diff --git a/go/quickstep/res/drawable/default_thumbnail.xml b/go/quickstep/res/drawable/default_thumbnail.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a2dbf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/quickstep/res/drawable/default_thumbnail.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+     Copyright (C) 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+
+     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+     You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+     limitations under the License.
+-->
+<shape
+    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:shape="rectangle">
+    <solid android:color="@android:color/darker_gray"/>
+    <corners android:radius="2dp"/>
+</shape>
diff --git a/go/quickstep/res/drawable/empty_content_box.xml b/go/quickstep/res/drawable/empty_content_box.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a488388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/quickstep/res/drawable/empty_content_box.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+     Copyright (C) 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+
+     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+     You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+     limitations under the License.
+-->
+<shape
+    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:shape="rectangle">
+    <solid android:color="@android:color/transparent"/>
+    <stroke android:color="@android:color/white" android:width="4px"/>
+    <corners android:radius="2dp"/>
+</shape>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AppToOverviewAnimationProvider.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AppToOverviewAnimationProvider.java
index d1d697c..c228bb9 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AppToOverviewAnimationProvider.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AppToOverviewAnimationProvider.java
@@ -131,10 +131,11 @@
             return anim;
         }
 
-        View thumbnailView = mRecentsView.getThumbnailViewForTask(mTargetTaskId);
+        View thumbnailView = mRecentsView.getBottomThumbnailView();
         if (thumbnailView == null) {
-            // TODO: We should either 1) guarantee the view is loaded before attempting this
-            // or 2) have a backup animation.
+            // This can be null if there were previously 0 tasks and the recycler view has not had
+            // enough time to take in the data change, bind a new view, and lay out the new view.
+            // TODO: Have a fallback to animate to
             if (Log.isLoggable(TAG, Log.WARN)) {
                 Log.w(TAG, "No thumbnail view for running task. Using stub animation.");
             }
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/ContentFillItemAnimator.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/ContentFillItemAnimator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b6f2e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/ContentFillItemAnimator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.android.quickstep;
+
+import static android.view.View.ALPHA;
+
+import static com.android.quickstep.TaskAdapter.CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT;
+import static com.android.quickstep.views.TaskItemView.CONTENT_TRANSITION_PROGRESS;
+
+import android.animation.Animator;
+import android.animation.AnimatorListenerAdapter;
+import android.animation.ObjectAnimator;
+import android.view.View;
+
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView.ViewHolder;
+import androidx.recyclerview.widget.SimpleItemAnimator;
+
+import com.android.quickstep.views.TaskItemView;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.List;
+
+/**
+ * An item animator that is only set and used for the transition from the empty loading UI to
+ * the filled task content UI. The animation starts from the bottom to top, changing all valid
+ * empty item views to be filled and removing all extra empty views.
+ */
+public final class ContentFillItemAnimator extends SimpleItemAnimator {
+
+    private static final class PendingAnimation {
+        ViewHolder viewHolder;
+        int animType;
+
+        PendingAnimation(ViewHolder vh, int type) {
+            viewHolder = vh;
+            animType = type;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static final int ANIM_TYPE_REMOVE = 0;
+    private static final int ANIM_TYPE_CHANGE = 1;
+
+    private static final int ITEM_BETWEEN_DELAY = 40;
+    private static final int ITEM_CHANGE_DURATION = 150;
+    private static final int ITEM_REMOVE_DURATION = 150;
+
+    /**
+     * Animations that have been registered to occur together at the next call of
+     * {@link #runPendingAnimations()} but have not started.
+     */
+    private final ArrayList<PendingAnimation> mPendingAnims = new ArrayList<>();
+
+    /**
+     * Animations that have started and are running.
+     */
+    private final ArrayList<ObjectAnimator> mRunningAnims = new ArrayList<>();
+
+    private Runnable mOnFinishRunnable;
+
+    /**
+     * Set runnable to run after the content fill animation is fully completed.
+     *
+     * @param runnable runnable to run on end
+     */
+    public void setOnAnimationFinishedRunnable(Runnable runnable) {
+        mOnFinishRunnable = runnable;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setChangeDuration(long changeDuration) {
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Cascading item animator cannot have animation "
+                + "duration changed.");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setRemoveDuration(long removeDuration) {
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Cascading item animator cannot have animation "
+                + "duration changed.");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean animateRemove(ViewHolder holder) {
+        PendingAnimation pendAnim = new PendingAnimation(holder, ANIM_TYPE_REMOVE);
+        mPendingAnims.add(pendAnim);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private void animateRemoveImpl(ViewHolder holder, long startDelay) {
+        final View view = holder.itemView;
+        if (holder.itemView.getAlpha() == 0) {
+            // View is already visually removed. We can just get rid of it now.
+            view.setAlpha(1.0f);
+            dispatchRemoveFinished(holder);
+            dispatchFinishedWhenDone();
+            return;
+        }
+        final ObjectAnimator anim = ObjectAnimator.ofFloat(
+                holder.itemView, ALPHA, holder.itemView.getAlpha(), 0.0f);
+        anim.setDuration(ITEM_REMOVE_DURATION).setStartDelay(startDelay);
+        anim.addListener(
+                new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void onAnimationStart(Animator animation) {
+                        dispatchRemoveStarting(holder);
+                    }
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {
+                        view.setAlpha(1);
+                        dispatchRemoveFinished(holder);
+                        mRunningAnims.remove(anim);
+                        dispatchFinishedWhenDone();
+                    }
+                }
+        );
+        anim.start();
+        mRunningAnims.add(anim);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean animateAdd(ViewHolder holder) {
+        dispatchAddFinished(holder);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean animateMove(ViewHolder holder, int fromX, int fromY, int toX,
+            int toY) {
+        dispatchMoveFinished(holder);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean animateChange(ViewHolder oldHolder,
+            ViewHolder newHolder, int fromLeft, int fromTop, int toLeft, int toTop) {
+        // Only support changes where the holders are the same
+        if (oldHolder == newHolder) {
+            PendingAnimation pendAnim = new PendingAnimation(oldHolder, ANIM_TYPE_CHANGE);
+            mPendingAnims.add(pendAnim);
+            return true;
+        }
+        dispatchChangeFinished(oldHolder, true /* oldItem */);
+        dispatchChangeFinished(newHolder, false /* oldItem */);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private void animateChangeImpl(ViewHolder viewHolder, long startDelay) {
+        TaskItemView itemView = (TaskItemView) viewHolder.itemView;
+        final ObjectAnimator anim =
+                ObjectAnimator.ofFloat(itemView, CONTENT_TRANSITION_PROGRESS, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+        anim.setDuration(ITEM_CHANGE_DURATION).setStartDelay(startDelay);
+        anim.addListener(
+                new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void onAnimationStart(Animator animation) {
+                        dispatchChangeStarting(viewHolder, true /* oldItem */);
+                    }
+
+                    @Override
+                    public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {
+                        dispatchChangeFinished(viewHolder, true /* oldItem */);
+                        mRunningAnims.remove(anim);
+                        dispatchFinishedWhenDone();
+                    }
+                }
+        );
+        anim.start();
+        mRunningAnims.add(anim);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void runPendingAnimations() {
+        // Run animations bottom to top.
+        mPendingAnims.sort(Comparator.comparingInt(o -> -o.viewHolder.itemView.getBottom()));
+        int delay = 0;
+        while (!mPendingAnims.isEmpty()) {
+            PendingAnimation curAnim = mPendingAnims.remove(0);
+            ViewHolder vh = curAnim.viewHolder;
+            switch (curAnim.animType) {
+                case ANIM_TYPE_REMOVE:
+                    animateRemoveImpl(vh, delay);
+                    break;
+                case ANIM_TYPE_CHANGE:
+                    animateChangeImpl(vh, delay);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+            delay += ITEM_BETWEEN_DELAY;
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void endAnimation(@NonNull ViewHolder item) {
+        for (int i = mPendingAnims.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+            PendingAnimation pendAnim = mPendingAnims.get(i);
+            if (pendAnim.viewHolder == item) {
+                mPendingAnims.remove(i);
+                switch (pendAnim.animType) {
+                    case ANIM_TYPE_REMOVE:
+                        dispatchRemoveFinished(item);
+                        break;
+                    case ANIM_TYPE_CHANGE:
+                        dispatchChangeFinished(item, true /* oldItem */);
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        dispatchFinishedWhenDone();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void endAnimations() {
+        for (int i = mPendingAnims.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+            PendingAnimation pendAnim = mPendingAnims.get(i);
+            ViewHolder item = pendAnim.viewHolder;
+            switch (pendAnim.animType) {
+                case ANIM_TYPE_REMOVE:
+                    dispatchRemoveFinished(item);
+                    break;
+                case ANIM_TYPE_CHANGE:
+                    dispatchChangeFinished(item, true /* oldItem */);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+            mPendingAnims.remove(i);
+        }
+        for (int i = 0; i < mRunningAnims.size(); i++) {
+            ObjectAnimator anim = mRunningAnims.get(i);
+            anim.end();
+        }
+        dispatchAnimationsFinished();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isRunning() {
+        return !mPendingAnims.isEmpty() || !mRunningAnims.isEmpty();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean canReuseUpdatedViewHolder(@NonNull ViewHolder viewHolder,
+            @NonNull List<Object> payloads) {
+        if (!payloads.isEmpty()
+                && (int) payloads.get(0) == CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        return super.canReuseUpdatedViewHolder(viewHolder, payloads);
+    }
+
+    private void dispatchFinishedWhenDone() {
+        if (!isRunning()) {
+            dispatchAnimationsFinished();
+            if (mOnFinishRunnable != null) {
+                mOnFinishRunnable.run();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java
index 674fcae..5e0e8ff 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java
@@ -15,12 +15,10 @@
  */
 package com.android.quickstep;
 
-import android.util.ArrayMap;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
-import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView.Adapter;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.R;
@@ -36,10 +34,11 @@
  */
 public final class TaskAdapter extends Adapter<TaskHolder> {
 
+    public static final int CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT = 0;
+
     private static final int MAX_TASKS_TO_DISPLAY = 6;
     private static final String TAG = "TaskAdapter";
     private final TaskListLoader mLoader;
-    private final ArrayMap<Integer, TaskItemView> mTaskIdToViewMap = new ArrayMap<>();
     private TaskActionController mTaskActionController;
     private boolean mIsShowingLoadingUi;
 
@@ -63,16 +62,6 @@
         mIsShowingLoadingUi = isShowingLoadingUi;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Get task item view for a given task id if it's attached to the view.
-     *
-     * @param taskId task id to search for
-     * @return corresponding task item view if it's attached, null otherwise
-     */
-    public @Nullable TaskItemView getTaskItemView(int taskId) {
-        return mTaskIdToViewMap.get(taskId);
-    }
-
     @Override
     public TaskHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup parent, int viewType) {
         TaskItemView itemView = (TaskItemView) LayoutInflater.from(parent.getContext())
@@ -84,6 +73,28 @@
 
     @Override
     public void onBindViewHolder(TaskHolder holder, int position) {
+        onBindViewHolderInternal(holder, position, false /* willAnimate */);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onBindViewHolder(@NonNull TaskHolder holder, int position,
+            @NonNull List<Object> payloads) {
+        if (payloads.isEmpty()) {
+            super.onBindViewHolder(holder, position, payloads);
+            return;
+        }
+        int changeType = (int) payloads.get(0);
+        if (changeType == CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT) {
+            // Bind in preparation for animation
+            onBindViewHolderInternal(holder, position, true /* willAnimate */);
+        } else {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Payload content is not a valid change event type: "
+                    + changeType);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void onBindViewHolderInternal(@NonNull TaskHolder holder, int position,
+            boolean willAnimate) {
         if (mIsShowingLoadingUi) {
             holder.bindEmptyUi();
             return;
@@ -94,7 +105,7 @@
             return;
         }
         Task task = tasks.get(position);
-        holder.bindTask(task);
+        holder.bindTask(task, willAnimate /* willAnimate */);
         mLoader.loadTaskIconAndLabel(task, () -> {
             // Ensure holder still has the same task.
             if (Objects.equals(task, holder.getTask())) {
@@ -110,22 +121,6 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void onViewAttachedToWindow(@NonNull TaskHolder holder) {
-        if (holder.getTask() == null) {
-            return;
-        }
-        mTaskIdToViewMap.put(holder.getTask().key.id, (TaskItemView) holder.itemView);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void onViewDetachedFromWindow(@NonNull TaskHolder holder) {
-        if (holder.getTask() == null) {
-            return;
-        }
-        mTaskIdToViewMap.remove(holder.getTask().key.id);
-    }
-
-    @Override
     public int getItemCount() {
         if (mIsShowingLoadingUi) {
             // Show loading version of all items.
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskHolder.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskHolder.java
index 98dc989..a3fa5c1 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskHolder.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskHolder.java
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
  */
 package com.android.quickstep;
 
+import android.graphics.Bitmap;
+
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView.ViewHolder;
 
@@ -40,13 +43,28 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     * Bind a task to the holder, resetting the view and preparing it for content to load in.
+     * Bind the task model to the holder. This will take the current task content in the task
+     * object (i.e. icon, thumbnail, label) and either apply the content immediately or simply bind
+     * the content to animate to at a later time. If the task does not have all its content loaded,
+     * the view will prepare appropriate default placeholders and it is the callers responsibility
+     * to change them at a later time.
+     *
+     * Regardless of whether it is animating, input handlers will be bound immediately (see
+     * {@link TaskActionController}).
      *
      * @param task the task to bind to the view
+     * @param willAnimate true if UI should animate in later, false if it should apply immediately
      */
-    public void bindTask(Task task) {
+    public void bindTask(@NonNull Task task, boolean willAnimate) {
         mTask = task;
-        mTaskItemView.resetTaskItemView();
+        Bitmap thumbnail = (task.thumbnail != null) ? task.thumbnail.thumbnail : null;
+        if (willAnimate) {
+            mTaskItemView.startContentAnimation(task.icon, thumbnail, task.titleDescription);
+        } else {
+            mTaskItemView.setIcon(task.icon);
+            mTaskItemView.setThumbnail(thumbnail);
+            mTaskItemView.setLabel(task.titleDescription);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -55,10 +73,7 @@
      */
     public void bindEmptyUi() {
         mTask = null;
-        // TODO: Set the task view to a loading, empty UI.
-        // Temporarily using the one below for visual confirmation but should be swapped out to new
-        // UI later.
-        mTaskItemView.resetTaskItemView();
+        mTaskItemView.resetToEmptyUi();
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java
index c06b6ec..4724406 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import static androidx.recyclerview.widget.LinearLayoutManager.VERTICAL;
 
+import static com.android.quickstep.TaskAdapter.CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT;
+
 import android.animation.Animator;
 import android.animation.AnimatorListenerAdapter;
 import android.animation.AnimatorSet;
@@ -24,24 +26,25 @@
 import android.animation.PropertyValuesHolder;
 import android.animation.ValueAnimator;
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.util.ArraySet;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
 import android.util.FloatProperty;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewDebug;
-import android.view.animation.AlphaAnimation;
-import android.view.animation.Animation;
-import android.view.animation.AnimationSet;
-import android.view.animation.LayoutAnimationController;
+import android.view.ViewTreeObserver;
 import android.widget.FrameLayout;
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
+import androidx.recyclerview.widget.DefaultItemAnimator;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.ItemTouchHelper;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.LinearLayoutManager;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView;
 import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView.AdapterDataObserver;
+import androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView.OnChildAttachStateChangeListener;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.R;
+import com.android.quickstep.ContentFillItemAnimator;
 import com.android.quickstep.RecentsToActivityHelper;
 import com.android.quickstep.TaskActionController;
 import com.android.quickstep.TaskAdapter;
@@ -90,7 +93,9 @@
     private final TaskListLoader mTaskLoader;
     private final TaskAdapter mTaskAdapter;
     private final TaskActionController mTaskActionController;
-    private final LayoutAnimationController mLayoutAnimation;
+    private final DefaultItemAnimator mDefaultItemAnimator = new DefaultItemAnimator();
+    private final ContentFillItemAnimator mLoadingContentItemAnimator =
+            new ContentFillItemAnimator();
 
     private RecentsToActivityHelper mActivityHelper;
     private RecyclerView mTaskRecyclerView;
@@ -98,6 +103,9 @@
     private View mContentView;
     private View mClearAllView;
     private boolean mTransitionedFromApp;
+    private AnimatorSet mLayoutAnimation;
+    private final ArraySet<View> mLayingOutViews = new ArraySet<>();
+
 
     public IconRecentsView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
         super(context, attrs);
@@ -106,7 +114,6 @@
         mTaskAdapter = new TaskAdapter(mTaskLoader);
         mTaskActionController = new TaskActionController(mTaskLoader, mTaskAdapter);
         mTaskAdapter.setActionController(mTaskActionController);
-        mLayoutAnimation = createLayoutAnimation();
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -120,7 +127,23 @@
             ItemTouchHelper helper = new ItemTouchHelper(
                     new TaskSwipeCallback(mTaskActionController));
             helper.attachToRecyclerView(mTaskRecyclerView);
-            mTaskRecyclerView.setLayoutAnimation(mLayoutAnimation);
+            mTaskRecyclerView.addOnChildAttachStateChangeListener(
+                    new OnChildAttachStateChangeListener() {
+                        @Override
+                        public void onChildViewAttachedToWindow(@NonNull View view) {
+                            if (mLayoutAnimation != null && !mLayingOutViews.contains(view)) {
+                                // Child view was added that is not part of current layout animation
+                                // so restart the animation.
+                                animateFadeInLayoutAnimation();
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        @Override
+                        public void onChildViewDetachedFromWindow(@NonNull View view) { }
+                    });
+            mTaskRecyclerView.setItemAnimator(mDefaultItemAnimator);
+            mLoadingContentItemAnimator.setOnAnimationFinishedRunnable(
+                    () -> mTaskRecyclerView.setItemAnimator(new DefaultItemAnimator()));
 
             mEmptyView = findViewById(R.id.recent_task_empty_view);
             mContentView = findViewById(R.id.recent_task_content_view);
@@ -165,8 +188,7 @@
      * becomes visible.
      */
     public void onBeginTransitionToOverview() {
-        mTaskRecyclerView.scheduleLayoutAnimation();
-
+        scheduleFadeInLayoutAnimation();
         // Load any task changes
         if (!mTaskLoader.needsToLoad()) {
             return;
@@ -174,9 +196,19 @@
         mTaskAdapter.setIsShowingLoadingUi(true);
         mTaskAdapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
         mTaskLoader.loadTaskList(tasks -> {
+            int numEmptyItems = mTaskAdapter.getItemCount();
             mTaskAdapter.setIsShowingLoadingUi(false);
-            // TODO: Animate the loading UI out and the loaded data in.
-            mTaskAdapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
+            int numActualItems = mTaskAdapter.getItemCount();
+            if (numEmptyItems < numActualItems) {
+                throw new IllegalStateException("There are less empty item views than the number "
+                        + "of items to animate to.");
+            }
+            // Set item animator for content filling animation. The item animator will switch back
+            // to the default on completion.
+            mTaskRecyclerView.setItemAnimator(mLoadingContentItemAnimator);
+            mTaskAdapter.notifyItemRangeRemoved(numActualItems, numEmptyItems - numActualItems);
+            mTaskAdapter.notifyItemRangeChanged(
+                    0, numActualItems, CHANGE_EVENT_TYPE_EMPTY_TO_CONTENT);
         });
     }
 
@@ -213,16 +245,15 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get the thumbnail view associated with a task for the purposes of animation.
+     * Get the bottom most thumbnail view to animate to.
      *
-     * @param taskId task id of thumbnail view to get
-     * @return the thumbnail view for the task if attached, null otherwise
+     * @return the thumbnail view if laid out
      */
-    public @Nullable View getThumbnailViewForTask(int taskId) {
-        TaskItemView view = mTaskAdapter.getTaskItemView(taskId);
-        if (view == null) {
+    public @Nullable View getBottomThumbnailView() {
+        if (mTaskRecyclerView.getChildCount() == 0) {
             return null;
         }
+        TaskItemView view = (TaskItemView) mTaskRecyclerView.getChildAt(0);
         return view.getThumbnailView();
     }
 
@@ -303,7 +334,7 @@
      * of tasks.
      */
     private void updateContentViewVisibility() {
-        int taskListSize = mTaskLoader.getCurrentTaskList().size();
+        int taskListSize = mTaskAdapter.getItemCount();
         if (mEmptyView.getVisibility() != VISIBLE && taskListSize == 0) {
             crossfadeViews(mEmptyView, mContentView);
             mActivityHelper.leaveRecents();
@@ -338,17 +369,56 @@
                 });
     }
 
-    private static LayoutAnimationController createLayoutAnimation() {
-        AnimationSet anim = new AnimationSet(false /* shareInterpolator */);
+    /**
+     * Schedule a one-shot layout animation on the next layout. Separate from
+     * {@link #scheduleLayoutAnimation()} as the animation is {@link Animator} based and acts on the
+     * view properties themselves, allowing more controllable behavior and making it easier to
+     * manage when the animation conflicts with another animation.
+     */
+    private void scheduleFadeInLayoutAnimation() {
+        ViewTreeObserver viewTreeObserver = mTaskRecyclerView.getViewTreeObserver();
+        viewTreeObserver.addOnGlobalLayoutListener(
+                new ViewTreeObserver.OnGlobalLayoutListener() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void onGlobalLayout() {
+                        animateFadeInLayoutAnimation();
+                        viewTreeObserver.removeOnGlobalLayoutListener(this);
+                    }
+                });
+    }
 
-        Animation alphaAnim = new AlphaAnimation(0, 1);
-        alphaAnim.setDuration(LAYOUT_ITEM_ANIMATE_IN_DURATION);
-        anim.addAnimation(alphaAnim);
-
-        LayoutAnimationController layoutAnim = new LayoutAnimationController(anim);
-        layoutAnim.setDelay(
-                (float) LAYOUT_ITEM_ANIMATE_IN_DELAY_BETWEEN / LAYOUT_ITEM_ANIMATE_IN_DURATION);
-
-        return layoutAnim;
+    /**
+     * Start animating the layout animation where items fade in.
+     */
+    private void animateFadeInLayoutAnimation() {
+        if (mLayoutAnimation != null) {
+            // If layout animation still in progress, cancel and restart.
+            mLayoutAnimation.cancel();
+        }
+        TaskItemView[] views = getTaskViews();
+        int delay = 0;
+        mLayoutAnimation = new AnimatorSet();
+        for (TaskItemView view : views) {
+            view.setAlpha(0.0f);
+            Animator alphaAnim = ObjectAnimator.ofFloat(view, ALPHA, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+            alphaAnim.setDuration(LAYOUT_ITEM_ANIMATE_IN_DURATION).setStartDelay(delay);
+            alphaAnim.addListener(new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
+                @Override
+                public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {
+                    view.setAlpha(1.0f);
+                    mLayingOutViews.remove(view);
+                }
+            });
+            delay += LAYOUT_ITEM_ANIMATE_IN_DELAY_BETWEEN;
+            mLayoutAnimation.play(alphaAnim);
+            mLayingOutViews.add(view);
+        }
+        mLayoutAnimation.addListener(new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {
+            @Override
+            public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {
+                mLayoutAnimation = null;
+            }
+        });
+        mLayoutAnimation.start();
     }
 }
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskItemView.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskItemView.java
index d831b20..572747b 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskItemView.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskItemView.java
@@ -16,15 +16,18 @@
 package com.android.quickstep.views;
 
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.graphics.Bitmap;
-import android.graphics.Color;
+import android.graphics.drawable.BitmapDrawable;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
+import android.util.FloatProperty;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.widget.ImageView;
 import android.widget.LinearLayout;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.R;
@@ -34,16 +37,41 @@
  */
 public final class TaskItemView extends LinearLayout {
 
+    private static final String EMPTY_LABEL = "";
     private static final String DEFAULT_LABEL = "...";
     private final Drawable mDefaultIcon;
+    private final Drawable mDefaultThumbnail;
+    private final TaskLayerDrawable mIconDrawable;
+    private final TaskLayerDrawable mThumbnailDrawable;
     private TextView mLabelView;
     private ImageView mIconView;
     private ImageView mThumbnailView;
+    private float mContentTransitionProgress;
+
+    /**
+     * Property representing the content transition progress of the view. 1.0f represents that the
+     * currently bound icon, thumbnail, and label are fully animated in and visible.
+     */
+    public static FloatProperty CONTENT_TRANSITION_PROGRESS =
+            new FloatProperty<TaskItemView>("taskContentTransitionProgress") {
+                @Override
+                public void setValue(TaskItemView view, float progress) {
+                    view.setContentTransitionProgress(progress);
+                }
+
+                @Override
+                public Float get(TaskItemView view) {
+                    return view.mContentTransitionProgress;
+                }
+            };
 
     public TaskItemView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
         super(context, attrs);
-        mDefaultIcon = context.getResources().getDrawable(
-                android.R.drawable.sym_def_app_icon, context.getTheme());
+        Resources res = context.getResources();
+        mDefaultIcon = res.getDrawable(android.R.drawable.sym_def_app_icon, context.getTheme());
+        mDefaultThumbnail = res.getDrawable(R.drawable.default_thumbnail, context.getTheme());
+        mIconDrawable = new TaskLayerDrawable(context);
+        mThumbnailDrawable = new TaskLayerDrawable(context);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -52,15 +80,21 @@
         mLabelView = findViewById(R.id.task_label);
         mThumbnailView = findViewById(R.id.task_thumbnail);
         mIconView = findViewById(R.id.task_icon);
+
+        mThumbnailView.setImageDrawable(mThumbnailDrawable);
+        mIconView.setImageDrawable(mIconDrawable);
+
+        resetToEmptyUi();
+        CONTENT_TRANSITION_PROGRESS.setValue(this, 1.0f);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Resets task item view to default values.
+     * Resets task item view to empty, loading UI.
      */
-    public void resetTaskItemView() {
-        setLabel(DEFAULT_LABEL);
-        setIcon(null);
-        setThumbnail(null);
+    public void resetToEmptyUi() {
+        mIconDrawable.resetDrawable();
+        mThumbnailDrawable.resetDrawable();
+        setLabel(EMPTY_LABEL);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -69,11 +103,8 @@
      * @param label task label
      */
     public void setLabel(@Nullable String label) {
-        if (label == null) {
-            mLabelView.setText(DEFAULT_LABEL);
-            return;
-        }
-        mLabelView.setText(label);
+        mLabelView.setText(getSafeLabel(label));
+        // TODO: Animation for label
     }
 
     /**
@@ -86,11 +117,7 @@
         // The icon proper is actually smaller than the drawable and has "padding" on the side for
         // the purpose of drawing the shadow, allowing the icon to pop up, so we need to scale the
         // view if we want the icon to be flush with the bottom of the thumbnail.
-        if (icon == null) {
-            mIconView.setImageDrawable(mDefaultIcon);
-            return;
-        }
-        mIconView.setImageDrawable(icon);
+        mIconDrawable.setCurrentDrawable(getSafeIcon(icon));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -99,16 +126,48 @@
      * @param thumbnail task thumbnail for the task
      */
     public void setThumbnail(@Nullable Bitmap thumbnail) {
-        if (thumbnail == null) {
-            mThumbnailView.setImageBitmap(null);
-            mThumbnailView.setBackgroundColor(Color.GRAY);
-            return;
-        }
-        mThumbnailView.setBackgroundColor(Color.TRANSPARENT);
-        mThumbnailView.setImageBitmap(thumbnail);
+        mThumbnailDrawable.setCurrentDrawable(getSafeThumbnail(thumbnail));
     }
 
     public View getThumbnailView() {
         return mThumbnailView;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Start a new animation from the current task content to the specified new content. The caller
+     * is responsible for the actual animation control via the property
+     * {@link #CONTENT_TRANSITION_PROGRESS}.
+     *
+     * @param endIcon the icon to animate to
+     * @param endThumbnail the thumbnail to animate to
+     * @param endLabel the label to animate to
+     */
+    public void startContentAnimation(@Nullable Drawable endIcon, @Nullable Bitmap endThumbnail,
+            @Nullable String endLabel) {
+        mIconDrawable.startNewTransition(getSafeIcon(endIcon));
+        mThumbnailDrawable.startNewTransition(getSafeThumbnail(endThumbnail));
+        // TODO: Animation for label
+
+        setContentTransitionProgress(0.0f);
+    }
+
+    private void setContentTransitionProgress(float progress) {
+        mContentTransitionProgress = progress;
+        mIconDrawable.setTransitionProgress(progress);
+        mThumbnailDrawable.setTransitionProgress(progress);
+        // TODO: Animation for label
+    }
+
+    private @NonNull Drawable getSafeIcon(@Nullable Drawable icon) {
+        return (icon != null) ? icon : mDefaultIcon;
+    }
+
+    private @NonNull Drawable getSafeThumbnail(@Nullable Bitmap thumbnail) {
+        return (thumbnail != null) ? new BitmapDrawable(getResources(), thumbnail)
+                                   : mDefaultThumbnail;
+    }
+
+    private @NonNull String getSafeLabel(@Nullable String label) {
+        return (label != null) ? label : DEFAULT_LABEL;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskLayerDrawable.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskLayerDrawable.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98b66b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/TaskLayerDrawable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.quickstep.views;
+
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
+import android.graphics.drawable.LayerDrawable;
+
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+
+import com.android.launcher3.R;
+
+/**
+ * A layer drawable for task content that transitions between two drawables by crossfading. Similar
+ * to {@link android.graphics.drawable.TransitionDrawable} but allows callers to control transition
+ * progress and provides a default, empty drawable.
+ */
+public final class TaskLayerDrawable extends LayerDrawable {
+    private final Drawable mEmptyDrawable;
+    private float mProgress;
+
+    public TaskLayerDrawable(Context context) {
+        super(new Drawable[0]);
+
+        // Use empty drawable for both layers initially.
+        mEmptyDrawable = context.getResources().getDrawable(
+                R.drawable.empty_content_box, context.getTheme());
+        addLayer(mEmptyDrawable);
+        addLayer(mEmptyDrawable);
+        setTransitionProgress(1.0f);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Immediately set the front-most drawable layer.
+     *
+     * @param drawable drawable to set
+     */
+    public void setCurrentDrawable(@NonNull Drawable drawable) {
+        setDrawable(0, drawable);
+        applyTransitionProgress(mProgress);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Immediately reset the drawable to showing the empty drawable.
+     */
+    public void resetDrawable() {
+        setCurrentDrawable(mEmptyDrawable);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Prepare to start animating the transition by pushing the current drawable to the back and
+     * setting a new drawable to the front layer and making it invisible.
+     *
+     * @param endDrawable drawable to animate to
+     */
+    public void startNewTransition(@NonNull Drawable endDrawable) {
+        Drawable oldDrawable = getDrawable(0);
+        setDrawable(1, oldDrawable);
+        setDrawable(0, endDrawable);
+        setTransitionProgress(0.0f);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the progress of the transition animation to crossfade the two drawables.
+     *
+     * @param progress current transition progress between 0 (front view invisible) and 1
+     *                 (front view visible)
+     */
+    public void setTransitionProgress(float progress) {
+        if (progress > 1 || progress < 0) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Transition progress should be between 0 and 1");
+        }
+        mProgress = progress;
+        applyTransitionProgress(progress);
+    }
+
+    private void applyTransitionProgress(float progress) {
+        int drawableAlpha = (int) (progress * 255);
+        getDrawable(0).setAlpha(drawableAlpha);
+        if (getDrawable(0) != getDrawable(1)) {
+            // Only do this if it's a different drawable so that it fades out.
+            // Otherwise, we'd just be overwriting the front drawable's alpha.
+            getDrawable(1).setAlpha(255 - drawableAlpha);
+        }
+        invalidateSelf();
+    }
+}