How to animate RecyclerView items when they appear on screen?

This example demonstrates how to animate RecyclerView items when they appear on the screen .
Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.
Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout
   xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
      android:id="@+id/recyclerView"
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layoutAnimation="@anim/layout_animation_up_to_down"
      app:layoutManager="android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutManager"
      app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
      app:layout_constraintLeft_toLeftOf="parent"
      app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="parent"
      app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />
   <android.support.design.widget.FloatingActionButton
      android:id="@+id/fab"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_margin="8dp"
      android:src="@android:drawable/ic_media_next"
      app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
      app:layout_constraintRight_toRightOf="parent" />
</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>
Step 3 − Add the following code to res/anim/down_to_up.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:duration="500">
   <translate
      android:fromYDelta="50%p"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/accelerate_decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toYDelta="0" />
   <alpha
      android:fromAlpha="0"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/accelerate_decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toAlpha="1" />
</set>
Step 4 − Add the following code to res/anim/left_to_right.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:duration="500">
   <translate
      android:fromXDelta="-100%p"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toXDelta="0" />
   <alpha
      android:fromAlpha="0.5"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/accelerate_decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toAlpha="1" />
</set>
Step 5 − Add the following code to res/anim/right_to_left.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:duration="500">
   <translate
      android:fromXDelta="100%p"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toXDelta="0" />
   <alpha
      android:fromAlpha="0.5"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/accelerate_decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toAlpha="1" />
</set>
Step 6 − Add the following code to res/anim/up_to_down.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:duration="500">
   <translate
      android:fromYDelta="-25%"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toYDelta="0" />
   <alpha
      android:fromAlpha="0"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/decelerate_interpolator"
      android:toAlpha="1" />
   <scale
      android:fromXScale="125%"
      android:fromYScale="125%"
      android:interpolator="@android:anim/decelerate_interpolator"
      android:pivotX="50%"
      android:pivotY="50%"
      android:toXScale="100%"
      android:toYScale="100%" />
</set>
Step 7 − Add the following code to res/anim/layout_animation_down_to_up.xml.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layoutAnimation xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:animation="@anim/down_to_up"
   android:animationOrder="normal"
   android:delay="15%" />
Step 8 − Add the following code to res/anim/layout_animation_left_to_right.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layoutAnimation xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:animation="@anim/left_to_right"
   android:animationOrder="normal"
   android:delay="15%" />
Step 9 − Add the following code to res/anim/layout_animation_right_to_left.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layoutAnimation xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:animation="@anim/right_to_left"
   android:animationOrder="normal"
   android:delay="15%" />
Step 10 − Add the following code to res/anim/layout_animation_up_to_down.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layoutAnimation xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   android:animation="@anim/up_to_down"
   android:animationOrder="normal"
   android:delay="15%" />
Step 11 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java
package com.journaldev.androidrecyclerviewlayoutanimation;
import android.support.design.widget.FloatingActionButton;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.widget.GridLayoutManager;
import android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.animation.AnimationUtils;
import android.view.animation.GridLayoutAnimationController;
import android.view.animation.LayoutAnimationController;
import android.widget.Spinner;
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   FloatingActionButton fab;
   RecyclerView recyclerView;
   RecyclerViewAdapter recyclerViewAdapter;
   ArrayList<String>> arrayList = new ArrayList<>();
   int[] animationList = {R.anim.layout_animation_up_to_down,
      R.anim.layout_animation_right_to_left,
      R.anim.layout_animation_down_to_up,
      R.anim.layout_animation_left_to_right};
   int i = 0;
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      fab = findViewById(R.id.fab);
      recyclerView = findViewById(R.id.recyclerView);
      populateData();
      initAdapter();
      fab.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
         @Override
         public void onClick(View v) {
            if (i < animationList.length - 1) {
               i++;
            } else {
               i = 0;
            }
            runAnimationAgain();
         }
      });
   }
   private void populateData() {
      for (int i = 0; i < 12; i++) {
         arrayList.add("Item " + i);
      }
   }
   private void initAdapter() {
      recyclerViewAdapter = new RecyclerViewAdapter(arrayList);
      recyclerView.setAdapter(recyclerViewAdapter);
   }
   private void runAnimationAgain() {
      final LayoutAnimationController controller = AnimationUtils.loadLayoutAnimation(this, animationList[i]);
      recyclerView.setLayoutAnimation(controller);
      recyclerViewAdapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
      recyclerView.scheduleLayoutAnimation();
   }
}
Step 12 − Add the following code to Manifests/AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   package="com.journaldev.androidrecyclerviewlayoutanimation">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>
Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from the android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run  icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −
Click here to download the project code.