When you see 3D on a website, it’s often thanks to Three.js. When you spot an animation or a scroll trigger, chances are, it’s the work of GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform). GSAP has emerged as the preferred choice for web developers, acclaimed for its versatility, robust features, and unparalleled performance. It easily integrates into no-code and low-code environments such as Webflow, making it approachable for both novices and seasoned developers.

If you asked me to recommend just one resource for learning GSAP, the official documentation would naturally be my go-to. This comprehensive resource is supported by a bustling forum with over 134k posts and a dedicated learning center. They’ve also dedicated sections to cover GSAP with React, and they identify some of the most common pitfalls you may encounter when using GSAP for animation.

While GreenSock’s official tutorials are extremely helpful, finding additional learning materials for GSAP can be a bit of a challenge. Nevertheless, I’ve succeeded in locating a blend of tutorials and live projects that could shed light on how various GSAP functions operate (please refer to the “Time for Practice” section below). Codepen is another excellent resource for exploring creations by more seasoned GSAP animators and learning through code analysis.

But, if you’re looking to supplement the already comprehensive official documentation with some basic tutorials, here are my top recommendations:

Unpacking GSAP: Exploring Its Technical Features

GSAP, or the GreenSock Animation Platform, is a framework-agnostic animation library, implying that you can apply the same GSAP code across diverse frameworks like React, Vue, Angular, and more without altering its core principles. It comes equipped with advanced animation capabilities such as timeline control, an extensive range of easing options, and sophisticated sequencing abilities, all of which contribute to the crafting of intricate animations.

Further enhancing its appeal, GSAP’s lightweight framework and streamlined rendering engine guarantee smooth, high-performance animations. Techniques such as animation batching and hardware acceleration are key to its superior performance optimization. This blend of comprehensive features, user-friendly nature, and exceptional performance optimization has elevated GSAP’s standing, making it a more popular choice than traditional CSS animations.

Best Courses Guides Methodology

I built this ranking following the now tried-and-tested methodology used in previous Best Courses Guides (you can find them all here). It involves a three-step process:

1. Research: I started by leveraging Class Central’s database with 100K online courses and 200K+ reviews. Then, I made a preliminary selection of courses by rating, reviews, and bookmarks.
2. Evaluate: I read through reviews on Class Central, Reddit, and course providers to understand what other learners thought about each course and combined it with my own experience as a learner.
3. Select: Well-made courses were picked if they presented valuable and engaging content and they have to fit in a set of criteria and be ranked accordingly: comprehensive curriculum, affordability, release date, ratings and enrollments.

Course Ranking Statistics

Here are some aggregate stats about the ranking:

• All of the courses in this ranking are free.
• They are all suitable for beginners.

Creative Coding Club by SnorklTV

Carl from SnorklTV covers GSAP Animation with some extensive video tutorials. There are some completely free tutorials but also monthly, and membership plans with new videos every week. This course is loaded with demos and specialty visualizers to help you understand complex concepts.

How You’ll Learn

The video covers various aspects of GSAP, such as its syntax, animation techniques, and practical examples. The presenter provides clear explanations and demonstrates how to implement GSAP effectively. By following along with the video, you will gain hands-on experience and understanding of GSAP, enabling you to create captivating web animations.

GSAP101 by Ihatetomatoes

GSAP101 by Ihatetomatoes is a practical resource to learn GSAP. It provides a structured approach to understanding and utilizing GSAP for web animation. Through this website, you will gain knowledge of GSAP’s features and learn how to create engaging web animations. The content is concise and focuses on practical learning, using code examples and interactive demos to reinforce concepts.

What You’ll Learn

Through this website, you will learn the fundamentals of GSAP and its various features. Starting with the basics, you’ll explore GSAP syntax, animation properties, and how to animate elements on a web page. As you progress, you’ll delve into advanced techniques like timeline control, sequencing animations, and working with SVG animations. The website also covers integrating GSAP with JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular to create interactive animations. With a combination of written explanations, code examples, and interactive demos, you’ll gain hands-on experience in using GSAP effectively for dynamic web animations.

How You’ll Learn

You will learn GSAP through a structured approach on the website, which combines written explanations, code examples, and interactive demos. The resources provided will guide you step-by-step, allowing you to practice and experiment with GSAP directly in the browser, ensuring an engaging and practical learning experience.

GSAP by The Code Creative

GSAP by The Code Creative provides an overview of GSAP, guiding you through its features, animation techniques, and practical examples.

What You’ll Learn

You will learn the fundamentals of GSAP and its applications in web animation. The playlist covers topics such as GSAP syntax, timeline control, advanced animations, SVG animations, and integration with popular JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular. Each video dives into specific concepts, providing clear explanations and practical demonstrations. By following along with the examples, you will gain hands-on experience in implementing GSAP and creating stunning animations for your web projects.

How You’ll Learn

Each video focuses on a specific aspect of GSAP.  Gregg delivers concise explanations and demonstrates practical examples, allowing you to follow along and practice GSAP techniques in real-time, ensuring an engaging and immersive learning experience.

Fun Facts

• His website has some interesting courses on web audio and some interesting portfolios to learn web development.

Time for Practice

Once you’ve completed these courses and have a good understanding of the concepts, it’s essential to put them into practice. Some of the tutorials that I found that could solidify your concepts would be:

• GSAP Animation by NaymurWeb
• Beginners GSAP by Sheriyan’s Coding and Intermediate GSAP by Sheriyan’s Coding (in Hindi)
• GSAP Animation by Coderell
• and GSAP Tutorials by RajaCharles SRD

There are a lot of codepens on GSAP, which could be used to understand how GSAP works and a good practice could be to try and replicate some of the work that is out there.