Animated List
An Animated List manages a collection of UI items and animates them as they are added or removed.
This is ideal for:
- Message feeds / chat logs
- Notifications / alerts
- Inventories / item lists
- Quest or objective lists
- Scoreboards and logs
- Any UI where items appear and disappear over time
Animated Lists handle layout, spacing, and animation, so you do not need to manually insert spacers or manage layout rebuilds.
Widget setup:
- Add and configure an Animated List component.
- Add items using the Animated List actions.
- Remove items using the same Animated List actions.
- Items may also remove themselves automatically.
Animated List Component
Add Component -> PlayMaker -> Widgets -> Animated List
Parameters
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Content | Parent RectTransform that holds list items. Must use a VerticalLayoutGroup or HorizontalLayoutGroup. |
| Item Prefab | Default prefab instantiated when adding a new item. |
| Host Prefab | Optional wrapper prefab that controls animation and layout. If not set, a default host is created automatically. |
Item Size
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Item Size Mode | How item size is determined along the list axis (height for vertical lists, width for horizontal lists). |
| Fixed Item Size | Used when Item Size Mode is Fixed, or as a fallback when size cannot be measured. |
| Stretch Item To Fill Host | If enabled, the spawned item is stretched to fill the host RectTransform. |
Item Size Modes
- Preferred Size Uses the size calculated from the item's content (text, images, layout groups).
- Layout Element Uses the size explicitly defined on the item's LayoutElement component.
- Fixed Uses a constant size for all items.
Animation
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Default Animation | Default animation settings used when items are added or removed. |
Lifetime
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Destroy On Remove | If enabled, item hosts are destroyed after removal. If disabled, they are deactivated, which is useful for pooling. |
Actions
Actions -> UI -> Widgets
Animated List action details are documented in:
- Animated List Actions
- Add Item
- Add Existing Item
- Insert Item
- Insert Existing Item
- Remove Item
- Remove Item At Index
- Clear
Tips
- List items are usually prefabs that define their own internal layout.
- Use LayoutElement on the item prefab when you need precise, predictable sizing.
- Items can destroy themselves and the list will automatically animate the gap closed.
- Animated Lists work well inside ScrollRects for long or dynamic feeds.
- Most workflows are fire-and-forget: add items, configure them, and let the list manage their lifetime.