Is there an easy way to take a blend and transform it into an animation?

Consider these examples:

1) I want a circle to expand from 3 pixels to 300 pixels diameter... one pixel at a time, one frame at a time

2) I want to move an object from left to right, 2 pixels at a time, for a length of 600 pixels

These are super-simplified of course... Ideally i'd like to be able to apply different colors, morphing shapes, blend along a curve etc., click the blend, and choose a "create animation command" or something like that.

Mucho thanks in advance!