Getting StartedGetting Started4 sections
Write Your First Scene
This is the shortest path from a blank script to a successful preview. It focuses on the Python scene shape, not on repository setup or deployment.
Minimal Scene
from manim import * class HelloScene(Scene): def construct(self): title = Text("Hello, Manim Web") circle = Circle().shift(LEFT * 2) square = Square().shift(RIGHT * 2) self.play(FadeIn(title)) self.play(Create(circle), Create(square)) scene = HelloScene()scene.construct() Script Shape
The key pieces are a scene class, a construct() method, one or more mobjects, and a sequence of timeline actions. You usually create objects first, then add or animate them.
One renderable scene per file
Match real Manim project structure here: keep one renderable scene in each Python file. Use another file such as
scratch_pad.py when you want a visual probe or alternate composition.Narrate beats before code
Before writing animations, decide the order of ideas. A short sequence like hook, intuition, formalize, and reveal usually produces cleaner scenes than coding every object first and hoping a story appears later.
Preview Loop
The healthiest authoring loop is simple:
- Write a small scene.
- Preview it.
- Fix diagnostics or layout problems.
- Only add complexity once the current step is readable and stable.
Best practice
Start with very small scenes. A short scene with three clear objects teaches more than a complicated one that mixes layout, animation, and 3D all at once.
Pacing
After a meaningful reveal, add a short
self.wait(). If the viewer is still reading while the next transform starts, the scene is moving too fast.Where To Go Next
- Learn the authoring mental model in
Core Scene Model. - Use
Objects and Layoutwhen scenes start feeling visually unbalanced. - Use
Examples and Patternswhen you want known-good script structures. - Use the official Manim CE docs alongside these guides when you need upstream API specifics.