Cinematic GSAP Lenis Motion System

Use When

The site needs a full premium motion language, not one isolated animation.
Smooth scrolling, scroll reveals, pinned scenes, parallax, hover motion, and cursor behavior should feel connected.
The target feel is luxury editorial, Apple-level polish, creative studio portfolio, or immersive cinematic storytelling.
The stack can use GSAP, ScrollTrigger, and Lenis.

Motion Taste

Smooth, elegant, slightly delayed, and intentional.
Staggered motion should guide reading order.
Layered movement should create depth without making the interface feel busy.
ScrollTrigger should start scenes when they enter the viewport, not react to every tiny scroll.
Prefer subtlety over intensity.

Avoid:

Bounce, elastic, springy, or playful motion.
Fast abrupt transitions.
Large scale jumps.
Over-animated UI.
Flashy gaming-style effects.

Base Tokens

Eases: power3.out, power4.out, expo.out.
Scroll scrub: scrub: 0.8 to 1.4 for cinematic delay.
Reveals: 0.75s to 1.1s.
Hover: 0.35s to 0.6s.
Cursor lag: 0.25s to 0.45s.
Text stagger: words 0.035s to 0.07s, lines 0.08s to 0.14s.
Card stagger: 0.06s to 0.1s.
Reveal trigger: start: "top 82%".
Pin handoff: anticipatePin: 1.

Setup

Install:

npm i gsap lenis

Initialize once, after the DOM exists. Lenis drives its RAF through the GSAP ticker so ScrollTrigger and smooth scroll stay synced.

import Lenis from "lenis";
import "lenis/dist/lenis.css";
import { gsap } from "gsap";
import { ScrollTrigger } from "gsap/ScrollTrigger";

gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger);
gsap.defaults({ ease: "power3.out", duration: 0.85 });

const reduceMotion = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;

let lenis;

if (!reduceMotion) {
  lenis = new Lenis({
    lerp: 0.08,
    smoothWheel: true,
    wheelMultiplier: 0.9,
    anchors: true,
  });

  lenis.on("scroll", ScrollTrigger.update);

  gsap.ticker.add((time) => {
    lenis.raf(time * 1000);
  });

  gsap.ticker.lagSmoothing(0);
}

window.addEventListener("load", () => {
  ScrollTrigger.refresh();
});

Markup API

Use small data attributes so the motion system can be reused across pages.

<h1 data-motion-text="lines">Digital products with cinematic restraint.</h1>
<p data-motion-text="words">Every interaction should feel deliberate.</p>

<section data-reveal-group>
  <article data-reveal="fade-up" data-reveal-item>...</article>
  <article data-reveal="fade-up" data-reveal-item>...</article>
</section>

<figure data-image-reveal data-parallax-section>
  <img data-parallax-image src="/studio.jpg" alt="">
</figure>

<a data-magnetic data-cursor-label="Explore" href="/work">Explore</a>
<div data-cursor><span data-cursor-label></span></div>

CSS Foundation

html.has-motion [data-motion-text],
html.has-motion [data-reveal],
html.has-motion [data-reveal-item],
html.has-motion [data-image-reveal] {
  visibility: hidden;
}

.motion-line-mask,
.motion-word-mask {
  display: inline-block;
  overflow: hidden;
  vertical-align: top;
}

.motion-line,
.motion-word {
  display: inline-block;
  will-change: transform, opacity, filter;
}

[data-image-reveal] {
  overflow: hidden;
}

[data-parallax-image] {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  height: 115%;
  object-fit: cover;
  will-change: transform;
}

[data-cursor] {
  position: fixed;
  left: 0;
  top: 0;
  z-index: 9999;
  pointer-events: none;
  mix-blend-mode: difference;
  transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
  will-change: transform;
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce), (pointer: coarse) {
  [data-cursor] {
    display: none;
  }
}

Staggered Text Reveals

Use masked containers for premium text. Prefer manual line wrappers when exact line breaks matter. Use word splitting for flexible responsive text.

document.documentElement.classList.add("has-motion");

function splitWords(element) {
  if (element.dataset.motionSplit === "true") return;

  const text = element.textContent || "";
  const parts = text.split(/(\s+)/);

  element.textContent = "";
  element.setAttribute("aria-label", text.trim());

  let index = 0;
  parts.forEach((part) => {
    if (!part.trim()) {
      element.appendChild(document.createTextNode(part));
      return;
    }

    const mask = document.createElement("span");
    const word = document.createElement("span");

    mask.className = "motion-word-mask";
    mask.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
    word.className = "motion-word";
    word.textContent = part;
    word.style.setProperty("--word-index", index);

    mask.appendChild(word);
    element.appendChild(mask);
    index += 1;
  });

  element.dataset.motionSplit = "true";
}

function splitLines(element) {
  if (element.dataset.motionLineSplit === "true") return;
  if (element.querySelector(".motion-line")) return;

  const text = (element.textContent || "").trim();
  const lines = text.split(/\n+/).map((line) => line.trim()).filter(Boolean);
  if (lines.length < 2) return;

  element.textContent = "";
  element.setAttribute("aria-label", text);

  lines.forEach((line) => {
    const mask = document.createElement("span");
    const inner = document.createElement("span");

    mask.className = "motion-line-mask";
    mask.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
    inner.className = "motion-line";
    inner.textContent = line;

    mask.appendChild(inner);
    element.appendChild(mask);
    element.appendChild(document.createTextNode(" "));
  });

  element.dataset.motionLineSplit = "true";
}

function initTextReveals() {
  if (reduceMotion) {
    gsap.set("[data-motion-text]", { autoAlpha: 1, clearProps: "all" });
    return;
  }

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-motion-text='words']").forEach((element) => {
    splitWords(element);
    const words = element.querySelectorAll(".motion-word");

    gsap.set(element, { autoAlpha: 1 });
    gsap.fromTo(
      words,
      { yPercent: 110, autoAlpha: 0, filter: "blur(8px)" },
      {
        yPercent: 0,
        autoAlpha: 1,
        filter: "blur(0px)",
        duration: 0.9,
        ease: "power4.out",
        stagger: 0.055,
        scrollTrigger: {
          trigger: element,
          start: "top 82%",
          once: true,
        },
      }
    );
  });

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-motion-text='lines']").forEach((element) => {
    splitLines(element);
    const lines = element.querySelectorAll(".motion-line");
    const targets = lines.length ? lines : element.children;

    gsap.set(element, { autoAlpha: 1 });
    gsap.fromTo(
      targets,
      { yPercent: 100, autoAlpha: 0, filter: "blur(8px)" },
      {
        yPercent: 0,
        autoAlpha: 1,
        filter: "blur(0px)",
        duration: 1,
        ease: "power4.out",
        stagger: 0.11,
        scrollTrigger: {
          trigger: element,
          start: "top 84%",
          once: true,
        },
      }
    );
  });
}

Line markup when exact line breaks matter:

<h2 data-motion-text="lines">
  <span class="motion-line-mask"><span class="motion-line">Cinematic motion</span></span>
  <span class="motion-line-mask"><span class="motion-line">with editorial restraint.</span></span>
</h2>

Scroll Reveals

Create a small reveal preset map. Use autoAlpha, transforms, and light blur. Use blur sparingly on large elements.

const revealPresets = {
  "fade-up": { from: { y: 32, autoAlpha: 0 }, to: { y: 0, autoAlpha: 1 } },
  "blur-in": { from: { y: 18, autoAlpha: 0, filter: "blur(10px)" }, to: { y: 0, autoAlpha: 1, filter: "blur(0px)" } },
  "scale": { from: { scale: 0.96, autoAlpha: 0 }, to: { scale: 1, autoAlpha: 1 } },
  "slide-left": { from: { x: 48, autoAlpha: 0 }, to: { x: 0, autoAlpha: 1 } },
  "slide-right": { from: { x: -48, autoAlpha: 0 }, to: { x: 0, autoAlpha: 1 } },
};

function initScrollReveals() {
  if (reduceMotion) {
    gsap.set("[data-reveal], [data-reveal-item]", { autoAlpha: 1, clearProps: "all" });
    return;
  }

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-reveal-group]").forEach((group) => {
    const items = group.querySelectorAll("[data-reveal-item]");
    gsap.set(group, { autoAlpha: 1 });
    gsap.fromTo(
      items,
      { y: 36, autoAlpha: 0, filter: "blur(8px)" },
      {
        y: 0,
        autoAlpha: 1,
        filter: "blur(0px)",
        duration: 0.95,
        ease: "power4.out",
        stagger: 0.075,
        scrollTrigger: {
          trigger: group,
          start: "top 82%",
          once: true,
        },
      }
    );
  });

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-reveal]:not([data-reveal-item])").forEach((element) => {
    const preset = revealPresets[element.dataset.reveal] || revealPresets["fade-up"];
    gsap.set(element, { autoAlpha: 1 });
    gsap.fromTo(element, preset.from, {
      ...preset.to,
      duration: 0.9,
      ease: "power4.out",
      delay: Number(element.dataset.revealDelay || 0),
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: element,
        start: "top 84%",
        once: true,
      },
    });
  });
}

Clip Image Reveals

function initImageReveals() {
  if (reduceMotion) {
    gsap.set("[data-image-reveal]", { autoAlpha: 1, clipPath: "none" });
    return;
  }

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-image-reveal]").forEach((figure) => {
    const image = figure.querySelector("img");
    gsap.set(figure, { autoAlpha: 1 });

    const tl = gsap.timeline({
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: figure,
        start: "top 82%",
        once: true,
      },
    });

    tl.fromTo(
      figure,
      { clipPath: "inset(0 0 100% 0)" },
      { clipPath: "inset(0 0 0% 0)", duration: 1.1, ease: "power4.out" }
    ).fromTo(
      image,
      { scale: 1.08, autoAlpha: 0.75 },
      { scale: 1, autoAlpha: 1, duration: 1.2, ease: "power4.out" },
      0
    );
  });
}

Parallax Motion

Use speed differences instead of dramatic movement. Backgrounds move slower than content. Foreground accents move slightly faster.

function initParallax() {
  if (reduceMotion) return;

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-parallax-image], [data-parallax-layer]").forEach((layer) => {
    const speed = Number(layer.dataset.parallaxSpeed || 0.18);
    const section = layer.closest("[data-parallax-section]") || layer;

    gsap.to(layer, {
      y: () => window.innerHeight * speed * -1,
      ease: "none",
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: section,
        start: "top bottom",
        end: "bottom top",
        scrub: 1.2,
        invalidateOnRefresh: true,
      },
    });
  });
}

Pinned Scroll Sections

Use pinned sections for story moments only. Keep scroll-synced movement linear, then layer eased reveal tweens inside the scene.

function initHorizontalGalleries() {
  if (reduceMotion) return;

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-horizontal-gallery]").forEach((section) => {
    const track = section.querySelector("[data-horizontal-track]");
    if (!track) return;

    gsap.to(track, {
      x: () => -(track.scrollWidth - window.innerWidth),
      ease: "none",
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: section,
        start: "top top",
        end: () => `+=${track.scrollWidth}`,
        scrub: 1,
        pin: true,
        anticipatePin: 1,
        invalidateOnRefresh: true,
      },
    });
  });
}

Sticky storytelling pattern:

function initStoryScenes() {
  if (reduceMotion) return;

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-story-scene]").forEach((scene) => {
    const panels = scene.querySelectorAll("[data-story-panel]");

    gsap.timeline({
      scrollTrigger: {
        trigger: scene,
        start: "top top",
        end: () => `+=${panels.length * window.innerHeight}`,
        scrub: 1.1,
        pin: true,
        anticipatePin: 1,
      },
    })
      .to(panels, { yPercent: -100 * (panels.length - 1), ease: "none" })
      .to(scene.querySelectorAll("[data-story-depth]"), { yPercent: -16, ease: "none" }, 0);
  });
}

Premium Hover Interactions

Use GSAP quickTo for magnetic motion so hover follows the pointer without re-creating tweens on every event.

function initMagnetic() {
  if (reduceMotion || window.matchMedia("(pointer: coarse)").matches) return;

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-magnetic]").forEach((element) => {
    const strength = Number(element.dataset.magnetic || 0.18);
    const xTo = gsap.quickTo(element, "x", { duration: 0.45, ease: "power3.out" });
    const yTo = gsap.quickTo(element, "y", { duration: 0.45, ease: "power3.out" });

    element.addEventListener("pointermove", (event) => {
      const rect = element.getBoundingClientRect();
      const x = (event.clientX - rect.left - rect.width / 2) * strength;
      const y = (event.clientY - rect.top - rect.height / 2) * strength;

      xTo(x);
      yTo(y);
    });

    element.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => {
      xTo(0);
      yTo(0);
    });
  });
}

Hover recipes:

Magnetic buttons: translate x/y only, keep scale under 1.03.
Magnetic cards: add rotateX/rotateY under 4deg.
Image zoom: scale: 1 to 1.06, duration 0.7s, ease power3.out.
Grayscale to color: transition filter only on small/medium media.
Animated arrows: move icon x: 0 to x: 6, fade the duplicate arrow in.
Directional hover: calculate pointer entry side, but keep movement under 16px.

Custom Cursor

Use a cursor follower as atmosphere, not decoration. Hide it on touch devices.

function initCursor() {
  if (reduceMotion || window.matchMedia("(pointer: coarse)").matches) return;

  const cursor = document.querySelector("[data-cursor]");
  if (!cursor) return;

  const label = cursor.querySelector("[data-cursor-label]");
  const xTo = gsap.quickTo(cursor, "x", { duration: 0.35, ease: "power3.out" });
  const yTo = gsap.quickTo(cursor, "y", { duration: 0.35, ease: "power3.out" });

  document.addEventListener("pointermove", (event) => {
    xTo(event.clientX);
    yTo(event.clientY);
  });

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-cursor-label]")
    .filter((target) => !cursor.contains(target))
    .forEach((target) => {
      target.addEventListener("pointerenter", () => {
        if (label) label.textContent = target.dataset.cursorLabel || "";
        gsap.to(cursor, { scale: 1.75, duration: 0.35, ease: "power3.out" });
      });

      target.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => {
        if (label) label.textContent = "";
        gsap.to(cursor, { scale: 1, duration: 0.35, ease: "power3.out" });
      });
    });
}

Mouse-Reactive Layers

Use one pointer listener per section. Depth should be barely visible.

function initMouseParallax() {
  if (reduceMotion || window.matchMedia("(pointer: coarse)").matches) return;

  gsap.utils.toArray("[data-mouse-parallax]").forEach((section) => {
    const layers = section.querySelectorAll("[data-mouse-depth]");
    const setters = Array.from(layers).map((layer) => ({
      layer,
      depth: Number(layer.dataset.mouseDepth || 0.04),
      xTo: gsap.quickTo(layer, "x", { duration: 0.8, ease: "power3.out" }),
      yTo: gsap.quickTo(layer, "y", { duration: 0.8, ease: "power3.out" }),
    }));

    section.addEventListener("pointermove", (event) => {
      const rect = section.getBoundingClientRect();
      const x = event.clientX - rect.left - rect.width / 2;
      const y = event.clientY - rect.top - rect.height / 2;

      setters.forEach(({ depth, xTo, yTo }) => {
        xTo(x * depth);
        yTo(y * depth);
      });
    });

    section.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => {
      setters.forEach(({ xTo, yTo }) => {
        xTo(0);
        yTo(0);
      });
    });
  });
}

Choreography Rules

Hero: background or media starts first, headline lines second, supporting copy third, CTA last.
Sections: label first, heading second, media third, cards/details last.
Pinned scenes: one idea per viewport. Avoid stacking too many simultaneous transforms.
Parallax: background slower, foreground slightly faster, text mostly stable.
Cursor and hover effects should support navigation intent, not fight it.

Performance Rules

Animate transform, opacity, and short-lived clip-path.
Use filter: blur() only on text or small elements.
Keep pinned sections limited and test them on mobile.
Add will-change only to elements that actually animate.
Use ScrollTrigger.refresh() after images, fonts, or layout shifts.
In React or SPA routes, wrap setup in gsap.context() and call ctx.revert() on cleanup.
Kill or revert ScrollTriggers on page transitions before initializing the next route.

Init Order

initTextReveals();
initScrollReveals();
initImageReveals();
initParallax();
initHorizontalGalleries();
initStoryScenes();
initMagnetic();
initCursor();
initMouseParallax();
ScrollTrigger.refresh();

QA Checklist

Text and content remain visible with JavaScript disabled.
Reduced-motion users get static content and no smooth-scroll hijacking.
Scroll reveals animate once unless the design explicitly asks for replay.
Pinned sections do not overlap the next section.
Hover and cursor interactions are disabled on touch.
No layout properties are animated during scroll.
The page still feels readable if all decorative motion is removed.