diff --git a/ionic/animations/animation.js b/ionic/animations/animation.js
index a397103d48..b36de3d86a 100644
--- a/ionic/animations/animation.js
+++ b/ionic/animations/animation.js
@@ -3,6 +3,26 @@ import {CSS} from '../util/dom';
 const RENDER_DELAY = 36;
 let AnimationRegistry = {};
 
+/**
+  Animation Steps/Process
+  -----------------------
+  1) Construct animation (doesn't start)
+  2) Client play()'s animation, returns promise
+  3) Add before classes to elements
+  4) Remove before classes from elements
+  5) Elements staged in "from" effect w/ inline styles
+  6) Call onReady()
+  7) Wait for RENDER_DELAY milliseconds (give browser time to render)
+  8) Call onPlay()
+  8) Run from/to animation on elements
+  9) Animations finish async
+ 10) Set inline styles w/ the "to" effects on elements
+ 11) Add after classes to elements
+ 12) Remove after classes from elements
+ 13) Call onFinish()
+ 14) Resolve play()'s promise
+**/
+
 export class Animation {
 
   constructor(el) {
@@ -159,6 +179,8 @@ export class Animation {
       let i, l;
       let promises = [];
 
+      self._onPlay();
+
       for (i = 0, l = children.length; i < l; i++) {
         promises.push( children[i].play() );
       }
@@ -210,6 +232,8 @@ export class Animation {
   }
 
   stage() {
+    // before the animations have started
+    // add the correct "from" effects and classes
     const self = this;
 
     if (!self._isStaged) {
@@ -255,7 +279,14 @@ export class Animation {
     }
   }
 
+  _onPlay() {
+    // after the render delay has happened
+    // before the animations start
+
+  }
+
   _onFinish() {
+    // after the animations have finished
     const self = this;
     let i, j, ele;
 
@@ -415,6 +446,8 @@ class Animate {
 
       self.player.onfinish = () => {
         // lock in where the element will stop at
+        // if the playbackRate is negative then it needs to return
+        // to its "from" effects
         inlineStyle(self.ele, self.rate < 0 ? self.fromEffect : self.toEffect);
 
         self.resolve();
diff --git a/ionic/transitions/transition.js b/ionic/transitions/transition.js
index 51a99422a8..87d943d6dc 100644
--- a/ionic/transitions/transition.js
+++ b/ionic/transitions/transition.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export class Transition extends Animation {
         let enteringBackButton = this.enteringBackButton = new Animation(enteringItem.backButtonElement());
         enteringBackButton
           .before.addClass(SHOW_BACK_BUTTON)
-          .fromTo('opacity', 0.02, 1)
+          .fadeIn();
         enteringNavbar.add(enteringBackButton);
       }
 
@@ -40,11 +40,13 @@ export class Transition extends Animation {
       this.add(enteringNavbar);
 
       this.enteringNavbarItems = new Animation(enteringItem.navbarItemElements())
-      this.enteringNavbarItems.fromTo('opacity', 0.02, 1)
+      this.enteringNavbarItems.fadeIn();
       enteringNavbar.add(this.enteringNavbarItems);
     }
 
+
     if (leavingItem) {
+      // setup the leaving item if one exists (initial viewing wouldn't have a leaving item)
       this.leavingView = new Animation(leavingItem.viewElement());
       this.leavingView.after.removeClass(SHOW_VIEW_CSS);