I agree with your sentiment - there really isn't a use for animations in the context of most UI. Except when there is - for example, first-user introduction/on

I agree with your sentiment - there really isn't a use for animations in the context of most UI. Except when there is - for example, first-user introduction/onboarding segue's, which guide the users attention around the app by highlights/flows, perhaps overlaid in a fashion that makes it clear that the overlay itself is impermanent (by fading it) .. but only if its got a real purpose, as you state. I appreciate this degree of assistance in learning a new app personally, especially on mobile. Animating the UI is what we want the user to do anyway - and many users are very animated about how they use their apps (i.e. selfie culture), so using animation to train the user to use the app properly, such that the user animates back, seems obvious.