diff --git a/flashbar/src/main/java/com/andrognito/flashbar/FlashbarContainerView.kt b/flashbar/src/main/java/com/andrognito/flashbar/FlashbarContainerView.kt
index ebf6ac5..f848d07 100644
--- a/flashbar/src/main/java/com/andrognito/flashbar/FlashbarContainerView.kt
+++ b/flashbar/src/main/java/com/andrognito/flashbar/FlashbarContainerView.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.andrognito.flashbar
 
+import android.animation.ArgbEvaluator
 import android.app.Activity
 import android.content.Context
 import android.graphics.Rect
@@ -23,6 +24,9 @@ import com.andrognito.flashbar.util.afterMeasured
 import com.andrognito.flashbar.util.getNavigationBarPosition
 import com.andrognito.flashbar.util.getNavigationBarSizeInPx
 import com.andrognito.flashbar.util.getRootView
+import android.animation.ValueAnimator
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat
+
 
 /**
  * Container withView matching the height and width of the parent to hold a FlashbarView.
@@ -32,6 +36,8 @@ import com.andrognito.flashbar.util.getRootView
 internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
     : RelativeLayout(context), DismissCallbacks {
 
+    private val translucent = ContextCompat.getColor(context, R.color.translucent)
+
     internal lateinit var parentFlashbar: Flashbar
 
     private lateinit var flashbarView: FlashbarView
@@ -44,6 +50,7 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
     private var onBarDismissListener: Flashbar.OnBarDismissListener? = null
     private var onTapOutsideListener: Flashbar.OnTapListener? = null
     private var overlayColor: Int? = null
+    private var overlayColorAnimator : ValueAnimator? = null
     private var iconAnimBuilder: FlashAnimIconBuilder? = null
 
     private var duration = DURATION_INDEFINITE
@@ -101,7 +108,11 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
         isHapticFeedbackEnabled = true
 
         if (showOverlay) {
-            setBackgroundColor(overlayColor!!)
+            overlayColorAnimator = ValueAnimator.ofObject(ArgbEvaluator(), translucent, overlayColor).also {
+                // Duration will only ever be used by setting currentPlayTime to a fraction of its value;
+                // we never start the animator
+                it.duration = 1000
+            }
 
             if (overlayBlockable) {
                 isClickable = true
@@ -140,6 +151,8 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
         // Only add the withView to the parent once
         if (this.parent == null) activityRootView.addView(this)
 
+        overlayColorAnimator?.addUpdateListener { animator -> this.setBackgroundColor(animator.animatedValue as Int) }
+
         activityRootView.afterMeasured {
             val enterAnim = enterAnimBuilder.withView(flashbarView).build()
             enterAnim.start(object : FlashAnim.InternalAnimListener {
@@ -150,6 +163,9 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
 
                 override fun onUpdate(progress: Float) {
                     onBarShowListener?.onShowProgress(parentFlashbar, progress)
+                    overlayColorAnimator?.duration?.let { duration ->
+                        overlayColorAnimator?.currentPlayTime = (duration * progress).toLong()
+                    }
                 }
 
                 override fun onStop() {
@@ -250,6 +266,9 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
 
             override fun onUpdate(progress: Float) {
                 onBarDismissListener?.onDismissProgress(parentFlashbar, progress)
+                overlayColorAnimator?.duration?.let { duration ->
+                    overlayColorAnimator?.currentPlayTime = duration - (duration * progress).toLong()
+                }
             }
 
             override fun onStop() {
@@ -260,6 +279,8 @@ internal class FlashbarContainerView(context: Context)
                     performHapticFeedback(VIRTUAL_KEY)
                 }
 
+                overlayColorAnimator?.removeAllUpdateListeners()
+
                 onBarDismissListener?.onDismissed(parentFlashbar, event)
 
                 post { (parent as? ViewGroup)?.removeView(this@FlashbarContainerView) }
diff --git a/flashbar/src/main/res/values/colors.xml b/flashbar/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
index 7787818..dde8877 100644
--- a/flashbar/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/flashbar/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     <color name="warm_grey">#8e8e8e</color>
     <color name="white">#fff</color>
     <color name="shadow_color">#94444444</color>
+    <color name="translucent">#0000</color>
     <color name="translucent_black">#22000000</color>
     <color name="modal">#80272727</color>
     <color name="slate_black">#FF333333</color>