manim-math-explainer

name

manim-math-explainer

description

Trigger when: (1) the user asks for Manim, Manim Community, or ManimCE, (2) code contains `from manim import *`, or (3) the task is to build a mathematical explainer animation. Opinionated Manim Community skill for concise math scenes. Focuses on scene structure, proof-style layout, visual language, text and formulas, trackers and updaters, graphing, and a fast render workflow. Not for ManimGL (`from manimlib import *`, `manimgl`).

Scope

• Default to Manim Community Edition.
• Build scenes that explain one idea at a time.
• Prefer official Manim APIs and example-gallery patterns over low-level point editing.
• Optimize for quick iteration first, polish second.

Read First

• rules/core-workflow.md
• rules/visual-style.md
• rules/proof-layouts.md
• rules/text-and-math.md
• rules/dynamics-and-graphing.md

When a request is mainly about aesthetics, composition, pacing, or visual tone, prioritize rules/visual-style.md and keep the rest secondary.

Default Operating Rules

1. Confirm the stack before writing code. If imports or commands suggest manimgl or manimlib, stop and switch mental models.
2. Start with one compact scene in one file.
3. Build in this order: create, position, style, animate.
4. Prefer Create, Write, FadeIn, FadeOut, Transform, ReplacementTransform, TransformMatchingTex, and .animate.
5. Use Text for prose, MathTex for formulas, and Tex only when mixing prose with LaTeX intentionally.
6. Use ValueTracker with always_redraw(...) or simple updaters for dynamic geometry.
7. Keep color semantics stable across the whole scene.
8. Use camera movement only when it adds meaning.

Visual Defaults

• Editorial, proof-first composition
• One focal point per beat
• Stable layout and restrained camera motion
• Limited semantic palette instead of decorative multicolor styling
• Smooth, identity-preserving transforms over flashy effects
• Clean negative space and readable frame density

Render Loop

manim -pql scene.py SceneName
manim -sql scene.py SceneName
manim -pqm scene.py SceneName
manim -qh scene.py SceneName

• -pql: fast development loop
• -sql: save last frame only
• -pqm: medium-quality check
• -qh: final render

Preferred Toolbox

• Layout: VGroup, Group, arrange, arrange_in_grid, next_to, align_to, to_edge, to_corner
• Emphasis: SurroundingRectangle, Brace, Arrow, Indicate, Circumscribe
• Equation work: MathTex, TransformMatchingTex, substrings_to_isolate, index_labels
• Dynamic scenes: ValueTracker, always_redraw, add_updater, TracedPath
• Plotting: Axes, NumberPlane, axes.plot, axes.get_graph_label, axes.i2gp

Red Flags

• from manimlib import * in a ManimCE task
• Tex used for ordinary prose when Text is enough
• Direct VMobject.points manipulation without a concrete need
• Formula coloring without isolating substrings first
• Heavy camera motion in proof-like scenes
• Too many simultaneous animations for a single conceptual beat

Templates

• templates/basic_scene.py
• templates/tracker_graph_scene.py