diff --git a/assignment-client/CMakeLists.txt b/assignment-client/CMakeLists.txt
index e783001228..6436ffbd75 100644
--- a/assignment-client/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/assignment-client/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ link_hifi_library(particles ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(models ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(metavoxels ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(networking ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
+link_hifi_library(animation ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(script-engine ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(embedded-webserver ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 
diff --git a/examples/placeModelsWithHands.js b/examples/placeModelsWithHands.js
index e1ac151fe4..f16945472d 100644
--- a/examples/placeModelsWithHands.js
+++ b/examples/placeModelsWithHands.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ var radiusMinimum = 0.05;
 var radiusMaximum = 0.5;
 
 var modelURLs = [
+    "http://www.fungibleinsight.com/faces/beta.fst",
     "https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/models/attachments/topHat.fst",
     "http://highfidelity-public.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/meshes/Feisar_Ship.FBX",
     "http://highfidelity-public.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/meshes/birarda/birarda_head.fbx",
@@ -48,6 +49,19 @@ var modelURLs = [
     "http://highfidelity-public.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/meshes/slimer.fbx",
 ];
 
+var animationURLs = [
+    "http://www.fungibleinsight.com/faces/gangnam_style_2.fbx",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+    "",
+];
+
 var currentModelURL = 1;
 var numModels = modelURLs.length;
 
@@ -214,10 +228,18 @@ function checkControllerSide(whichSide) {
                 modelRotation: palmRotation,
                 modelURL: modelURLs[currentModelURL]
             };
+            
+        if (animationURLs[currentModelURL] !== "") {
+            properties.animationURL = animationURLs[currentModelURL];
+        }
 
         debugPrint("modelRadius=" +modelRadius);
 
         newModel = Models.addModel(properties);
+        
+        print("just added model... newModel=" + newModel.creatorTokenID);
+        print("properties.animationURL=" + properties.animationURL);
+        
         if (whichSide == LEFT_PALM) {
             leftModelAlreadyInHand = true;
             leftHandModel = newModel;
diff --git a/interface/CMakeLists.txt b/interface/CMakeLists.txt
index 0a56109260..4d02415df2 100644
--- a/interface/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/interface/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ link_hifi_library(particles ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(models ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(avatars ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(audio ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
+link_hifi_library(animation ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(script-engine ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 
 # find any optional libraries
diff --git a/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.cpp b/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.cpp
index c762182290..e5c55ef066 100644
--- a/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -20,11 +20,16 @@ ModelTreeRenderer::ModelTreeRenderer() :
 }
 
 ModelTreeRenderer::~ModelTreeRenderer() {
-    // delete the models in _modelsItemModels
-    foreach(Model* model, _modelsItemModels) {
+    // delete the models in _knownModelsItemModels
+    foreach(Model* model, _knownModelsItemModels) {
         delete model;
     }
-    _modelsItemModels.clear();
+    _knownModelsItemModels.clear();
+
+    foreach(Model* model, _unknownModelsItemModels) {
+        delete model;
+    }
+    _unknownModelsItemModels.clear();
 }
 
 void ModelTreeRenderer::init() {
@@ -43,17 +48,27 @@ void ModelTreeRenderer::render(RenderMode renderMode) {
     OctreeRenderer::render(renderMode);
 }
 
-Model* ModelTreeRenderer::getModel(const QString& url) {
+Model* ModelTreeRenderer::getModel(const ModelItem& modelItem) {
     Model* model = NULL;
     
-    // if we don't already have this model then create it and initialize it
-    if (_modelsItemModels.find(url) == _modelsItemModels.end()) {
-        model = new Model();
-        model->init();
-        model->setURL(QUrl(url));
-        _modelsItemModels[url] = model;
+    if (modelItem.isKnownID()) {
+        if (_knownModelsItemModels.find(modelItem.getID()) != _knownModelsItemModels.end()) {
+            model = _knownModelsItemModels[modelItem.getID()];
+        } else {
+            model = new Model();
+            model->init();
+            model->setURL(QUrl(modelItem.getModelURL()));
+            _knownModelsItemModels[modelItem.getID()] = model;
+        }
     } else {
-        model = _modelsItemModels[url];
+        if (_unknownModelsItemModels.find(modelItem.getCreatorTokenID()) != _unknownModelsItemModels.end()) {
+            model = _unknownModelsItemModels[modelItem.getCreatorTokenID()];
+        } else {
+            model = new Model();
+            model->init();
+            model->setURL(QUrl(modelItem.getModelURL()));
+            _unknownModelsItemModels[modelItem.getCreatorTokenID()] = model;
+        }
     }
     return model;
 }
@@ -63,7 +78,7 @@ void ModelTreeRenderer::renderElement(OctreeElement* element, RenderArgs* args)
     // we need to iterate the actual modelItems of the element
     ModelTreeElement* modelTreeElement = (ModelTreeElement*)element;
 
-    const QList<ModelItem>& modelItems = modelTreeElement->getModels();
+    QList<ModelItem>& modelItems = modelTreeElement->getModels();
 
     uint16_t numberOfModels = modelItems.size();
     
@@ -139,7 +154,7 @@ void ModelTreeRenderer::renderElement(OctreeElement* element, RenderArgs* args)
     }
 
     for (uint16_t i = 0; i < numberOfModels; i++) {
-        const ModelItem& modelItem = modelItems[i];
+        ModelItem& modelItem = modelItems[i];
         // render modelItem aspoints
         AABox modelBox = modelItem.getAABox();
         modelBox.scale(TREE_SCALE);
@@ -156,7 +171,7 @@ void ModelTreeRenderer::renderElement(OctreeElement* element, RenderArgs* args)
                 glPushMatrix();
                     const float alpha = 1.0f;
                 
-                    Model* model = getModel(modelItem.getModelURL());
+                    Model* model = getModel(modelItem);
 
                     model->setScaleToFit(true, radius * 2.0f);
                     model->setSnapModelToCenter(true);
@@ -167,6 +182,25 @@ void ModelTreeRenderer::renderElement(OctreeElement* element, RenderArgs* args)
                 
                     // set the position
                     model->setTranslation(position);
+                    
+                    qDebug() << "modelItem.getModelURL()=" << modelItem.getModelURL();
+                    qDebug() << "modelItem.getAnimationURL()=" << modelItem.getAnimationURL();
+                    qDebug() << "modelItem.hasAnimation()=" << modelItem.hasAnimation();
+                    
+                    // handle animations..
+                    if (modelItem.hasAnimation()) {
+                        if (!modelItem.jointsMapped()) {
+                            QStringList modelJointNames = model->getJointNames();
+                            modelItem.mapJoints(modelJointNames);
+                        }
+
+                        QVector<glm::quat> frameData = modelItem.getAnimationFrame();
+                        for (int i = 0; i < frameData.size(); i++) {
+                            model->setJointState(i, true, frameData[i]);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    
+                    // make sure to simulate so everything gets set up correctly for rendering
                     model->simulate(0.0f);
 
                     // TODO: should we allow modelItems to have alpha on their models?
diff --git a/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.h b/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.h
index 7af5bbf317..e0b8d7d0a2 100644
--- a/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.h
+++ b/interface/src/models/ModelTreeRenderer.h
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ public:
     virtual void render(RenderMode renderMode = DEFAULT_RENDER_MODE);
 
 protected:
-    Model* getModel(const QString& url);
-
-    QMap<QString, Model*> _modelsItemModels;
+    Model* getModel(const ModelItem& modelItem);
+    QMap<uint32_t, Model*> _knownModelsItemModels;
+    QMap<uint32_t, Model*> _unknownModelsItemModels;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_ModelTreeRenderer_h
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index f46fd48beb..b2c1665c2f 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -430,7 +430,8 @@ Extents Model::getMeshExtents() const {
         return Extents();
     }
     const Extents& extents = _geometry->getFBXGeometry().meshExtents;
-    Extents scaledExtents = { extents.minimum * _scale, extents.maximum * _scale };
+    glm::vec3 scale = _scale * _geometry->getFBXGeometry().fstScaled;
+    Extents scaledExtents = { extents.minimum * scale, extents.maximum * scale };
     return scaledExtents;
 }
 
@@ -438,8 +439,13 @@ Extents Model::getUnscaledMeshExtents() const {
     if (!isActive()) {
         return Extents();
     }
+    
     const Extents& extents = _geometry->getFBXGeometry().meshExtents;
-    return extents;
+
+    // even though our caller asked for "unscaled" we need to include any fst scaling
+    float scale = _geometry->getFBXGeometry().fstScaled;
+    Extents scaledExtents = { extents.minimum * scale, extents.maximum * scale };
+    return scaledExtents;
 }
 
 bool Model::getJointState(int index, glm::quat& rotation) const {
@@ -573,6 +579,17 @@ bool Model::getJointRotation(int jointIndex, glm::quat& rotation, bool fromBind)
     return true;
 }
 
+QStringList Model::getJointNames() const {
+    if (QThread::currentThread() != thread()) {
+        QStringList result;
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(const_cast<Model*>(this), "getJointNames", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+            Q_RETURN_ARG(QStringList, result));
+        return result;
+    }
+    return isActive() ? _geometry->getFBXGeometry().getJointNames() : QStringList();
+}
+
+
 void Model::clearShapes() {
     for (int i = 0; i < _jointShapes.size(); ++i) {
         delete _jointShapes[i];
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
index 1a469c8122..b7a42930dc 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ public:
     
     bool getJointPosition(int jointIndex, glm::vec3& position) const;
     bool getJointRotation(int jointIndex, glm::quat& rotation, bool fromBind = false) const;
+
+    QStringList getJointNames() const;
     
     void clearShapes();
     void rebuildShapes();
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.cpp
similarity index 98%
rename from libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.cpp
rename to libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.cpp
index 8e1493f075..ce7e4cdf36 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ QSharedPointer<Resource> AnimationCache::createResource(const QUrl& url, const Q
 }
 
 Animation::Animation(const QUrl& url) :
-    Resource(url) {
+    Resource(url),
+    _isValid(false) {
 }
 
 class AnimationReader : public QRunnable {
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ QVector<FBXAnimationFrame> Animation::getFrames() const {
 void Animation::setGeometry(const FBXGeometry& geometry) {
     _geometry = geometry;
     finishedLoading(true);
+    _isValid = true;
 }
 
 void Animation::downloadFinished(QNetworkReply* reply) {
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.h b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.h
similarity index 96%
rename from libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.h
rename to libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.h
index 23183adf10..392443e7b5 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationCache.h
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationCache.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public:
     Q_INVOKABLE QStringList getJointNames() const;
     
     Q_INVOKABLE QVector<FBXAnimationFrame> getFrames() const;
+
+    bool isValid() const { return _isValid; }
     
 protected:
 
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ protected:
 private:
     
     FBXGeometry _geometry;
+    bool _isValid;
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_AnimationCache_h
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationObject.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationObject.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationObject.cpp
rename to libraries/animation/src/AnimationObject.cpp
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationObject.h b/libraries/animation/src/AnimationObject.h
similarity index 100%
rename from libraries/script-engine/src/AnimationObject.h
rename to libraries/animation/src/AnimationObject.h
diff --git a/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.cpp b/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.cpp
index 1fc03ceb66..f743a383d1 100644
--- a/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.cpp
+++ b/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.cpp
@@ -1385,6 +1385,7 @@ FBXGeometry extractFBXGeometry(const FBXNode& node, const QVariantHash& mapping)
 
     // get offset transform from mapping
     float offsetScale = mapping.value("scale", 1.0f).toFloat();
+    geometry.fstScaled = offsetScale;
     glm::quat offsetRotation = glm::quat(glm::radians(glm::vec3(mapping.value("rx").toFloat(),
             mapping.value("ry").toFloat(), mapping.value("rz").toFloat())));
     geometry.offset = glm::translate(glm::vec3(mapping.value("tx").toFloat(), mapping.value("ty").toFloat(),
diff --git a/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.h b/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.h
index 51e7380181..567a32c1cb 100644
--- a/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.h
+++ b/libraries/fbx/src/FBXReader.h
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ public:
     Extents bindExtents;
     Extents meshExtents;
     
+    float fstScaled;
+    
     QVector<FBXAnimationFrame> animationFrames;
     
     QVector<FBXAttachment> attachments;
diff --git a/libraries/models/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/models/CMakeLists.txt
index 062352e50c..1e70942872 100644
--- a/libraries/models/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libraries/models/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ link_hifi_library(shared ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(octree ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(fbx ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(networking ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
+link_hifi_library(animation ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 
 # for streamable
 link_hifi_library(metavoxels ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
diff --git a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
index af8500bf25..785183da56 100644
--- a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,12 @@ ModelItem::ModelItem(const ModelItemID& modelItemID, const ModelItemProperties&
     _shouldDie = false;
     _modelURL = MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_URL;
     _modelRotation = MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ROTATION;
+
+    // animation related
+    _animationURL = MODEL_DEFAULT_ANIMATION_URL;
+    _frameIndex = 0.0f;
+    _jointMappingCompleted = false;
+    _lastAnimated = now;
     
     setProperties(properties);
 }
@@ -110,6 +116,12 @@ void ModelItem::init(glm::vec3 position, float radius, rgbColor color, uint32_t
     _shouldDie = false;
     _modelURL = MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_URL;
     _modelRotation = MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ROTATION;
+
+    // animation related
+    _animationURL = MODEL_DEFAULT_ANIMATION_URL;
+    _frameIndex = 0.0f;
+    _jointMappingCompleted = false;
+    _lastAnimated = now;
 }
 
 bool ModelItem::appendModelData(OctreePacketData* packetData) const {
@@ -150,6 +162,16 @@ bool ModelItem::appendModelData(OctreePacketData* packetData) const {
     if (success) {
         success = packetData->appendValue(getModelRotation());
     }
+
+    // animationURL
+    if (success) {
+        uint16_t animationURLLength = _animationURL.size() + 1; // include NULL
+        success = packetData->appendValue(animationURLLength);
+        if (success) {
+            success = packetData->appendRawData((const unsigned char*)qPrintable(_animationURL), animationURLLength);
+        }
+    }
+
     return success;
 }
 
@@ -215,7 +237,7 @@ int ModelItem::readModelDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLeftT
         dataAt += sizeof(modelURLLength);
         bytesRead += sizeof(modelURLLength);
         QString modelURLString((const char*)dataAt);
-        _modelURL = modelURLString;
+        setModelURL(modelURLString);
         dataAt += modelURLLength;
         bytesRead += modelURLLength;
 
@@ -224,6 +246,19 @@ int ModelItem::readModelDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLeftT
         dataAt += bytes;
         bytesRead += bytes;
 
+        // animationURL
+        uint16_t animationURLLength;
+        memcpy(&animationURLLength, dataAt, sizeof(animationURLLength));
+        dataAt += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+        bytesRead += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+        QString animationURLString((const char*)dataAt);
+        setAnimationURL(animationURLString);
+        dataAt += animationURLLength;
+        bytesRead += animationURLLength;
+
+qDebug() << "readModelDataFromBuffer()... animationURL=" << qPrintable(animationURLString);
+
+
         //printf("ModelItem::readModelDataFromBuffer()... "); debugDump();
     }
     return bytesRead;
@@ -346,6 +381,21 @@ ModelItem ModelItem::fromEditPacket(const unsigned char* data, int length, int&
         processedBytes += bytes;
     }
 
+    // animationURL
+    if (isNewModelItem || ((packetContainsBits & MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL) == MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL)) {
+        uint16_t animationURLLength;
+        memcpy(&animationURLLength, dataAt, sizeof(animationURLLength));
+        dataAt += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+        processedBytes += sizeof(animationURLLength);
+        QString tempString((const char*)dataAt);
+        newModelItem._animationURL = tempString;
+        dataAt += animationURLLength;
+        processedBytes += animationURLLength;
+
+qDebug() << "fromEditPacket()... animationURL=" << qPrintable(tempString);
+
+    }
+
     const bool wantDebugging = false;
     if (wantDebugging) {
         qDebug("ModelItem::fromEditPacket()...");
@@ -476,6 +526,21 @@ bool ModelItem::encodeModelEditMessageDetails(PacketType command, ModelItemID id
         sizeOut += bytes;
     }
 
+    // animationURL
+    if (isNewModelItem || ((packetContainsBits & MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL) == MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL)) {
+        uint16_t urlLength = properties.getAnimationURL().size() + 1;
+        memcpy(copyAt, &urlLength, sizeof(urlLength));
+        copyAt += sizeof(urlLength);
+        sizeOut += sizeof(urlLength);
+        memcpy(copyAt, qPrintable(properties.getAnimationURL()), urlLength);
+        copyAt += urlLength;
+        sizeOut += urlLength;
+
+qDebug() << "encodeModelItemEditMessageDetails()... animationURL=" << qPrintable(properties.getAnimationURL());
+
+    }
+
+
     bool wantDebugging = false;
     if (wantDebugging) {
         qDebug("encodeModelItemEditMessageDetails()....");
@@ -521,6 +586,66 @@ void ModelItem::adjustEditPacketForClockSkew(unsigned char* codeColorBuffer, ssi
     }
 }
 
+
+QMap<QString, AnimationPointer> ModelItem::_loadedAnimations; // TODO: cleanup??
+AnimationCache ModelItem::_animationCache;
+
+Animation* ModelItem::getAnimation(const QString& url) {
+    AnimationPointer animation;
+    
+    // if we don't already have this model then create it and initialize it
+    if (_loadedAnimations.find(url) == _loadedAnimations.end()) {
+        animation = _animationCache.getAnimation(url);
+        _loadedAnimations[url] = animation;
+    } else {
+        animation = _loadedAnimations[url];
+    }
+    return animation.data();
+}
+
+void ModelItem::mapJoints(const QStringList& modelJointNames) {
+    // if we don't have animation, or we're already joint mapped then bail early
+    if (!hasAnimation() || _jointMappingCompleted) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    Animation* myAnimation = getAnimation(_animationURL);
+    
+    if (!_jointMappingCompleted) {
+        QStringList animationJointNames = myAnimation->getJointNames();
+        if (modelJointNames.size() > 0 && animationJointNames.size() > 0) {
+            _jointMapping.resize(modelJointNames.size());
+            for (int i = 0; i < modelJointNames.size(); i++) {
+                _jointMapping[i] = animationJointNames.indexOf(modelJointNames[i]);
+            }
+            _jointMappingCompleted = true;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+QVector<glm::quat> ModelItem::getAnimationFrame() {
+    QVector<glm::quat> frameData;
+    if (hasAnimation() && _jointMappingCompleted) {
+        quint64 now = usecTimestampNow();
+        float deltaTime = (float)(now - _lastAnimated) / (float)USECS_PER_SECOND;
+        _lastAnimated = now;
+        const float FRAME_RATE = 10.0f;
+        _frameIndex += deltaTime * FRAME_RATE;
+        Animation* myAnimation = getAnimation(_animationURL);
+        QVector<FBXAnimationFrame> frames = myAnimation->getFrames();
+        int frameIndex = (int)std::floor(_frameIndex) % frames.size();
+        QVector<glm::quat> rotations = frames[frameIndex].rotations;
+        frameData.resize(_jointMapping.size());
+        for (int j = 0; j < _jointMapping.size(); j++) {
+            int rotationIndex = _jointMapping[j];
+            if (rotationIndex != -1 && rotationIndex < rotations.size()) {
+                frameData[j] = rotations[rotationIndex];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return frameData;
+}
+
 void ModelItem::update(const quint64& now) {
     _lastUpdated = now;
     setShouldDie(getShouldDie());
@@ -547,6 +672,7 @@ ModelItemProperties::ModelItemProperties() :
     _shouldDie(false),
     _modelURL(""),
     _modelRotation(MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ROTATION),
+    _animationURL(""),
 
     _id(UNKNOWN_MODEL_ID),
     _idSet(false),
@@ -558,6 +684,7 @@ ModelItemProperties::ModelItemProperties() :
     _shouldDieChanged(false),
     _modelURLChanged(false),
     _modelRotationChanged(false),
+    _animationURLChanged(false),
     _defaultSettings(true)
 {
 }
@@ -589,6 +716,11 @@ uint16_t ModelItemProperties::getChangedBits() const {
         changedBits += MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_MODEL_ROTATION;
     }
 
+    if (_animationURLChanged) {
+        changedBits += MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL;
+    }
+
+
     return changedBits;
 }
 
@@ -611,6 +743,7 @@ QScriptValue ModelItemProperties::copyToScriptValue(QScriptEngine* engine) const
     QScriptValue modelRotation = quatToScriptValue(engine, _modelRotation);
     properties.setProperty("modelRotation", modelRotation);
 
+    properties.setProperty("animationURL", _animationURL);
 
     if (_idSet) {
         properties.setProperty("id", _id);
@@ -707,6 +840,16 @@ void ModelItemProperties::copyFromScriptValue(const QScriptValue &object) {
         }
     }
 
+    QScriptValue animationURL = object.property("animationURL");
+    if (animationURL.isValid()) {
+        QString newAnimationURL;
+        newAnimationURL = animationURL.toVariant().toString();
+        if (_defaultSettings || newAnimationURL != _animationURL) {
+            _animationURL = newAnimationURL;
+            _animationURLChanged = true;
+        }
+    }
+
     _lastEdited = usecTimestampNow();
 }
 
@@ -741,7 +884,14 @@ void ModelItemProperties::copyToModelItem(ModelItem& modelItem) const {
         modelItem.setModelRotation(_modelRotation);
         somethingChanged = true;
     }
-    
+
+    if (_animationURLChanged) {
+        modelItem.setAnimationURL(_animationURL);
+        somethingChanged = true;
+
+qDebug() << "ModelItemProperties::copyToModelItem()... modelItem.setAnimationURL(_animationURL)=" << _animationURL;
+    }
+
     if (somethingChanged) {
         bool wantDebug = false;
         if (wantDebug) {
@@ -761,6 +911,7 @@ void ModelItemProperties::copyFromModelItem(const ModelItem& modelItem) {
     _shouldDie = modelItem.getShouldDie();
     _modelURL = modelItem.getModelURL();
     _modelRotation = modelItem.getModelRotation();
+    _animationURL = modelItem.getAnimationURL();
 
     _id = modelItem.getID();
     _idSet = true;
@@ -772,6 +923,7 @@ void ModelItemProperties::copyFromModelItem(const ModelItem& modelItem) {
     _shouldDieChanged = false;
     _modelURLChanged = false;
     _modelRotationChanged = false;
+    _animationURLChanged = false;
     _defaultSettings = false;
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
index 9edcf482c0..72a12c9b2c 100644
--- a/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
+++ b/libraries/models/src/ModelItem.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <QtScript/QScriptEngine>
 #include <QtCore/QObject>
 
+#include <AnimationCache.h>
 #include <CollisionInfo.h>
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
 #include <OctreePacketData.h>
@@ -39,14 +40,16 @@ const uint32_t UNKNOWN_MODEL_ID = 0xFFFFFFFF;
 const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_RADIUS = 1;
 const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_POSITION = 2;
 const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_COLOR = 4;
-const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_SHOULDDIE = 512;
-const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_MODEL_URL = 1024;
-const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_MODEL_ROTATION = 2048;
+const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_SHOULDDIE = 8;
+const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_MODEL_URL = 16;
+const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_MODEL_ROTATION = 32;
+const uint16_t MODEL_PACKET_CONTAINS_ANIMATION_URL = 64;
 
 const float MODEL_DEFAULT_RADIUS = 0.1f / TREE_SCALE;
 const float MINIMUM_MODEL_ELEMENT_SIZE = (1.0f / 100000.0f) / TREE_SCALE; // smallest size container
 const QString MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_URL("");
 const glm::quat MODEL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ROTATION;
+const QString MODEL_DEFAULT_ANIMATION_URL("");
 
 /// A collection of properties of a model item used in the scripting API. Translates between the actual properties of a model
 /// and a JavaScript style hash/QScriptValue storing a set of properties. Used in scripting to set/get the complete set of
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ public:
     
     const QString& getModelURL() const { return _modelURL; }
     const glm::quat& getModelRotation() const { return _modelRotation; }
+    const QString& getAnimationURL() const { return _animationURL; }
 
     quint64 getLastEdited() const { return _lastEdited; }
     uint16_t getChangedBits() const;
@@ -82,6 +86,7 @@ public:
     // model related properties
     void setModelURL(const QString& url) { _modelURL = url; _modelURLChanged = true; }
     void setModelRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) { _modelRotation = rotation; _modelRotationChanged = true; }
+    void setAnimationURL(const QString& url) { _animationURL = url; _animationURLChanged = true; }
     
     /// used by ModelScriptingInterface to return ModelItemProperties for unknown models
     void setIsUnknownID() { _id = UNKNOWN_MODEL_ID; _idSet = true; }
@@ -97,6 +102,7 @@ private:
     
     QString _modelURL;
     glm::quat _modelRotation;
+    QString _animationURL;
 
     uint32_t _id;
     bool _idSet;
@@ -109,6 +115,7 @@ private:
 
     bool _modelURLChanged;
     bool _modelRotationChanged;
+    bool _animationURLChanged;
     bool _defaultSettings;
 };
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(ModelItemProperties);
@@ -178,6 +185,8 @@ public:
     bool hasModel() const { return !_modelURL.isEmpty(); }
     const QString& getModelURL() const { return _modelURL; }
     const glm::quat& getModelRotation() const { return _modelRotation; }
+    bool hasAnimation() const { return !_animationURL.isEmpty(); }
+    const QString& getAnimationURL() const { return _animationURL; }
 
     ModelItemID getModelItemID() const { return ModelItemID(getID(), getCreatorTokenID(), getID() != UNKNOWN_MODEL_ID); }
     ModelItemProperties getProperties() const;
@@ -196,6 +205,7 @@ public:
     bool getShouldDie() const { return _shouldDie; }
     uint32_t getCreatorTokenID() const { return _creatorTokenID; }
     bool isNewlyCreated() const { return _newlyCreated; }
+    bool isKnownID() const { return getID() != UNKNOWN_MODEL_ID; }
 
     /// set position in domain scale units (0.0 - 1.0)
     void setPosition(const glm::vec3& value) { _position = value; }
@@ -215,6 +225,7 @@ public:
     // model related properties
     void setModelURL(const QString& url) { _modelURL = url; }
     void setModelRotation(const glm::quat& rotation) { _modelRotation = rotation; }
+    void setAnimationURL(const QString& url) { _animationURL = url; }
     
     void setProperties(const ModelItemProperties& properties);
 
@@ -239,6 +250,10 @@ public:
     static uint32_t getNextCreatorTokenID();
     static void handleAddModelResponse(const QByteArray& packet);
 
+    void mapJoints(const QStringList& modelJointNames);
+    QVector<glm::quat> getAnimationFrame();
+    bool jointsMapped() const { return _jointMappingCompleted; };
+
 protected:
     glm::vec3 _position;
     rgbColor _color;
@@ -256,10 +271,23 @@ protected:
 
     quint64 _lastUpdated;
     quint64 _lastEdited;
+    quint64 _lastAnimated;
+
+    QString _animationURL;
+    float _frameIndex; // we keep this as a float and round to int only when we need the exact index
+    bool _jointMappingCompleted;
+    QVector<int> _jointMapping;
+    
 
     // used by the static interfaces for creator token ids
     static uint32_t _nextCreatorTokenID;
     static std::map<uint32_t,uint32_t> _tokenIDsToIDs;
+
+
+    static Animation* getAnimation(const QString& url);
+    static QMap<QString, AnimationPointer> _loadedAnimations;
+    static AnimationCache _animationCache;
+
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_ModelItem_h
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/PacketHeaders.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
index 0785b81581..b9eee6e0c9 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ PacketVersion versionForPacketType(PacketType type) {
             return 1;
         case PacketTypeOctreeStats:
             return 1;
+        case PacketTypeModelData:
+            return 1; 
         default:
             return 0;
     }
diff --git a/libraries/particles/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/particles/CMakeLists.txt
index 1cb60756a2..8cd2f30012 100644
--- a/libraries/particles/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libraries/particles/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ link_hifi_library(shared ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(octree ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(fbx ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(networking ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
+link_hifi_library(animation ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 
 # link ZLIB and GnuTLS
 find_package(ZLIB)
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/script-engine/CMakeLists.txt
index ee918ff864..0374ad570c 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ link_hifi_library(voxels ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(fbx ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(particles ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 link_hifi_library(models ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
+link_hifi_library(animation ${TARGET_NAME} "${ROOT_DIR}")
 
 # link ZLIB
 find_package(ZLIB)
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.h b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.h
index 09d41e3e2e..96cc874453 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.h
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.h
@@ -18,13 +18,12 @@
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 #include <QtScript/QScriptEngine>
 
+#include <AnimationCache.h>
 #include <AudioScriptingInterface.h>
-#include <VoxelsScriptingInterface.h>
-
 #include <AvatarData.h>
 #include <AvatarHashMap.h>
+#include <VoxelsScriptingInterface.h>
 
-#include "AnimationCache.h"
 #include "AbstractControllerScriptingInterface.h"
 #include "Quat.h"
 #include "ScriptUUID.h"