diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 052b742e89..3aec78cc82 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -436,6 +436,33 @@ void MyAvatar::removeAnimationHandle(const AnimationHandlePointer& handle) {
     _animationHandles.removeOne(handle);
 }
 
+void MyAvatar::startAnimation(const QString& url, float fps, float priority, bool loop) {
+    if (QThread::currentThread() != thread()) {
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "startAnimation", Q_ARG(const QString&, url),
+            Q_ARG(float, fps), Q_ARG(float, priority), Q_ARG(bool, loop));
+        return;
+    }
+    AnimationHandlePointer handle = _skeletonModel.createAnimationHandle();
+    handle->setURL(url);
+    handle->setFPS(fps);
+    handle->setPriority(priority);
+    handle->setLoop(loop);
+    handle->start();
+}
+
+void MyAvatar::stopAnimation(const QString& url) {
+    if (QThread::currentThread() != thread()) {
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "stopAnimation", Q_ARG(const QString&, url));
+        return;
+    }
+    foreach (const AnimationHandlePointer& handle, _skeletonModel.getRunningAnimations()) {
+        if (handle->getURL() == url) {
+            handle->stop();
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void MyAvatar::saveData(QSettings* settings) {
     settings->beginGroup("Avatar");
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 50b8fceca3..11493524ca 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@ public:
     AnimationHandlePointer addAnimationHandle();
     void removeAnimationHandle(const AnimationHandlePointer& handle);
     
+    /// Allows scripts to run animations.
+    Q_INVOKABLE void startAnimation(const QString& url, float fps = 30.0f,
+        float priority = 1.0f, bool loop = false);
+    
+    /// Stops an animation as identified by a URL.
+    Q_INVOKABLE void stopAnimation(const QString& url);
+    
     // get/set avatar data
     void saveData(QSettings* settings);
     void loadData(QSettings* settings);
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index caf3b92a07..f251d98e3e 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -1670,28 +1670,32 @@ static void insertSorted(QList<AnimationHandlePointer>& handles, const Animation
 void AnimationHandle::setPriority(float priority) {
     if (_priority != priority) {
         _priority = priority;
+        if (_running) {
+            _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
+            insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void AnimationHandle::setRunning(bool running) {
+    if ((_running = running)) {
+        if (!_model->_runningAnimations.contains(_self)) {
+            insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
+        }
+        _frameIndex = 0.0f;
+          
+    } else {
         _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
-        insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
     }
 }
 
-void AnimationHandle::start() {
-    if (!_model->_runningAnimations.contains(_self)) {
-        insertSorted(_model->_runningAnimations, _self);
-    }
-    _frameIndex = 0.0f;
-}
-
-void AnimationHandle::stop() {
-    _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
-}
-
 AnimationHandle::AnimationHandle(Model* model) :
     QObject(model),
     _model(model),
     _fps(30.0f),
     _priority(1.0f),
-    _loop(false) {
+    _loop(false),
+    _running(false) {
 }
 
 void AnimationHandle::simulate(float deltaTime) {
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
index 63a1e5e435..feef91f703 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ public:
     
     AnimationHandlePointer createAnimationHandle();
     
+    const QList<AnimationHandlePointer>& getRunningAnimations() const { return _runningAnimations; }
+    
     void clearShapes();
     void rebuildShapes();
     void resetShapePositions();
@@ -376,7 +378,7 @@ Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(QVector<glm::vec3>)
 /// Represents a handle to a model animation.
 class AnimationHandle : public QObject {
     Q_OBJECT
-
+    
 public:
 
     void setURL(const QUrl& url);
@@ -391,8 +393,11 @@ public:
     void setLoop(bool loop) { _loop = loop; }
     bool getLoop() const { return _loop; }
     
-    void start();
-    void stop();
+    void setRunning(bool running);
+    bool isRunning() const { return _running; }
+    
+    void start() { setRunning(true); }
+    void stop() { setRunning(false); }
     
 private:
 
@@ -409,6 +414,7 @@ private:
     float _fps;
     float _priority;
     bool _loop;
+    bool _running;
     QVector<int> _jointMappings;
     float _frameIndex;
 };