gsap-timeline
Official GSAP skill for timelines — gsap.timeline(), position parameter, nesting, playback. Use when sequencing animations, choreographing keyframes, or when the user asks about animation sequencing, timelines, or animation order (in GSAP or when recommending a library that supports timelines).
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design --skill gsap-timeline- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads gsap-timeline automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
GSAP Timeline
Curated from GreenSock's official GSAP skills: https://github.com/greensock/gsap-skills
When to Use This Skill
Apply when building multi-step animations, coordinating several tweens in sequence or parallel, or when the user asks about timelines, sequencing, or keyframe-style animation in GSAP.
Related skills: For single tweens and eases use gsap-core; for scroll-driven timelines use gsap-scrolltrigger; for React use gsap-react.
Creating a Timeline
const tl = gsap.timeline();
tl.to(".a", { x: 100, duration: 1 })
.to(".b", { y: 50, duration: 0.5 })
.to(".c", { opacity: 0, duration: 0.3 });
By default, tweens are appended one after another. Use the position parameter to place tweens at specific times or relative to other tweens.
Position Parameter
Third argument (or position property in vars) controls placement:
- Absolute:
1— start at 1 second. - Relative (default):
"+=0.5"— 0.5s after end;"-=0.2"— 0.2s before end. - Label:
"labelName"— at that label;"labelName+=0.3"— 0.3s after label. - Placement:
"<"— start when recently-added animation starts;">"— start when recently-added animation ends (default);"<0.2"— 0.2s after recently-added animation start.
Examples:
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }, 0); // at 0
tl.to(".b", { y: 50 }, "+=0.5"); // 0.5s after last end
tl.to(".c", { opacity: 0 }, "<"); // same start as previous
tl.to(".d", { scale: 2 }, "<0.2"); // 0.2s after previous start
Timeline Defaults
Pass defaults into the timeline so all child tweens inherit:
const tl = gsap.timeline({ defaults: { duration: 0.5, ease: "power2.out" } });
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }).to(".b", { y: 50 }); // both use 0.5s and power2.out
Timeline Options (constructor)
- paused: true — create paused; call
.play()to start. - repeat, yoyo — same as tweens; apply to whole timeline.
- onComplete, onStart, onUpdate — timeline-level callbacks.
- defaults — vars merged into every child tween.
Labels
Add and use labels for readable, maintainable sequencing:
tl.addLabel("intro", 0);
tl.to(".a", { x: 100 }, "intro");
tl.addLabel("outro", "+=0.5");
tl.to(".b", { opacity: 0 }, "outro");
tl.play("outro"); // start from "outro"
tl.tweenFromTo("intro", "outro"); // pauses the timeline and returns a new Tween that animates the timeline's playhead from intro to outro with no ease.
Nesting Timelines
Timelines can contain other timelines.
const master = gsap.timeline();
const child = gsap.timeline();
child.to(".a", { x: 100 }).to(".b", { y: 50 });
master.add(child, 0);
master.to(".c", { opacity: 0 }, "+=0.2");
Controlling Playback
- tl.play() / tl.pause()
- tl.reverse() / tl.progress(1) then tl.reverse()
- tl.restart() — from start.
- tl.time(2) — seek to 2 seconds.
- tl.progress(0.5) — seek to 50%.
- tl.kill() — kill timeline and (by default) its children.
Official GSAP Best practices
- ✅ Prefer timelines for sequencing
- ✅ Use the position parameter (third argument) to place tweens at specific times or relative to labels.
- ✅ Add labels with
addLabel()for readable, maintainable sequencing. - ✅ Pass defaults into the timeline constructor so child tweens inherit duration, ease, etc.
- ✅ Put ScrollTrigger on the timeline (or top-level tween), not on tweens inside a timeline.
Do Not
- ❌ Chain animations with delay when a timeline can sequence them; prefer
gsap.timeline()and the position parameter for multi-step animation. - ❌ Forget to pass defaults (e.g.
defaults: { duration: 0.5, ease: "power2.out" }) when many child tweens share the same duration or ease. - ❌ Forget that duration on the timeline constructor is not the same as tween duration; timeline “duration” is determined by its children.
- ❌ Nest animations that contain a ScrollTrigger; ScrollTriggers should only be on top-level Tweens/Timelines.
FAQ
What does the gsap-timeline skill do?
Official GSAP skill for timelines — gsap.timeline(), position parameter, nesting, playback. Use when sequencing animations, choreographing keyframes, or when the user asks about animation sequencing, timelines, or animation order (in GSAP or when recommending a library that supports timelines).
How do I install gsap-timeline?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design --skill gsap-timeline in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/gsap-timeline/ (personal) or .claude/skills/gsap-timeline/ (project).
Which AI agents can use gsap-timeline?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is gsap-timeline safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains gsap-timeline?
It is published by nexu-io in nexu-io/open-design. It has 2,766 recorded installs.
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