Lottie
A JSON-based animation format that lets you ship lightweight, scalable animations on any platform without pixelation or huge file sizes.
What is Lottie?
Lottie is a JSON-based animation format that lets you ship lightweight, scalable animations on any platform.
Think of it as animated SVGs. The animations are vector-based, so they scale to any size without pixelation, and the file sizes are tiny compared to GIFs or MP4s.
Most builders use Lottie for loading indicators, onboarding flows, empty states, and micro-interactions in apps and websites. You can create them in After Effects with the Bodymovin plugin or use tools like LottieFiles to browse thousands of free animations.
Open source format created by Airbnb. Free to use. Works on iOS, Android, web, and React Native with official libraries for each platform.
Good to Know
File sizes are 10x smaller than GIFs or MP4s for the same animation
Vector-based, so animations scale infinitely without quality loss
Works across iOS, Android, web, and React Native with official libraries
Created by Airbnb and released as open source in 2017
Can be interactive and programmable, not just looping animations
How Vibe Coders Use Lottie
Adding smooth loading animations that don't bloat your app bundle
Creating onboarding flows with animated illustrations that explain features
Building interactive UI elements like success checkmarks or error states
Shipping polished micro-interactions without hiring a motion designer
Frequently Asked Questions
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