diff --git a/src/Animation.cpp b/src/Animation.cpp
index a50c047..7a8ccbc 100644
--- a/src/Animation.cpp
+++ b/src/Animation.cpp
@@ -1,81 +1,93 @@
 #include "Animation.h"
 
+Animation::Animation(float _d, void* _t, std::function<void()> _cb, bool _l)
+:duration(_d), target(_t), callback(_cb), loop(_l), elapsed(0.0f) {}
+
 // linear interpolation constructor
 template<typename T>
-Animation<T>::Animation(float _d, T _ev, T* _t, std::function<void()> _cb, bool _l)
-:duration(_d), endvalue(_ev), target(_t), callback(_cb), loop(_l),
-index(-1), startvalue(*_t), elapsed(0.0f) {}
+LerpAnimation<T>::LerpAnimation(float _d, T _ev, T* _t, std::function<void()> _cb, bool _l)
+:Animation(_d, _t, _cb, _l), //duration(_d), target(_t), callback(_cb), loop(_l),elapsed(0.0f),
+startvalue(*_t), endvalue(_ev) {}
 
 // discrete values constructor
 template<typename T>
-Animation<T>::Animation(float _d, std::vector<T> _v, T* _t, std::function<void()> _cb, bool _l)
-:duration(_d), target(_t), callback(_cb), values(_v), loop(_l),
-index(0), startvalue(*_t), elapsed(0.0f), nonelapsed(0.0f) {
+DiscreteAnimation<T>::DiscreteAnimation(float _d, std::vector<T> _v, T* _t, std::function<void()> _cb, bool _l)
+:Animation(_d, _t, _cb, _l), //duration(_d), target(_t), callback(_cb), loop(_l), elapsed(0.0f),
+index(0), nonelapsed(0.0f), values(_v) {
     timestep = _v.size() / _d;
 }
 
-template<typename T>
-Animation<T>::~Animation() {
+/* // don't call virtual functions (like cancel()) from base class destructor
+ * // child classes destructors' are called first anyway
+Animation::~Animation() {
     // deconstructor sets target to desired end state (no partial values)
     cancel();
 }
+*/
 
 template<>
-void Animation<std::string>::lerp() {
-    *target = endvalue.substr(0, endvalue.length() * (elapsed / duration));
+void LerpAnimation<std::string>::lerp() {
+    *(std::string*)target = endvalue.substr(0, endvalue.length() * (elapsed / duration));
 }
 
 template<>
-void Animation<int>::lerp() {
+void LerpAnimation<int>::lerp() {
     int delta = endvalue - startvalue;
-    *target = startvalue + (elapsed / duration * delta);
+    *(int*)target = startvalue + (elapsed / duration * delta);
 }
 
 template<>
-void Animation<float>::lerp() {
+void LerpAnimation<float>::lerp() {
     int delta = endvalue - startvalue;
-    *target = startvalue + (elapsed / duration * delta);
+    *(float*)target = startvalue + (elapsed / duration * delta);
 }
 
 template<>
-void Animation<sf::Vector2f>::lerp() {
+void LerpAnimation<sf::Vector2f>::lerp() {
     int delta_x = endvalue.x - startvalue.x;
     int delta_y = endvalue.y - startvalue.y;
-    target->x = startvalue.x + (elapsed / duration * delta_x);
-    target->y = startvalue.y + (elapsed / duration * delta_y);
+    ((sf::Vector2f*)target)->x = startvalue.x + (elapsed / duration * delta_x);
+    ((sf::Vector2f*)target)->y = startvalue.y + (elapsed / duration * delta_y);
 }
 
 template<>
-void Animation<sf::Vector2i>::lerp() {
+void LerpAnimation<sf::Vector2i>::lerp() {
     int delta_x = endvalue.x - startvalue.y;
     int delta_y = endvalue.y - startvalue.y;
-    target->x = startvalue.x + (elapsed / duration * delta_x);
-    target->y = startvalue.y + (elapsed / duration * delta_y);
+    ((sf::Vector2i*)target)->x = startvalue.x + (elapsed / duration * delta_x);
+    ((sf::Vector2i*)target)->y = startvalue.y + (elapsed / duration * delta_y);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-void Animation<T>::step(float delta)
+void LerpAnimation<T>::step(float delta) {
+    elapsed += delta;
+    lerp();
+    if (isDone()) cancel(); //use the exact value, not my math
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+void DiscreteAnimation<T>::step(float delta)
 {
-    if (index == -1) {
-        // lerp function
-        elapsed += delta;
-        lerp();
-    }
-    else {
-        nonelapsed += delta;
-        if (nonelapsed < timestep) return;
-        if (index == values.size() - 1) return;
-        elapsed += nonelapsed; // or should it be += timestep?
-        nonelapsed = 0; // or should it -= timestep?
-        index++;
-        *target = values[index];
-    }
+    nonelapsed += delta;
+    if (nonelapsed < timestep) return;
+    if (index == values.size() - 1) return;
+    elapsed += nonelapsed; // or should it be += timestep?
+    nonelapsed = 0; // or should it -= timestep?
+    index++;
+    *target = values[index];
+    if (isDone()) cancel(); //use the exact value, not my math
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-void Animation<T>::cancel() {
-    if (index == -1)
-        *target = endvalue;
-    else
-        *target = values[values.size() - 1];
+void LerpAnimation<T>::cancel() {
+    *target = endvalue;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+void DiscreteAnimation<T>::cancel() {
+    *target = values[values.size() - 1];
+}
+
+bool Animation::isDone() {
+    return elapsed + Animation::EPSILON >= duration;
 }
diff --git a/src/Animation.h b/src/Animation.h
index 9509876..39aac87 100644
--- a/src/Animation.h
+++ b/src/Animation.h
@@ -1,23 +1,44 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "Common.h"
 
-template<typename T>
 class Animation
 {
+protected:
     static constexpr float EPSILON = 0.05;
-    T startvalue, endvalue;
-    int index;
-    float duration, elapsed, nonelapsed, timestep;
-    T* target;
-    std::vector<T> values;
+    float duration, elapsed;
+    void* target;
     std::function<void()> callback;
     bool loop;
 public:
-    Animation(float, T, T*, std::function<void()>, bool); // lerp
-    Animation(float, std::vector<T>, T*, std::function<void()>, bool); // discrete 
-    ~Animation();
-    void lerp();
-    void step(float);
-    void cancel();
+    //Animation(float, T, T*, std::function<void()>, bool); // lerp
+    //Animation(float, std::vector<T>, T*, std::function<void()>, bool); // discrete 
+    Animation(float, void*, std::function<void()>, bool);
+    virtual void step(float) = 0;
+    virtual void cancel() = 0;
     bool isDone();
 };
+
+template<typename T>
+class LerpAnimation: public Animation
+{
+    T startvalue, endvalue;
+    void lerp();
+public:
+    ~LerpAnimation() { cancel(); }
+    LerpAnimation(float, T, T*, std::function<void()>, bool);
+    void step(float) override final;
+    void cancel() override final;
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+class DiscreteAnimation: public Animation
+{
+    std::vector<T> values;
+    float nonelapsed, timestep;
+    int index;
+public:
+    DiscreteAnimation(float, std::vector<T>, T*, std::function<void()>, bool);
+    ~DiscreteAnimation() { cancel(); }
+    void step(float) override final;
+    void cancel() override final;
+};
diff --git a/src/GameEngine.cpp b/src/GameEngine.cpp
index ea28547..74d4b55 100644
--- a/src/GameEngine.cpp
+++ b/src/GameEngine.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ GameEngine::GameEngine()
     scenes["py"] = new PythonScene(this, "TestScene");
 
     IndexSprite::game = this;
+
+    clock.restart();
 }
 
 Scene* GameEngine::currentScene() { return scenes[scene]; }
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ sf::RenderWindow & GameEngine::getWindow() { return window; }
 
 void GameEngine::run()
 {
+    clock.restart();
     while (running)
     {
         currentScene()->update();
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@ void GameEngine::run()
         }
         currentScene()->sRender();
         currentFrame++;
+        frameTime = clock.restart().asSeconds();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/GameEngine.h b/src/GameEngine.h
index 9281a7e..35e479a 100644
--- a/src/GameEngine.h
+++ b/src/GameEngine.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ class GameEngine
     bool paused = false;
     int currentFrame = 0;
     sf::View visible;
+    sf::Clock clock;
+    float frameTime;
 
 public:
     GameEngine();
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ public:
     void run();
     void sUserInput();
     int getFrame() { return currentFrame; }
+    float getFrameTime() { return frameTime; }
     sf::View getView() { return visible; }
 
     // global textures for scripts to access
diff --git a/src/McRFPy_API.cpp b/src/McRFPy_API.cpp
index e2d9aef..49d62df 100644
--- a/src/McRFPy_API.cpp
+++ b/src/McRFPy_API.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 std::map<std::string, UIMenu*> McRFPy_API::menus;
 std::map<std::string, Grid*> McRFPy_API::grids;
 std::map<std::string, PyObject*> McRFPy_API::callbacks;
+std::list<Animation*> McRFPy_API::animations;
+
 EntityManager McRFPy_API::entities;
 
 static PyMethodDef mcrfpyMethods[] = {
@@ -46,6 +48,18 @@ static PyMethodDef mcrfpyMethods[] = {
     {"modGrid", McRFPy_API::_modGrid, METH_VARARGS,
         "call with a Grid object to update all fields"},
 
+    {"createAnimation", McRFPy_API::_createAnimation, METH_VARARGS,
+        "Create a new animation:\n"
+        "createAnimation(duration:float, parent:string, target_type:string, target_id:string or int, field:string, callback:function, loop:bool, frames:list)\n"
+        "duration: total animation time in seconds\n"
+        "parent: the name of a UI menu or grid\n"
+        "target_type: 'caption', 'button', 'sprite', or 'entity'\n"
+        "target_id: integer index of the caption or button, or string ID of entity\n"
+        "field: what to animate. 'position', 'size', 'bgcolor', 'textcolor' or 'sprite'\n"
+        "callback: called when the animation completes\n"
+        "loop: if True, animation repeats; if False, animation is deleted\n"
+        "frames: if animating a sprite, list the frames. For other data types, the value will change in discrete steps at a rate of duration/len(frames).\n"},
+
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
diff --git a/src/McRFPy_API.h b/src/McRFPy_API.h
index 7372bed..977855f 100644
--- a/src/McRFPy_API.h
+++ b/src/McRFPy_API.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ public:
     static std::map<std::string, UIMenu*> menus;
     static EntityManager entities; // this is also kinda good, entities not on the current grid can still act (like monsters following you through doors??)
     static std::map<std::string, Grid*> grids;
+    static std::list<Animation*> animations;
 
     static std::map<std::string, PyObject*> callbacks;
 
@@ -68,6 +69,8 @@ public:
     static PyObject* _createGrid(PyObject*, PyObject*);
     static PyObject* _listGrids(PyObject*, PyObject*);
     static PyObject* _modGrid(PyObject*, PyObject*);
+
+    static PyObject* _createAnimation(PyObject*, PyObject*);
     
     static PyObject* _registerPyAction(PyObject*, PyObject*);
 
diff --git a/src/PythonScene.cpp b/src/PythonScene.cpp
index 1c0c016..c998db5 100644
--- a/src/PythonScene.cpp
+++ b/src/PythonScene.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "PythonScene.h"
 #include "ActionCode.h"
 #include "McRFPy_API.h"
+#include "Animation.h"
 
 PythonScene::PythonScene(GameEngine* g, std::string pymodule)
 : Scene(g) {
@@ -42,6 +43,58 @@ PythonScene::PythonScene(GameEngine* g, std::string pymodule)
     McRFPy_API::executePyString(pymodule + ".start()");
 }
 
+void PythonScene::animate() {
+    auto frametime = game->getFrameTime();
+    auto it = McRFPy_API::animations.begin();
+    while (it != animations.end()) {
+        (*it)->step(frametime);
+        if ((*it)->isDone()) {
+            auto prev = it;
+            it++;
+            animations.erase(prev);
+        } else it++;
+    }
+    /* // workin on it
+    for (auto p : animations) {
+        if (p.first == "int") {
+            ((Animation<int>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "string") {
+            ((Animation<std::string>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "float") {
+            ((Animation<float>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "vector2f") {
+            ((Animation<sf::Vector2f>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "vector2i") {
+            ((Animation<sf::Vector2i>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "color") {
+            ((Animation<int>)p.second).step(frametime); // TODO
+        } else {
+            std::cout << "Animation has label " << p.first << "; no type found" << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+    auto it = animations.begin();
+    while (it != animations.end()) {
+        bool done = false;
+        if (p.first == "int") {
+            ((Animation<int>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "string") {
+            if ((Animation<std::string>)p.second).isDone()
+                delete (Animation<std::string>)p.second
+        } else if (p.first == "float") {
+            ((Animation<float>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "vector2f") {
+            ((Animation<sf::Vector2f>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "vector2i") {
+            ((Animation<sf::Vector2i>)p.second).step(frametime);
+        } else if (p.first == "color") {
+            ((Animation<int>)p.second).step(frametime); // TODO
+        if ((*it).second.isDone()) {
+            animations.erase(it++);
+        } else { it++; }
+    }
+        */
+}
+
 void PythonScene::update() {
     McRFPy_API::entities.update();
 
@@ -57,6 +110,7 @@ void PythonScene::update() {
         mouseprev = mousepos;
     }
 
+    animate();
 }
 
 void PythonScene::doLClick(sf::Vector2i mousepos) {
diff --git a/src/PythonScene.h b/src/PythonScene.h
index 7bf236d..dce0c08 100644
--- a/src/PythonScene.h
+++ b/src/PythonScene.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include "Scene.h"
 #include "GameEngine.h"
 #include "Grid.h"
+//#include "Animation.h"
+//#include <list>
 
 class PythonScene: public Scene
 {
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@ class PythonScene: public Scene
     void doLClick(sf::Vector2i);
     void doRClick(sf::Vector2i);
     void doZoom(sf::Vector2i, int);
+    //std::list<Animation*> animations;
+    void animate();
 public:
     PythonScene(GameEngine*, std::string);
     void update() override final;