diff --git a/apps/tests/ui/animation/animation-tests.ts b/apps/tests/ui/animation/animation-tests.ts
index dd4b831cb..a27a35c2c 100644
--- a/apps/tests/ui/animation/animation-tests.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/ui/animation/animation-tests.ts
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ import animation = require("ui/animation");
 // ```
 // </snippet>
 
-export var test_AnimatingProperties = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimatingProperties = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ export var test_AnimatingProperties = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_CancellingAnimation = function (done) {
+export var test_CancellingAnimation = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export var test_CancellingAnimation = function (done) {
     // <snippet module="ui/animation" title="animation">
     // # Cancelling animation
     // ``` JavaScript
-    var animation1 = label.createAnimation({ translate: { x: 100, y: 100}, duration: 500 });
+    var animation1 = label.createAnimation({ translate: { x: 100, y: 100 }, duration: 500 });
     animation1.play()
         .then(() => {
             ////console.log("Animation finished");
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ export var test_CancellingAnimation = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_CancellingAnimate = function (done) {
+export var test_CancellingAnimate = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ export var test_CancellingAnimate = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_ChainingAnimations = function (done) {
+export var test_ChainingAnimations = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ export var test_ChainingAnimations = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_ReusingAnimations = function (done) {
+export var test_ReusingAnimations = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -245,12 +245,12 @@ export var test_ReusingAnimations = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_AnimatingMultipleViews = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimatingMultipleViews = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label1: labelModule.Label;
     var label2: labelModule.Label;
     var label3: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label1 = new labelModule.Label();
         label1.text = "label1";
         label2 = new labelModule.Label();
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@ export var test_AnimatingMultipleViews = function (done) {
     // </snippet>
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateOpacity = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateOpacity = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -327,10 +327,82 @@ export var test_AnimateOpacity = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateBackgroundColor = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateOpacity_ShouldThrow_IfNotNumber = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ opacity: <any>"0.75" });
+        }, "Setting opacity to a non number should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateDelay_ShouldThrow_IfNotNumber = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ delay: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting delay to a non number should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateDuration_ShouldThrow_IfNotNumber = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ duration: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting duration to a non number should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateIterations_ShouldThrow_IfNotNumber = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ iterations: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting iterations to a non number should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateRotate_ShouldThrow_IfNotNumber = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ rotate: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting rotate to a non number should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateScale_ShouldThrow_IfNotPair = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ scale: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting scale to a non Pair should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateTranslate_ShouldThrow_IfNotPair = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ translate: <any>"1" });
+        }, "Setting translate to a non Pair should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateBackgroundColor_ShouldThrow_IfNotValidColorStringOrColor = () => {
+    var label = new labelModule.Label();
+    helper.buildUIAndRunTest(label, (views: Array<viewModule.View>) => {
+        TKUnit.assertThrows(() => {
+            label.animate({ backgroundColor: <any>"test" });
+        }, "Setting backgroundColor to a not valid color string or Color should throw.");
+    });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateBackgroundColor = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -356,10 +428,41 @@ export var test_AnimateBackgroundColor = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateTranslate = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateBackgroundColor_FromString = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
+        label = new labelModule.Label();
+        label.text = "label";
+        var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
+        stackLayout.addChild(label);
+        mainPage = new pageModule.Page();
+        mainPage.content = stackLayout;
+        return mainPage;
+    };
+
+    helper.navigate(pageFactory);
+    TKUnit.waitUntilReady(() => { return label.isLoaded });
+    
+    var expected = "Red";
+    var clr = new colorModule.Color(expected);
+
+    label.animate({ backgroundColor: <any>expected })
+        .then(() => {
+            TKUnit.assert(label.backgroundColor.equals(clr));
+            helper.goBack();
+            done();
+        })
+        .catch((e) => {
+            helper.goBack();
+            done(e);
+        });
+}
+
+export var test_AnimateTranslate = function(done) {
+    var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
+    var label: labelModule.Label;
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -386,10 +489,10 @@ export var test_AnimateTranslate = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateScale = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateScale = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -404,8 +507,8 @@ export var test_AnimateScale = function (done) {
 
     label.animate({ scale: { x: 2, y: 3 } })
         .then(() => {
-            TKUnit.assertEqual(label.scaleX, 2,"label.scaleX");
-            TKUnit.assertEqual(label.scaleY, 3,"label.scaleY");
+            TKUnit.assertEqual(label.scaleX, 2, "label.scaleX");
+            TKUnit.assertEqual(label.scaleY, 3, "label.scaleY");
             assertIOSNativeTransformIsCorrect(label);
             helper.goBack();
             done();
@@ -416,10 +519,10 @@ export var test_AnimateScale = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateRotate = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateRotate = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -445,10 +548,10 @@ export var test_AnimateRotate = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSimultaneously = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSimultaneously = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -482,10 +585,10 @@ export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSimultaneously = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSequentially = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSequentially = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -529,10 +632,10 @@ export var test_AnimateTranslateScaleAndRotateSequentially = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_AnimationsAreAlwaysPlayed = function (done) {
+export var test_AnimationsAreAlwaysPlayed = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -565,10 +668,10 @@ export var test_AnimationsAreAlwaysPlayed = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_PlayPromiseIsResolvedWhenAnimationFinishes = function (done) {
+export var test_PlayPromiseIsResolvedWhenAnimationFinishes = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
@@ -595,10 +698,10 @@ export var test_PlayPromiseIsResolvedWhenAnimationFinishes = function (done) {
         });
 }
 
-export var test_PlayPromiseIsRejectedWhenAnimationIsCancelled = function (done) {
+export var test_PlayPromiseIsRejectedWhenAnimationIsCancelled = function(done) {
     var mainPage: pageModule.Page;
     var label: labelModule.Label;
-    var pageFactory = function (): pageModule.Page {
+    var pageFactory = function(): pageModule.Page {
         label = new labelModule.Label();
         label.text = "label";
         var stackLayout = new stackLayoutModule.StackLayout();
diff --git a/ui/animation/animation-common.ts b/ui/animation/animation-common.ts
index 24d67aab3..534fb2439 100644
--- a/ui/animation/animation-common.ts
+++ b/ui/animation/animation-common.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import definition = require("ui/animation");
 import viewModule = require("ui/core/view");
+import colorModule = require("color");
+import types = require("utils/types");
 import * as traceModule from "trace";
 
 var trace: typeof traceModule;
@@ -46,8 +48,8 @@ export class CubicBezierAnimationCurve implements definition.CubicBezierAnimatio
 // We didn't want to actually modify Promise; as the cancel() is ONLY valid for animations "Promise"
 export class AnimationPromise implements definition.AnimationPromise {
     public cancel(): void { /* Do Nothing */ }
-    public then(onFulfilled?: (value?: any) => void, onRejected?: (error?: any) => void): AnimationPromise { return new AnimationPromise();}
-    public catch(onRejected?: (error?: any) => void): AnimationPromise { return new AnimationPromise();}
+    public then(onFulfilled?: (value?: any) => void, onRejected?: (error?: any) => void): AnimationPromise { return new AnimationPromise(); }
+    public catch(onRejected?: (error?: any) => void): AnimationPromise { return new AnimationPromise(); }
 }
 
 export class Animation implements definition.Animation {
@@ -139,11 +141,32 @@ export class Animation implements definition.Animation {
         this._reject(new Error("Animation cancelled."));
     }
 
-    private static _createPropertyAnimations(animationDefinition: definition.AnimationDefinition): Array<PropertyAnimation>  {
+    private static _createPropertyAnimations(animationDefinition: definition.AnimationDefinition): Array<PropertyAnimation> {
         if (!animationDefinition.target) {
             throw new Error("No animation target specified.");
         }
 
+        for (let item in animationDefinition) {
+            if (!types.isDefined(animationDefinition[item])) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if ((item === Properties.opacity ||
+                item === Properties.rotate ||
+                item === "duration" ||
+                item === "delay" ||
+                item === "iterations") && !types.isNumber(animationDefinition[item])) {
+                throw new Error(`Property ${item} must be valid number. Value: ${animationDefinition[item]}`);
+            } else if ((item === Properties.scale ||
+                item === Properties.translate) &&
+                (!types.isNumber((<definition.Pair>animationDefinition[item]).x) ||
+                    !types.isNumber((<definition.Pair>animationDefinition[item]).y))) {
+                throw new Error(`Property ${item} must be valid Pair. Value: ${animationDefinition[item]}`);
+            } else if (item === Properties.backgroundColor && !colorModule.Color.isValid(animationDefinition.backgroundColor)) {
+                throw new Error(`Property ${item} must be valid color. Value: ${animationDefinition[item]}`);
+            }
+        }
+
         var propertyAnimations = new Array<PropertyAnimation>();
 
         // opacity
@@ -164,7 +187,8 @@ export class Animation implements definition.Animation {
             propertyAnimations.push({
                 target: animationDefinition.target,
                 property: Properties.backgroundColor,
-                value: animationDefinition.backgroundColor,
+                value: types.isString(animationDefinition.backgroundColor) ? 
+                    new colorModule.Color(<any>animationDefinition.backgroundColor) : animationDefinition.backgroundColor,
                 duration: animationDefinition.duration,
                 delay: animationDefinition.delay,
                 iterations: animationDefinition.iterations,