GSAP Timeline — Sequenced Animation Foundation
GSAP Timeline lets you sequence and synchronize multiple animations on one shared time axis — the backbone of polished motion.
GSAP Timeline is the construct that makes complex motion manageable. Instead of nested setTimeouts or Promise chains, you build a timeline, add tweens with positional offsets ("+=0.3" or "<0.5"), and the whole sequence plays as a unit. Timelines can be paused, reversed, scrubbed, and nested inside other timelines. For scroll-driven sites, the master timeline is scrubbed by ScrollTrigger. For event-driven motion (button clicks, hover states), you call timeline.play(). One timeline, many entry points.
Performance budget
Lighthouse mobile target: 85+ across all categories. I measure on real devices, not just emulator. Asset compression: glTF + Draco for meshes, KTX2 for textures, Brotli for shaders. Lazy-load any gsap timeline scene that isn't above the fold so the first paint stays under 1.5s.
When this is overkill
If the goal is a simple e-commerce listing or content blog, a full gsap timeline setup is overkill — a CSS-driven hero plus static images converts just as well at 1/10 the cost. gsap timeline earns its keep when the brand needs a memorable visual moment or when 3D actually clarifies the product (configurators, tours, demos).
What you get hands-off
After delivery: source repository on GitHub (private), commented code, a 5-min Loom walkthrough explaining the scene logic, and the asset pipeline documented. First year of hosting and minor revisions is included. After that we agree on a maintenance plan if needed.
What this delivers
Concrete output: a working gsap timeline integration on a real production site, not a demo. The integration includes device-tier detection so weak phones get a lighter version automatically. Source files are handed over in their original formats — Blender, GLSL, glTF — so any future developer can continue where I stopped.
Frequently asked questions
Why pick this technology over alternatives?
What if a newer tool comes out next year?
How long does this take?
What does it cost?
What if my visitors are on weak phones?
Ready to ship a 3D experience?
Tell me what you need — fixed price, fixed deadline, no surprises.