diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_enter.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_enter.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..055ea5d795fa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_enter.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+/*
+** Copyright 2012, 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.
+*/
+-->
+
+<set xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+        android:shareInterpolator="false" android:zAdjustment="top">
+
+    <alpha android:fromAlpha="0" android:toAlpha="1.0"
+            android:fillEnabled="true" android:fillBefore="true" android:fillAfter="true"
+            android:interpolator="@android:interpolator/decelerate_quad"
+            android:duration="300"/>
+
+    <translate android:fromYDelta="200" android:toYDelta="0"
+            android:fillEnabled="true" android:fillBefore="true" android:fillAfter="true"
+            android:interpolator="@android:interpolator/decelerate_cubic"
+            android:duration="300" />
+</set>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_exit.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_exit.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b4ed2789930e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/anim/search_launch_exit.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+/*
+** Copyright 2012, 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.
+*/
+-->
+
+<translate xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+       android:interpolator="@android:anim/accelerate_interpolator"
+       android:fromXDelta="0" android:toXDelta="0"
+       android:duration="300" />
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/SearchPanelView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/SearchPanelView.java
index 478d652e5947c..28283ef418076 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/SearchPanelView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/SearchPanelView.java
@@ -107,9 +107,11 @@ public class SearchPanelView extends FrameLayout implements
 
     private void startAssistActivity() {
         Intent intent = getAssistIntent();
-        intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
         try {
-            mContext.startActivity(intent);
+            ActivityOptions opts = ActivityOptions.makeCustomAnimation(mContext,
+                    R.anim.search_launch_enter, R.anim.search_launch_exit);
+            intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
+            mContext.startActivity(intent, opts.toBundle());
         } catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
             Slog.w(TAG, "Activity not found for " + intent.getAction());
         }