The SMIL specification was introduced by the W3C in 1998 for synchronizing multimedia. This was long before CSS animations or JavaScript-based animation libraries were available. It was built into SVG 1.1, which is why we can still use it there today.

Now, you might’ve heard that SMIL is dead. However, it’s alive and well since Google reversed a decision to deprecate the technology almost a decade ago. It remains a terrific choice for designers and developers who want simple, semantic ways to add animations to their designs.

I’ve recently been working on a new website for Emmy-award-winning game composer Mike Worth. He hired me to create a bold, retro-style design that showcases his work. I used animations throughout to delight and surprise his audience as they move through his website.