manim: Animation Engine for Explanatory Math Videos by 3Blue1Brown

manim: Animation Engine for Explanatory Math Videos by 3Blue1Brown

Summary

manim is an animation engine developed by Grant Sanderson of 3Blue1Brown, specifically crafted for creating precise programmatic animations for explanatory math videos. This powerful Python library enables users to visualize complex mathematical concepts with clarity and engaging visuals. It has garnered significant community interest for its capabilities in educational content creation.

Repository Info

Updated on October 12, 2025
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Tags

pythonanimationmathematicseducationvisualization3b1b-videosexplanatory-math-videos

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Introduction

Manim, developed by Grant Sanderson of 3Blue1Brown, is a powerful animation engine designed for creating precise programmatic animations, particularly for explanatory math videos. This repository, 3b1b/manim, is the original version used by 3Blue1Brown for his popular YouTube channel. Written in Python, Manim allows users to visualize complex mathematical concepts and create engaging educational content.

It's important to note that there are two main versions of Manim: this original ManimGL by 3b1b and the community-maintained Manim Community Edition. This blog post focuses on the 3b1b/manim (ManimGL) version. The project boasts an impressive 81,135 stars and 6,894 forks, highlighting its widespread adoption and impact.

Installation

Installing ManimGL requires Python 3.7 or higher, along with system dependencies like FFmpeg, OpenGL, and optionally LaTeX for mathematical typesetting. For Linux users, Pango and its development headers are also necessary.

Important: These instructions are specifically for ManimGL (this repository). Do not confuse them with instructions for the Manim Community Edition.

The simplest way to get started is via pip:

pip install manimgl

After installation, you can test it:

manimgl

For more detailed instructions, including platform-specific steps for Windows, Mac OSX, and Anaconda environments, please refer to the official README in the repository.

Examples

To see ManimGL in action, you can run one of the included example scenes:

manimgl example_scenes.py OpeningManimExample

This command will open a window playing a simple animation. The repository's example scenes provide a great starting point to explore the library's syntax, animation types, and object types.

For advanced examples and to see how 3Blue1Brown creates his videos, you can explore the 3b1b/videos repository. This repository contains the code for many of his YouTube videos, offering insights into real-world ManimGL usage.

Useful command-line flags include:

  • -w to write the scene to a file
  • -o to write the scene to a file and open the result
  • -s to skip to the end and just show the final frame
  • -n <number> to skip ahead to the n'th animation of a scene

Why Use ManimGL?

ManimGL stands out as an exceptional tool for anyone looking to create high-quality, precise animations, especially in the realm of mathematics and science education. Its programmatic nature offers unparalleled control over every aspect of an animation, from object placement to timing and transitions.

Key reasons to consider ManimGL include:

  • Educational Content Creation: It is specifically designed for explanatory math videos, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.
  • Precision and Control: Define animations with code, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility.
  • High-Quality Visuals: Produce visually stunning animations suitable for professional presentations and online content.
  • Proven Effectiveness: The library is the backbone of 3Blue1Brown's highly acclaimed videos, demonstrating its capability to convey intricate ideas effectively.
  • Active Community and Resources: Benefit from a dedicated community, extensive documentation, and numerous examples.

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