Mastering CSS Animations in Dark Themes

CSS animations are the backbone of any motion-rich interface. In dark themes, they become even more powerful when combined with glows, shadows, and gradients.

The Float Animation

One of the most elegant effects is the subtle float:

@keyframes float {
  0%, 100% {
    transform: translateY(0px);
  }
  50% {
    transform: translateY(-20px);
  }
}

.element {
  animation: float 3s ease-in-out infinite;
}

Glow Effects

In dark themes, glow effects create depth:

@keyframes pulse-glow {
  0%, 100% {
    box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(168, 85, 247, 0.3);
  }
  50% {
    box-shadow: 0 0 40px rgba(168, 85, 247, 0.6);
  }
}

Gradient Animations

Animated gradients bring backgrounds to life:

.shimmer-text {
  background: linear-gradient(
    90deg,
    var(--color-accent-purple),
    var(--color-accent-pink),
    var(--color-accent-blue),
    var(--color-accent-purple)
  );
  background-size: 200% auto;
  background-clip: text;
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
  animation: text-shimmer 3s linear infinite;
}

@keyframes text-shimmer {
  to {
    background-position: 200% center;
  }
}

Performance Considerations

• Use transform and opacity for best performance
• Avoid animating width, height, or margin
• Use will-change sparingly
• Test on low-end devices

The key to great dark theme animations is subtlety combined with impact. Use motion to guide the eye, not distract it.