An example of using @ClassRule to set up the device to disable animations before running Espresso tests

EspressoSuite.java

// Example of disabling animations and restoring after a suite has finished
// SystemAnimations.java -> https://github.com/reark/reark/blob/master/app/src/androidTest/java/io/reark/rxgithubapp/activities/utils/SystemAnimations.java

import org.junit.ClassRule;
import org.junit.rules.ExternalResource;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.Suite;
import org.junit.runners.Suite.SuiteClasses;

@RunWith(Suite.class)
@SuiteClasses({
  TestClassA.class,
  TestClassB.class
};
public class EspressoSuite {
    @ClassRule
    public static ExternalResource prepareDevice() {
        return new ExternalResource() {
            float[] mAnimationScales;

            @Override
            protected void before() throws Throwable {
                super.before();
                // Set animations to off before running tests, otherwise test will fail.
                mAnimationScales = SystemAnimations.disableAll();
            }

            @Override
            protected void after() {
                // Tests are done. Reset animation values.
                if (mAnimationScales != null) {
                    SystemAnimations.enableAll(mAnimationScales);
                }
                super.after();
            }
        };
    }
}