WhatsApp is gradually rolling out a new feature that adds animations to message reactions for Android beta users. The feature, identified in WhatsApp beta’s Android 2.26.33.4 update, allows certain emojis to appear with a brief animation when selected as reactions to messages.
The animations created with the Lottie library establish visual consistency between animated emojis sent in chats and message reactions. When users select an emoji with animation support from the reaction menu that opens after pressing and holding a message, the emoji moves once when the reaction is added and then becomes static.
Users whose accounts have not yet received the feature, as well as emojis without animation support, will continue to see reactions in their current static form. WhatsApp is also adding a disable option to the app settings for users who do not prefer animated emojis. When this option is enabled, animated emojis and message reactions are displayed entirely in static form, while the ability to react to messages with emojis remains available.