Create animated math videos with code
You can visualize complex mathematical concepts as moving graphics. By directly controlling the movement and speed of graphics through code, you create scenes that fit the moment of explanation exactly. This tool originated from a personal project developed for producing videos for the 3Blue1Brown channel.
Version selection comes first
This repository is called ManimGL and is a version specialized for 3Blue1Brown's video production. Be careful not to confuse it with the Manim Community version, which the community forked in 2020. Because the installation commands and usage differ between the two versions, you must decide which version to use and follow only the instructions for that version. The package for this repository is manimgl, and you should not install it as manim or manimlib.
Preparing the execution environment
Python 3.10 or higher, FFmpeg, and OpenGL are required. If you want to render formulas, you must also install LaTeX, and on Linux, Pango development headers are essential. On Windows, MiKTeX is recommended, while on Mac, you install FFmpeg and LaTeX via Homebrew. Mac users with ARM processors must also install Cairo. Using a virtual environment is good for avoiding conflicts with system packages.
Running and controlling scenes
Running the command manimgl example_scenes.py OpeningManimExample opens a window where a simple scene plays. Examining the example scenes allows you to learn the syntax and animation types. The 3b1b/videos repository contains code used in actual video production, but code from older videos may not be compatible with the latest version. Using the -w flag on the command line saves the scene to a file, and using -s shows only the last frame. The -n flag is useful for skipping to a specific animation sequence number.
Configuration and documentation
You can change default settings such as output paths, image and sound file locations, and video quality through the custom_config.yml file. Current documentation is in progress at 3b1b.github.io/manim, and a Chinese version is also maintained separately. The manim_sandbox repository houses useful additional classes and video code.
Judgment before use
This tool is released under the MIT license, so it can be used freely. However, since the community version receives more active contributions and testing, it is worth considering the community version if you want a stable ecosystem. This repository is optimized for 3Blue1Brown's specific video production workflow, making it more suitable for math explanation videos than general animation production. You must check system requirements before installation and start only after clearly understanding the differences between the two versions.
