diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f738b00295b..78be94a284d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ NOTE: [`epaint`](crates/epaint/CHANGELOG.md), [`eframe`](crates/eframe/CHANGELOG
 
 
 ## Unreleased
-* ⚠️ BREAKING: Fix text being too small ([#2069](https://github.com/emilk/egui/pull/2069)).
 * ⚠️ BREAKING: egui now expects integrations to do all color blending in gamma space ([#2071](https://github.com/emilk/egui/pull/2071)).
 
+### Added ⭐
+* Added helper functions for animating panels that collapse/expand ([#2190](https://github.com/emilk/egui/pull/2190)).
+
 ### Fixed 🐛
+* ⚠️ BREAKING: Fix text being too small ([#2069](https://github.com/emilk/egui/pull/2069)).
 * Improved text rendering ([#2071](https://github.com/emilk/egui/pull/2071)).
 
 
diff --git a/crates/egui/src/containers/panel.rs b/crates/egui/src/containers/panel.rs
index 233ceae4470..73b3f8d39ac 100644
--- a/crates/egui/src/containers/panel.rs
+++ b/crates/egui/src/containers/panel.rs
@@ -19,17 +19,23 @@ use std::ops::RangeInclusive;
 
 use crate::*;
 
+/// State regarding panels.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize))]
-struct PanelState {
-    rect: Rect,
+pub struct PanelState {
+    pub rect: Rect,
 }
 
 impl PanelState {
-    fn load(ctx: &Context, bar_id: Id) -> Option<Self> {
+    pub fn load(ctx: &Context, bar_id: Id) -> Option<Self> {
         ctx.data().get_persisted(bar_id)
     }
 
+    /// The size of the panel (from previous frame).
+    pub fn size(&self) -> Vec2 {
+        self.rect.size()
+    }
+
     fn store(self, ctx: &Context, bar_id: Id) {
         ctx.data().insert_persisted(bar_id, self);
     }
@@ -96,21 +102,21 @@ pub struct SidePanel {
 }
 
 impl SidePanel {
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_left_panel"`.
-    pub fn left(id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
-        Self::new(Side::Left, id_source)
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_left_panel")`.
+    pub fn left(id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(Side::Left, id)
     }
 
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_right_panel"`.
-    pub fn right(id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
-        Self::new(Side::Right, id_source)
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_right_panel")`.
+    pub fn right(id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(Side::Right, id)
     }
 
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_panel"`.
-    pub fn new(side: Side, id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_panel")`.
+    pub fn new(side: Side, id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
         Self {
             side,
-            id: Id::new(id_source),
+            id: id.into(),
             frame: None,
             resizable: true,
             default_width: 200.0,
@@ -327,6 +333,135 @@ impl SidePanel {
         }
         inner_response
     }
+
+    /// Show the panel if `is_expanded` is `true`,
+    /// otherwise don't show it, but with a nice animation between collapsed and expanded.
+    pub fn show_animated<R>(
+        self,
+        ctx: &Context,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ctx.animate_bool(self.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            None
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show a fake panel in this in-between animation state:
+            let expanded_width = PanelState::load(ctx, self.id)
+                .map_or(self.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let fake_width = how_expanded * expanded_width;
+            Self {
+                id: self.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..self
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_width(fake_width)
+            .show(ctx, |_ui| {});
+            None
+        } else {
+            // Show the real panel:
+            Some(self.show(ctx, add_contents))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show the panel if `is_expanded` is `true`,
+    /// otherwise don't show it, but with a nice animation between collapsed and expanded.
+    pub fn show_animated_inside<R>(
+        self,
+        ui: &mut Ui,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ui
+            .ctx()
+            .animate_bool(self.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            None
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show a fake panel in this in-between animation state:
+            let expanded_width = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), self.id)
+                .map_or(self.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let fake_width = how_expanded * expanded_width;
+            Self {
+                id: self.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..self
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_width(fake_width)
+            .show_inside(ui, |_ui| {});
+            None
+        } else {
+            // Show the real panel:
+            Some(self.show_inside(ui, add_contents))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show either a collapsed or a expanded panel, with a nice animation between.
+    pub fn show_animated_between<R>(
+        ctx: &Context,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        collapsed_panel: Self,
+        expanded_panel: Self,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui, f32) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ctx.animate_bool(expanded_panel.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            Some(collapsed_panel.show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded)))
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show animation:
+            let collapsed_width = PanelState::load(ctx, collapsed_panel.id)
+                .map_or(collapsed_panel.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let expanded_width = PanelState::load(ctx, expanded_panel.id)
+                .map_or(expanded_panel.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let fake_width = lerp(collapsed_width..=expanded_width, how_expanded);
+            Self {
+                id: expanded_panel.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..expanded_panel
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_width(fake_width)
+            .show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded));
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(expanded_panel.show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded)))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show either a collapsed or a expanded panel, with a nice animation between.
+    pub fn show_animated_between_inside<R>(
+        ui: &mut Ui,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        collapsed_panel: Self,
+        expanded_panel: Self,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui, f32) -> R,
+    ) -> InnerResponse<R> {
+        let how_expanded = ui
+            .ctx()
+            .animate_bool(expanded_panel.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            collapsed_panel.show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show animation:
+            let collapsed_width = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), collapsed_panel.id)
+                .map_or(collapsed_panel.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let expanded_width = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), expanded_panel.id)
+                .map_or(expanded_panel.default_width, |state| state.rect.width());
+            let fake_width = lerp(collapsed_width..=expanded_width, how_expanded);
+            Self {
+                id: expanded_panel.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..expanded_panel
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_width(fake_width)
+            .show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        } else {
+            expanded_panel.show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -390,21 +525,21 @@ pub struct TopBottomPanel {
 }
 
 impl TopBottomPanel {
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_top_panel"`.
-    pub fn top(id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
-        Self::new(TopBottomSide::Top, id_source)
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_top_panel")`.
+    pub fn top(id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(TopBottomSide::Top, id)
     }
 
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_bottom_panel"`.
-    pub fn bottom(id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
-        Self::new(TopBottomSide::Bottom, id_source)
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_bottom_panel")`.
+    pub fn bottom(id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(TopBottomSide::Bottom, id)
     }
 
-    /// `id_source`: Something unique, e.g. `"my_panel"`.
-    pub fn new(side: TopBottomSide, id_source: impl std::hash::Hash) -> Self {
+    /// The id should be globally unique, e.g. `Id::new("my_panel")`.
+    pub fn new(side: TopBottomSide, id: impl Into<Id>) -> Self {
         Self {
             side,
-            id: Id::new(id_source),
+            id: id.into(),
             frame: None,
             resizable: false,
             default_height: None,
@@ -632,6 +767,151 @@ impl TopBottomPanel {
 
         inner_response
     }
+
+    /// Show the panel if `is_expanded` is `true`,
+    /// otherwise don't show it, but with a nice animation between collapsed and expanded.
+    pub fn show_animated<R>(
+        self,
+        ctx: &Context,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ctx.animate_bool(self.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            None
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show a fake panel in this in-between animation state:
+            let expanded_height = PanelState::load(ctx, self.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(self.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ctx.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+            let fake_height = how_expanded * expanded_height;
+            Self {
+                id: self.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..self
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_height(fake_height)
+            .show(ctx, |_ui| {});
+            None
+        } else {
+            // Show the real panel:
+            Some(self.show(ctx, add_contents))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show the panel if `is_expanded` is `true`,
+    /// otherwise don't show it, but with a nice animation between collapsed and expanded.
+    pub fn show_animated_inside<R>(
+        self,
+        ui: &mut Ui,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ui
+            .ctx()
+            .animate_bool(self.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            None
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show a fake panel in this in-between animation state:
+            let expanded_height = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), self.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(self.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ui.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+            let fake_height = how_expanded * expanded_height;
+            Self {
+                id: self.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..self
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_height(fake_height)
+            .show_inside(ui, |_ui| {});
+            None
+        } else {
+            // Show the real panel:
+            Some(self.show_inside(ui, add_contents))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show either a collapsed or a expanded panel, with a nice animation between.
+    pub fn show_animated_between<R>(
+        ctx: &Context,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        collapsed_panel: Self,
+        expanded_panel: Self,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui, f32) -> R,
+    ) -> Option<InnerResponse<R>> {
+        let how_expanded = ctx.animate_bool(expanded_panel.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            Some(collapsed_panel.show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded)))
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show animation:
+            let collapsed_height = PanelState::load(ctx, collapsed_panel.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(collapsed_panel.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ctx.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+
+            let expanded_height = PanelState::load(ctx, expanded_panel.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(expanded_panel.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ctx.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+
+            let fake_height = lerp(collapsed_height..=expanded_height, how_expanded);
+            Self {
+                id: expanded_panel.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..expanded_panel
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_height(fake_height)
+            .show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded));
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(expanded_panel.show(ctx, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded)))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Show either a collapsed or a expanded panel, with a nice animation between.
+    pub fn show_animated_between_inside<R>(
+        ui: &mut Ui,
+        is_expanded: bool,
+        collapsed_panel: Self,
+        expanded_panel: Self,
+        add_contents: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui, f32) -> R,
+    ) -> InnerResponse<R> {
+        let how_expanded = ui
+            .ctx()
+            .animate_bool(expanded_panel.id.with("animation"), is_expanded);
+
+        if 0.0 == how_expanded {
+            collapsed_panel.show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        } else if how_expanded < 1.0 {
+            // Show animation:
+            let collapsed_height = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), collapsed_panel.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(collapsed_panel.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ui.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+
+            let expanded_height = PanelState::load(ui.ctx(), expanded_panel.id)
+                .map(|state| state.rect.height())
+                .or(expanded_panel.default_height)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| ui.style().spacing.interact_size.y);
+
+            let fake_height = lerp(collapsed_height..=expanded_height, how_expanded);
+            Self {
+                id: expanded_panel.id.with("animating_panel"),
+                ..expanded_panel
+            }
+            .resizable(false)
+            .exact_height(fake_height)
+            .show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        } else {
+            expanded_panel.show_inside(ui, |ui| add_contents(ui, how_expanded))
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/crates/egui/src/id.rs b/crates/egui/src/id.rs
index 74290ad4af9..d4a52e7719c 100644
--- a/crates/egui/src/id.rs
+++ b/crates/egui/src/id.rs
@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for Id {
     }
 }
 
+/// Convenience
+impl From<&'static str> for Id {
+    #[inline]
+    fn from(string: &'static str) -> Self {
+        Self::new(string)
+    }
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // Idea taken from the `nohash_hasher` crate.
diff --git a/crates/egui_demo_app/src/wrap_app.rs b/crates/egui_demo_app/src/wrap_app.rs
index 6abe45debc3..f68cdb050a9 100644
--- a/crates/egui_demo_app/src/wrap_app.rs
+++ b/crates/egui_demo_app/src/wrap_app.rs
@@ -200,19 +200,8 @@ impl eframe::App for WrapApp {
 
         self.state.backend_panel.update(ctx, frame);
 
-        if !is_mobile(ctx)
-            && (self.state.backend_panel.open || ctx.memory().everything_is_visible())
-        {
-            egui::SidePanel::left("backend_panel")
-                .resizable(false)
-                .show(ctx, |ui| {
-                    ui.vertical_centered(|ui| {
-                        ui.heading("💻 Backend");
-                    });
-
-                    ui.separator();
-                    self.backend_panel_contents(ui, frame);
-                });
+        if !is_mobile(ctx) {
+            self.backend_panel(ctx, frame);
         }
 
         self.show_selected_app(ctx, frame);
@@ -236,6 +225,23 @@ impl eframe::App for WrapApp {
 }
 
 impl WrapApp {
+    fn backend_panel(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context, frame: &mut eframe::Frame) {
+        // The backend-panel can be toggled on/off.
+        // We show a little animation when the user switches it.
+        let is_open = self.state.backend_panel.open || ctx.memory().everything_is_visible();
+
+        egui::SidePanel::left("backend_panel")
+            .resizable(false)
+            .show_animated(ctx, is_open, |ui| {
+                ui.vertical_centered(|ui| {
+                    ui.heading("💻 Backend");
+                });
+
+                ui.separator();
+                self.backend_panel_contents(ui, frame);
+            });
+    }
+
     fn backend_panel_contents(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui, frame: &mut eframe::Frame) {
         self.state.backend_panel.ui(ui, frame);