Animals as Leaders formed after guitarist Tosin Abasi's previous metalcore band, Reflux, disbanded.

"[8] Abasi decided to take a year off to study music, as he felt he was unable to reach his peak at guitar playing.

They uploaded a non-album digital single called Wave of Babies to iTunes later that year.

The band embarked on a tour alongside Circa Survive, Dredg, and Codeseven from mid-2010 to early 2011, and in early 2011, toured alongside Underoath, Thursday, and A Skylit Drive to promote Underoath's latest release, Ø (Disambiguation).

On May 26, 2011, Animals as Leaders took part in a Red Cross benefit show titled "Josh Barnett Presents The Sun Forever Rising" at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

Shortly thereafter, they headlined their first tour, which included opening acts Intronaut, Dead Letter Circus, Last Chance to Reason, and Evan Brewer.

[11] In Spring 2012, Animals as Leaders embarked on a headlining tour of Europe, then returned to North America to open for Thrice.

[15] On February 14, 2014, the band announced their third studio album, The Joy of Motion, which was released via Sumerian Records on March 25, 2014.

[16] American rapper and producer JPEGMafia sampled the single for the song "END CREDITS!"

[4] Abasi and Reyes are also members of the supergroup TRAM, alongside former Mars Volta wind instrumentalist Adrián Terrazas-González and Suicidal Tendencies drummer Eric Moore.