animation-system
Installation
SKILL.md
Animation System in Godot 4.3+
All examples target Godot 4.3+ with no deprecated APIs. GDScript is shown first, then C#.
Related skills: state-machine for gameplay state management, player-controller for movement that drives animation, component-system for reusable animation components, 2d-essentials for TileMaps, parallax scrolling, 2D lights, and canvas layer organization, 3d-essentials for AnimationTree and 3D animation blending, shader-basics for shader-driven hit flash and dissolve effects, tween-animation for code-driven motion alongside keyframe animation.
1. Core Concepts
AnimationPlayer vs AnimationTree
| Node | Use For | Complexity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
AnimationPlayer |
Simple playback, one-shot effects | Low | Play/stop/queue individual clips directly |
AnimationTree |
Blending, transitions, layered animation | Medium-High | State machines and blend trees for smooth transitions |
Rule of thumb: Start with AnimationPlayer. Add AnimationTree when you need blending between animations (walk/run blend, directional movement, layered upper/lower body).