Scripting

How to Make Your Rive Animations Even Smarter Using Converter Scripts

Jan 15, 2026

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8

min read

Full Video Tutorial

Making animations “smarter” isn’t about adding more keyframes - it’s about adding logic.

Until recently, complex logic usually lived outside the animation itself - in application code or in the system controlling the animation.

Even with tools like State Machines, Data Binding, and basic converters, there was always a limit to how much logic could live inside the animation.

With Converter Scripts in Rive, that changes. Converter Scripts allow logic to live directly inside the animation,
adding a new layer between your ViewModel and your visuals.

In this article, we’ll explore what Converter Scripts are and how to use them step by step, by building a practical example: a smart sun and moon system driven by time-based data.

What Are Converter Scripts in Rive?

A Converter Script in Rive is a logic layer that sits between your data (usually coming from a ViewModel) and your animation properties.

Instead of binding raw values directly to visual properties, Converter Scripts allow you to:

  • Receive multiple inputs

  • Apply custom logic and calculations

  • Output a single computed value

  • Drive animation behavior based on data, not timelines

In short, Converter Scripts let you convert data into behavior.
This makes them ideal for complex animation logic, conditional behavior, and systems that depend on multiple parameters.

Why Not Use Only Built-In Converters?

Rive includes several built-in converters, such as unit conversions and simple numeric transformations.
These are useful - but they’re limited.

Converter Scripts are designed for cases where:

  • One visual property depends on multiple data inputs

  • Animation behavior changes based on conditions

  • Logic needs to be reusable and scalable

  • Animation must respond dynamically to real-world data

Instead of animating what happens, you define how the system behaves.

A Practical Example: A Data-Driven Sun & Moon System

To demonstrate a real-world use case, we built a smart solar system animation in Rive.
The goal was straightforward:

  • The sun and moon move based on the time of day

  • Midday places the sun at the top of the sky

  • Midnight places the moon at the top

  • Transitions adapt dynamically to sunrise and sunset times

Rather than animating this manually, everything is driven by data and logic.

The ViewModel Data

The system is controlled by three ViewModel properties:

  • currentHour

  • sunriseHour

  • sunsetHour

These values represent the current time and the boundaries of the day.

The Converter Script Logic

Using a Converter Script, we:

  1. Read all three ViewModel properties

  2. Determine the position relative to sunrise and sunset

  3. Calculate a single angle value

  4. Use that angle to rotate a shared Sun/Moon orbit

This approach means:

  • The same hour can behave differently depending on sunrise and sunset

  • Seasonal changes automatically affect the animation

  • No timelines need to be manually updated

One computed value controls the entire system.

Using Converter Groups in Rive

In many projects, a Converter Script is often part of a conversion pipeline.

For example:

  • The Converter Script outputs an angle in degrees

  • A built-in converter transforms degrees into radians

  • The final value is applied to a rotation property

Converter Groups in Rive allow multiple converters to be chained together in a clear, predictable order.
This keeps logic modular, readable, and easy to maintain.

Accelerating Logic with the Rive AI Agent

Writing logic by hand is powerful - but not always necessary.
Rive’s AI Agent can generate Converter Script logic based on clear instructions, such as:

  • Which inputs exist

  • What behavior is expected

  • How edge cases should behave

By describing the desired behavior in plain language, the AI Agent can:

  • Generate the script logic

  • Explain what it created

  • Save significant development time

This allows designers to focus on system behavior, not syntax.

This prompt was used to generate the Converter Script logic that transforms time-based inputs into a single angle, while keeping the original script structure intact.

You are working inside an existing Rive Converter Script.

Use the current script structure exactly as it is.
Do NOT change the script name, types, inputs, or factory return.
Only modify the logic inside the `convert` function.

The converter has access to these numeric inputs on `self`:
- self.current  (current hour, range 0–24)
- self.sunrise  (sunrise hour)
- self.sunset   (sunset hour)

The `input` value represents the bound property value and can be ignored.

Your goal:
Return a NUMBER representing an ANGLE IN DEGREES that controls a Sun/Moon orbit.

Angle rules:
- 0 degrees → the SUN is at the center of the sky (midday)
- 180 degrees → the MOON is at the center of the sky (midnight)
- -90 degrees → sunrise
- 90 degrees → sunset
- Angles can be negative
- Day duration and night duration may be different

Behavior:
- During the day (between sunrise and sunset), the sun should move smoothly from -90° to 90°
- During the night (after sunset until next sunrise), the angle should continue smoothly toward 180°
- The transition between day and night must be continuous
- Handle wrap-around between sunset and the next sunrise correctly

Constraints:
- Return the final angle in DEGREES (not radians)
- Do not use external libraries
- Keep the math simple and readable
- Do not introduce additional state or properties
- Only implement the logic inside `convert`

The output angle will later be converted to radians using a Converter Group

Combining Scripted and Timeline-Based Animation

Converter Scripts don’t replace traditional animation — they complement it.

In the solar system example:

  • The sun and moon movement is fully data-driven

  • Background clouds use a simple looping timeline animation

  • Both approaches work together seamlessly


This hybrid workflow is often the most practical solution in real production environments.

Why Converter Scripts Matter in Production

Using Converter Scripts in Rive enables:

  • Scalable animation systems

  • Reusable logic

  • Fewer manual adjustments

  • Clear separation between data, logic, and visuals

Instead of animating outcomes, you define rules - and let the system handle the rest.
This represents a fundamental shift in how interactive animation is built.

Final Thoughts

Converter Scripts are more than a new feature in Rive — they introduce a new way of thinking about animation.
By adding a logic layer between your ViewModel and your visuals, you can build animations that are:

  • Smarter

  • More flexible

  • Easier to maintain

  • Much closer to real product behavior

If you’re working with interactive UI, real-time data, or complex animation systems, mastering Converter Scripts in Rive is essential.

💡 If you want to dive deeper into Rive, you can explore the full 🔗 Rive Masterclass, where we cover everything from the basics to advanced logic building a full interactive weather app.