diff --git a/app/renderer/components/styles/animations.js b/app/renderer/components/styles/animations.js
index b46c06aa250..c6eec1954f6 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/styles/animations.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/styles/animations.js
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ const opacityIncreaseKeyframes = {
   }
 }
 
+const opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes = {
+  opacity: [0, 1]
+}
+
 // TODO: this could be a function with param included
 // to which property should be changed
 const widthIncreaseKeyframes = (start, end) => ({
@@ -31,6 +35,10 @@ const widthIncreaseKeyframes = (start, end) => ({
   }
 })
 
+const widthIncreaseElementKeyframes = (start, end) => ({
+  width: [start, end]
+})
+
 const loaderAnimation = {
   '0': {
     transform: 'translate(0,0)'
@@ -46,6 +54,8 @@ const loaderAnimation = {
 module.exports = {
   spinKeyframes,
   opacityIncreaseKeyframes,
+  opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes,
   widthIncreaseKeyframes,
+  widthIncreaseElementKeyframes,
   loaderAnimation
 }
diff --git a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/audioTabIcon.js b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/audioTabIcon.js
index 06c0cd67704..6c186f8931f 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/audioTabIcon.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/audioTabIcon.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 const React = require('react')
+const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
 const {StyleSheet, css} = require('aphrodite/no-important')
 
 // Components
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ const tabState = require('../../../../common/state/tabState')
 const windowActions = require('../../../../../js/actions/windowActions')
 
 // Styles
-const {widthIncreaseKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
+const {widthIncreaseElementKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
 const globalStyles = require('../../styles/global')
 const {theme} = require('../../styles/theme')
 
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ class AudioTabIcon extends React.Component {
   constructor (props) {
     super(props)
     this.toggleMute = this.toggleMute.bind(this)
+    this.setRef = this.setRef.bind(this)
   }
 
   get audioIcon () {
@@ -56,6 +58,46 @@ class AudioTabIcon extends React.Component {
     return props
   }
 
+  componentDidMount (props) {
+    this.transitionIfRequired()
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    this.transitionIfRequired(prevProps)
+  }
+
+  transitionIfRequired (prevProps) {
+    const shouldTransitionIn = (
+      // need to have the element created already
+      this.element &&
+      // no icon is showing if pinned tab
+      !this.props.isPinned &&
+      // should show the icon
+      // TODO: if we want to animate the unmounting of the component (when
+      // audio is stopped), then we should use https://github.com/reactjs/react-transition-group
+      // For now, we'll just not do anything since we can't - the element
+      // will have already been removed
+      this.props.showAudioIcon &&
+      // state has changed
+      (!prevProps || this.props.showAudioIcon !== prevProps.showAudioIcon)
+    )
+    if (shouldTransitionIn) {
+      // TODO: measure element width if this ever becomes dynamic since
+      // it's not great to specify complex size logic in two places
+      // or animate a child element using transform: translateX
+      // in order to achieve the slide-in
+      const transitionKeyframes = widthIncreaseElementKeyframes(0, globalStyles.spacing.iconSize)
+      this.element.animate(transitionKeyframes, {
+        duration: 100,
+        easing: 'linear'
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  setRef (ref) {
+    this.element = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(ref)
+  }
+
   render () {
     if (this.props.isPinned || !this.props.showAudioIcon) {
       return null
@@ -66,19 +108,14 @@ class AudioTabIcon extends React.Component {
       className={css(styles.audioTab__icon)}
       symbol={this.audioIcon}
       onClick={this.toggleMute}
+      ref={this.setRef}
     />
   }
 }
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   audioTab__icon: {
-    width: 0,
-    animationName: widthIncreaseKeyframes(0, globalStyles.spacing.iconSize),
-    animationDelay: '50ms',
-    animationTimingFunction: 'linear',
-    animationDuration: '100ms',
-    animationFillMode: 'forwards',
-
+    width: globalStyles.spacing.iconSize,
     overflow: 'hidden',
     margin: '0 -2px 0 2px',
     zIndex: globalStyles.zindex.zindexTabsAudioTopBorder,
diff --git a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/closeTabIcon.js b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/closeTabIcon.js
index 905c7b6535d..41226610e17 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/closeTabIcon.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/closeTabIcon.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 const React = require('react')
+const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
 const {StyleSheet, css} = require('aphrodite/no-important')
 
 // Components
@@ -18,13 +19,14 @@ const frameStateUtil = require('../../../../../js/state/frameStateUtil')
 // Styles
 const {theme} = require('../../styles/theme')
 const {spacing, zindex} = require('../../styles/global')
-const {opacityIncreaseKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
+const {opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
 const closeTabSvg = require('../../../../extensions/brave/img/tabs/close_btn.svg')
 
 class CloseTabIcon extends React.Component {
   constructor (props) {
     super(props)
     this.onDragStart = this.onDragStart.bind(this)
+    this.setRef = this.setRef.bind(this)
   }
 
   onDragStart (event) {
@@ -46,6 +48,41 @@ class CloseTabIcon extends React.Component {
     return props
   }
 
+  componentDidMount (props) {
+    this.transitionIfRequired()
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    this.transitionIfRequired(prevProps)
+  }
+
+  transitionIfRequired (prevProps) {
+    const shouldTransitionIn = (
+      // need to have the element created already
+      this.element &&
+      // no icon is showing if pinned tab
+      !this.props.isPinned &&
+      // should show the icon
+      // TODO: if we want to animate the unmounting of the component (when
+      // tab is unhovered), then we should use https://github.com/reactjs/react-transition-group
+      // For now, we'll just not do anything since we can't - the element
+      // will have already been removed
+      this.props.showCloseIcon &&
+      // state has changed
+      (!prevProps || this.props.showCloseIcon !== prevProps.showCloseIcon)
+    )
+    if (shouldTransitionIn) {
+      this.element.animate(opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes, {
+        duration: 200,
+        easing: 'linear'
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  setRef (ref) {
+    this.element = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(ref)
+  }
+
   render () {
     if (this.props.isPinned || !this.props.showCloseIcon) {
       return null
@@ -62,6 +99,7 @@ class CloseTabIcon extends React.Component {
       onClick={this.props.onClick}
       onDragStart={this.onDragStart}
       draggable='true'
+      ref={this.setRef}
     />
   }
 }
@@ -70,13 +108,7 @@ module.exports = ReduxComponent.connect(CloseTabIcon)
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   closeTab__icon: {
-    opacity: 0,
     willChange: 'opacity',
-    animationName: opacityIncreaseKeyframes,
-    animationTimingFunction: 'linear',
-    animationDuration: '200ms',
-    animationDelay: '25ms',
-    animationFillMode: 'forwards',
 
     boxSizing: 'border-box',
     zIndex: zindex.zindexTabsThumbnail,
diff --git a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/favIcon.js b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/favIcon.js
index 15d7a16e406..4d2443645fd 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/favIcon.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/favIcon.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 const React = require('react')
+const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
 const {StyleSheet, css} = require('aphrodite/no-important')
 
 // Components
@@ -19,9 +20,14 @@ const tabState = require('../../../../common/state/tabState')
 const defaultIconSvg = require('../../../../extensions/brave/img/tabs/default.svg')
 const loadingIconSvg = require('../../../../extensions/brave/img/tabs/loading.svg')
 const {filter, color, spacing} = require('../../styles/global')
-const {spinKeyframes, opacityIncreaseKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
+const {spinKeyframes, opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
 
 class Favicon extends React.Component {
+  constructor (props) {
+    super(props)
+    this.setRef = this.setRef.bind(this)
+  }
+
   mergeProps (state, ownProps) {
     const currentWindow = state.get('currentWindow')
     const tabId = ownProps.tabId
@@ -47,6 +53,35 @@ class Favicon extends React.Component {
       : this.props.favicon || 'defaultIcon'
   }
 
+  componentDidMount (props) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired()
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired(prevProps)
+  }
+
+  transitionInIfRequired (prevProps) {
+    const shouldTransitionIn = (
+      // need to have the element created already
+      this.element &&
+      // we do not transition the loading animation
+      !this.props.tabLoading &&
+      // only if the icon changes (or is new)
+      (!prevProps || this.props.favicon !== prevProps.favicon)
+    )
+    if (shouldTransitionIn) {
+      this.element.animate(opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes, {
+        duration: 200,
+        easing: 'linear'
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  setRef (ref) {
+    this.element = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(ref)
+  }
+
   render () {
     if (!this.props.isPinned && !this.props.showIcon) {
       return null
@@ -69,6 +104,7 @@ class Favicon extends React.Component {
         !this.props.isPinned && this.props.showIconAtReducedSize && styles.icon_reducedSize
       )}
       style={instanceStyles}
+      ref={this.setRef}
       symbol={
         this.props.tabLoading
           ? (
@@ -95,14 +131,7 @@ module.exports = ReduxComponent.connect(Favicon)
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   icon: {
-    opacity: 0,
     willChange: 'opacity',
-    animationName: opacityIncreaseKeyframes,
-    animationDelay: '50ms',
-    animationTimingFunction: 'linear',
-    animationDuration: '200ms',
-    animationFillMode: 'forwards',
-
     position: 'relative',
     boxSizing: 'border-box',
     width: spacing.iconSize,
diff --git a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/newSessionIcon.js b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/newSessionIcon.js
index 75c6b381b12..7260d960fba 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/newSessionIcon.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/newSessionIcon.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 const React = require('react')
+const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
 const {StyleSheet, css} = require('aphrodite/no-important')
 
 // Components
@@ -17,10 +18,15 @@ const frameStateUtil = require('../../../../../js/state/frameStateUtil')
 
 // Styles
 const globalStyles = require('../../styles/global')
-const {opacityIncreaseKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
+const {opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
 const newSessionSvg = require('../../../../extensions/brave/img/tabs/new_session.svg')
 
 class NewSessionIcon extends React.Component {
+  constructor (props) {
+    super(props)
+    this.setRef = this.setRef.bind(this)
+  }
+
   mergeProps (state, ownProps) {
     const currentWindow = state.get('currentWindow')
     const tabId = ownProps.tabId
@@ -37,6 +43,41 @@ class NewSessionIcon extends React.Component {
     return props
   }
 
+  componentDidMount (props) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired()
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired(prevProps)
+  }
+
+  transitionInIfRequired (prevProps) {
+    const shouldTransitionIn = (
+      // need to have the element created already
+      this.element &&
+      // no icon is showing if pinned tab
+      !this.props.isPinned &&
+      // make sure icon should show
+      this.props.showPartitionIcon && this.props.partitionNumber !== 0 &&
+      // only if the icon showing is a new state
+      // check the previous state to see if it was not showing
+      (!prevProps || !prevProps.showPartitionIcon || prevProps.partitionNumber === 0)
+    )
+    if (prevProps) {
+      console.log({shouldTransitionIn, prevProps, props: this.props, element: this.element})
+    }
+    if (shouldTransitionIn) {
+      this.element.animate(opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes, {
+        duration: 200,
+        easing: 'linear'
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  setRef (ref) {
+    this.element = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(ref)
+  }
+
   render () {
     if (
       this.props.isPinned ||
@@ -60,6 +101,7 @@ class NewSessionIcon extends React.Component {
       symbolContent={this.props.partitionNumber}
       l10nArgs={{partitionNumber: this.props.partitionNumber}}
       l10nId='sessionInfoTab'
+      ref={this.setRef}
     />
   }
 }
@@ -68,14 +110,7 @@ module.exports = ReduxComponent.connect(NewSessionIcon)
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   newSession__icon: {
-    opacity: 0,
     willChange: 'opacity',
-    animationName: opacityIncreaseKeyframes,
-    animationDelay: '100ms',
-    animationTimingFunction: 'linear',
-    animationDuration: '200ms',
-    animationFillMode: 'forwards',
-
     zIndex: globalStyles.zindex.zindexTabsThumbnail,
     boxSizing: 'border-box',
     display: 'flex',
diff --git a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/privateIcon.js b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/privateIcon.js
index 541564adc3f..3af4b00d78b 100644
--- a/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/privateIcon.js
+++ b/app/renderer/components/tabs/content/privateIcon.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 * You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 const React = require('react')
+const ReactDOM = require('react-dom')
 const {StyleSheet, css} = require('aphrodite/no-important')
 
 // Components
@@ -17,10 +18,15 @@ const tabState = require('../../../../common/state/tabState')
 // Styles
 const {theme} = require('../../styles/theme')
 const globalStyles = require('../../styles/global')
-const {opacityIncreaseKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
+const {opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes} = require('../../styles/animations')
 const privateSvg = require('../../../../extensions/brave/img/tabs/private.svg')
 
 class PrivateIcon extends React.Component {
+  constructor (props) {
+    super(props)
+    this.setRef = this.setRef.bind(this)
+  }
+
   mergeProps (state, ownProps) {
     const currentWindow = state.get('currentWindow')
     const tabId = ownProps.tabId
@@ -35,6 +41,35 @@ class PrivateIcon extends React.Component {
     return props
   }
 
+  componentDidMount (props) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired()
+  }
+
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    this.transitionInIfRequired(prevProps)
+  }
+
+  transitionInIfRequired (prevProps) {
+    const shouldTransitionIn = (
+      // need to have the element created already
+      this.element &&
+      // should show the icon
+      this.props.showPrivateIcon &&
+      // state has changed
+      (!prevProps || !prevProps.showPrivateIcon)
+    )
+    if (shouldTransitionIn) {
+      this.element.animate(opacityIncreaseElementKeyframes, {
+        duration: 200,
+        easing: 'linear'
+      })
+    }
+  }
+
+  setRef (ref) {
+    this.element = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(ref)
+  }
+
   render () {
     if (this.props.isPinned || !this.props.showPrivateIcon) {
       return null
@@ -51,6 +86,7 @@ class PrivateIcon extends React.Component {
     return <TabIcon
       data-test-id='privateIcon'
       className={css(styles.private__icon, privateProps.private__icon_color)}
+      ref={this.setRef}
     />
   }
 }
@@ -59,14 +95,7 @@ module.exports = ReduxComponent.connect(PrivateIcon)
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   private__icon: {
-    opacity: 0,
     willChange: 'opacity',
-    animationName: opacityIncreaseKeyframes,
-    animationDelay: '100ms',
-    animationTimingFunction: 'linear',
-    animationDuration: '200ms',
-    animationFillMode: 'forwards',
-
     zIndex: globalStyles.zindex.zindexTabsThumbnail,
     boxSizing: 'border-box',
     WebkitMaskRepeat: 'no-repeat',