JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jquery.validate/1.7/jquery.validate.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.2/themes/ui-lightness/jquery-ui.css">
<ul>
    <li id="list-1" class="list-item">
        <a href="#">List 1</a>
    </li>
    <li id="list-2" class="list-item">
        <a href="#">List 2</a>
    </li>
    <li id="list-3" class="list-item">
        <a href="#">List 3</a>
    </li>
</ul>

CSS

ul li {
    overflow: hidden;
    position: relative;
}

ul li a {
    position: relative;
    top: -20px;
}

JavaScript

$('ul > li.list-item > a').each(function(i) {
    $(this).delay(i * 500).animate({ top: '0'}, 500);
});