Top Python Visualization and Animation Open Source Libraries in 2023

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by Ashok Balasubramanian dot icon Updated: Mar 13, 2023

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Python visualization and animation libraries are modules or packages that allow you to create animations, charts, and other graphics using Python code. They usually provide functions or classes that help you manipulate graphical elements such as shapes, colors, images, text, etc., and control their movement, appearance, and behavior over time. Some examples of Python animation libraries are Matplotlib, VPython, and manim.



Python animation libraries are useful for creating dynamic and interactive visualizations of data or objects using Python code. For example, you can use Matplotlib to plot graphs of functions or figures and add animations to them. You can also use VPython to create 3D displays and animations of physical phenomena. Another example is manim, an animation library designed for an intuitive and easy-to-use interface and for explanatory math videos used for programmatically creating precise animations.


Python itself cannot create animation. It can only create images. It needs an external program to create a perception of movement. Python animation libraries may have specific requirements or caveats for creating animations. For example, celluloid requires that the axes limits are the same for all plots and that artists are passed to the legend function separately Plotly has some limitations with 3D animations and interactivity.


Here are some of the top open source Python animation libraries you can leverage in your projects.

manimby 3b1b

Python doticonstar image 51787 doticonVersion:v1.6.1doticon
License: Permissive (MIT)

Animation engine for explanatory math videos

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            manimby 3b1b

            Python doticon star image 51787 doticonVersion:v1.6.1doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

            Animation engine for explanatory math videos
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                      matplotlibby matplotlib

                      Python doticonstar image 17559 doticonVersion:v3.7.1doticon
                      no licences License: No License (null)

                      matplotlib: plotting with Python

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                                matplotlibby matplotlib

                                Python doticon star image 17559 doticonVersion:v3.7.1doticonno licences License: No License

                                matplotlib: plotting with Python
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                                          vpython-jupyterby vpython

                                          Python doticonstar image 106 doticonVersion:7.6.4doticon
                                          License: Permissive (MIT)

                                          3D visualization made easy

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                                                    vpython-jupyterby vpython

                                                    Python doticon star image 106 doticonVersion:7.6.4doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                    3D visualization made easy
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                                                              plotly.pyby plotly

                                                              Python doticonstar image 13630 doticonVersion:v5.15.0doticon
                                                              License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                              The interactive graphing library for Python :sparkles: This project now includes Plotly Express!

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                                                                        plotly.pyby plotly

                                                                        Python doticon star image 13630 doticonVersion:v5.15.0doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                        The interactive graphing library for Python :sparkles: This project now includes Plotly Express!
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                                                                                  dashby plotly

                                                                                  Python doticonstar image 18829 doticonVersion:v2.10.2doticon
                                                                                  License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                  Data Apps & Dashboards for Python. No JavaScript Required.

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                                                                                            dashby plotly

                                                                                            Python doticon star image 18829 doticonVersion:v2.10.2doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                            Data Apps & Dashboards for Python. No JavaScript Required.
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                                                                                                      seabornby mwaskom

                                                                                                      Python doticonstar image 10797 doticonVersion:v0.12.2doticon
                                                                                                      License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                      Statistical data visualization in Python

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                                                                                                                seabornby mwaskom

                                                                                                                Python doticon star image 10797 doticonVersion:v0.12.2doticon License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                                Statistical data visualization in Python
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                                                                                                                          pygalby Kozea

                                                                                                                          Python doticonstar image 2543 doticonVersion:1.7.0doticon
                                                                                                                          License: Weak Copyleft (LGPL-3.0)

                                                                                                                          PYthon svg GrAph plotting Library

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                                                                                                                                    pygalby Kozea

                                                                                                                                    Python doticon star image 2543 doticonVersion:1.7.0doticon License: Weak Copyleft (LGPL-3.0)

                                                                                                                                    PYthon svg GrAph plotting Library
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                                                                                                                                              geoplotlibby andrea-cuttone

                                                                                                                                              Python doticonstar image 979 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                                              License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                              python toolbox for visualizing geographical data and making maps

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                                                                                                                                                        geoplotlibby andrea-cuttone

                                                                                                                                                        Python doticon star image 979 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                        python toolbox for visualizing geographical data and making maps
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                                                                                                                                                                  moviepyby Zulko

                                                                                                                                                                  Python doticonstar image 10538 doticonVersion:v2.0.0.dev2doticon
                                                                                                                                                                  License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                  Video editing with Python

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                                                                                                                                                                            moviepyby Zulko

                                                                                                                                                                            Python doticon star image 10538 doticonVersion:v2.0.0.dev2doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                            Video editing with Python
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                                                                                                                                                                                      bokehby bokeh

                                                                                                                                                                                      Python doticonstar image 17667 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                                                                                      License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                                                                                                      Interactive Data Visualization in the browser, from Python

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                                                                                                                                                                                                bokehby bokeh

                                                                                                                                                                                                Python doticon star image 17667 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                                                                                                                Interactive Data Visualization in the browser, from Python
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