JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="initials">Z</div>

CSS

.initials {
    position:absolute;
    background: {
        color:main color
    }
    ;
    color:white;
    margin-top:20px;
    padding-top:20px;
    padding-bottom:20px;
    width:60px;
    text-align:center;
    margin-left:20px;
    font-size:20px;
    letter-spacing:5px;
    box-shadow:0px 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
    overflow: hidden;
    white-space: nowrap;
}

JavaScript

$(function () {
    var src = "http://static.tumblr.com/lxn1yld/Hnxnxaqya/space.gif";
    var $e = $(".initials").css({ opacity : 0 });
    var img = new Image();
    img.onload = function () {
        $e.css({
            'background-image': "url(" + src + ")",
        }).animate({ opacity : 1.0}, 3000);
    };
    img.src = src;
});