Creating animations in iOS apps using Xcode and Swift involves understanding constraints, which are rules that Auto Layout follows to determine the position or size of a view. To animate constraints, developers must provide a starting point and an ending point over a period of time, often using the UIView.animate method with options such as curveEaseOut to create a smoother animation. The delay parameter can also be used to add timing and pacing to the animation, while the usingSpringWithDamping and initialSpringVelocity parameters can be used to create bounce animations. Additionally, developers can use keyboard notifications to animate views upwards in sync with the keyboard's appearance and disappearance, allowing for more natural interactions between the app and the user interface.