diff --git a/src/anim8.lua b/src/anim8.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9197aec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/anim8.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,288 @@
+local anim8 = {
+  _VERSION     = 'anim8 v2.1.0',
+  _DESCRIPTION = 'An animation library for LÖVE',
+  _URL         = 'https://github.com/kikito/anim8',
+  _LICENSE     = [[
+    MIT LICENSE
+
+    Copyright (c) 2011 Enrique García Cota
+
+    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+    copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
+    "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
+    without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
+    distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to
+    permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to
+    the following conditions:
+
+    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
+    in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
+    OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+    MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+    IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+    CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
+    TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
+    SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+  ]]
+}
+
+local Grid = {}
+
+local _frames = {}
+
+local function assertPositiveInteger(value, name)
+  if type(value) ~= 'number' then error(("%s should be a number, was %q"):format(name, tostring(value))) end
+  if value < 1 then error(("%s should be a positive number, was %d"):format(name, value)) end
+  if value ~= math.floor(value) then error(("%s should be an integer, was %d"):format(name, value)) end
+end
+
+local function createFrame(self, x, y)
+  local fw, fh = self.frameWidth, self.frameHeight
+  return love.graphics.newQuad(
+    self.left + (x-1) * fw + x * self.border,
+    self.top  + (y-1) * fh + y * self.border,
+    fw,
+    fh,
+    self.imageWidth,
+    self.imageHeight
+  )
+end
+
+local function getGridKey(...)
+  return table.concat( {...} ,'-' )
+end
+
+local function getOrCreateFrame(self, x, y)
+  if x < 1 or x > self.width or y < 1 or y > self.height then
+    error(("There is no frame for x=%d, y=%d"):format(x, y))
+  end
+  local key = self._key
+  _frames[key]       = _frames[key]       or {}
+  _frames[key][x]    = _frames[key][x]    or {}
+  _frames[key][x][y] = _frames[key][x][y] or createFrame(self, x, y)
+  return _frames[key][x][y]
+end
+
+local function parseInterval(str)
+  if type(str) == "number" then return str,str,1 end
+  str = str:gsub('%s', '') -- remove spaces
+  local min, max = str:match("^(%d+)-(%d+)$")
+  assert(min and max, ("Could not parse interval from %q"):format(str))
+  min, max = tonumber(min), tonumber(max)
+  local step = min <= max and 1 or -1
+  return min, max, step
+end
+
+function Grid:getFrames(...)
+  local result, args = {}, {...}
+  local minx, maxx, stepx, miny, maxy, stepy
+
+  for i=1, #args, 2 do
+    minx, maxx, stepx = parseInterval(args[i])
+    miny, maxy, stepy = parseInterval(args[i+1])
+    for y = miny, maxy, stepy do
+      for x = minx, maxx, stepx do
+        result[#result+1] = getOrCreateFrame(self,x,y)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  return result
+end
+
+local Gridmt = {
+  __index = Grid,
+  __call  = Grid.getFrames
+}
+
+local function newGrid(frameWidth, frameHeight, imageWidth, imageHeight, left, top, border)
+  assertPositiveInteger(frameWidth,  "frameWidth")
+  assertPositiveInteger(frameHeight, "frameHeight")
+  assertPositiveInteger(imageWidth,  "imageWidth")
+  assertPositiveInteger(imageHeight, "imageHeight")
+
+  left   = left   or 0
+  top    = top    or 0
+  border = border or 0
+
+  local key  = getGridKey(frameWidth, frameHeight, imageWidth, imageHeight, left, top, border)
+
+  local grid = setmetatable(
+    { frameWidth  = frameWidth,
+      frameHeight = frameHeight,
+      imageWidth  = imageWidth,
+      imageHeight = imageHeight,
+      left        = left,
+      top         = top,
+      border      = border,
+      width       = math.floor(imageWidth/frameWidth),
+      height      = math.floor(imageHeight/frameHeight),
+      _key        = key
+    },
+    Gridmt
+  )
+  return grid
+end
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+
+local Animation = {}
+
+local function cloneArray(arr)
+  local result = {}
+  for i=1,#arr do result[i] = arr[i] end
+  return result
+end
+
+local function parseDurations(durations, frameCount)
+  local result = {}
+  if type(durations) == 'number' then
+    for i=1,frameCount do result[i] = durations end
+  else
+    local min, max, step
+    for key,duration in pairs(durations) do
+      assert(type(duration) == 'number', "The value [" .. tostring(duration) .. "] should be a number")
+      min, max, step = parseInterval(key)
+      for i = min,max,step do result[i] = duration end
+    end
+  end
+
+  if #result < frameCount then
+    error("The durations table has length of " .. tostring(#result) .. ", but it should be >= " .. tostring(frameCount))
+  end
+
+  return result
+end
+
+local function parseIntervals(durations)
+  local result, time = {0},0
+  for i=1,#durations do
+    time = time + durations[i]
+    result[i+1] = time
+  end
+  return result, time
+end
+
+local Animationmt = { __index = Animation }
+local nop = function() end
+
+local function newAnimation(frames, durations, onLoop)
+  local td = type(durations);
+  if (td ~= 'number' or durations <= 0) and td ~= 'table' then
+    error("durations must be a positive number. Was " .. tostring(durations) )
+  end
+  onLoop = onLoop or nop
+  durations = parseDurations(durations, #frames)
+  local intervals, totalDuration = parseIntervals(durations)
+  return setmetatable({
+      frames         = cloneArray(frames),
+      durations      = durations,
+      intervals      = intervals,
+      totalDuration  = totalDuration,
+      onLoop         = onLoop,
+      timer          = 0,
+      position       = 1,
+      status         = "playing",
+      flippedH       = false,
+      flippedV       = false
+    },
+    Animationmt
+  )
+end
+
+function Animation:clone()
+  local newAnim = newAnimation(self.frames, self.durations, self.onLoop)
+  newAnim.flippedH, newAnim.flippedV = self.flippedH, self.flippedV
+  return newAnim
+end
+
+function Animation:flipH()
+  self.flippedH = not self.flippedH
+  return self
+end
+
+function Animation:flipV()
+  self.flippedV = not self.flippedV
+  return self
+end
+
+local function seekFrameIndex(intervals, timer)
+  local high, low, i = #intervals-1, 1, 1
+
+  while(low <= high) do
+    i = math.floor((low + high) / 2)
+    if     timer >  intervals[i+1] then low  = i + 1
+    elseif timer <= intervals[i]   then high = i - 1
+    else
+      return i
+    end
+  end
+
+  return i
+end
+
+function Animation:update(dt)
+  if self.status ~= "playing" then return end
+
+  self.timer = self.timer + dt
+  local loops = math.floor(self.timer / self.totalDuration)
+  if loops ~= 0 then
+    self.timer = self.timer - self.totalDuration * loops
+    local f = type(self.onLoop) == 'function' and self.onLoop or self[self.onLoop]
+    f(self, loops)
+  end
+
+  self.position = seekFrameIndex(self.intervals, self.timer)
+end
+
+function Animation:pause()
+  self.status = "paused"
+end
+
+function Animation:gotoFrame(position)
+  self.position = position
+  self.timer = self.intervals[self.position]
+end
+
+function Animation:pauseAtEnd()
+  self.position = #self.frames
+  self.timer = self.totalDuration
+  self:pause()
+end
+
+function Animation:pauseAtStart()
+  self.position = 1
+  self.timer = 0
+  self:pause()
+end
+
+function Animation:resume()
+  self.status = "playing"
+end
+
+function Animation:draw(image, x, y, r, sx, sy, ox, oy, ...)
+  local frame = self.frames[self.position]
+  if self.flippedH or self.flippedV then
+    r,sx,sy,ox,oy = r or 0, sx or 1, sy or 1, ox or 0, oy or 0
+    local _,_,w,h = frame:getViewport()
+
+    if self.flippedH then
+      sx = sx * -1
+      ox = w - ox
+    end
+    if self.flippedV then
+      sy = sy * -1
+      oy = h - oy
+    end
+  end
+  love.graphics.draw(image, frame, x, y, r, sx, sy, ox, oy, ...)
+end
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+
+anim8.newGrid       = newGrid
+anim8.newAnimation  = newAnimation
+
+return anim8
diff --git a/src/animator.lua b/src/animator.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..575ba0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/animator.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+local anim8 = require 'anim8'
+local character = require 'character'
+
+Animator = class()
+
+function Animator:__init(fullWidth, fullHeight)
+  self.animationGrid = anim8.newGrid(character.width, character.height, fullWidth, fullHeight)
+
+  self.walk_up = anim8.newAnimation(self.animationGrid('1-9', 9), 0.1)
+  self.walk_left = anim8.newAnimation(self.animationGrid('1-9', 10), 0.1)
+  self.walk_down = anim8.newAnimation(self.animationGrid('1-9', 11), 0.1)
+  self.walk_right = anim8.newAnimation(self.animationGrid('1-9', 12), 0.1)
+end
+
diff --git a/src/character.lua b/src/character.lua
index ca9963a..59acc39 100644
--- a/src/character.lua
+++ b/src/character.lua
@@ -7,52 +7,4 @@ function character.sortNorthSouth(a, b)
   return a.info.y < b.info.y
 end
 
-character.spellcast_up = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 0,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.spellcast_left = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 1,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.spellcast_down = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 2,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.spellcast_right = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 3,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.walking_up = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 8,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.walking_left = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 9,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.walking_down = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 10,
-  count = 9
-}
-
-character.walking_right = {
-  offsetX = 0,
-  offsetY = 11,
-  count = 9
-}
-
 return character
diff --git a/src/controllers/gridwalker.lua b/src/controllers/gridwalker.lua
index ee05a8b..6c52cc9 100644
--- a/src/controllers/gridwalker.lua
+++ b/src/controllers/gridwalker.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-local character = require "../character"
+local character = require '../character'
+local animator = require '../animator'
 
 Gridwalker = class()
 
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ Gridwalker.neighbourOffsetX = (character.width - Gridwalker.collisionTestSize) /
 Gridwalker.neighbourOffsetY = character.width - Gridwalker.collisionTestSize * 1.5
 Gridwalker.testShape = nil
 Gridwalker.charinfo = nil
+Gridwalker.animation = nil
 
 function Gridwalker:sendKey(key)
   if key == "w" or key == "up" then
@@ -27,37 +29,53 @@ function Gridwalker:sendKey(key)
   end
 end
 
+function Gridwalker:stopAnimation()
+  self.animation:pauseAtStart()
+end
+
 function Gridwalker:up()
   local newX = self.charinfo.x
   local newY = self.charinfo.y - self.speed
 
-  self:move(newX, newY, character.walking_up)
+  self.animation = self.animator.walk_up
+
+  self:move(newX, newY)
 end
 
 function Gridwalker:down()
   local newX = self.charinfo.x
   local newY = self.charinfo.y + self.speed
 
-  self:move(newX, newY, character.walking_down)
+  self.animation = self.animator.walk_down
+
+  self:move(newX, newY)
 end
 
 function Gridwalker:right()
   local newX = self.charinfo.x + self.speed
   local newY = self.charinfo.y
 
-  self:move(newX, newY, character.walking_right)
+  self.animation = self.animator.walk_right
+
+  self:move(newX, newY)
 end
 
 function Gridwalker:left()
   local newX = self.charinfo.x - self.speed
   local newY = self.charinfo.y
 
-  self:move(newX, newY, character.walking_left)
+  self.animation = self.animator.walk_left
+
+  self:move(newX, newY)
 end
 
 function Gridwalker:init()
   self.testShape = collider:addRectangle(self.charinfo.x + self.neighbourOffsetX, self.charinfo.y + self.neighbourOffsetY, self.collisionTestSize, self.collisionTestSize)
   collider:setPassive(self.testShape)
+
+  self.animator = Animator:new(self.charinfo.image:getWidth(), self.charinfo.image:getHeight())
+  self.animation = self.animator.walk_up
+  self.animation:pauseAtStart()
 end
 
 function Gridwalker:setTestShape(x, y)
@@ -69,7 +87,7 @@ function Gridwalker:setTestShape(x, y)
   return testX, testY
 end
 
-function Gridwalker:move(x, y, pose)
+function Gridwalker:move(x, y)
   local noCollision = true
 
   local testX, testY = self:setTestShape(x, y)
@@ -82,11 +100,10 @@ function Gridwalker:move(x, y, pose)
   end
 
   if noCollision then
+    self.animation:resume()
     self.charinfo.x = x
     self.charinfo.y = y
   else
     self:setTestShape(self.charinfo.x, self.charinfo.y)
   end
-
-  self.charinfo.pose = pose
 end
diff --git a/src/main.lua b/src/main.lua
index f905160..9bae880 100644
--- a/src/main.lua
+++ b/src/main.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-class = require '30log'
-
 local HC = require 'hardoncollider'
 -- has to come before the sti initialization so I can add the collision tiles
 collider = HC(100)
 
+class = require '30log'
+
 local sti = require "sti"
 
 local character = require "character"
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ end
 
 function love.update(dt)
   for _, char in ipairs(characters) do
+    char.controller.animation:update(dt)
+
     if char.relevantKeys then
       for _, relevantKey in ipairs(char.relevantKeys) do
         if love.keyboard.isDown(relevantKey) then
@@ -36,6 +38,22 @@ function love.update(dt)
   map:update(dt)
 end
 
+function love.keyreleased(key)
+  for _, char in ipairs(characters) do
+    if char.relevantKeys then
+      for _, relevantKey in ipairs(char.relevantKeys) do
+        if key == relevantKey then
+          char.controller:stopAnimation()
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+   if key == "w" then
+      print()
+   end
+end
+
 function love.draw()
   -- Translation would normally be based on a player's x/y
   local translateX = 0
@@ -52,7 +70,7 @@ end
 function debugDrawing()
   -- draw collision shapes for debugging
   for shape in pairs(collider:shapesInRange(0, 0, windowWidth, windowHeight)) do
-   shape:draw()
+    shape:draw()
   end
 
   -- Draw Collision Map (useful for debugging)
@@ -90,11 +108,7 @@ function initCharacters()
       local x = math.floor(sprite.info.x)
       local y = math.floor(sprite.info.y)
 
-      local offsetX = sprite.info.pose.offsetX * character.width
-      local offsetY = sprite.info.pose.offsetY * character.height
-
-      local quad = love.graphics.newQuad(offsetX, offsetY, character.width, character.height, sprite.info.image:getWidth(), sprite.info.image:getHeight())
-      love.graphics.draw(sprite.info.image, quad, x, y)
+      sprite.info.controller.animation:draw(sprite.info.image, x, y)
     end
   end