half view

Just use core animation or animation transitions with a UIView that is half the size of the screen. You'll need a holder view that you add to the main view.

Place the half sized view below the screen (halfView.y = 480 or 320 depending on orientation).

Animate it upwards.

Something like this maybe:

// set up an animation for the transition between the views
    CATransition *animation = [CATransition animation];
    [animation setDuration:0.5];
    [animation setType:kCATransitionPush];
    [animation setSubtype:kCATransitionFromBottom];
    [animation setTimingFunction:[CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionEaseInEaseOut]];

    [holderView addAnimation:animation forKey:@"SwitchToView1"];