> It seems like the z-index command jumps up in the > chain and runs before the animation.
> $(this) > .css('z-index','1') > .animate({ > width:oWidth, > height:oHeight > },1000) That's exactly how you've coded it. Your hover-out function resets the zIndex to 1 and then starts the size animation. If you want the zIndex reset to happen when the animation completes then use a callback function with animate. Mike