It would make for a nice intro section that avoids overwhelming users. These gentle, CSS-powered waves provide a means to separate the hero area from the rest of the page content. Here’s a narrowly-focused way of using an animated background.

See the Pen Generative UI – Orb Animation + Frosty Elements ❄️ by George Francis Simple CSS Wave Background by Goodkatz The animation is also generative – meaning it moves randomly based on set criteria. It’s also a perfect match for the “frosted” UI in the foreground, as you can see the orbs gently floating underneath the glass-like container. This background has a similar effect, only a bit more subtle. See the Pen Animated Bokeh Lava Lamp Canvas by smpnj ( Frosted UI Background by George Francis

This snippet utilizes vanilla JavaScript and HTML canvas to create a silky-smooth background. Here it’s used to great effect as dots come in and out of focus – similar to a lava lamp. The bokeh style is often associated with photography. They’re prime examples of how a bit of CSS and JavaScript can add flair to previously-static features. Today, we’ll explore animated backgrounds that run the gamut in terms of looks and use cases. If anything, this demonstrates the flexibility afforded to designers. It all depends on the purpose behind the element.

That’s not to say an animated background can’t be loud or even obnoxious. Rather, they’re utilized to create mood and enhance aesthetics. Animated backgrounds, for example, often forego the bells and whistles seen within a site’s content. Movement compels users to focus on a specific element – such as a button or an image.īut animation can also be used in more subtle ways. In web design, animation is often used as a way to draw attention.

Free animated backgrounds