A-before-state.ts

export class About extends React.Component {
  contentRef = React.createRef();
  async animate(show) {
    ...
    this.setState({ show });
  }
  render() {
    return this.state.show ?
      <AboutContent ref={this.contentRef} /> :
      null;
  }
}

B-after-useState.ts

export const About = () => {
  const contentRef = useRef(null);
  const [show, setShow] = useState(false);
  
  const animate = async show => {
    ...
    setShow(show);
  }
  
  return show ? <AboutContent ref={contentRef} /> : null;
}