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 02cbf4e..5e0e8ff 100644
--- a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java
+++ b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAdapter.java
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
  */
 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;
@@ -71,6 +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;
@@ -81,7 +105,7 @@
             return;
         }
         Task task = tasks.get(position);
-        holder.bindTask(task, false /* willAnimate */);
+        holder.bindTask(task, willAnimate /* willAnimate */);
         mLoader.loadTaskIconAndLabel(task, () -> {
             // Ensure holder still has the same task.
             if (Objects.equals(task, holder.getTask())) {
@@ -97,13 +121,6 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void onBindViewHolder(@NonNull TaskHolder holder, int position,
-            @NonNull List<Object> payloads) {
-        // TODO: Bind task in preparation for animation. For now, we apply UI changes immediately.
-        super.onBindViewHolder(holder, position, payloads);
-    }
-
-    @Override
     public int getItemCount() {
         if (mIsShowingLoadingUi) {
             // Show loading version of all items.
diff --git a/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java b/go/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/IconRecentsView.java
index 59755bc..41f2510 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;
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@
 
 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;
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@
 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;
@@ -89,6 +93,9 @@
     private final TaskListLoader mTaskLoader;
     private final TaskAdapter mTaskAdapter;
     private final TaskActionController mTaskActionController;
+    private final DefaultItemAnimator mDefaultItemAnimator = new DefaultItemAnimator();
+    private final ContentFillItemAnimator mLoadingContentItemAnimator =
+            new ContentFillItemAnimator();
 
     private RecentsToActivityHelper mActivityHelper;
     private RecyclerView mTaskRecyclerView;
@@ -134,6 +141,9 @@
                         @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);
@@ -186,9 +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);
         });
     }