What exactly is a Lottie animation?
A Lottie is a special type of animation file based on JSON code. Think of it not as a video or a GIF but as a set of instructions that tells your browser how to draw and move shapes in real time. Originally created by the team at Airbnb it allows designers to ship rich high quality animations that are incredibly small in file size and can be scaled to any size without losing sharpness.
Because a Lottie is essentially code rather than a sequence of images it is extremely lightweight and versatile. This makes it perfect for the web where performance and speed are critical. You get the visual impact of a complex animation without the heavy loading times associated with traditional video files or clunky GIFs.
Why are Lottie animations better than GIFs for a business website?
For years GIFs were the go to for simple web animations but they come with serious drawbacks. They have large file sizes which slow down your page loading speed they have a limited colour palette which can make them look dated and they are pixel based meaning they look blurry or jagged when scaled up. These factors can negatively impact user experience and even your search engine ranking.
Lottie animations solve all of these problems. Their file sizes are a fraction of a comparable GIF ensuring your website remains fast and responsive. As they are vector based they are infinitely scalable and look perfectly crisp on any screen from a small mobile phone to a large retina display. They also support a full range of colours and transparency and can even be made interactive allowing them to respond to user actions like scrolling or clicking.
How do you create Lottie animations for a Webflow project?
The creation process for a Lottie animation typically starts in a professional animation tool like Adobe After Effects. A designer or animator creates the visual elements and keyframes just as they would for any other motion graphic. The key difference is in the export process.
Instead of rendering a video file the animation is exported using a special plugin called Bodymovin or the LottieFiles plugin. This tool translates the animation data into a single JSON file. This file contains all the instructions for the shapes colours and movements. Once you have this JSON file it can be easily uploaded directly into the Webflow Designer and added to your site just like any other image or asset.
What are some good examples of using Lottie animations on a website?
The creative possibilities with Lottie animations are vast. One of the most common uses is for engaging loading animations that entertain the user while the page content loads in the background. They are also perfect for animated icons that come to life when a user hovers over them providing delightful feedback and improving usability.
You can also use Lottie for more complex storytelling. Imagine an animated illustration on your homepage that explains your service or product as the user scrolls down the page. This is a powerful way to communicate complex ideas in a simple and visually appealing way. Other great uses include animated checkmarks for successful form submissions or subtle looping backgrounds that add a touch of sophistication to a section.
How can Tahi Studio integrate custom animations into my brand's digital presence?
At Tahi Studio we believe that animation should be more than just decoration it should serve a purpose. Our design process focuses on creating custom Lottie animations that align perfectly with your brand identity and enhance your website's user experience. We ensure that every movement and every interaction feels intentional and adds value to your digital presence.
Our productised subscription model makes it easy to incorporate high quality animation into your project. Whether it's a one off custom animation or ongoing creative support through our add on services we can help you bring your brand to life. We handle the entire process from concept and design in Figma to seamless implementation in Webflow creating a cohesive and polished final product. You can explore how we integrate these elements on our services page.
