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name: manim description: Create mathematical animations and visualizations using Manim (ManimCE - Community Edition). Use this skill when users want to build Manim visualizations, create math animations, animate equations, graphs, geometric proofs, 3D objects, or any programmatic video animation. Triggers on requests mentioning "manim", "mathematical animation", "animate equation", "visualize algorithm", "create animation of", "3D visualization", or building explanatory math videos.

Manim

Build mathematical animations programmatically using Python. Manim renders scenes to video files with precise control over every visual element.

Quick Start

from manim import *

class MyScene(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        # Create objects
        circle = Circle(color=BLUE)
        text = MathTex(r"e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0")

        # Animate
        self.play(Create(circle))
        self.play(Write(text))
        self.wait(1)
        self.play(FadeOut(circle, text))

Run with: manim -pql scene.py MyScene

Workflow

1. Define a Scene class inheriting from Scene (or ThreeDScene for 3D)
2. Implement construct() method
3. Create Mobjects (mathematical objects) - shapes, text, graphs
4. Animate with self.play() - use animation classes like Create, Transform, FadeIn
5. Render using CLI: manim -pqh scene.py SceneName

Core Concepts

Mobjects

All visible objects inherit from Mobject. Common types:

• Geometry: Circle, Square, Line, Arrow, Polygon
• Text: Text, MathTex, Tex
• Graphs: Axes, NumberPlane, FunctionGraph
• 3D: Sphere, Cube, ThreeDAxes
• Groups: VGroup to combine objects

Animations

Pass to self.play():

• Creation: Create, Write, FadeIn, GrowFromCenter
• Transform: Transform, ReplacementTransform, MoveToTarget
• Indication: Indicate, Flash, Circumscribe
• Removal: FadeOut, Uncreate

Positioning

obj.move_to(ORIGIN)          # Move to point
obj.shift(RIGHT * 2)         # Relative shift
obj.next_to(other, UP)       # Position relative to another
obj.align_to(other, LEFT)    # Align edge

Animation Parameters

self.play(Create(obj), run_time=2)           # Duration
self.play(Create(obj), rate_func=smooth)     # Easing
self.play(anim1, anim2)                       # Simultaneous
self.play(Succession(anim1, anim2))          # Sequential
self.play(LaggedStart(*anims, lag_ratio=0.5)) # Staggered

Common Patterns

Mathematical Equation

eq = MathTex(r"\int_0^1 x^2 \, dx = \frac{1}{3}")
self.play(Write(eq))

Function Graph

axes = Axes(x_range=[-3, 3], y_range=[-1, 5])
graph = axes.plot(lambda x: x**2, color=BLUE)
label = axes.get_graph_label(graph, label="x^2")
self.play(Create(axes), Create(graph), Write(label))

Value Tracking (Animated Numbers)

tracker = ValueTracker(0)
number = DecimalNumber(0).add_updater(
    lambda m: m.set_value(tracker.get_value())
)
self.add(number)
self.play(tracker.animate.set_value(10), run_time=2)

3D Scene

class My3D(ThreeDScene):
    def construct(self):
        axes = ThreeDAxes()
        sphere = Sphere()
        self.set_camera_orientation(phi=75*DEGREES, theta=45*DEGREES)
        self.play(Create(axes), Create(sphere))
        self.begin_ambient_camera_rotation(rate=0.2)
        self.wait(3)

Transform Between States

circle = Circle()
square = Square()
self.play(Create(circle))
self.play(Transform(circle, square))  # circle becomes square

CLI Reference

manim scene.py SceneName      # Render scene
manim -p scene.py SceneName   # Preview after render
manim -s scene.py SceneName   # Save last frame only

# Quality flags
-ql  # Low (480p @ 15fps)
-qm  # Medium (720p @ 30fps)
-qh  # High (1080p @ 60fps)
-qk  # 4K (2160p @ 60fps)

Key Gotchas

1. Transform mutates first object: After Transform(a, b), reference a (now looks like b), not b
2. Use ReplacementTransform to avoid confusion: replaces a with b in scene
3. Mobjects are mutable: Use .copy() to avoid unintended changes
4. LaTeX requires r prefix: MathTex(r"\frac{1}{2}") not MathTex("\frac{1}{2}")
5. 3D requires ThreeDScene: Regular Scene won't render 3D properly
6. self.add() is instant: Use self.play(FadeIn(...)) for animated appearance

References

• Full API (animations, mobjects, scenes, colors, constants): See references/api.md
• Quick lookup (tables, patterns, CLI): See references/quick-reference.md