How to programmatically animate an ImageView

I use this to achieve popin popout effect,

See if its of any use to you

Pop Out.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:interpolator="@android:anim/bounce_interpolator"    >
    <scale
        android:pivotX="50%"
        android:pivotY="50%"
        android:fromXScale="0.5"
        android:fromYScale="0.5"
        android:toXScale="1.0"
        android:toYScale="1.0"
        android:duration="500" />

</set>

Pop In

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<set
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:interpolator="@android:anim/bounce_interpolator"    >
    <scale
        android:pivotX="50%"
        android:pivotY="50%"
        android:fromXScale="1.0"
        android:fromYScale="1.0"
        android:toXScale="0.0"
        android:toYScale="0.0"
        android:duration="500" />

</set>

If you want to implement this without XML you could do so as follows

final float growTo = 1.2f;
final long duration = 1200;

ScaleAnimation grow = new ScaleAnimation(1, growTo, 1, growTo, 
                                         Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f,
                                         Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f);
grow.setDuration(duration / 2);
ScaleAnimation shrink = new ScaleAnimation(growTo, 1, growTo, 1,
                                           Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f,
                                           Animation.RELATIVE_TO_SELF, 0.5f);
shrink.setDuration(duration / 2);
shrink.setStartOffset(duration / 2);
AnimationSet growAndShrink = new AnimationSet(true);
growAndShrink.setInterpolator(new LinearInterpolator());
growAndShrink.addAnimation(grow);
growAndShrink.addAnimation(shrink);
thumbLike.startAnimation(growAndShrink);

Of course, you could also use NineOldAndroids and use the new animation methods.

I think your original error is this line, it removes the animation you just started from the view again.

thumbLike.setAnimation(null);