diff --git a/packages/animations/browser/src/render/transition_animation_engine.ts b/packages/animations/browser/src/render/transition_animation_engine.ts
index 95b1081172..5e2d6763d1 100644
--- a/packages/animations/browser/src/render/transition_animation_engine.ts
+++ b/packages/animations/browser/src/render/transition_animation_engine.ts
@@ -967,16 +967,39 @@ export class TransitionAnimationEngine {
       });
     });
 
-    // PRE STAGE: fill the ! styles
-    const preStylesMap = allPreStyleElements.size ?
-        cloakAndComputeStyles(
-            this.driver, enterNodesWithoutAnimations, allPreStyleElements, PRE_STYLE) :
-        new Map<any, ɵStyleData>();
+    // this is a special case for nodes that will be removed (either by)
+    // having their own leave animations or by being queried in a container
+    // that will be removed once a parent animation is complete. The idea
+    // here is that * styles must be identical to ! styles because of
+    // backwards compatibility (* is also filled in by default in many places).
+    // Otherwise * styles will return an empty value or auto since the element
+    // that is being getComputedStyle'd will not be visible (since * = destination)
+    const replaceNodes = allLeaveNodes.filter(node => {
+      return replacePostStylesAsPre(node, allPreStyleElements, allPostStyleElements);
+    });
 
     // POST STAGE: fill the * styles
-    const postStylesMap = cloakAndComputeStyles(
+    const [postStylesMap, allLeaveQueriedNodes] = cloakAndComputeStyles(
         this.driver, leaveNodesWithoutAnimations, allPostStyleElements, AUTO_STYLE);
 
+    allLeaveQueriedNodes.forEach(node => {
+      if (replacePostStylesAsPre(node, allPreStyleElements, allPostStyleElements)) {
+        replaceNodes.push(node);
+      }
+    });
+
+    // PRE STAGE: fill the ! styles
+    const [preStylesMap] = allPreStyleElements.size ?
+        cloakAndComputeStyles(
+            this.driver, enterNodesWithoutAnimations, allPreStyleElements, PRE_STYLE) :
+        [new Map<any, ɵStyleData>()];
+
+    replaceNodes.forEach(node => {
+      const post = postStylesMap.get(node);
+      const pre = preStylesMap.get(node);
+      postStylesMap.set(node, { ...post, ...pre } as any);
+    });
+
     const rootPlayers: TransitionAnimationPlayer[] = [];
     const subPlayers: TransitionAnimationPlayer[] = [];
     queuedInstructions.forEach(entry => {
@@ -1413,9 +1436,10 @@ function cloakElement(element: any, value?: string) {
 
 function cloakAndComputeStyles(
     driver: AnimationDriver, elements: any[], elementPropsMap: Map<any, Set<string>>,
-    defaultStyle: string): Map<any, ɵStyleData> {
+    defaultStyle: string): [Map<any, ɵStyleData>, any[]] {
   const cloakVals = elements.map(element => cloakElement(element));
   const valuesMap = new Map<any, ɵStyleData>();
+  const failedElements: any[] = [];
 
   elementPropsMap.forEach((props: Set<string>, element: any) => {
     const styles: ɵStyleData = {};
@@ -1426,13 +1450,14 @@ function cloakAndComputeStyles(
       // by a parent animation element being detached.
       if (!value || value.length == 0) {
         element[REMOVAL_FLAG] = NULL_REMOVED_QUERIED_STATE;
+        failedElements.push(element);
       }
     });
     valuesMap.set(element, styles);
   });
 
   elements.forEach((element, i) => cloakElement(element, cloakVals[i]));
-  return valuesMap;
+  return [valuesMap, failedElements];
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1539,3 +1564,20 @@ function objEquals(a: {[key: string]: any}, b: {[key: string]: any}): boolean {
   }
   return true;
 }
+
+function replacePostStylesAsPre(
+    element: any, allPreStyleElements: Map<any, Set<string>>,
+    allPostStyleElements: Map<any, Set<string>>): boolean {
+  const postEntry = allPostStyleElements.get(element);
+  if (!postEntry) return false;
+
+  let preEntry = allPreStyleElements.get(element);
+  if (preEntry) {
+    postEntry.forEach(data => preEntry !.add(data));
+  } else {
+    allPreStyleElements.set(element, postEntry);
+  }
+
+  allPostStyleElements.delete(element);
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/test/animation/animation_integration_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/animation/animation_integration_spec.ts
index 9694c7fc59..b2a6643956 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/animation/animation_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/animation/animation_integration_spec.ts
@@ -1087,59 +1087,61 @@ export function main() {
             .toBeTruthy();
       });
 
-      it('should animate removals of nodes to the `void` state for each animation trigger', () => {
-        @Component({
-          selector: 'ani-cmp',
-          template: `
+      it('should animate removals of nodes to the `void` state for each animation trigger, but treat all auto styles as pre styles',
+         () => {
+           @Component({
+             selector: 'ani-cmp',
+             template: `
             <div *ngIf="exp" class="ng-if" [@trig1]="exp2" @trig2></div>
           `,
-          animations: [
-            trigger('trig1', [transition('state => void', [animate(1000, style({opacity: 0}))])]),
-            trigger('trig2', [transition(':leave', [animate(1000, style({width: '0px'}))])])
-          ]
-        })
-        class Cmp {
-          public exp = true;
-          public exp2 = 'state';
-        }
+             animations: [
+               trigger(
+                   'trig1', [transition('state => void', [animate(1000, style({opacity: 0}))])]),
+               trigger('trig2', [transition(':leave', [animate(1000, style({width: '0px'}))])])
+             ]
+           })
+           class Cmp {
+             public exp = true;
+             public exp2 = 'state';
+           }
 
-        TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [Cmp]});
+           TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [Cmp]});
 
-        const engine = TestBed.get(ɵAnimationEngine);
-        const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Cmp);
-        const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
-        cmp.exp = true;
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        engine.flush();
-        resetLog();
+           const engine = TestBed.get(ɵAnimationEngine);
+           const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Cmp);
+           const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+           cmp.exp = true;
+           fixture.detectChanges();
+           engine.flush();
+           resetLog();
 
-        const element = getDOM().querySelector(fixture.nativeElement, '.ng-if');
-        assertHasParent(element, true);
+           const element = getDOM().querySelector(fixture.nativeElement, '.ng-if');
+           assertHasParent(element, true);
 
-        cmp.exp = false;
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        engine.flush();
+           cmp.exp = false;
+           fixture.detectChanges();
+           engine.flush();
 
-        assertHasParent(element, true);
+           assertHasParent(element, true);
 
-        expect(getLog().length).toEqual(2);
+           expect(getLog().length).toEqual(2);
 
-        const player2 = getLog().pop() !;
-        const player1 = getLog().pop() !;
+           const player2 = getLog().pop() !;
+           const player1 = getLog().pop() !;
 
-        expect(player2.keyframes).toEqual([
-          {width: AUTO_STYLE, offset: 0},
-          {width: '0px', offset: 1},
-        ]);
+           expect(player2.keyframes).toEqual([
+             {width: PRE_STYLE, offset: 0},
+             {width: '0px', offset: 1},
+           ]);
 
-        expect(player1.keyframes).toEqual([
-          {opacity: AUTO_STYLE, offset: 0}, {opacity: '0', offset: 1}
-        ]);
+           expect(player1.keyframes).toEqual([
+             {opacity: PRE_STYLE, offset: 0}, {opacity: '0', offset: 1}
+           ]);
 
-        player2.finish();
-        player1.finish();
-        assertHasParent(element, false);
-      });
+           player2.finish();
+           player1.finish();
+           assertHasParent(element, false);
+         });
 
       it('should properly cancel all existing animations when a removal occurs', () => {
         @Component({
diff --git a/packages/core/test/animation/animations_with_web_animations_integration_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/animation/animations_with_web_animations_integration_spec.ts
index e257209fe0..aab246ed8e 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/animation/animations_with_web_animations_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/animation/animations_with_web_animations_integration_spec.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
  * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
-import {animate, query, state, style, transition, trigger} from '@angular/animations';
+import {animate, group, query, state, style, transition, trigger} from '@angular/animations';
 import {AnimationDriver, ɵAnimationEngine, ɵWebAnimationsDriver, ɵWebAnimationsPlayer, ɵsupportsWebAnimations} from '@angular/animations/browser';
+import {TransitionAnimationPlayer} from '@angular/animations/browser/src/render/transition_animation_engine';
 import {AnimationGroupPlayer} from '@angular/animations/src/players/animation_group_player';
 import {Component} from '@angular/core';
 import {BrowserAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ export function main() {
         template: `
             <div [@myAnimation]="exp" #parent>
               <div *ngFor="let item of items" class="child" style="line-height:20px">
-                - {{ item }} 
+                - {{ item }}
               </div>
             </div>
           `,
@@ -177,6 +178,164 @@ export function main() {
       ]);
     });
 
+    it('should treat * styles as ! when a removal animation is being rendered', () => {
+      @Component({
+        selector: 'ani-cmp',
+        styles: [`
+            .box {
+              width: 500px;
+              overflow:hidden;
+              background:orange;
+              line-height:300px;
+              font-size:100px;
+              text-align:center;
+            }
+          `],
+        template: `
+            <button (click)="toggle()">Open / Close</button>
+            <hr />
+            <div *ngIf="exp" @slide class="box">
+            ...
+            </div>
+          `,
+        animations: [trigger(
+            'slide',
+            [
+              state('void', style({height: '0px'})),
+              state('*', style({height: '*'})),
+              transition('* => *', animate('500ms')),
+            ])]
+      })
+      class Cmp {
+        exp = false;
+
+        toggle() { this.exp = !this.exp; }
+      }
+
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [Cmp]});
+
+      const engine = TestBed.get(ɵAnimationEngine);
+      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Cmp);
+      const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+
+      cmp.exp = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      let player = engine.players[0] !;
+      let webPlayer = player.getRealPlayer() as ɵWebAnimationsPlayer;
+      expect(webPlayer.keyframes).toEqual([
+        {height: '0px', offset: 0},
+        {height: '300px', offset: 1},
+      ]);
+      player.finish();
+
+      cmp.exp = false;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      player = engine.players[0] !;
+      webPlayer = player.getRealPlayer() as ɵWebAnimationsPlayer;
+      expect(webPlayer.keyframes).toEqual([
+        {height: '300px', offset: 0},
+        {height: '0px', offset: 1},
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    it('should treat * styles as ! for queried items that are collected in a container that is being removed',
+       () => {
+         @Component({
+            selector: 'my-app',
+            styles: [`
+              .list .outer {
+                overflow:hidden;
+              }
+              .list .inner {
+                line-height:50px;
+              }
+            `],
+            template: `
+              <button (click)="empty()">Empty</button>
+              <button (click)="middle()">Middle</button>
+              <button (click)="full()">Full</button>
+              <hr />
+              <div [@list]="exp" class="list">
+                <div *ngFor="let item of items" class="outer">
+                  <div class="inner">
+                    {{ item }}
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            `,
+            animations: [
+              trigger('list', [
+                transition(':enter', []),
+                transition('* => empty', [
+                  query(':leave', [
+                    animate(500, style({ height: '0px' }))
+                  ])
+                ]),
+                transition('* => full', [
+                  query(':enter', [
+                    style({ height: '0px' }),
+                    animate(500, style({ height: '*' }))
+                  ])
+                ]),
+              ])
+            ]
+        })
+        class Cmp {
+           items: any[] = [];
+
+           get exp() { return this.items.length ? 'full' : 'empty'; }
+
+           empty() { this.items = []; }
+
+           full() { this.items = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]; }
+         }
+
+         TestBed.configureTestingModule({declarations: [Cmp]});
+
+         const engine = TestBed.get(ɵAnimationEngine);
+         const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(Cmp);
+         const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+
+         cmp.empty();
+         fixture.detectChanges();
+         let player = engine.players[0] !as TransitionAnimationPlayer;
+         player.finish();
+
+         cmp.full();
+         fixture.detectChanges();
+
+         player = engine.players[0] !as TransitionAnimationPlayer;
+         let queriedPlayers = (player.getRealPlayer() as AnimationGroupPlayer).players;
+         expect(queriedPlayers.length).toEqual(5);
+
+         let i = 0;
+         for (i = 0; i < queriedPlayers.length; i++) {
+           let player = queriedPlayers[i] as ɵWebAnimationsPlayer;
+           expect(player.keyframes).toEqual([
+             {height: '0px', offset: 0},
+             {height: '50px', offset: 1},
+           ]);
+           player.finish();
+         }
+
+         cmp.empty();
+         fixture.detectChanges();
+
+         player = engine.players[0] !as TransitionAnimationPlayer;
+         queriedPlayers = (player.getRealPlayer() as AnimationGroupPlayer).players;
+         expect(queriedPlayers.length).toEqual(5);
+
+         for (i = 0; i < queriedPlayers.length; i++) {
+           let player = queriedPlayers[i] as ɵWebAnimationsPlayer;
+           expect(player.keyframes).toEqual([
+             {height: '50px', offset: 0},
+             {height: '0px', offset: 1},
+           ]);
+         }
+       });
+
     it('should compute intermediate styles properly when an animation is cancelled', () => {
       @Component({
         selector: 'ani-cmp',