Posters are among the most common art forms. You probably had a few of them on your wall as a child. They cover the full spectrum of people, places, and events.

They also serve as an inspiration for web designers. Their use of color and typography is part of how we see the world. We can see the impact all over the web.

What’s more, we can recreate and enhance the experience online. Goodies like 3D effects and animation bring posters to life. There’s also an element of interactivity. That can be just as powerful as a bold layout.

We wanted to see how designers are using their creativity. So, we perused the archives of CodePen for beautiful poster art. Here are some examples that use CSS, JavaScript, and other technologies. Enjoy!

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Furiosa 3D Animated CSS Poster by Olivier 3lanc

Talk about a poster that’s brimming with life! This 3D rendering places the movie’s characters in a cut-out. The entire presentation looks like a diorama. Everything is powered by CSS – no JavaScript in sight.

See the Pen FURIOSA 3D Animated Poster by Olivier 3lanc

Replicating & Animating Zürich Tonhalle’s Poster by Jon Yablonski

This snippet is part of a project that recreates iconic posters. The beauty here is in the minimal layout and bold typography. Animated lines add a modern touch to this classic.

See the Pen Zürich Tonhalle (1955) by Jon Yablonski

CSS Grid Poster Exercise by Victoria Bergquist

A combination of Flexbox and CSS Grid fuels this example. The variation of shapes would seem nearly impossible to do without these tools. The included splash of color makes for a compelling result.

See the Pen CSS Grid Poster Exercise 1 by Victoria Bergquist

Donkey Kong Poster Collection by Daniel Fontes

Here’s a fun tribute to the past. Gamers will instantly recognize this series of images from Donkey Kong. The classic video game posters feature a fun lighting feature. Tug on the chain to illuminate your favorite poster. Bonus points for the flicker effect!

See the Pen Donkey Kong – a small poster collection by Daniel Fontes

PPL MVR CSS & SVG Poster Designby Kristopher Van Sant

Band posters are a common theme among designers. Perhaps that’s because so many of us have them on our walls. This animated sequence takes inspiration from print artwork. And it’s another example of what CSS is capable of.

See the Pen PPL MVR by Kristopher Van Sant

Grid Duotone Gradient Poster Design by Cassie Evans

The power of CSS Grid is real. The poster is beautiful and complex. Most impressively, the styles consist of less than 200 lines. A little code and a lot of imagination can go a long way.

See the Pen Grid Poster by Cassie Evans

Grunge Poster with the Wave Motion Effect by ilithya

Who can resist the retro vibes coming from this poster? It captures the look of the 1990s – complete with raining triangles. Move your cursor to change the perspective of the photo. It’s a far-out experience, for sure.

See the Pen Grunge Poster by ilithya

The Matrix Resurrections Digital Poster by Sparklingman

The Matrix movie series is known for a different kind of rain. This digital poster may appear simple. However, clicking on it shifts the green and black pattern. The effect is subtle – but fits beautifully with the movie’s aesthetic.

See the Pen The Matrix Resurrections | Sparklingman digital poster #026 by Sparklingman

A New Take on a Classic Art Form

The examples above combine classic print sensibilities with online capabilities. It’s a fun exercise that goes beyond what’s hanging on your wall.

We may think of posters as being simplistic. But they also open a world of possibilities for designers. Thus, we can take this inspiration and run with it.

For example, posters may help us rethink traditional web layouts. Elements like vertical text and unique container shapes come to mind. They can serve as a launching pad for ideas.

Want to see more examples of online poster art? Check out our CodePen collection!