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 mcp__blockbench__create_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 mcp__blockbench__manage_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
2. •

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

   json

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

3. •

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

   json

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

Animation Graph Editor

1. •Edit curves using mcp__blockbench__animation_graph_editor:
   • •Adjust easing between keyframes
   • •keyframe_uuid: Target keyframe
   • •interpolation: "linear", "smooth", "step", "bezier"
   • •For bezier: handle_left, handle_right control points

Bone Rigging

1. •Set up bones using mcp__blockbench__bone_rigging:
   • •Groups in Blockbench act as bones
   • •parent_bone: Parent bone UUID
   • •child_bone: Child bone UUID
   • •Creates parent-child relationship

Timeline Control

1. •Control playback using mcp__blockbench__animation_timeline:
   • •action: "play", "pause", "stop", "seek"
   • •time: Seek position (for seek action)
   • •speed: Playback speed multiplier

Batch Operations

1. •

   Batch keyframes using mcp__blockbench__batch_keyframe_operations:

   • •Apply changes to multiple keyframes
   • •operation: "shift", "scale", "delete"
   • •keyframes: Array of keyframe UUIDs
   • •value: Operation value
2. •

   Copy/paste animation using mcp__blockbench__animation_copy_paste:

   • •action: "copy" or "paste"
   • •source_bone: Bone to copy from
   • •target_bone: Bone to paste to
   • •mirror: Boolean to mirror values

Hytale-Specific Animation

1. •

   Visibility keyframe using mcp__blockbench__hytale_create_visibility_keyframe:

   • •Toggle bone visibility at specific times
   • •animation: Animation name
   • •bone: Target bone
   • •time: Keyframe time
   • •visible: Boolean visibility state
2. •

   Set loop mode using mcp__blockbench__hytale_set_animation_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