I have some menu items that are styled using a background gradient on hover using the following styling:
#sidebar ul
Animation on gradients aren't supported yet. However this site provides a pleasing approach for a animated kind of feel on hover-
http://sapphion.com/2011/10/css3-gradient-transition-with-background-position/
Sample css:-
#DemoGradient{
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(#C7D3DC,#5B798E);
background: -moz-linear-gradient(#C7D3DC,#5B798E);
background: -o-linear-gradient(#C7D3DC,#5B798E);
background: linear-gradient(#C7D3DC,#5B798E);
-webkit-transition: background 1s ease-out;
-moz-transition: background 1s ease-out;
-o-transition: background 1s ease-out;
transition: background 1s ease-out;
background-size:1px 200px;
border-radius: 10px;
border: 1px solid #839DB0;
cursor:pointer;
width: 150px;
height: 100px;
}
#DemoGradient:Hover{
background-position:100px;
}