Elegance & Sophistication Animation
Create animations that convey refinement, luxury, and understated excellence.
Emotional Goal
Elegance emerges from restrained, perfectly timed motion. Sophistication means animations that are noticed for their quality, not their quantity—subtle excellence over obvious effort.
Disney Principles for Elegance
Squash & Stretch
Extremely minimal (0-5%). Refined objects don't deform—they glide. Preserve perfect proportions throughout motion.
Anticipation
Subtle, refined preparation (100-150ms). A gentle weight shift, not a wind-up. Elegant motion begins smoothly.
Staging
Negative space and restraint. Let elements breathe. Single focal point with generous margins. Less is more.
Straight Ahead Action
Avoid. Elegance requires control and precision. Every frame should be intentional and refined.
Follow Through & Overlapping Action
Graceful, extended settling. Like silk falling. Long, smooth deceleration without bounce or wobble.
Slow In & Slow Out
Extended easing on both ends. Gradual, flowing motion. cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) for refined transitions.
Arc
Sweeping, graceful curves. Like a conductor's baton or a dancer's arm. Beautiful paths, not just endpoints.
Secondary Action
Minimal, purposeful accents. A subtle shadow shift, a gentle highlight. Supporting motion that elevates, not distracts.
Timing
Unhurried but not slow (300-500ms). Time to appreciate the motion. Luxury doesn't rush.
Exaggeration
Almost none (0-10%). Realistic, refined movements. Perfection in subtlety.
Solid Drawing
Impeccable proportions maintained. No distortion. Geometric precision and balance.
Appeal
Clean lines, perfect proportions. Monochromatic or limited palette. Timeless aesthetics.
Timing Recommendations
| Element | Duration | Easing |
|---------|----------|--------|
| Fade | 300-400ms | ease-in-out |
| Slide | 400-500ms | ease-out |
| Scale | 350-450ms | ease-in-out |
| Reveal | 500-700ms | ease-out |
CSS Easing
--elegant-smooth: cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
--elegant-enter: cubic-bezier(0.0, 0, 0.2, 1);
--elegant-flow: cubic-bezier(0.45, 0, 0.55, 1);
Refined Transitions
@keyframes elegant-reveal {
from {
opacity: 0;
transform: translateY(10px);
}
to {
opacity: 1;
transform: translateY(0);
}
}
.elegant-element {
animation: elegant-reveal 500ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) forwards;
}
Design Principles
- White space is active, not empty
- Motion reveals content, doesn't decorate it
- Timing shows confidence and quality
- Every animation earns its place
- Restraint demonstrates mastery
When to Use
- Luxury brand sites
- Fashion and jewelry
- High-end real estate
- Premium subscriptions
- Art galleries and museums
- Fine dining
- Boutique hotels
- Executive dashboards