# Is chalk-animation ESM-only? Can you require() it?

> chalk-animation@2.0.3 is ESM-only. ESM-only since 2.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 1.6.0.

Colorful animations in terminal output

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against chalk-animation@2.0.3.

chalk-animation dropped its CommonJS build in 2.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 1.6.0, published Apr 7, 2018; it declares support for Node.js >=4.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chalk-animation") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. On Node.js 18, which has no require(esm), require("chalk-animation") fails with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

## What to do

1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chalk-animation") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chalkAnimation = await import("chalk-animation"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12).
3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install chalk-animation@1.6.0, the last CommonJS release (published Apr 7, 2018); it declares Node.js >=4.
4. TypeScript: npm install -D @types/chalk-animation

## Facts

- Latest: 2.0.3 (Sep 6, 2022)
- Module format: ESM-only
- Last CommonJS version: 1.6.0
- ESM-only since: 2.0.0 (Apr 19, 2022)
- TypeScript types: @types/chalk-animation
- Node engines: >=12
- Weekly downloads: 337K
- License: MIT

## Runtime test results for chalk-animation@2.0.3

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("chalk-animation") from a CommonJS file and import "chalk-animation" from an ES module.

| Runtime | require("chalk-animation") | import "chalk-animation" |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js 18 | fails (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM) | works |
| Node.js 20 | works | works |
| Node.js 22 | works | works |
| Node.js 24 | works | works |
| Node.js 26 | works | works |
| Bun 1.4.0 | works | works |

## How to import chalk-animation

ES modules:

```js
import * as chalkAnimation from "chalk-animation";
```

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS:

```js
// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const chalkAnimation = require("chalk-animation");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (>=12), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const chalkAnimation = await import("chalk-animation");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js >=4):
// npm install chalk-animation@1.6.0
```

## Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm (18 versions; the newest 18 shown).

| Versions | Format | First published |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0.0 – 2.0.3 | ESM-only | Apr 19, 2022 |
| 0.0.1 – 1.6.0 | CommonJS | Jul 23, 2017 |

## Frequently asked

**Is chalk-animation ESM-only?**

chalk-animation@2.0.3 is ESM-only. chalk-animation dropped its CommonJS build in 2.0.0 (April 2022). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 1.6.0, published Apr 7, 2018; it declares support for Node.js >=4.

**Which version of chalk-animation still supports CommonJS / require()?**

1.6.0 is the last version of chalk-animation with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js >=4. Install it with "npm install chalk-animation@1.6.0". Every version from 2.0.0 on is ESM-only.

**How do I use chalk-animation from a CommonJS file?**

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const chalkAnimation = await import("chalk-animation"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (>=12). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("chalk-animation") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin chalk-animation@1.6.0 (declares Node.js >=4).

**Does chalk-animation work in Bun?**

Yes. import "chalk-animation" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

**Does chalk-animation ship TypeScript types?**

Not bundled. Install the community types with "npm install -D @types/chalk-animation".

## Links

- [chalk-animation on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/chalk-animation)
- [Source repository](https://github.com/bokub/chalk-animation)
- [HTML version](https://canirequire.com/package/chalk-animation/)
- [JSON version](https://canirequire.com/package/chalk-animation.json)

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