Why the Best UI Feels Like a Disney Movie
Jan 12, 2026
Why the Best UI Feels Like a Disney Movie
It's not simply because of the aesthetics, but because of the animation principles quietly shaping every interaction.
Some animations feel instantly magical… while others feel completely wrong. There’s a reason and Disney animators discovered it decades ago.
In The Illusion of Life, they documented the 12 original animation principles: rules that explain why motion feels good.
These aren’t just for movies. They’re a framework for making anything on a screen feel alive.
And it turns out the best software follows them.
Apps that feel warm, fluid, and joyful? They’re using these principles. Apps that feel flat and lifeless? They’re not.
(Liquid Glass is a perfect recent example of these principles applied to modern UI.)
I wanted to create a resource that clearly shows how these animation principles translate into software design.
There was just one problem: I don’t know how to code. And this idea needed dozens of interactive motion demos. For a long time, I wasn’t sure it would ever exist.
But then Replit launched their new Design tool this week… and everything changed. I guided the tool with my ideas, and it built every animation. One by one, the whole thing came to life.
What started as “I have no idea how to build this” is now real. I’m excited to share it with the world so more people can understand why great UI feels the way it does.
Check it out here: https://theillusionoflife.com