# Letter cascade

Subtle web animation sketch from [https://mighil.com/animations](https://mighil.com/animations).

- **Live demo:** https://mighil.com/animations/letter-cascade
- **Standalone HTML:** https://mighil.com/animations/letter-cascade?download=1
- **This file:** https://mighil.com/animations/letter-cascade/letter-cascade.md
- **Technique:** `stagger`

## What it does

Letters come in one after another.

## Instructions for AI / coding agents

Implement this micro-interaction in the user's stack (vanilla HTML, React, Vue, Svelte, etc.).

1. Use the **HTML** as the DOM structure (adapt JSX/templates as needed; keep class names and ids).
2. Include the **Theme** CSS (or map the same variables into the host design system). It switches light/dark with `prefers-color-scheme`.
3. Apply the **CSS** as-is when possible. It uses `var(--text-color)`, `var(--heading-color)`, `var(--background-color)`, etc. from the theme so both modes work.
4. Run the **JavaScript** after the markup mounts. Prefer `DOMContentLoaded` or a framework `useEffect` / `onMount`.
5. Keep motion respectful of `prefers-reduced-motion` if the snippet already checks it.
6. Do not depend on mighil.com runtime or fonts. Theme variables are enough for color.
7. If porting to a component, expose the interactive root via a ref and preserve accessibility attributes (`aria-*`, `role`, `button` types).

## Theme (auto light / dark)

```css
/* Auto light / dark — follows prefers-color-scheme */
:root{
  color-scheme: light dark;
  --text-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --heading-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 99%);
  --bg-color: hsl(0, 0%, 99%);
  --link-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --visited-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --blockquote-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --code-bg-color: hsl(0, 0%, 95%);
  --code-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --sub-color: hsl(0, 0%, 29%);
}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){
:root{
  --text-color: hsl(35, 25%, 85%);
  --heading-color: hsl(35.2, 32.6%, 82.5%);
  --background-color: hsl(60, 2.2%, 8.8%);
  --bg-color: hsl(60, 2.2%, 8.8%);
  --link-color: hsl(34.7, 55.3%, 79.8%);
  --visited-color: hsla(34.7, 55.3%, 79.8%, 0.85);
  --blockquote-color: hsl(35, 30%, 75%);
  --code-bg-color: hsl(30, 5%, 7.8%);
  --code-color: limegreen;
  --sub-color: hsla(34.7, 24.7%, 84.9%, 0.78);
}
}
```

## HTML

```html
<div class="cascade is-in" id="cascade" aria-label="restraint">
        <b>r</b><b>e</b><b>s</b><b>t</b><b>r</b><b>a</b><b>i</b><b>n</b><b>t</b>
      </div>
```

## CSS

```css
@keyframes cascade-in{
  to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}
}

@keyframes stagger-in{to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}

.cascade{display:inline-flex;gap:.02em;font-size:1.15rem;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:.02em}

.cascade b{
  display:inline-block;font-weight:500;
  opacity:0;transform:translateY(10px);
}

.cascade.is-in b{
  animation:cascade-in .55s cubic-bezier(.22,1,.36,1) forwards;
}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(1){animation-delay:0s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(2){animation-delay:.04s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(3){animation-delay:.08s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(4){animation-delay:.12s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(5){animation-delay:.16s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(6){animation-delay:.2s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(7){animation-delay:.24s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(8){animation-delay:.28s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(9){animation-delay:.32s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(10){animation-delay:.36s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(11){animation-delay:.4s}

.cascade.is-in b:nth-child(12){animation-delay:.44s}

.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item{animation:stagger-in .4s cubic-bezier(.22,1,.36,1) forwards}

.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item:nth-child(1){animation-delay:.04s}

.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item:nth-child(2){animation-delay:.1s}

.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item:nth-child(3){animation-delay:.16s}

.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item:nth-child(4){animation-delay:.22s}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){
  .breath-dot,.breath-ring,.wave.is-live span,.ink-drop,
  .marquee-track,
  .skel-line,.save-btn.is-loading .spin,.badge.is-bump,.like-btn.is-pop,.save-status.is-saving .dot,.stars button.is-pop svg,
  .field.is-invalid input,.save-btn.is-done .check path,.ux-check[aria-checked="true"] .ux-box path,.char-meta.is-warn,.success-banner.is-on path,
  .typing span,.conn-dot,.indet > i,.toast.is-on .toast-timer > i,.stagger-list.is-in .stagger-item,.submit-wrap.is-loading .submit-ring rect,.submit-wrap.is-settle,.hold-btn.is-settle,.confirm-btn.is-settle,.sync-btn.is-settle,.invite-btn.is-settle,.retry-btn.is-shake-err,.retry-btn.is-shake-ok,.cart-badge.is-pop,.mute-btn .x-line,.presence.is-ping .presence-dot::after,.tag-chip,.nudge-field.is-nudge,.tilt-scene:hover .tilt-tile::before,.demo-replay.is-tap,.hit.is-tap,.stack-toggle.is-tap,.nudge-btn.is-tap,.wipe.is-tap,.save-btn.is-tap,.copy-btn.is-tap,.like-btn.is-tap,.pin-btn.is-tap,.retry-btn.is-tap,.wizard-nav button.is-tap,.mute-btn.is-tap,
  .scan:hover::after,.scan.is-on::after,.cascade.is-in b,.stepper-val.is-bump,.otp input.is-pop,.rel-time.is-live .rel-dot,.sync-btn.is-spin .sync-arrows,.ok-field.is-ok .ok-check path,.unread-row.is-read .unread-check path,.mic-btn.is-on::before,.mic-btn.is-on::after,.ghost-wrap.is-flash,.cmd-palette li.is-run,.flag-row.is-warn,.mention.is-flash b{animation:none!important}

  .cascade b,.cascade.is-in b{opacity:1;transform:none;animation:none!important}
}
```

## JavaScript

```js
// Letter cascade
  const cascade = document.getElementById('cascade');
  function runCascade() {
    if (!cascade) return;
    cascade.classList.remove('is-in');
    void cascade.offsetWidth;
    cascade.classList.add('is-in');
  }

document.querySelectorAll('[data-act]').forEach((btn) => {
    btn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
      e.stopPropagation();
      const act = btn.getAttribute('data-act');
      if (act === 'cascade') runCascade();
    });
  });
```

---

_Source: https://mighil.com/animations/letter-cascade_