Animation Creation

Create and edit animations in Blockbench with keyframes, bone rigging, and Hytale-specific animation features.

Usage

/blockbench-animate <action> [args]

Actions:

• create <name> - Create a new animation
• keyframe <bone> <property> - Add keyframes
• rig - Set up bone hierarchy
• play - Preview animation
• visibility <bone> - Toggle bone visibility (Hytale)

Prerequisites

• Blockbench must be running with the MCP plugin enabled
• A model must be open with proper bone structure (groups)

Steps

Creating Animations

1. Create animation using mcpblockbenchcreate_animation:

``json { "name": "walk", "length": 1.0, "loop": "loop" } ` - name: Animation identifier - length: Duration in seconds - loop: "loop", "hold", or "once"`

Managing Keyframes

1. Add keyframe using mcpblockbenchmanage_keyframes:

``json { "action": "create", "animation": "walk", "bone": "left_leg", "channel": "rotation", "time": 0.0, "value": [0, 0, 0] } ` - action: "create", "update", or "delete" - channel: "position", "rotation", or "scale" - time: Time in seconds - value: [x, y, z]` values

1. Edit keyframe - same tool with action: "update":

``json { "action": "update", "keyframe_uuid": "<uuid>", "value": [15, 0, 0], "interpolation": "smooth" } ``

1. Delete keyframe - same tool with action: "delete":

``json { "action": "delete", "keyframe_uuid": "<uuid>" } ``

Animation Graph Editor

1. Edit curves using mcpblockbenchanimationgrapheditor:

- Adjust easing between keyframes - keyframeuuid: Target keyframe - interpolation: "linear", "smooth", "step", "bezier" - For bezier: handleleft, handle_right control points

Bone Rigging

1. Set up bones using mcpblockbenchbone_rigging:

- Groups in Blockbench act as bones - parentbone: Parent bone UUID - childbone: Child bone UUID - Creates parent-child relationship

Timeline Control

1. Control playback using mcpblockbenchanimation_timeline:

- action: "play", "pause", "stop", "seek" - time: Seek position (for seek action) - speed: Playback speed multiplier

Batch Operations

1. Batch keyframes using mcpblockbenchbatchkeyframeoperations:

- Apply changes to multiple keyframes - operation: "shift", "scale", "delete" - keyframes: Array of keyframe UUIDs - value: Operation value

1. Copy/paste animation using mcpblockbenchanimationcopypaste:

- action: "copy" or "paste" - sourcebone: Bone to copy from - targetbone: Bone to paste to - mirror: Boolean to mirror values

Hytale-Specific Animation

1. Visibility keyframe using mcpblockbenchhytalecreatevisibility_keyframe:

- Toggle bone visibility at specific times - animation: Animation name - bone: Target bone - time: Keyframe time - visible: Boolean visibility state

1. Set loop mode using mcpblockbenchhytalesetanimation_loop:

- animation: Animation name - mode: "loop", "hold", or "once" - loop - Repeat indefinitely - hold - Stay at last frame - once - Play once and stop

Keyframe Channels

Interpolation Modes

Example Workflow

User: Create a walking animation

1. Create animation "walk" length 1.0s, loop mode
2. Add keyframes for left_leg rotation:
   - 0.0s: [0, 0, 0]
   - 0.25s: [-30, 0, 0]
   - 0.5s: [0, 0, 0]
   - 0.75s: [30, 0, 0]
   - 1.0s: [0, 0, 0]
3. Copy animation to right_leg with mirror
4. Add arm swing keyframes (opposite to legs)
5. Set smooth interpolation on all keyframes
6. Preview with timeline play
7. Adjust timing as needed

Animation Tips

• Start with blocking: Key poses first, then refine
• Use smooth interpolation: More natural movement
• Mirror for symmetry: Copy/paste with mirror for limbs
• Test frequently: Use timeline playback
• Keep it loopable: First and last frame should match for loop