diff --git a/example_scenes.py b/example_scenes.py
index f9268aae..28b75e4e 100644
--- a/example_scenes.py
+++ b/example_scenes.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class TexTransformExample(Scene):
                 # line up. If it's not specified, the animation
                 # will try its best, but may not quite give the
                 # intended effect
-                matched_keys=["A^2", "B^2", "C^2", "="],
+                matched_keys=["A^2", "B^2", "C^2"],
                 # When you want a substring from the source
                 # to go to a non-equal substring from the target,
                 # use the key map.
@@ -193,12 +193,14 @@ class TexTransformExample(Scene):
             ),
         )
         self.wait()
-        self.play(TransformMatchingStrings(lines[1].copy(), lines[2]))
+        self.play(TransformMatchingStrings(
+            lines[1].copy(), lines[2],
+            matched_keys=["A^2"]
+        ))
         self.wait()
         self.play(
             TransformMatchingStrings(
                 lines[2].copy(), lines[3],
-                matched_keys=["="],
                 key_map={"2": R"\sqrt"},
                 path_arc=-30 * DEGREES,
             ),
@@ -217,6 +219,30 @@ class TexTransformExample(Scene):
         self.wait()
         self.play(LaggedStartMap(FadeOut, lines, shift=2 * RIGHT))
 
+        # Indexing by substrings like this may not work when
+        # the order in which Latex draws symbols does not match
+        # the order in which they show up in the string.
+        # For example, here the infinity is drawn before the sigma
+        # so we don't get the desired behavior.
+        equation = Tex(R"\sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6}")
+        self.play(FadeIn(equation))
+        self.play(equation[R"\infty"].animate.set_color(RED))  # Doesn't hit the infinity
+        self.wait()
+        self.play(FadeOut(equation))
+
+        # However you can always fix this by explicitly passing in
+        # a string you might want to isolate later. Also, using
+        # \over instead of \frac helps to avoid the issue for fractions
+        equation = Tex(
+            R"\sum_{n = 1}^\infty {1 \over n^2} = {\pi^2 \over 6}",
+            # Explicitly mark "\infty" as a substring you might want to access
+            isolate=[R"\infty"]
+        )
+        self.play(FadeIn(equation))
+        self.play(equation[R"\infty"].animate.set_color(RED))  # Got it!
+        self.wait()
+        self.play(FadeOut(equation))
+
         # TransformMatchingShapes will try to line up all pieces of a
         # source mobject with those of a target, regardless of the
         # what Mobject type they are.
diff --git a/manimlib/animation/fading.py b/manimlib/animation/fading.py
index 1ed2996f..c8c29065 100644
--- a/manimlib/animation/fading.py
+++ b/manimlib/animation/fading.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from manimlib.animation.animation import Animation
 from manimlib.animation.transform import Transform
 from manimlib.constants import ORIGIN
 from manimlib.mobject.mobject import Group
+from manimlib.mobject.types.vectorized_mobject import VMobject
+from manimlib.mobject.types.vectorized_mobject import VGroup
 from manimlib.utils.bezier import interpolate
 from manimlib.utils.rate_functions import there_and_back
 
@@ -14,8 +16,8 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Callable
     from manimlib.mobject.mobject import Mobject
-    from manimlib.mobject.types.vectorized_mobject import VMobject
     from manimlib.scene.scene import Scene
+    from manimlib.typing import Vect3
 
 
 
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ class FadeOut(Fade):
     def __init__(
         self,
         mobject: Mobject,
-        shift: np.ndarray = ORIGIN,
+        shift: Vect3 = ORIGIN,
         remover: bool = True,
         final_alpha_value: float = 0.0,  # Put it back in original state when done,
         **kwargs
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class FadeOut(Fade):
 
 
 class FadeInFromPoint(FadeIn):
-    def __init__(self, mobject: Mobject, point: np.ndarray[int, np.dtype[np.float64]], **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, mobject: Mobject, point: Vect3, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(
             mobject,
             shift=mobject.get_center() - point,
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ class FadeInFromPoint(FadeIn):
 
 
 class FadeOutToPoint(FadeOut):
-    def __init__(self, mobject: Mobject, point: np.ndarray[int, np.dtype[np.float64]], **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, mobject: Mobject, point: Vect3, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(
             mobject,
             shift=point - mobject.get_center(),
@@ -101,8 +103,12 @@ class FadeTransform(Transform):
         self.stretch = stretch
         self.dim_to_match = dim_to_match
 
+        group_type = Group
+        if isinstance(mobject, VMobject) and isinstance(target_mobject, VMobject):
+            group_type = VGroup
+
         mobject.save_state()
-        super().__init__(Group(mobject, target_mobject.copy()), **kwargs)
+        super().__init__(group_type(mobject, target_mobject.copy()), **kwargs)
 
     def begin(self) -> None:
         self.ending_mobject = self.mobject.copy()
diff --git a/manimlib/animation/transform_matching_parts.py b/manimlib/animation/transform_matching_parts.py
index 6c608cae..c37c16c3 100644
--- a/manimlib/animation/transform_matching_parts.py
+++ b/manimlib/animation/transform_matching_parts.py
@@ -18,218 +18,93 @@ from manimlib.mobject.types.vectorized_mobject import VMobject
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from typing import Iterable
     from manimlib.scene.scene import Scene
 
 
 class TransformMatchingParts(AnimationGroup):
-    mobject_type: type = Mobject
-    group_type: type = Group
-
     def __init__(
         self,
-        mobject: Mobject,
-        target_mobject: Mobject,
-        transform_mismatches: bool = False,
-        fade_transform_mismatches: bool = False,
-        key_map: dict | None = None,
-        **kwargs
-    ):
-        assert(isinstance(mobject, self.mobject_type))
-        assert(isinstance(target_mobject, self.mobject_type))
-        source_map = self.get_shape_map(mobject)
-        target_map = self.get_shape_map(target_mobject)
-        key_map = key_map or dict()
-
-        # Create two mobjects whose submobjects all match each other
-        # according to whatever keys are used for source_map and
-        # target_map
-        transform_source = self.group_type()
-        transform_target = self.group_type()
-        kwargs["final_alpha_value"] = 0
-        for key in set(source_map).intersection(target_map):
-            transform_source.add(source_map[key])
-            transform_target.add(target_map[key])
-        anims = [Transform(transform_source, transform_target, **kwargs)]
-        # User can manually specify when one part should transform
-        # into another despite not matching by using key_map
-        key_mapped_source = self.group_type()
-        key_mapped_target = self.group_type()
-        for key1, key2 in key_map.items():
-            if key1 in source_map and key2 in target_map:
-                key_mapped_source.add(source_map[key1])
-                key_mapped_target.add(target_map[key2])
-                source_map.pop(key1, None)
-                target_map.pop(key2, None)
-        if len(key_mapped_source) > 0:
-            anims.append(FadeTransformPieces(
-                key_mapped_source,
-                key_mapped_target,
-            ))
-
-        fade_source = self.group_type()
-        fade_target = self.group_type()
-        for key in set(source_map).difference(target_map):
-            fade_source.add(source_map[key])
-        for key in set(target_map).difference(source_map):
-            fade_target.add(target_map[key])
-
-        if transform_mismatches:
-            anims.append(Transform(fade_source.copy(), fade_target, **kwargs))
-        if fade_transform_mismatches:
-            anims.append(FadeTransformPieces(fade_source, fade_target, **kwargs))
-        else:
-            anims.append(FadeOutToPoint(
-                fade_source, target_mobject.get_center(), **kwargs
-            ))
-            anims.append(FadeInFromPoint(
-                fade_target.copy(), mobject.get_center(), **kwargs
-            ))
-
-        super().__init__(*anims)
-
-        self.to_remove = mobject
-        self.to_add = target_mobject
-
-    def get_shape_map(self, mobject: Mobject) -> dict[int | str, VGroup]:
-        shape_map: dict[int | str, VGroup] = {}
-        for sm in self.get_mobject_parts(mobject):
-            key = self.get_mobject_key(sm)
-            if key not in shape_map:
-                shape_map[key] = VGroup()
-            shape_map[key].add(sm)
-        return shape_map
-
-    def clean_up_from_scene(self, scene: Scene) -> None:
-        for anim in self.animations:
-            anim.update(0)
-        scene.remove(self.mobject)
-        scene.remove(self.to_remove)
-        scene.add(self.to_add)
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_mobject_parts(mobject: Mobject) -> Mobject:
-        # To be implemented in subclass
-        return mobject
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_mobject_key(mobject: Mobject) -> int:
-        # To be implemented in subclass
-        return hash(mobject)
-
-
-class TransformMatchingShapes(TransformMatchingParts):
-    mobject_type: type = VMobject
-    group_type: type = VGroup
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_mobject_parts(mobject: VMobject) -> list[VMobject]:
-        return mobject.family_members_with_points()
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_mobject_key(mobject: VMobject) -> int:
-        mobject.save_state()
-        mobject.center()
-        mobject.set_height(1)
-        result = hash(np.round(mobject.get_points(), 3).tobytes())
-        mobject.restore()
-        return result
-
-
-class TransformMatchingStrings(AnimationGroup):
-    def __init__(
-        self,
-        source: StringMobject,
-        target: StringMobject,
-        matched_keys: list[str] | None = None,
-        key_map: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+        source: Mobject,
+        target: Mobject,
+        matched_pairs: Iterable[tuple[Mobject, Mobject]] = [],
         match_animation: type = Transform,
         mismatch_animation: type = Transform,
-        run_time=2,
-        lag_ratio=0,
+        run_time: float = 2,
+        lag_ratio: float = 0,
+        group_type: type = Group,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         self.source = source
         self.target = target
-        matched_keys = matched_keys or list()
-        key_map = key_map or dict()
+        self.match_animation = match_animation
+        self.mismatch_animation = mismatch_animation
         self.anim_config = dict(**kwargs)
 
         # We will progressively build up a list of transforms
         # from characters in source to those in target. These
         # two lists keep track of which characters are accounted
         # for so far
-        self.source_chars = source.family_members_with_points()
-        self.target_chars = target.family_members_with_points()
+        self.source_pieces = source.family_members_with_points()
+        self.target_pieces = target.family_members_with_points()
         self.anims = []
 
-        # Start by pairing all matched keys specifically passed in
-        for key in matched_keys:
-            self.add_transform(
-                source.select_parts(key),
-                target.select_parts(key),
-                match_animation
-            )
-        # Then pair those based on the key map
-        for key, value in key_map.items():
-            self.add_transform(
-                source.select_parts(key),
-                target.select_parts(value),
-                mismatch_animation
-            )
-        # Now pair by substrings which were isolated in StringMobject
-        # initializations
-        specified_substrings = [
-            *source.get_specified_substrings(),
-            *target.get_specified_substrings()
-        ]
-        for key in specified_substrings:
-            self.add_transform(
-                source.select_parts(key),
-                target.select_parts(key),
-                match_animation
-            )
+        for pair in matched_pairs:
+            self.add_transform(*pair)
+
         # Match any pairs with the same shape
-        pairs = self.find_pairs_with_matching_shapes(self.source_chars, self.target_chars)
-        for source_char, target_char in pairs:
-            self.add_transform(source_char, target_char, match_animation)
+        for pair in self.find_pairs_with_matching_shapes(self.source_pieces, self.target_pieces):
+            self.add_transform(*pair)
+
         # Finally, account for mismatches
-        for source_char in self.source_chars:
+        for source_char in self.source_pieces:
             self.anims.append(FadeOutToPoint(
                 source_char, target.get_center(),
                 **self.anim_config
             ))
-        for target_char in self.target_chars:
+        for target_char in self.target_pieces:
             self.anims.append(FadeInFromPoint(
                 target_char, source.get_center(),
                 **self.anim_config
             ))
+
         super().__init__(
             *self.anims,
             run_time=run_time,
             lag_ratio=lag_ratio,
-            group_type=VGroup,
+            group_type=group_type,
         )
 
     def add_transform(
         self,
-        source: VMobject,
-        target: VMobject,
-        transform_type: type = Transform,
+        source: Mobject,
+        target: Mobject,
     ):
-        new_source_chars = source.family_members_with_points()
-        new_target_chars = target.family_members_with_points()
-        source_is_new = all(char in self.source_chars for char in new_source_chars)
-        target_is_new = all(char in self.target_chars for char in new_target_chars)
-        if source_is_new and target_is_new:
-            self.anims.append(transform_type(
-                source, target, **self.anim_config
-            ))
-            for char in new_source_chars:
-                self.source_chars.remove(char)
-            for char in new_target_chars:
-                self.target_chars.remove(char)
+        new_source_pieces = source.family_members_with_points()
+        new_target_pieces = target.family_members_with_points()
+        if len(new_source_pieces) == 0 or len(new_target_pieces) == 0:
+            # Don't animate null sorces or null targets
+            return
+        source_is_new = all(char in self.source_pieces for char in new_source_pieces)
+        target_is_new = all(char in self.target_pieces for char in new_target_pieces)
+        if not source_is_new or not target_is_new:
+            return
 
-    def find_pairs_with_matching_shapes(self, chars1, chars2) -> list[tuple[VMobject, VMobject]]:
+        transform_type = self.mismatch_animation 
+        if source.has_same_shape_as(target):
+            transform_type = self.match_animation
+
+        self.anims.append(transform_type(source, target, **self.anim_config))
+        for char in new_source_pieces:
+            self.source_pieces.remove(char)
+        for char in new_target_pieces:
+            self.target_pieces.remove(char)
+
+    def find_pairs_with_matching_shapes(
+        self,
+        chars1: list[Mobject],
+        chars2: list[Mobject]
+    ) -> list[tuple[Mobject, Mobject]]:
         result = []
         for char1, char2 in it.product(chars1, chars2):
             if char1.has_same_shape_as(char2):
@@ -242,6 +117,41 @@ class TransformMatchingStrings(AnimationGroup):
         scene.add(self.target)
 
 
+class TransformMatchingShapes(TransformMatchingParts):
+    """Alias for TransformMatchingParts"""
+    pass
+
+
+class TransformMatchingStrings(TransformMatchingParts):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        source: StringMobject,
+        target: StringMobject,
+        matched_keys: Iterable[str] = [],
+        key_map: dict[str, str] = dict(),
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        matched_pairs = [
+            *[(source[key], target[key]) for key in matched_keys],
+            *[(source[key1], target[key2]) for key1, key2 in key_map.items()],
+            *[
+                (source[substr], target[substr])
+                for substr in [
+                    *source.get_specified_substrings(),
+                    *target.get_specified_substrings(),
+                    *source.get_symbol_substrings(),
+                    *target.get_symbol_substrings(),
+                ]
+            ]
+        ]
+        super().__init__(
+            source, target,
+            matched_pairs=matched_pairs,
+            group_type=VGroup,
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+
+
 class TransformMatchingTex(TransformMatchingStrings):
     """Alias for TransformMatchingStrings"""
     pass
diff --git a/manimlib/mobject/svg/string_mobject.py b/manimlib/mobject/svg/string_mobject.py
index 3c81ccc1..21ff45fb 100644
--- a/manimlib/mobject/svg/string_mobject.py
+++ b/manimlib/mobject/svg/string_mobject.py
@@ -561,7 +561,10 @@ class StringMobject(SVGMobject, ABC):
         return self.select_parts(selector)[index]
 
     def substr_to_path_count(self, substr: str) -> int:
-        return len(re.sub(R"\s", "", substr))
+        return len(re.sub(r"\s", "", substr))
+
+    def get_symbol_substrings(self):
+        return list(re.sub(r"\s", "", self.string))
 
     def select_unisolated_substring(self, pattern: str | re.Pattern) -> VGroup:
         if isinstance(pattern, str):
diff --git a/manimlib/mobject/svg/tex_mobject.py b/manimlib/mobject/svg/tex_mobject.py
index 27e51df3..144ca66e 100644
--- a/manimlib/mobject/svg/tex_mobject.py
+++ b/manimlib/mobject/svg/tex_mobject.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class Tex(StringMobject):
                 isolate = [isolate]
             isolate = [*isolate, *tex_strings]
 
-        tex_string = " ".join(tex_strings)
+        tex_string = (" ".join(tex_strings)).strip()
 
         # Prevent from passing an empty string.
         if not tex_string.strip():
@@ -222,6 +222,15 @@ class Tex(StringMobject):
             log.warning(f"Estimated size of {tex} does not match true size")
         return num_tex_symbols(substr)
 
+    def get_symbol_substrings(self):
+        pattern = "|".join((
+            # Tex commands
+            r"\\[a-zA-Z]+",
+            # And most single characters, with these exceptions
+            r"[^\^\{\}\s\_\$\\\&]",
+        ))
+        return re.findall(pattern, self.string)
+
     def make_number_changable(
         self,
         value: float | int | str,