What is Method Call Track used for in AnimationPlayer?

To call any method at a specific timing during animation playback. Commonly used for enabling attack hitboxes at the exact moment of impact or playing sound effects synchronized with footsteps.

What's the difference between Nearest, Linear, and Cubic interpolation?

Nearest holds the value until the next keyframe (instant change), Linear changes at constant speed between keyframes, and Cubic creates smooth gradual speed changes for natural-looking motion.

How do I know when an animation finishes?

Connect to the animation_finished signal. Use animation_finished.connect(callback_function) to execute code when the animation completes, such as transitioning to idle state after an attack.

What does the seek() method do?

It jumps the animation to a specified time position (in seconds). Useful for previewing animations, synchronizing multiple animations, or resuming from a specific point.

【Godot】Advanced AnimationPlayer Usage - Mastering Tracks, Keyframes, and Callbacks

Overview: Why "Advanced AnimationPlayer Usage" Is Necessary

Godot Engine's AnimationPlayer node is a powerful tool for controlling all game elements along a timeline, going beyond simple character movement or sprite animation. Beginners primarily use it to animate node properties (position, rotation, scale, etc.). However, AnimationPlayer's true value is realized by mastering advanced features like tracks, keyframes, and callbacks.

This article explains techniques for beginners to intermediate users that transform AnimationPlayer from "just an animation player" into "a powerful sequencer synchronized with game logic."

1. Types and Roles of "Tracks" Supporting AnimationPlayer

AnimationPlayer uses multiple tracks depending on the type of property or action being animated.

Property Track

The most basic track that changes the values of node properties (position, modulate, custom variables, etc.) over time.

Method Call Track

This is one of the core features of this article. It allows you to call any method (function) of any node at a specific timing in the animation.

Use Cases:

Call a function to enable attack detection the moment a character swings down a sword.
Call a function to play a footstep sound effect when the foot touches the ground.
Switch UI display mid-cutscene.

Audio Track

Allows you to start/stop playback of AudioStreamPlayer nodes at specific times in the animation.

2. Advanced Keyframe Operations and Interpolation

Keyframes are points defining the "target value" of a property at a specific time on the track. What determines how values change between keyframes is the Interpolation mode.

Choosing Interpolation Mode

Interpolation Mode	Characteristics	Main Uses
Nearest	Keyframe value is held until the next keyframe. Change is instantaneous.	Sprite frame switching, boolean value switching
Linear	Value changes linearly at constant speed between keyframes.	Constant-speed movement, fade in/out
Cubic	Value changes smoothly between keyframes. Speed gradually changes.	Camera movement, smooth UI animation

3. Practice! Using Callbacks (Method Call Track)

Here we'll explain practical callback implementation using Method Call Track.

Implementation Example: Synchronizing Attack Animation and Detection

# character.gd
extends CharacterBody2D

var is_attacking = false

# Function called from animation
func enable_hitbox():
    is_attacking = true
    print("Attack detection enabled!")

# Function called from animation
func disable_hitbox():
    is_attacking = false
    print("Attack detection disabled.")

func _physics_process(delta):
    # Execute collision detection logic only when is_attacking is true
    if is_attacking:
        pass  # Actual collision detection processing

Add a Method Call Track to the attack animation in AnimationPlayer and set keyframes to call enable_hitbox and disable_hitbox at appropriate timings.

4. AnimationPlayer Control from Scripts and Signals

Controlling AnimationPlayer playback is typically done from scripts.

Basic Control Methods

Method	Description
`play(name)`	Plays the animation with the specified name.
`stop()`	Stops the currently playing animation.
`seek(time, update)`	Jumps the animation to the specified time (seconds).
`queue(name)`	Adds the specified animation to the playback queue after the current animation ends.

External Callbacks Using Signals

AnimationPlayer emits important events related to animation playback as signals.

animation_finished(anim_name): Emitted when an animation finishes playing to the end.
animation_started(anim_name): Emitted when an animation starts playing.

# character.gd (continued)
func _ready():
    var anim_player = $AnimationPlayer
    anim_player.animation_finished.connect(_on_animation_finished)

func _on_animation_finished(anim_name):
    if anim_name == "attack":
        print("Attack animation finished.")
        $AnimationPlayer.play("idle")

Summary

Godot Engine's AnimationPlayer functions not just as a visual expression tool, but as a powerful game logic sequencer through Method Call Track.

Tracks: Manage diverse events along the timeline, not just property changes, but also method calls and audio playback.
Keyframes and Interpolation: Achieve smooth and expressive movements using Cubic interpolation and Bézier curves.
Callbacks (Method Call Track): The key to precisely synchronizing game logic with specific moments in animations and implementing complex interactions simply.

By leveraging these advanced features, your game will become more polished and provide players with an immersive experience.

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