Procedural Animation

Animate semantic state, not unrelated transform curves. Define phases, coordinate frames, velocities, and ownership before writing per-frame updates.

Build order

1. Define the timeline phases and event boundaries.
2. Choose the frame for each motion: world, subject local, orbital radial, docking axis, or camera shot.
3. Derive target position/orientation from that frame.
4. Use analytic kinematics for authored travel and springs for responsive convergence.
5. Preserve world transforms when detaching children from a hierarchy.
6. Separate translation, alignment, spin, and secondary debris state.
7. Clamp integration delta and reset every state variable on replay/disposal.