Video Coder
<overview> This skill guides creation of distinctive, production-grade React video scene components that avoid generic "AI slop" aesthetics and follow the aesthetics and style given. Implement real working React code with exceptional attention to details, timing, and creative choices. The user provides video scene requirements: directions, timing information, visual elements, and educational content. They may include context about the purpose, audience, or technical constraints. </overview> <critical-requirements> <design-execution> **CRITICAL**: Follow the design and execute it with precision. Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work - the key is precise implementation of the requirements and smooth animations. </design-execution> <asset-handling> **Assets**: The design may reference assets from the `asset_manifest`. For elements with `type: "asset"`: - The element's `id` matches an asset name in the manifest - Read the SVG code from the `path` specified in the manifest - Copy the SVG code directly into your React component - For assets with follow-path, use the `orientation` field from the design spec (numeric degrees: 0°=up, 90°=right, 180°=down, 270°=left) - Apply transforms from the design spec on a **wrapper div** (not on motion.div): - `rotation`: Rotate in degrees - `flipX`: Horizontal mirror (true = apply `scaleX(-1)`) - `flipY`: Vertical mirror (true = apply `scaleY(-1)`) - Combined: `style={{ transform: 'rotate(${rotation || 0}deg) scaleX(${flipX ? -1 : 1}) scaleY(${flipY ? -1 : 1})' }}` - These values are pre-calculated by the designer. Do NOT perform any math on them. - **IMPORTANT**: The `orientation` field is NOT a CSS transform. Never apply `orientation` as a CSS rotation. If no `rotation` field exists in the design, apply no rotation. - Apply styles (position, size, fill, stroke) from the design spec to the SVG elementParent div vs motion.div example:
{/* PARENT DIV: positioning, static transforms (rotation, flip), z-index */}
<div
className="absolute top-[300px] left-[500px] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 z-[10]"
style={{ transform: 'rotate(45deg) scaleX(-1)' }}
>
{/* MOTION.DIV: animations only (opacity, scale, movement) */}
<motion.div
initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.5 }}
>
<svg>...</svg>
</motion.div>
</div>
| Property | Where to Apply |
|---|---|
top, left, z-index | Parent div (className) |
rotation, flipX, flipY | Parent div (style.transform) |
opacity, scale animations | motion.div |
x, y movement animations | motion.div |
export default Scene{N};
Where `{N}` is the scene number (e.g., `Scene0`, `Scene1`, `Scene2`)
`currentTime` is the global value of time with respect to the video start.
</export-pattern>
</required-structure>
---
<sub-components>
### Sub-Components (CRITICAL)
**All sub-components MUST use `React.memo`** and be defined at module level (outside the main Scene component).
<react-memo>
#### Why React.memo is Required
- Video components re-render 60 times per second as `currentTime` changes
- Without `React.memo`, sub-components re-render unnecessarily causing animation jitter
- Module-level definitions ensure stable references across renders
</react-memo>
<sub-component-pattern>
// CORRECT: Module-level with React.memo + wrapper div for positioning
const TreeNode = React.memo(({
value,
position,
isVisible
}: {
value: string;
position: { x: number; y: number };
isVisible: boolean;
}) => (
<div
className="absolute -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"
style={{ left: `${position.x}px`, top: `${position.y}px` }}
>
<motion.div
animate={isVisible ? "visible" : "hidden"}>
{value}
</motion.div>
</div>
));
// WRONG: Defined inside component (causes jitter)
export default function Scene0({ currentTime }: SceneProps) {
// ❌ Never define components here
const TreeNode = ({ value }) => <div>{value}</div>;
}
</sub-component-pattern>
<module-level-definitions>
#### What Goes at Module Level (Outside Component)
1. **Sub-components** - Always wrapped with `React.memo`
2. **Wrapper div** - For positioning and other (absolute, translate, left/top style, etc.)
3. **Animation variants** - Objects defining animation states
4. **Static data** - Positions, configurations that don't change
```typescript
// Animation variants at module level
const fadeVariants = {
hidden: { opacity: 0 },
visible: { opacity: 1, transition: { duration: 0.5 } }
};
// Static positions at module level
const nodePositions = {
node1: { x: 576, y: 540 },
node2: { x: 1344, y: 540 }
};
// Sub-component at module level with React.memo + wrapper div
const InfoCard = React.memo(({ title, position, isVisible }: { title: string; position: { x: number; y: number }; isVisible: boolean }) => (
<div
className="absolute -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"
style={{ left: `${position.x}px`, top: `${position.y}px` }}
>
<motion.div variants={fadeVariants} animate={isVisible ? "visible" : "hidden"}>
{title}
</motion.div>
</div>
));
import React, { useMemo } from 'react';
import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
interface SceneProps {
currentTime: number;
}
// Animation variants at module level
const nodeVariants = {
hidden: { scale: 0, opacity: 0 },
visible: { scale: 1, opacity: 1, transition: { duration: 0.4 } }
};
// Static data at module level
const nodePositions = {
node1: { x: 576, y: 540 },
node2: { x: 1344, y: 540 }
};
// Sub-component at module level with React.memo
const TreeNode = React.memo(({
value,
position,
isVisible
}: {
value: string;
position: { x: number; y: number };
isVisible: boolean;
}) => (
<div
className="absolute -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"
style={{ left: `${position.x}px`, top: `${position.y}px` }}
>
<motion.div
variants={nodeVariants}
initial="hidden"
animate={isVisible ? "visible" : "hidden"}
className="w-20 h-20 rounded-full bg-white flex items-center justify-center"
>
{value}
</motion.div>
</div>
));
// Main Scene component with React.memo
const Scene0 = React.memo(function Scene0({ currentTime }: SceneProps) {
// Threshold-based state updates
const states = useMemo(() => ({
showNode1: currentTime >= 1000,
showNode2: currentTime >= 2000,
}), [Math.floor(currentTime / 42)]);
return (
<div className="relative w-full h-full bg-gray-900">
<TreeNode value="A" position={nodePositions.node1} isVisible={states.showNode1} />
<TreeNode value="B" position={nodePositions.node2} isVisible={states.showNode2} />
</div>
);
});
export default Scene0;
What They Do
Let you set custom sizes, spacing, colors, borders, radii, typography, and positioning instantly. <tailwind-examples>
Examples
- •
w-[37px] - •
h-[3.5rem] - •
p-[18px] - •
m-[2.75rem] - •
bg-[#1a73e8] - •
text-[22px] - •
border-[3px] - •
rounded-[14px] - •
gap-[22px] - •
top-[42px] - •
z-[25]</tailwind-examples>
CRITICAL: Follow these patterns to prevent animation jittering and re-rendering issues.
<performance-optimization-core-problem>React video components re-render up to 60 times per second. Unstable references cause animations to restart, creating visual jitter. </performance-optimization-core-problem> <pattern-module-level-definitions>
Define sub-components, animation variants, and static data outside the parent component for stable references.
// Animation variants at module level
const nodeVariants = { hidden: { scale: 0 }, visible: { scale: 1 } };
// Static data at module level
const nodePositions = { node1: { x: 576, y: 540 }, node2: { x: 740, y: 540 } };
// Sub-component at module level (see <complete-example> for full pattern)
const TreeNode = React.memo(({ value, position, isVisible }) => (
<div style={{ left: `${position.x}px`, top: `${position.y}px` }}>
<motion.div animate={isVisible ? "visible" : "hidden"}>{value}</motion.div>
</div>
));
See <complete-example> above for the full implementation pattern.
</pattern-module-level-definitions>
<pattern-threshold-state-updates>
Update states every 42ms using Math.floor(currentTime / 42) to prevent excessive re-renders while matching 24fps video output.
// State updates inside components
const states = useMemo(() => ({
showTitle: currentTime >= 1000,
showGrid: currentTime >= 2000,
fadeOut: currentTime >= 9000
}), [Math.floor(currentTime / 42)]);
// Computed collections inside components
const visibleItems = useMemo(() => {
const visible = new Set<string>();
if (currentTime >= 1000) visible.add('item1');
if (currentTime >= 2000) visible.add('item2');
return visible;
}, [Math.floor(currentTime / 42)]);
// Static data created once at mount
const particles = useMemo(() =>
Array.from({ length: 40 }, () => ({
x: Math.random() * 100,
y: Math.random() * 100
})),
[] // Empty deps = created once
);
Pass all dependencies as explicit props for React.memo to work correctly.
const TreeNode = React.memo(({
value,
position,
showTree // Explicit prop, not derived from currentTime inside
}: {
value: string;
position: { x: number; y: number };
showTree: boolean;
}) => (
<div
className="absolute -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"
style={{ left: `${position.x}px`, top: `${position.y}px` }}
>
<motion.div animate={showTree ? "visible" : "hidden"}>
{value}
</motion.div>
</div>
));
// In parent: derive state, pass as prop
<TreeNode value="50" position={{ x: 960, y: 540 }} showTree={states.showTree} />
<performance-summary> Always use useMemo inside React components to prevent animation jitter caused by frequent re-renders—define static data and sub-components at module level, use threshold-based state updates (42ms intervals for 24fps), and pass explicit props for memoization. </performance-summary> </performance-optimizations> <component-positioning> Positioning elements in video scenes using Tailwind CSS and framer-motion. <positioning-critical> **CRITICAL**: Always use pixel values (px) as mentioned for positioning, This ensures precise, predictable positioning across all canvas sizes. </positioning-critical> <positioning-fundamentals> <universal-pattern> For ALL positioning in video scenes, use this consistent pattern with **pixel values**: A motion.div cannot have absolute positioning, it should be wrapped inside an absolute div that is properly positioned as shown. <example-universal-positioning> ```tsx {/* Outer div: handles positioning with Tailwind using PIXELS */} <div className="absolute top-[108px] left-[192px] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"> {/* Inner div: content and animations */} <motion.div initial={{ opacity: 0 }} animate={{ opacity: 1 }} > {/* Your content here */} </motion.div> </div> ``` </example-universal-positioning> <key-principles> **Key principles:** - Outer `div`: Uses `absolute` + pixel positioning classes + full centering transforms - Inner `motion.div`: Handles animations and content - **Always use BOTH** `-translate-x-1/2` AND `-translate-y-1/2` for consistent centering - **Always use pixel values** (e.g., `top-[540px]`) NOT percentages </key-principles> </universal-pattern> <cordinate-system> COORDINATE SYSTEM Origin: Top-left corner (0, 0) X-axis: Increases rightward → Y-axis: Increases downward ↓
FOR SHAPES/TEXT/ICONS: Position: Always refers to element's CENTER point
FOR PATHS: All coordinates are ABSOLUTE screen positions No position/size fields needed (implied by path coordinates)
ROTATION 0° = pointing up (↑) 90° = pointing right (→) 180° = pointing down (↓) 270° = pointing left (←)
Positive values = clockwise rotation Negative values = counter-clockwise (-90° same as 270°)
EXAMPLE (1920×1080 viewport) Screen center: x = 960, y = 540 Top-center: x = 960, y = 100 Bottom-left quadrant: x = 480, y = 810 Right edge center: x = 1820, y = 540 </cordinate-system> </positioning-fundamentals> <custom-positioning> Position at any pixel value using the same pattern:
<example-custom-positioning> {/* Landscape example: position at x=1440px, y=270px */} <div className="absolute top-[270px] left-[1440px] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2"> <motion.div>{/* content */}</motion.div> </div> </example-custom-positioning> </custom-positioning> <full-centering-explanation> Without `-translate-y-1/2`, the element's **top edge** sits at the pixel value, causing overlaps when elements have varying heights. Full centering positions the element's **center** at the pixel coordinate, ensuring safe spacing. </full-centering-explanation> <z-index-layering> Layer elements using Tailwind's z-[index] utilities: <example-z-index-layering> {/* Background layer */} <div className="absolute inset-0 z-[0]">...</div>{/* Content layer - Landscape center: 540px, 960px */}
<div className="absolute top-[540px] left-[960px] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 z-[10]"> <motion.div>...</motion.div> </div> {/* Overlay layer - Landscape: 216px from top, 1536px from left */} <div className="absolute top-[216px] left-[1536px] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 z-[20]"> <motion.div>...</motion.div> </div> </example-z-index-layering> <z-index-scale> **Standard z-index scale:** - `z-[0]`: Background - `z-[10]`: Main content - `z-[20]`: Overlays/floating elements - `z-[30]`: UI controls - `z-[40]`: Modals/dialogs - `z-[50]`: Top layer </z-index-scale> </z-index-layering> </component-positioning> <animation-patterns>Be thorough in studying any animation pattern you're using in your scene. <transition-types>
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Tween | Duration-based, precise timing | Coordinated animations, sync with audio |
| Spring | Physics-based, bounce/elasticity | Interactive UI, natural motion |
| Inertia | Momentum-based deceleration | Drag interactions, swipe gestures |
transition={{
duration?: number, // Seconds (default: 0.3)
ease?: string | array, // Easing function (default: "easeInOut")
delay?: number, // Delay in seconds
repeat?: number, // Number of repeats (Infinity for loop)
repeatType?: "loop" | "reverse" | "mirror",
times?: number[], // Keyframe timing [0, 0.5, 1]
}}
| Ease | Behavior | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
linear | Constant speed | Mechanical motion, loading indicators |
easeIn | Slow → fast | Exit animations, falling objects |
easeOut | Fast → slow | Entrances, coming to rest |
easeInOut | Slow → fast → slow | Default for most UI animations |
circIn/Out/InOut | Sharper circular curve | Snappy, aggressive motion |
backIn | Pulls back, then forward | Anticipation effects |
backOut | Overshoots, then settles | Bouncy clicks, attention-grabbing |
backInOut | Both effects combined | Playful, game UI |
anticipate | Dramatic pullback | Hero entrances, launch effects |
steps(n) | Discrete steps | Pixel art, frame-by-frame |
Note: Cannot mix bounce with stiffness/damping/mass.
// Snappy transition={{ type: "spring", stiffness: 400, damping: 30 }}
// Soft transition={{ type: "spring", stiffness: 60, damping: 10 }} </example-spring> </spring-transition> <inertia-transition> <example-inertia>
<motion.div
drag
dragConstraints={{ left: 0, right: 400 }}
dragTransition={{
power?: number, // Deceleration rate (default: 0.8)
timeConstant?: number, // Duration in ms (default: 700)
bounceStiffness?: number, // Boundary spring (default: 500)
bounceDamping?: number, // Boundary damping (default: 10)
}}
/>
// Static orientation (asset facing a direction) - use wrapper div
<div style={{ transform: 'rotate(45deg)' }}> <motion.div>{/* content */}</motion.div> </div>// Static orientation with flip
<div style={{ transform: 'rotate(90deg) scaleX(-1)' }}> <motion.div>{/* content */}</motion.div> </div>Animated rotation (rotation that changes over time):
// Clockwise rotation (positive degrees) <motion.div animate={{ rotate: 90 }} transition={{ duration: 1 }} />
// Anti-clockwise rotation (negative degrees) <motion.div animate={{ rotate: -90 }} transition={{ duration: 1 }} />
// Continuous clockwise spin <motion.div animate={{ rotate: 360 }} transition={{ duration: 2, repeat: Infinity, ease: "linear" }} />
// Continuous anti-clockwise spin <motion.div animate={{ rotate: -360 }} transition={{ duration: 2, repeat: Infinity, ease: "linear" }} />
// Custom pivot point <motion.div style={{ transformOrigin: "top left" }} animate={{ rotate: 45 }} /> </example-rotation> <rotation-properties>
- •
rotate- 2D rotation in degrees (positive = clockwise, negative = anti-clockwise) - •
rotateX,rotateY- 2D axis rotation - •
transformOrigin- pivot point (default:"center") </rotation-properties>
For animating elements along SVG paths, see the dedicated path-following.md.
Important: When a path has both path-draw and follow-path animations, apply the same easing to both to keep them synchronized.
<property-specific-transitions>
transition={{
x: { type: "spring", stiffness: 200 },
opacity: { duration: 0.5, ease: "easeOut" },
scale: { type: "spring", bounce: 0.6 }
}}