diff --git a/src/libs/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libs/utils/CMakeLists.txt
index ba19104db4e..59728939cb7 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libs/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ add_qtc_library(Utils
     statuslabel.cpp statuslabel.h
     stringtable.cpp stringtable.h
     stringutils.cpp stringutils.h
+    styleanimator.cpp styleanimator.h
     styledbar.cpp styledbar.h
     stylehelper.cpp stylehelper.h
     tasktree.cpp tasktree.h
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.cpp b/src/libs/utils/styleanimator.cpp
similarity index 97%
rename from src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.cpp
rename to src/libs/utils/styleanimator.cpp
index f9d57a0d399..05973677323 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/styleanimator.cpp
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@
 
 #include "styleanimator.h"
 
-#include <utils/algorithm.h>
+#include "algorithm.h"
 
+#include <QPainter>
 #include <QStyleOption>
+#include <QWidget>
+
+using namespace Utils;
 
 Animation * StyleAnimator::widgetAnimation(const QWidget *widget) const
 {
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.h b/src/libs/utils/styleanimator.h
similarity index 89%
rename from src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.h
rename to src/libs/utils/styleanimator.h
index f12690aa715..08c4755cd1a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/styleanimator.h
+++ b/src/libs/utils/styleanimator.h
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "utils_global.h"
+
+#include <QBasicTimer>
 #include <QPointer>
 #include <QTime>
-#include <QBasicTimer>
-#include <QStyle>
-#include <QPainter>
 #include <QWidget>
 
+class QPainter;
+class QStyleOption;
+
+namespace Utils {
 /*
  * This is a set of helper classes to allow for widget animations in
  * the style. Its mostly taken from Vista style so it should be fully documented
@@ -17,7 +21,7 @@
  *
  */
 
-class Animation
+class QTCREATOR_UTILS_EXPORT Animation
 {
 public :
     Animation() = default;
@@ -41,7 +45,7 @@ protected:
 };
 
 // Handles state transition animations
-class Transition : public Animation
+class QTCREATOR_UTILS_EXPORT Transition : public Animation
 {
 public :
     Transition() = default;
@@ -54,7 +58,7 @@ public :
     int m_duration = 100; //set time in ms to complete a state transition
 };
 
-class StyleAnimator : public QObject
+class QTCREATOR_UTILS_EXPORT StyleAnimator : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
@@ -70,3 +74,4 @@ private:
     QBasicTimer animationTimer;
     QList <Animation*> animations;
 };
+}
diff --git a/src/libs/utils/utils.qbs b/src/libs/utils/utils.qbs
index 11c0e342826..6fb84c69cc2 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/utils.qbs
+++ b/src/libs/utils/utils.qbs
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ Project {
             "stringtable.h",
             "stringutils.cpp",
             "stringutils.h",
+            "styleanimator.cpp",
+            "styleanimator.h",
             "styledbar.cpp",
             "styledbar.h",
             "stylehelper.cpp",
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/coreplugin/CMakeLists.txt
index 8a680a0f7bd..17d1af01e39 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ add_qtc_plugin(Core
     sidebar.cpp sidebar.h
     sidebarwidget.cpp sidebarwidget.h
     statusbarmanager.cpp statusbarmanager.h
-    styleanimator.cpp styleanimator.h
     systemsettings.cpp systemsettings.h
     textdocument.cpp textdocument.h
     themechooser.cpp themechooser.h
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.qbs b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.qbs
index be30292174b..36edf7f5acf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.qbs
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.qbs
@@ -157,8 +157,6 @@ Project {
                 "sidebarwidget.h",
                 "statusbarmanager.cpp",
                 "statusbarmanager.h",
-                "styleanimator.cpp",
-                "styleanimator.h",
                 "systemsettings.cpp",
                 "systemsettings.h",
                 "textdocument.cpp",
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/manhattanstyle.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/manhattanstyle.cpp
index 3e079b568a3..4b8d78dab03 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/manhattanstyle.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/manhattanstyle.cpp
@@ -3,16 +3,14 @@
 
 #include "manhattanstyle.h"
 
-#include "styleanimator.h"
-
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
-#include <utils/hostosinfo.h>
-#include <utils/stylehelper.h>
-
 #include <utils/fancymainwindow.h>
+#include <utils/hostosinfo.h>
+#include <utils/qtcassert.h>
+#include <utils/styleanimator.h>
+#include <utils/stylehelper.h>
 #include <utils/theme/theme.h>
 #include <utils/utilsicons.h>
-#include <utils/qtcassert.h>
 
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QCheckBox>