How can I animate SVG text to be "written out"

Question

I'm trying to animate an svg as if it's being written out, like this example on Codepen.

I'm trying to understand how to do this by comparing svg elements but so far I'm not seeing much difference. I replaced the svg in the codepen with my own but it wouldn't work. Why is this? And how could I make my own SVG's (such as the one below) animate in the same fashion as on the Codepen? (Besides replacing the path id!)

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="417.773" height="224.047" viewBox="0 0 417.773 224.047">
  <path id="Path_35" data-name="Path 35" d="M-3.875-234.323c-1.516,0-8.928,23.415-22.236,70.078-2.021.842-29.143,6.907-81.533,18.193-.505,0-.842-.674-1.348-2.021.842-1.179,6.57-22.742,16.846-64.687,0-.842-.505-1.179-1.348-1.348h-1.348c-1.179,0-7.581,22.91-18.867,68.73q-8.844,3.285-95.01,23.584c-35.881,7.917-53.906,12.3-53.906,13.477v2.021a4.017,4.017,0,0,1,2.021.674q56.1-14.15,143.525-33.691c0,.505.168.674.674.674h.674q0,1.516-23.584,92.988a4.017,4.017,0,0,1,.674,2.021h2.7l25.605-96.357c10.276-3.538,37.566-9.6,81.533-18.193h.674q-17.435,69.236-33.691,141.5c.674,1.853,1.348,2.7,2.021,2.7h.674l1.348-.674c11.624-53.738,23.415-101.916,35.039-144.873,38.408-8.591,66.035-12.8,82.881-12.8h5.391l3.369,3.369h.674c.674,0,1.348-.842,2.021-2.7,0-3.2-3.2-4.717-9.434-4.717h-.674c-15.5,0-42.451,3.875-80.859,11.455,0-.505-.505-.674-1.348-.674,2.7-11.624,9.265-33.86,19.541-66.709,0-1.348-.505-2.021-1.348-2.021Zm14.993,93.662c-8.254,0-13.982,6.738-17.519,20.215,0,6.57,4.548,10.276,13.477,11.455,9.434,0,19.036-7.917,28.975-23.584,0-1.348-.505-2.021-1.348-2.021H33.354c-8.76,13.477-16.677,20.215-23.584,20.215H2.358a7.891,7.891,0,0,1-4.043-4.043v-2.021a26.887,26.887,0,0,1,1.348-6.064c11.624-3.706,17.519-6.57,17.519-8.76v-2.021a5.721,5.721,0,0,0-5.391-3.369Zm-8.591,9.939c1.516-3.2,3.369-4.885,5.559-5.222l3.369-.168-4.717,2.864ZM98.716-238.029c-1.516,0-3.875,6.738-7.412,20.215q-4.3,20.973-34.365,78.838c-8.254,14.319-13.645,21.562-16.172,21.562H38.745c-1.853-.505-2.7-2.527-2.7-6.064v-10.107c14.487-43.63,24.089-76.311,28.975-97.7-.337-3.2-1.011-4.717-2.021-4.717H60.981l-4.043,4.043c-17.014,44.978-25.605,79.006-25.605,101.748v4.043c0,7.581,2.527,12.129,7.412,13.477,7.581,0,20.215-18.025,37.734-53.906h.674c-3.538,17.183-5.391,29.817-5.391,37.734v4.043c0,6.233,1.516,10.276,4.717,12.129h2.7c4.548,0,11.624-7.244,21.562-21.562-.505,0-.674-.505-.674-1.348H98.042C88.1-123.479,81.533-117.414,78.5-117.414c-1.348-.337-2.021-2.19-2.021-5.391v-4.717c0-12.971,3.2-31.838,9.434-56.6,10.276-31,15.5-48.347,15.5-51.885,0-1.348-.505-2.021-1.348-2.021Zm-41.1,17.519v.674c-2.19,11.118-6.738,26.448-13.477,45.82h-.674v-.674c0-5.054,4.548-20.383,13.477-45.82ZM106.3-139.482c-6.57,0-11.118,6.738-13.477,20.215,0,6.233,2.864,9.939,8.76,11.455,4.548,0,8.928-4.043,13.477-12.129,14.319-5.391,22.4-9.939,24.258-13.477v-.674c0-.842-.505-1.179-1.348-1.348h-1.348c-8.591,5.9-14.656,8.76-18.193,8.76h-.674C116.909-135.271,113.035-139.482,106.3-139.482Zm-1.348,5.391c3.875-1.516,6.57.168,8.086,5.391v2.021q-6.822,0-8.086-6.064Zm-4.717,5.391c4.885,3.706,8.423,5.9,10.781,6.738-2.021,5.9-4.885,8.76-8.76,8.76h-2.021c-1.348-.674-2.19-2.358-2.7-5.222C97.2-121.12,98.042-124.49,100.232-128.7Zm51.211,7.244c-4.043,0-7.075,2.19-8.928,6.738l3.032,2.864c5.728-1.685,8.928-3.538,9.6-5.728-.168-2.527-.842-3.875-1.685-3.875Z" transform="translate(262.624 238.029)" fill="#949ba5"/>
</svg>

Your SVG is a filled path; you need a stroke. See MDN: [Fills and Strokes](//developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/SVG/Tutorial/Fills_and_Strokes). — Sebastian Simon, Aug 18 '21 at 00:47
Ahhh thank you! That makes a lot more sense. Would you also be able to tell me how I'd set a beginning and end to the animation? I used stroke and got it to animate but it's now filling all over the place. — Kai, Aug 18 '21 at 00:59
1. you need a continous path like *ello* but unlike the *H* in your example. 2. You need to know the path length. You will use this as a value for stroke-dasharray and stroke-dashoffset. In order to know the path length you may use javascript and the `getTotalLength()` method — enxaneta, Aug 18 '21 at 06:21
You can also add a pathLength attribute to the path and set it =100 - which avoids having to use getTotalLength and makes it a lot easier to reason about things like % completion. — Michael Mullany, Aug 18 '21 at 11:50
Alternative using a native Web Component ```` : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/65975967/how-to-animate-shape-or-image-file-along-svg-paths-with-the-vivus-js/66064211#66064211 — Danny '365CSI' Engelman, Aug 18 '21 at 19:38

Alexandr_TT · Accepted Answer · 2021-08-19T06:20:56.300

And how could I make my own SVG's (such as the one below) animate in the same fashion as on the Codepen? (Besides replacing the path id!)

For this you need to change your SVG

Your shapes is drawn with double paths:

You need to redraw the shape using single paths and make the line thicker (stroke-width ="6")

This is how it looks in the end:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 417.8 224" height="224" width="417.8">
<g fill="none" stroke="#949BA5" stroke-width="6" stroke-linecap="round">
   <!-- Length = 337px -->
<path id="horizont"  d="M3.8 130l82.4-20 60.3-13.8L213.7 81l56.2-11 25-4.2s21.7-3 32.5-2c3.3.3 5 3 5 3"/> 
  
<path id="vert1" d="M169.1 24l-15 55.5-10.5 41.6-17.8 70" />
<path id="vert2" d="M259.3 5.8l-7.8 23.7L241 63.2l-8.6 33.2L220 148l-11.5 49.8-5.3 22.6" />
<path id="sign" d="M259.8 110.4s6-1.4 10.3-3.4c2.8-1.3 6.8-2 6.8-4.9 0-1.5-2-2.6-3.5-2.7-3.4-.4-7 1.6-9.3 4.1-3.6 4-5.7 10.2-5 15.6.4 2.5 2 5 4.3 6.2 3.2 1.7 7.4 1.3 11 .4 5-1.4 9.7-4.3 13.3-8.1 5.8-6.2 8.5-14.8 11.7-22.6 2.7-6.8 4-14 6.3-20.9 2.2-6.8 7.2-20.4 7.2-20.4l7.3-25s2.8-8.8 3.6-13.4c.7-3.6 4.6-9.9 1-11-3.4-1.2-4 6-5.5 9.3-3 6.1-7 19.3-7 19.3l-5.7 17.4-5.2 22.2-4.4 19a54.5 54.5 0 00-1.4 20.6c.5 3.6 2.3 9.7 3.8 10.3 2 .7 4.2 1 6.2-.7 3.4-3 6.3-6.5 9-10.2 4.5-6.4 8-13.5 11.7-20.3 3-5.3 6-10.7 8.7-16l7.6-15.1L354 32.5s4-13.3 6.2-20c1.9-6.8 4.2-13 1.3-11-3.3 6.2-4.9 15.6-6.9 22.1-2.1 7-11.3 41.8-11.3 41.8l-4.2 22.3-2.2 19.8s-.7 7.2.2 10.7c.5 1.9 1 4.6 3 5.1 3 .9 6.1-2.4 8.3-4.4 2.5-2.3 7-7.2 7-7.2s3.6-5 6.5-6.8c3.3-2-2.8 6.3-3.4 9.7-.5 3-1.5 6.5 0 9.1 1.2 2.2 3.9 4.1 6.4 4 3.5 0 6.5-3.1 8.7-5.8 2.4-3 4.2-6.7 4.5-10.5.2-2.2-.2-4.7-1.6-6.4-1.8-2.3-4.9-4.2-7.8-4-2.6.2-6.2 2-6.4 4.5-.2 2.4 3.2 3.7 5.1 5 2.3 1.6 5 3 7.7 3.3 3 .5 6.2-.2 9.2-1a42 42 0 0015.8-8.6" />
<path id="dot" d="M407 123c0-2 2.7-3.6 4-4.2 1.6-.8 2.2-.7 4-1 1 0 1.4 2 1 3-.2.7-2.9 1.7-1.8 1.3 0 0-4 2.6-5.9 2.4-.7 0-1.4-.8-1.4-1.5z" />
</g>
</svg>

Animating one element with stroke-dashoffset

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 417.8 224" height="224" width="417.8" style="background:#151515">
<g fill="none" stroke="white" stroke-width="6" stroke-linecap="round">
   <!-- Length = 750px -->
<path id="Sign" stroke-dashoffset="750" stroke-dasharray="750" d="M259.8 110.4s6-1.4 10.3-3.4c2.8-1.3 6.8-2 6.8-4.9 0-1.5-2-2.6-3.5-2.7-3.4-.4-7 1.6-9.3 4.1-3.6 4-5.7 10.2-5 15.6.4 2.5 2 5 4.3 6.2 3.2 1.7 7.4 1.3 11 .4 5-1.4 9.7-4.3 13.3-8.1 5.8-6.2 8.5-14.8 11.7-22.6 2.7-6.8 4-14 6.3-20.9 2.2-6.8 7.2-20.4 7.2-20.4l7.3-25s2.8-8.8 3.6-13.4c.7-3.6 4.6-9.9 1-11-3.4-1.2-4 6-5.5 9.3-3 6.1-7 19.3-7 19.3l-5.7 17.4-5.2 22.2-4.4 19a54.5 54.5 0 00-1.4 20.6c.5 3.6 2.3 9.7 3.8 10.3 2 .7 4.2 1 6.2-.7 3.4-3 6.3-6.5 9-10.2 4.5-6.4 8-13.5 11.7-20.3 3-5.3 6-10.7 8.7-16l7.6-15.1L354 32.5s4-13.3 6.2-20c1.9-6.8 4.2-13 1.3-11-3.3 6.2-4.9 15.6-6.9 22.1-2.1 7-11.3 41.8-11.3 41.8l-4.2 22.3-2.2 19.8s-.7 7.2.2 10.7c.5 1.9 1 4.6 3 5.1 3 .9 6.1-2.4 8.3-4.4 2.5-2.3 7-7.2 7-7.2s3.6-5 6.5-6.8c3.3-2-2.8 6.3-3.4 9.7-.5 3-1.5 6.5 0 9.1 1.2 2.2 3.9 4.1 6.4 4 3.5 0 6.5-3.1 8.7-5.8 2.4-3 4.2-6.7 4.5-10.5.2-2.2-.2-4.7-1.6-6.4-1.8-2.3-4.9-4.2-7.8-4-2.6.2-6.2 2-6.4 4.5-.2 2.4 3.2 3.7 5.1 5 2.3 1.6 5 3 7.7 3.3 3 .5 6.2-.2 9.2-1a42 42 0 0015.8-8.6" >
    <animate id="anSign"
    attributeName="stroke-dashoffset"
    begin="0s;anSign.end+1s"
    dur="3s"
    values="750;0"
    repeatCount="1"
    fill="freeze" />
</path>   
</svg>

Animating all the elements of the shape:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 417.8 224" height="224" width="417.8" style="background:#151515">
<g fill="none" stroke="white" stroke-width="6" stroke-linecap="round">
   <!-- Length = 337px -->
<path id="Horizont" stroke-dashoffset="337" stroke-dasharray="337"  d="M3.8 130l82.4-20 60.3-13.8L213.7 81l56.2-11 25-4.2s21.7-3 32.5-2c3.3.3 5 3 5 3"> 
   <animate id="anHorizont" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anVert1.end+0.25s" dur="0.3s" values="337;0" fill="freeze"/>
</path> 
                   <!-- Length = 173px -->
<path id="Vert1" stroke-dashoffset="173" stroke-dasharray="173"  d="M169.1 24l-15 55.5-10.5 41.6-17.8 70" >
    <animate id="anVert1" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anVert2.end+0.25s" dur="0.25s" values="173;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>  
                   <!-- Length = 232px -->
<path id="Vert2" stroke-dashoffset="232" stroke-dasharray="232" d="M259.3 5.8l-7.8 23.7L241 63.2l-8.6 33.2L220 148l-11.5 49.8-5.3 22.6"> 
     <animate id="anVert2"  attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anSign.end+0.25s" dur="0.25s" values="232;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>  
   
     <!-- Length = 750px -->
<path id="Sign" stroke-dashoffset="750" stroke-dasharray="750" d="M259.8 110.4s6-1.4 10.3-3.4c2.8-1.3 6.8-2 6.8-4.9 0-1.5-2-2.6-3.5-2.7-3.4-.4-7 1.6-9.3 4.1-3.6 4-5.7 10.2-5 15.6.4 2.5 2 5 4.3 6.2 3.2 1.7 7.4 1.3 11 .4 5-1.4 9.7-4.3 13.3-8.1 5.8-6.2 8.5-14.8 11.7-22.6 2.7-6.8 4-14 6.3-20.9 2.2-6.8 7.2-20.4 7.2-20.4l7.3-25s2.8-8.8 3.6-13.4c.7-3.6 4.6-9.9 1-11-3.4-1.2-4 6-5.5 9.3-3 6.1-7 19.3-7 19.3l-5.7 17.4-5.2 22.2-4.4 19a54.5 54.5 0 00-1.4 20.6c.5 3.6 2.3 9.7 3.8 10.3 2 .7 4.2 1 6.2-.7 3.4-3 6.3-6.5 9-10.2 4.5-6.4 8-13.5 11.7-20.3 3-5.3 6-10.7 8.7-16l7.6-15.1L354 32.5s4-13.3 6.2-20c1.9-6.8 4.2-13 1.3-11-3.3 6.2-4.9 15.6-6.9 22.1-2.1 7-11.3 41.8-11.3 41.8l-4.2 22.3-2.2 19.8s-.7 7.2.2 10.7c.5 1.9 1 4.6 3 5.1 3 .9 6.1-2.4 8.3-4.4 2.5-2.3 7-7.2 7-7.2s3.6-5 6.5-6.8c3.3-2-2.8 6.3-3.4 9.7-.5 3-1.5 6.5 0 9.1 1.2 2.2 3.9 4.1 6.4 4 3.5 0 6.5-3.1 8.7-5.8 2.4-3 4.2-6.7 4.5-10.5.2-2.2-.2-4.7-1.6-6.4-1.8-2.3-4.9-4.2-7.8-4-2.6.2-6.2 2-6.4 4.5-.2 2.4 3.2 3.7 5.1 5 2.3 1.6 5 3 7.7 3.3 3 .5 6.2-.2 9.2-1a42 42 0 0015.8-8.6" >
    <animate id="anSign" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="0s" dur="2s" values="750;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>   
    
<path id="Dot" stroke-width="4" stroke-dashoffset="25" stroke-dasharray="25" d="M407 123c0-2 2.7-3.6 4-4.2 1.6-.8 2.2-.7 4-1 1 0 1.4 2 1 3-.2.7-2.9 1.7-1.8 1.3 0 0-4 2.6-5.9 2.4-.7 0-1.4-.8-1.4-1.5z" >
      <animate id="anDot"  attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anSign.end+0.2s" dur="0.25s" values="25;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>   
</g>
</svg>

Color scheme option as in the question:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 417.8 224" height="224" width="417.8">
<g fill="none" stroke="#949BA5" stroke-width="6" stroke-linecap="round">
   <!-- Length = 337px -->
<path id="Horizont" stroke-dashoffset="337" stroke-dasharray="337"  d="M3.8 130l82.4-20 60.3-13.8L213.7 81l56.2-11 25-4.2s21.7-3 32.5-2c3.3.3 5 3 5 3"> 
   <animate id="anHorizont" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anVert1.end+0.25s" dur="0.3s" values="337;0" fill="freeze"/>
</path> 
                   <!-- Length = 173px -->
<path id="Vert1" stroke-dashoffset="173" stroke-dasharray="173"  d="M169.1 24l-15 55.5-10.5 41.6-17.8 70" >
    <animate id="anVert1" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anVert2.end+0.25s" dur="0.25s" values="173;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>  
                   <!-- Length = 232px -->
<path id="Vert2" stroke-dashoffset="232" stroke-dasharray="232" d="M259.3 5.8l-7.8 23.7L241 63.2l-8.6 33.2L220 148l-11.5 49.8-5.3 22.6"> 
     <animate id="anVert2"  attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anSign.end+0.25s" dur="0.25s" values="232;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>  
   
      <!-- Length = 750px -->
<path id="Sign" stroke-dashoffset="750" stroke-dasharray="750" d="M259.8 110.4s6-1.4 10.3-3.4c2.8-1.3 6.8-2 6.8-4.9 0-1.5-2-2.6-3.5-2.7-3.4-.4-7 1.6-9.3 4.1-3.6 4-5.7 10.2-5 15.6.4 2.5 2 5 4.3 6.2 3.2 1.7 7.4 1.3 11 .4 5-1.4 9.7-4.3 13.3-8.1 5.8-6.2 8.5-14.8 11.7-22.6 2.7-6.8 4-14 6.3-20.9 2.2-6.8 7.2-20.4 7.2-20.4l7.3-25s2.8-8.8 3.6-13.4c.7-3.6 4.6-9.9 1-11-3.4-1.2-4 6-5.5 9.3-3 6.1-7 19.3-7 19.3l-5.7 17.4-5.2 22.2-4.4 19a54.5 54.5 0 00-1.4 20.6c.5 3.6 2.3 9.7 3.8 10.3 2 .7 4.2 1 6.2-.7 3.4-3 6.3-6.5 9-10.2 4.5-6.4 8-13.5 11.7-20.3 3-5.3 6-10.7 8.7-16l7.6-15.1L354 32.5s4-13.3 6.2-20c1.9-6.8 4.2-13 1.3-11-3.3 6.2-4.9 15.6-6.9 22.1-2.1 7-11.3 41.8-11.3 41.8l-4.2 22.3-2.2 19.8s-.7 7.2.2 10.7c.5 1.9 1 4.6 3 5.1 3 .9 6.1-2.4 8.3-4.4 2.5-2.3 7-7.2 7-7.2s3.6-5 6.5-6.8c3.3-2-2.8 6.3-3.4 9.7-.5 3-1.5 6.5 0 9.1 1.2 2.2 3.9 4.1 6.4 4 3.5 0 6.5-3.1 8.7-5.8 2.4-3 4.2-6.7 4.5-10.5.2-2.2-.2-4.7-1.6-6.4-1.8-2.3-4.9-4.2-7.8-4-2.6.2-6.2 2-6.4 4.5-.2 2.4 3.2 3.7 5.1 5 2.3 1.6 5 3 7.7 3.3 3 .5 6.2-.2 9.2-1a42 42 0 0015.8-8.6" >
    <animate id="anSign" attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="0s" dur="2s" values="750;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>   
    
<path id="Dot" stroke-width="6" stroke-dashoffset="25" stroke-dasharray="25" d="M407 123c0-2 2.7-3.6 4-4.2 1.6-.8 2.2-.7 4-1 1 0 1.4 2 1 3-.2.7-2.9 1.7-1.8 1.3 0 0-4 2.6-5.9 2.4-.7 0-1.4-.8-1.4-1.5z" >
      <animate id="anDot"  attributeName="stroke-dashoffset" begin="anSign.end+0.2s" dur="0.25s" values="25;0" fill="freeze" />
</path>   
</g>
</svg>

This definitely helps a lot, I really appreciate your tutorial! May I ask, what program are you using to redraw the path? — Kai, Aug 18 '21 at 22:03

How can I animate SVG text to be "written out"

1 Answers1