--- title: How to Animate your model hide_meta: true --- ## How to get to the Animation window - Open your AzureLib project in Blockbench and you'll see (by default) to the far right side a tab called `Animate` - Click this and you will now now be in the Animation tab. - Create a new animation in the Animations panel on the left side by pressing the + icon and name it whatever you want. (Example: animation.idle) - You can select the bones and start animating! If you've set up IK chains, look-at, spring bones or constraints in the **AzureLib Rig** panel, they run on top of your animation in the Animate tab, the way they will in game. Switch **Pose** off in the panel to see your keyframes alone. See [Setting Up Rig Features](./rig_panel). # Video Guide Here is a video guide that covers some basics of animating in Blockbench, it's not exactly for AzureLib but applies about 90% ## How to use use Easings **What is an Easing Curve?** An easing curve is a mathematical function used to make animations feel more natural and dynamic. Instead of using a straight, linear transition, it controls how the animation progresses over time. ### How Does it Work? Rather than moving at a constant speed, the animation's progress (or "tween") follows the shape of the easing curve. This allows for a variety of effects, such as: - **Smooth start and stop**: The animation gradually speeds up and slows down. - **Overshooting**: An object goes past its destination and slides back into place (using a "back" curve). - **Bouncing**: An object bounces as it reaches its target (using a "bounce" curve). Easing curves help make animations look more realistic and visually appealing. Image Credit to [Unity-EasingLibraryVisualisation](https://github.com/noisecrime/Unity-EasingLibraryVisualisation) ![BonesParent](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/noisecrime/Unity-EasingLibraryVisualisation/master/GraphAnimation_888.gif) ## How to use Molang See [Adding Custom Molang Queries](../molang/molang) for how to register your own Molang Queries. Molang empowers you to input mathematical expressions as keyframe values, extending beyond mere numerical inputs. You can employ mathematical functions such as `math.sin`, `math.cos`, and `math.abs`. Detailed information on these math functions can be found on the [Bedrock Wiki](https://bedrock.dev/docs/1.19.0.0/1.19.30.23/Molang#Math%20Functions). ### Variables and Multi-Statement Expressions A keyframe value can do more than a single calculation. You can store values in variables, write several statements separated by `;`, and use conditionals, blocks and loops: ``` t.wave = math.sin(q.anim_time * 360); q.is_on_ground ? { v.air_time = 0; } : { v.air_time = (v.air_time ?? 0) + 1; }; return t.wave * 10 + math.min(v.air_time, 20); ``` - `temp.` / `t.` variables are scratch values. They start at 0 every time the keyframe is evaluated. - `variable.` / `v.` variables belong to the entity, block or item being animated. Each one keeps its own values between frames, and a value set in one keyframe can be read in any other keyframe of the same animatable. - `v.name ?? 1` uses `v.name` if it has been set, otherwise 1. This is handy for giving a variable a starting value. - `return` ends the expression with a value. Without one, the last statement's value is used. - Queries, `context.` names and `math.` constants are read-only. See [Expression Syntax](../molang/molang#expression-syntax) for the full list of operators and statements, and [Driving `variable.*` from Code](../molang/molang#driving-variable-from-code) for setting variables from your mod. ### Supported Queries Every query can be written with the full `query.` prefix or the short `q.` prefix, so `query.is_on_ground` and `q.is_on_ground` are the same query. Queries that don't apply to what's being animated (for example `query.health` on an item) return `0`. Values that are true or false return `1` or `0`. #### General - `query.anim_time` - Represents the animation time in seconds. - `query.life_time` - Represents the total lifetime of the entity or object, in seconds. - `query.actor_count` - Returns the number of entities currently loaded in the world. - `query.time_of_day` - Represents the current time of day in the game as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0). - `query.day` - Returns the current day of the world. - `query.time_stamp` - Returns the world's game time in ticks. - `query.moon_phase` - Returns the current phase of the moon as an integer (0 = full moon to 7). - `query.moon_brightness` - Returns how bright the moon is, from 1.0 (full moon) to 0.0 (new moon). - `query.frame_alpha` - Returns how far between two game ticks the current frame is (0.0 to 1.0). - `query.client_max_render_distance` - Returns the client's render distance in chunks. #### Entity State - `query.is_alive` - Returns whether the entity is alive. - `query.is_on_ground` - Returns whether the entity is on the ground. - `query.in_air` - Returns whether the entity is currently off the ground (e.g., jumping or falling). - `query.is_moving` - Returns whether the entity moved since the last tick, in any direction. - `query.is_in_water` - Returns whether the entity is currently in water. - `query.is_in_water_or_rain` - Returns whether the entity is in water or exposed to rain. - `query.head_is_in_water` - Returns whether the entity's head is underwater. - `query.is_in_lava` - Returns whether the entity is in lava. - `query.is_on_fire` (or `query.is_onfire`) - Returns whether the entity is on fire. - `query.is_fire_immune` - Returns whether the entity is immune to fire. - `query.is_invisible` - Returns whether the entity is invisible. - `query.is_silent` - Returns whether the entity is silent. - `query.is_sneaking` - Returns whether the entity is sneaking (crouching). - `query.is_sprinting` - Returns whether the entity is sprinting. - `query.is_swimming` - Returns whether the entity is swimming: the swimming pose for players, floating in water for other entities. - `query.is_gliding` - Returns whether the entity is gliding with an elytra. - `query.is_sleeping` - Returns whether the entity is sleeping. - `query.is_riding` - Returns whether the entity is riding another entity. - `query.has_rider` - Returns whether another entity is riding this entity. - `query.is_leashed` - Returns whether the entity is leashed. - `query.is_tamed` - Returns whether the entity is tamed. - `query.is_sitting` - Returns whether a tamed entity is sitting. - `query.is_baby` - Returns whether a living entity is a baby. - `query.has_gravity` - Returns whether the entity is affected by gravity. - `query.has_collision` - Returns whether the entity collides with blocks. - `query.is_spectator` - Returns whether the entity (a player) is in spectator mode. - `query.is_local_player` - Returns whether the entity is the player playing on this client. - `query.is_first_person` - Returns whether the entity is the camera entity and the camera is in first person. In an item's animation, whether the item is drawn in a first-person hand. #### Health and Combat - `query.health` - Returns the current health of a living entity. - `query.max_health` - Returns the maximum health of a living entity. - `query.hurt_time` - Returns the remaining time in the entity's hurt animation. - `query.death_ticks` - Returns the number of ticks since the entity started dying. - `query.is_blocking` (or `query.blocking`) - Returns whether the entity is actively blocking (e.g., holding a shield in defense). - `query.has_target` - Returns whether a mob has an attack target. Needs the target on the client; see `AzMolangTargetProvider`. - `query.target_x_rotation` - Returns the pitch, in degrees, needed to look at the attack target's eyes (negative is up), or 0. - `query.target_y_rotation` - Returns the world yaw, in degrees, needed to face the attack target, or 0. #### Movement and Rotation - `query.ground_speed` - Returns the entity's horizontal speed, in blocks per second. - `query.vertical_speed` - Returns how fast the entity is moving up (positive) or down (negative), in blocks per second. - `query.yaw_speed` - Represents the rate of change of the entity's yaw (horizontal rotation). - `query.limb_swing` - Represents the current state of the entity's limb swinging animation (e.g., for walking or running). - `query.limb_swing_amount` - Represents the intensity or speed of the entity's limb swing animation. - `query.head_pitch` (or `query.head_x_rotation`) - Represents the vertical rotation of the entity's head (looking up or down). - `query.head_yaw` (or `query.head_y_rotation`) - Represents the horizontal rotation of the entity's head relative to the body. - `query.body_x_rotation` - Returns the entity's body pitch, in degrees. - `query.body_y_rotation` - Returns the entity's body yaw, in degrees. - `query.cardinal_facing_2d` - Returns the direction the entity is facing (2 = north, 3 = south, 4 = west, 5 = east). - `query.distance_from_camera` - Returns the distance between the entity or object and the camera/player. - `query.model_scale` - Returns the entity's scale. - `query.swim_amount` - Returns how far the entity is into its swimming pose (0.0 to 1.0). #### Items and Equipment - `query.is_using_item` - Returns whether the entity is actively using an item (e.g., eating or drinking). - `query.item_in_use_duration` - Returns how long the entity has been using its current item, in seconds, up to the item's use duration. - `query.item_remaining_use_duration` - Returns how long the entity has left to use its current item, in seconds. - `query.item_max_use_duration` - Returns the full use time of the item being used, in seconds. - `query.has_head_gear` - Returns whether the entity has an item in its head slot. - `query.equipment_count` - Returns the number of armor pieces the entity is wearing (0 to 4). - `query.player_level` - Returns the player's experience level, or 0 for non-players. - `query.item_current_durability` - Represents an item's durability as a fraction of its maximum durability. - `query.max_durability` - Returns the maximum durability of the item being animated. - `query.remaining_durability` - Returns how much durability the item being animated has left. - `query.item_is_enchanted` - Returns whether the item is enchanted. ### Query Functions These queries take arguments, so they are always written with parentheses, e.g. `query.position(1)`. Arguments can be numbers or any other Molang expression. - `query.position(axis)` - Returns the entity's world position on an axis (0 = x, 1 = y, 2 = z). - `query.position_delta(axis)` - Returns how far the entity is moving this tick on an axis. - `query.movement_direction(axis)` - Returns the entity's normalized movement direction on an axis. - `query.count(value, ...)` - Returns the number of elements in an array; anything else counts as 1. - `query.get_nearby_entities(radius[, 'entity_id'])` / `query.get_nearby_entities_except_self(...)` - Returns an array of living entities within `radius` blocks (at most 64), nearest first, for use with `for_each`. - `query.get_equipped_item_name([hand])` - Returns the held item's id without its namespace, e.g. `'bow'`. Hand is `'main_hand'` (default) or `'off_hand'`. - `query.is_item_name_any(slot, index, 'id', ...)` - Returns whether the item in a slot such as `'slot.weapon.mainhand'` or `'slot.armor.head'` is any of the given ids. - `query.equipped_item_any_tag(slot, 'tag', ...)` / `query.equipped_item_all_tags(slot, 'tag', ...)` - Returns whether the item in the slot has any / all of the given item tags. - `query.is_name_any('name', ...)` - Returns whether the entity's name (name tag, player name or type name) is any of the given strings. - `query.is_item_equipped(hand)` - Returns whether a hand holds an item (0 or `'main_hand'`, 1 or `'off_hand'`). The hand can be left out to check the main hand: `query.is_item_equipped()`. - `query.has_armor_slot(slot)` - Returns whether an armor slot has an item (0 = head, 1 = chest, 2 = legs, 3 = feet). - `query.armor_damage_slot(slot)` - Returns the damage value of the item in an armor slot. - `query.heightmap(x, z)` - Returns the height of the world surface at a world position. - `query.above_top_solid(x, z)` - Returns the height just above the highest solid block at a world position. - `query.camera_distance_range_lerp(near, far)` - Returns 0 when the camera is closer than `near`, 1 when it's further than `far`, and blends between them. Useful for fading out small detail animations at range. - `query.all(value, a, b, ...)` - Returns 1 if every value after the first equals the first. - `query.any(value, a, b, ...)` - Returns 1 if any value after the first equals the first. - `query.approx_eq(a, b, ...)` - Returns 1 if all the values are equal within floating point precision. Safer than `==` for values that came out of math. - `query.in_range(value, min, max)` - Returns 1 if the value is between `min` and `max`, inclusive. ## How to add Effect Keyframes Please see [Adding Effect Keyframes](../effectkeyframes/adding_keyframes) for this. ## Previewing Rig Features While Animating The **AzureLib Rig** panel previews its features on top of the animation you're editing: - **IK chains and look-at** solve every frame towards a preview target: raised ground, a fixed point, or a locator you can drag around. - **Spring bones** swing while the animation plays. Press play to see them; scrubbing backwards resets them. - **Constraints** keep IK, look-at and spring bones within their limits, and can clamp the animation itself. - **Blend spaces** have a `▶` button that plays their samples together, with sliders for the input. None of this changes your keyframes. Switch **Pose** off in the panel to see your animation alone. See [Setting Up Rig Features](./rig_panel) for setting each one up.