# motion-sickness

Finds the animations that make users dizzy or queasy — parallax, zoom, rotation — and swaps them for safer motion. Useful when complaints about navigation keep coming in.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 483 installs · ★ 124
- Author: dylantarre
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/HEAD/skills/12-by-problem-type/motion-sickness/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2025-12-30
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/motion-sickness

## What it does

The skill maps animation problems onto Disney's principles and names the vestibular trigger behind each one. Over-dramatic transforms, curved paths, bounce and overshoot, several elements moving at once, sudden speed changes: every case gets a concrete fix, from shrinking the scale to dropping overshoot entirely.

What you get is a list of dangerous patterns, a table of safe alternatives and a ready CSS block for `prefers-reduced-motion`. It advises keeping movement under 100px, cutting scroll-jacking, and replacing zoom transitions with a fade plus a scale of at most 5%. Honouring `prefers-reduced-motion` is treated as non-negotiable.

Test on a large display, where motion reads stronger. And leave the page running for five minutes or more — a quick pass won't surface the cumulative effect.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill motion-sickness -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/motion-sickness/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/motion-sickness/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill motion-sickness -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/motion-sickness/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill motion-sickness -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/motion-sickness/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dylantarre/animation-principles motion-sickness
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/motion-sickness/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill motion-sickness -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles --path skills/12-by-problem-type/motion-sickness
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/motion-sickness/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dylantarre/animation-principles --skill motion-sickness -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/dylantarre/animation-principles/tree/HEAD/skills/12-by-problem-type/motion-sickness/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- remove parallax that makes scrolling nauseating
- replace zoom transitions with fades
- add `prefers-reduced-motion` support to the stylesheet
- shrink transform scale to a safe range
- trace the source of dizziness complaints in navigation

## Example prompts
- Users say the homepage scroll makes them queasy — audit the animations with the motion-sickness skill
- Drop the parallax and zoom transitions, keep only safe motion patterns
- Add the `prefers-reduced-motion` CSS block and check nothing moves more than 100px

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

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BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE ba111f8243639d17
````text
---
name: motion-sickness
description: Use when animation causes dizziness, nausea, disorientation, or vestibular discomfort
---

# Motion Sickness Prevention

Eliminate vestibular triggers using Disney's principles safely.

## Problem Indicators
- Users report dizziness or nausea
- Disorientation during navigation
- Users avoid certain features
- Complaints increase with larger screens
- Parallax or zoom effects cause issues

## Dangerous Patterns

These trigger vestibular responses:
- Large-scale zoom animations
- Parallax scrolling (especially multi-layer)
- Full-screen rotations
- Rapid direction changes
- Continuous/looping background motion
- Scroll-jacking

## Diagnosis by Principle

### Exaggeration
**Issue**: Over-dramatic motion
**Fix**: Reduce scale of transforms. Max 10-20% size change. Avoid full-screen zooms.

### Arcs
**Issue**: Curved paths cause tracking strain
**Fix**: Use linear motion for functional UI. Save arcs for small, optional elements only.

### Follow Through
**Issue**: Overshooting creates whiplash effect
**Fix**: Remove bounce/overshoot from navigation. Use critically damped springs or ease-out.

### Secondary Action
**Issue**: Multiple moving elements cause confusion
**Fix**: Limit to one primary motion. Remove parallax layers.

### Slow In and Slow Out
**Issue**: Acceleration patterns cause disorientation
**Fix**: Use consistent, predictable easing. Avoid sudden speed changes.

## Quick Fixes

1. **Respect `prefers-reduced-motion`** - Non-negotiable
2. **Remove parallax effects** - Common trigger
3. **Avoid zoom transitions** - Use fades instead
4. **Keep motion small** - Under 100px movement
5. **No scroll-jacking** - Let scroll be scroll

## Troubleshooting Checklist

- [ ] Does animation respect `prefers-reduced-motion`?
- [ ] Is any element moving more than 100px?
- [ ] Are there any zoom effects?
- [ ] Is parallax present? Remove it.
- [ ] Are there continuous/looping animations?
- [ ] Can users pause or disable motion?
- [ ] Test on large display (motion amplified)
- [ ] Test for 5+ minutes continuously

## Safe Alternatives

| Triggering | Safe Alternative |
|------------|------------------|
| Zoom transition | Fade + slight scale (max 5%) |
| Parallax scroll | Static or single-layer |
| Rotation | Fade or slide |
| Bounce/spring | Ease-out (no overshoot) |
| Full-page slide | Crossfade |

## Code Pattern

```css
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  *,
  *::before,
  *::after {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    scroll-behavior: auto !important;
  }

  .parallax {
    transform: none !important;
  }
}

/* Safe default motion */
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE ba111f8243639d17

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