What is the difference between Figma and XD animation?

Figma and Adobe XD both offer animation capabilities, but they differ in their approaches. Figma focuses on collaborative design with real-time feedback, making it easier for teams to collaborate. 

Its animation tools are often more plugin-based, allowing for various user-generated enhancements. 

On the other hand, Adobe XD features a more integrated animation system with its Auto-Animate feature, which allows for smoother transitions and more complex animations without requiring external plugins. 

Choosing between the two will ultimately depend on your design workflow and collaboration needs.