Rive Animation Principles

1. Squash and Stretch

• Create shape with bones
• Animate scale X/Y with inverse relationship
• Key:

  scaleX: 1.2

  when

  scaleY: 0.8

// Trigger from code
rive.play('squash_stretch');

2. Anticipation

1. Create "Idle" state
2. Create "Anticipate" state (wind-up pose)
3. Create "Action" state
4. Connect: Idle → Anticipate → Action

const inputs = rive.stateMachineInputs('State Machine');
const trigger = inputs.find(i => i.name === 'jump');
trigger.fire(); // Plays anticipate → action sequence

3. Staging

• Use artboard layers for depth
• Apply blur/opacity to background layers
• Use nested artboards for complex scenes

// Control visibility
const bgOpacity = inputs.find(i => i.name === 'bgOpacity');
bgOpacity.value = 0.6;

4. Straight Ahead / Pose to Pose

• Set key poses on timeline
• Rive interpolates between
• Use easing curves in Graph Editor

5. Follow Through and Overlapping Action

• Use bone hierarchy with constraints
• Apply "delay" or "lag" to child bones
• Or offset keyframes by 2-4 frames
• Use spring constraints for natural follow-through

6. Slow In and Slow Out

• Select keyframes
• Apply easing: Cubic, Quad, Bounce
• Adjust bezier handles for custom curves

// Runtime speed control
rive.play('animation', { speed: 0.5 });

7. Arc

• Use IK (Inverse Kinematics) for natural arcs
• Apply path constraints
• Animate position with curved interpolation

8. Secondary Action

// Listen for state changes
rive.on('statechange', (event) => {
  if (event.data.includes('button_press')) {
    // Secondary animations auto-trigger via state machine
  }
});

// Or blend multiple animations
rive.play(['main_action', 'secondary_particles']);

9. Timing

// Fast - snappy feedback
rive.play('click', { speed: 1.5 });

// Normal
rive.play('hover');

// Slow - dramatic reveal
rive.play('reveal', { speed: 0.5 });

• Adjust animation duration
• Use work area to fine-tune timing
• Graph Editor for precise control

10. Exaggeration

• Push bone rotations beyond natural limits
• Exaggerate scale transformations
• Use elastic/bounce interpolation
• Overshoot in Graph Editor curves

11. Solid Drawing

• Use multiple bones for volume preservation
• Apply constraints to maintain form
• Use clipping for depth illusion
• Layer shapes for 3D effect

12. Appeal

• Smooth bezier curves on shapes
• Consistent stroke weights
• Pleasing color palette
• Clean bone structure

// Smooth hover interactions
const hover = inputs.find(i => i.name === 'isHovering');
element.addEventListener('mouseenter', () => hover.value = true);
element.addEventListener('mouseleave', () => hover.value = false);

React Implementation

import { useRive, useStateMachineInput } from '@rive-app/react-canvas';

function AnimatedButton() {
  const { rive, RiveComponent } = useRive({
    src: 'button.riv',
    stateMachines: 'Button',
    autoplay: true
  });

  const hoverInput = useStateMachineInput(rive, 'Button', 'isHovering');

  return (
    <RiveComponent
      onMouseEnter={() => hoverInput.value = true}
      onMouseLeave={() => hoverInput.value = false}
    />
  );
}

Key Rive Features

• State Machines - Logic-driven animation flow
• Inputs - Boolean, Number, Trigger types
• Blend States - Mix multiple animations
• Listeners - Pointer events in editor
• Constraints - IK, path, distance, rotation
• Bones & Meshes - Skeletal animation
• Runtime API - Full control from code
• Tiny file size - Optimized binary format