# animator() Returns a proxy object for the receiver that can be used to initiate implied animation for property changes. ``` func animator() -> Self ``` ## Return Value Returns a proxy object for the receiver that can initiate implied animations in response to property changes. ## Discussion The animator proxy object should be treated as if it was the receiver itself, and may be passed to any code that accepts the receiver as a parameter. Sending key-value coding compliant “set” messages to the proxy will trigger animation for automatically animated properties of its target object, if the active [`NSAnimationContext`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAnimationContext) in the current thread has a duration value greater than zero, and an animation for the property key is found by the [`NSAnimatablePropertyContainer`](/documentation/AppKit/NSAnimatablePropertyContainer) search mechanism. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)