Mechanisms provide intermediate key frame animation during a media seek. A streaming server receives a seek request from a client device while the streaming server provides the client device with a media stream. The seek request is made when the media stream is playing at an initial location and the seek request includes a request to play the media stream from a seek location. In some embodiments, intermediate key frames before the seek location are identified. In other instances, intermediate key frames between the initial location and the seek location are identified. These intermediate key frames are provided to the client device for display before the media stream begins playing at the seek location.