The Cliq is missing some OpenGL components to use the animation. 

First off 4g is not a first gen phone has a seperate gpu and so on
The cliq can do it, some people get it some people don't
Its weird maybe once we iron out all the wrinkles well spend some more time on that

I've been wondering if we could somehow backport that animation to Cliq, G1, Hero, etc. I haven't seen anyone on it but it seems possible.

I dunno, but I don't see any practical uses of it other than for aesthetics proposes.

Which is why people want it. It looks cool :) Though yes, there is no practical use for it.

It doesn't work all the time because the CPU is being used for other stuff. There is no dedicated GPU I believe.

You are correct @ngiordano. If something else is using up too much cpu, graphics take the bite. IMO it's the whole culprit for the cliq's lag.