---
title: "Use animations"
url: /docs/en-us/animation/using
last_updated: 2026-06-19T03:26:09Z
description: "Explains the process of playing animations through scripts, and replacing default animations."
---
# Use animations
Once you have [created an animation](/docs/en-us/animation/editor.md), you need to use scripts to include them in your experience. You can either [play animations manually](#play-animations-from-scripts) from scripts or [replace default animations](#replace-default-animations) for player characters.
## Play animations from scripts
In some cases, you'll need to play an animation directly from inside a script, such as when a user presses a certain key or picks up a special item.
### Humanoids
To play an animation on a rig containing a `Class.Humanoid` object, such as typical playable characters, follow this basic pattern:
1. Ensure that the local player's `Class.Humanoid` contains an `Class.Animator` object.
2. Create a new `Class.Animation` instance with the proper `Class.Animation.AnimationId|AnimationId`.
3. Load the animation via `Class.Animator:LoadAnimation()` to create an `Class.AnimationTrack`.
4. Play the track with `Class.AnimationTrack:Play()`.
For example, the following `Class.LocalScript`, when placed in `Class.StarterPlayerScripts`, loads a "kick" animation onto the player's character and plays it. The script also utilizes the `Class.AnimationTrack:GetMarkerReachedSignal()|GetMarkerReachedSignal()` method to detect when a specific [animation event](/docs/en-us/animation/events.md) occurs.
```lua
local Players = game:GetService("Players")
local player = Players.LocalPlayer
local character = player.Character or player.CharacterAdded:Wait()
-- Ensure that the character's humanoid contains an "Animator" object
local humanoid = character:WaitForChild("Humanoid")
local animator = humanoid:WaitForChild("Animator")
-- Create a new "Animation" instance and assign an animation asset ID
local kickAnimation = Instance.new("Animation")
kickAnimation.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://2515090838"
-- Load the animation onto the animator
local kickAnimationTrack = animator:LoadAnimation(kickAnimation)
-- If a named event was defined for the animation, connect it to "GetMarkerReachedSignal()"
kickAnimationTrack:GetMarkerReachedSignal("KickEnd"):Connect(function(paramString)
print(paramString)
end)
task.wait(4)
-- Play the animation track
kickAnimationTrack:Play()
```
### Non-humanoids
To play animations on rigs that do **not** contain a `Class.Humanoid`, you must create an `Class.AnimationController` with a child `Class.Animator`. For example, the following `Class.Script` (assumed to be a direct child of the rig) loads a "kick" animation and plays it.
```lua
local rig = script.Parent
-- Create a new "Animation" instance and assign an animation asset ID
local kickAnimation = Instance.new("Animation")
kickAnimation.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://2515090838"
-- Create a new "AnimationController" and "Animator"
local animationController = Instance.new("AnimationController")
animationController.Parent = rig
local animator = Instance.new("Animator")
animator.Parent = animationController
-- Load the animation onto the animator
local kickAnimationTrack = animator:LoadAnimation(kickAnimation)
-- If a named event was defined for the animation, connect it to "GetMarkerReachedSignal()"
kickAnimationTrack:GetMarkerReachedSignal("KickEnd"):Connect(function(paramString)
print(paramString)
end)
task.wait(4)
-- Play the animation track
kickAnimationTrack:Play()
```
## Replace default animations
By default, Roblox player characters include common animations like running, climbing, swimming, and jumping. You can replace these [default animations](#default-character-animations) with animations from the [catalog](#catalog-animations) or with your own [custom](/docs/en-us/animation/editor.md) animations.
1. Obtain the **asset ID** of the new animation as follows:
- For a custom animation built with the [Animation Editor](/docs/en-us/animation/editor.md), follow the [export](/docs/en-us/animation/editor.md#exporting-an-animation) instructions.
- Copy an appropriate ID from the [catalog animation reference](#catalog-animations) below. For example, to replace the default run animation with the [Ninja Run](https://www.roblox.com/catalog/658830056/Ninja-Run) variant, use `656118852`.
2. In the [Explorer](/docs/en-us/studio/explorer.md) window, add a new `Class.Script` to **ServerScriptService**.
1. Hover over **ServerScriptService** and click the ⊕ button.
2. From the contextual menu, insert a **Script**.
3. In the new script, paste the following code:```lua
local Players = game:GetService("Players")
local function onCharacterAdded(character)
-- Get animator on humanoid
local humanoid = character:WaitForChild("Humanoid")
local animator = humanoid:WaitForChild("Animator")
-- Stop all animation tracks
for _, playingTrack in animator:GetPlayingAnimationTracks() do
playingTrack:Stop(0)
end
local animateScript = character:WaitForChild("Animate")
--animateScript.run.RunAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.walk.WalkAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.jump.JumpAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.idle.Animation1.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.idle.Animation2.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.fall.FallAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.swim.Swim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.swimidle.SwimIdle.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.climb.ClimbAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
end
local function onPlayerAdded(player)
player.CharacterAppearanceLoaded:Connect(onCharacterAdded)
end
Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(onPlayerAdded)
```
4. For each line that references a [default character animation](#default-character-animations), uncomment it and paste the replacement ID after `rbxassetid://`. For example, to change the default run animation to the [Ninja Run](https://www.roblox.com/catalog/658830056/Ninja-Run) variant:```lua
local Players = game:GetService("Players")
local function onCharacterAdded(character)
-- Get animator on humanoid
local humanoid = character:WaitForChild("Humanoid")
local animator = humanoid:WaitForChild("Animator")
-- Stop all animation tracks
for _, playingTrack in animator:GetPlayingAnimationTracks() do
playingTrack:Stop(0)
end
local animateScript = character:WaitForChild("Animate")
animateScript.run.RunAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://656118852"
--animateScript.walk.WalkAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.jump.JumpAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.idle.Animation1.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.idle.Animation2.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.fall.FallAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.swim.Swim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.swimidle.SwimIdle.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
--animateScript.climb.ClimbAnim.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://"
end
local function onPlayerAdded(player)
player.CharacterAppearanceLoaded:Connect(onCharacterAdded)
end
Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(onPlayerAdded)
```
## Set animation weights
You can use multiple animations for the same action. For example, there are two `idle` variations in the code sample for [replacing default animations](#replace-default-animations).
When multiple animations exist for a character state, the **Animate** script randomly chooses which one to play, but you can influence the outcome by setting the animation's `Weight` value under the following formula:
- **animation weight / total weight of all state animations**
In the following example, `idle.Animation1` will play ⅓ of the time the character is idle, while `idle.Animation2` will play ⅔ of the time.
```lua
animateScript.idle.Animation1.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://656117400"
animateScript.idle.Animation2.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://656118341"
animateScript.idle.Animation1.Weight.Value = 5
animateScript.idle.Animation2.Weight.Value = 10
```
## Animation references
### Default character animations
The following table contains all of the default character animations that you can [replace](#replace-default-animations) with [catalog](#catalog-animations) animations or your own [custom](/docs/en-us/animation/editor.md) animations. Note that **Idle** has two variations which you can [weight](#set-animation-weights) to play more or less frequently.
| Character action | Animate script reference |
| --- | --- |
| **Run** | `animateScript.run.RunAnim.AnimationId` |
| **Walk** | `animateScript.walk.WalkAnim.AnimationId` |
| **Jump** | `animateScript.jump.JumpAnim.AnimationId` |
| **Idle** | `animateScript.idle.Animation1.AnimationId`
`animateScript.idle.Animation2.AnimationId` |
| **Fall** | `animateScript.fall.FallAnim.AnimationId` |
| **Swim** | `animateScript.swim.Swim.AnimationId` |
| **Swim (Idle)** | `animateScript.swimidle.SwimIdle.AnimationId` |
| **Climb** | `animateScript.climb.ClimbAnim.AnimationId` |
### Catalog animations
When using avatar animation bundles to [replace default animations](#replace-default-animations), use the following references for the respective asset IDs. For example, if you want to apply the [Ninja Jump](https://www.roblox.com/catalog/658832070/Ninja-Jump) animation, use `656117878`. Note that **Idle** has multiple variations.
| [**Astronaut**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/34/Astronaut-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
891636393**Walk**
891636393**Jump**
891627522**Idle**
891621366, 891633237, 1047759695**Fall**
891617961**Swim**
891639666**Swim (Idle)**
891663592**Climb**
891609353 |
| --- | --- |
| [**Bubbly**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/39/Bubbly-Animation-Package) | **Run**
910025107**Walk**
910034870**Jump**
910016857**Idle**
910004836, 910009958, 1018536639**Fall**
910001910**Swim**
910028158**Swim (Idle)**
910030921**Climb**
909997997 |
| [**Cartoony**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/56/Cartoony-Animation-Package) | **Run**
742638842**Walk**
742640026**Jump**
742637942**Idle**
742637544, 742638445, 885477856**Fall**
742637151**Swim**
742639220**Swim (Idle)**
742639812**Climb**
742636889 |
| [**Elder**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/48/Elder-Animation-Package) | **Run**
845386501**Walk**
845403856**Jump**
845398858**Idle**
845397899, 845400520, 901160519**Fall**
845396048**Swim**
845401742**Swim (Idle)**
845403127**Climb**
845392038 |
| [**Knight**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/68/Knight-Animation-Package) | **Run**
657564596**Walk**
657552124**Jump**
658409194**Idle**
657595757, 657568135, 885499184**Fall**
657600338**Swim**
657560551**Swim (Idle)**
657557095**Climb**
658360781 |
| [**Levitation**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/79/Levitation-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
616010382**Walk**
616013216**Jump**
616008936**Idle**
616006778, 616008087, 886862142**Fall**
616005863**Swim**
616011509**Swim (Idle)**
616012453**Climb**
616003713 |
| [**Mage**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/63/Mage-Animation-Package) | **Run**
707861613**Walk**
707897309**Jump**
707853694**Idle**
707742142, 707855907, 885508740**Fall**
707829716**Swim**
707876443**Swim (Idle)**
707894699**Climb**
707826056 |
| [**Ninja**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/75/Ninja-Animation-Package) | **Run**
656118852**Walk**
656121766**Jump**
656117878**Idle**
656117400, 656118341, 886742569**Fall**
656115606**Swim**
656119721**Swim (Idle)**
656121397**Climb**
656114359 |
| [**Pirate**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/55/Pirate-Animation-Package) | **Run**
750783738**Walk**
750785693**Jump**
750782230**Idle**
750781874, 750782770, 885515365**Fall**
750780242**Swim**
750784579**Swim (Idle)**
750785176**Climb**
750779899 |
| [**Robot**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/82/Robot-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
616091570**Walk**
616095330**Jump**
616090535**Idle**
616088211, 616089559, 885531463**Fall**
616087089**Swim**
616092998**Swim (Idle)**
616094091**Climb**
616086039 |
| [**Rthro**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/356/Rthro-Animation-Package) | **Run**
2510198475**Walk**
2510202577**Jump**
2510197830**Idle**
2510197257, 2510196951, 3711062489**Fall**
2510195892**Swim**
2510199791**Swim (Idle)**
2510201162**Climb**
2510192778 |
| [**Stylish**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/83/Stylish-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
616140816**Walk**
616146177**Jump**
616139451**Idle**
616136790, 616138447, 886888594**Fall**
616134815**Swim**
616143378**Swim (Idle)**
616144772**Climb**
616133594 |
| [**Superhero**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/81/Superhero-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
616117076**Walk**
616122287**Jump**
616115533**Idle**
616111295, 616113536, 885535855**Fall**
616108001**Swim**
616119360**Swim (Idle)**
616120861**Climb**
616104706 |
| [**Toy**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/43/Toy-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
782842708**Walk**
782843345**Jump**
782847020**Idle**
782841498, 782845736, 980952228**Fall**
782846423**Swim**
782844582**Swim (Idle)**
782845186**Climb**
782843869 |
| [**Vampire**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/33/Vampire-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
1083462077**Walk**
1083473930**Jump**
1083455352**Idle**
1083445855, 1083450166, 1088037547**Fall**
1083443587**Swim**
1083464683**Swim (Idle)**
1083467779**Climb**
1083439238 |
| [**Werewolf**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/32/Werewolf-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
1083216690**Walk**
1083178339**Jump**
1083218792**Idle**
1083195517, 1083214717, 1099492820**Fall**
1083189019**Swim**
1083222527**Swim (Idle)**
1083225406**Climb**
1083182000 |
| [**Zombie**](https://www.roblox.com/bundles/80/Zombie-Animation-Pack) | **Run**
616163682**Walk**
616168032**Jump**
616161997**Idle**
616158929, 616160636, 885545458**Fall**
616157476**Swim**
616165109**Swim (Idle)**
616166655**Climb**
616156119 |