diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index fd4b64ee5d..e7638cc56d 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -423,6 +423,19 @@ void MyAvatar::setGravity(const glm::vec3& gravity) {
     }
 }
 
+AnimationHandlePointer MyAvatar::addAnimationHandle() {
+    AnimationHandlePointer handle = _skeletonModel.createAnimationHandle();
+    handle->setLoop(true);
+    handle->start();
+    _animationHandles.append(handle);
+    return handle;
+}
+
+void MyAvatar::removeAnimationHandle(const AnimationHandlePointer& handle) {
+    handle->stop();
+    _animationHandles.removeOne(handle);
+}
+
 void MyAvatar::saveData(QSettings* settings) {
     settings->beginGroup("Avatar");
 
@@ -461,12 +474,12 @@ void MyAvatar::saveData(QSettings* settings) {
     }
     settings->endArray();
     
-    settings->beginWriteArray("animationData");
-    for (int i = 0; i < _animationData.size(); i++) {
+    settings->beginWriteArray("animationHandles");
+    for (int i = 0; i < _animationHandles.size(); i++) {
         settings->setArrayIndex(i);
-        const AnimationData& animation = _animationData.at(i);
-        settings->setValue("url", animation.url);
-        settings->setValue("fps", animation.fps);
+        const AnimationHandlePointer& pointer = _animationHandles.at(i);
+        settings->setValue("url", pointer->getURL());
+        settings->setValue("fps", pointer->getFPS());
     }
     settings->endArray();
     
@@ -520,17 +533,20 @@ void MyAvatar::loadData(QSettings* settings) {
     settings->endArray();
     setAttachmentData(attachmentData);
     
-    QVector<AnimationData> animationData;
-    int animationCount = settings->beginReadArray("animationData");
+    int animationCount = settings->beginReadArray("animationHandles");
+    while (_animationHandles.size() > animationCount) {
+        _animationHandles.takeLast()->stop();
+    }
+    while (_animationHandles.size() < animationCount) {
+        addAnimationHandle();
+    }
     for (int i = 0; i < animationCount; i++) {
         settings->setArrayIndex(i);
-        AnimationData animation;
-        animation.url = settings->value("url").toUrl();
-        animation.fps = loadSetting(settings, "fps", 30.0f);
-        animationData.append(animation);
+        const AnimationHandlePointer& handle = _animationHandles.at(i);
+        handle->setURL(settings->value("url").toUrl());
+        handle->setFPS(loadSetting(settings, "fps", 30.0f));
     }
     settings->endArray();
-    setAnimationData(animationData);
     
     setDisplayName(settings->value("displayName").toString());
 
@@ -598,13 +614,6 @@ AttachmentData MyAvatar::loadAttachmentData(const QUrl& modelURL, const QString&
     return attachment;
 }
 
-void MyAvatar::setAnimationData(const QVector<AnimationData>& animationData) {
-    // exit early if no change
-    if (_animationData != animationData) {
-        _animationData = animationData;
-    }
-}
-
 int MyAvatar::parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset) {
     qDebug() << "Error: ignoring update packet for MyAvatar"
         << " packetLength = " << packet.size() 
@@ -1570,10 +1579,3 @@ void MyAvatar::applyCollision(const glm::vec3& contactPoint, const glm::vec3& pe
     }
 }
 
-AnimationData::AnimationData() :
-    fps(30.0f) {
-}
-
-bool AnimationData::operator==(const AnimationData& other) const {
-    return url == other.url && fps == other.fps;
-}
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 4e076e22bb..50b8fceca3 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -14,12 +14,8 @@
 
 #include <QSettings>
 
-#include <AnimationCache.h>
-
 #include "Avatar.h"
 
-class AnimationData;
-
 enum AvatarHandState
 {
     HAND_STATE_NULL = 0,
@@ -66,6 +62,10 @@ public:
     glm::vec3 getUprightHeadPosition() const;
     bool getShouldRenderLocally() const { return _shouldRender; }
     
+    const QList<AnimationHandlePointer>& getAnimationHandles() const { return _animationHandles; }
+    AnimationHandlePointer addAnimationHandle();
+    void removeAnimationHandle(const AnimationHandlePointer& handle);
+    
     // get/set avatar data
     void saveData(QSettings* settings);
     void loadData(QSettings* settings);
@@ -73,9 +73,6 @@ public:
     void saveAttachmentData(const AttachmentData& attachment) const;
     AttachmentData loadAttachmentData(const QUrl& modelURL, const QString& jointName = QString()) const;
 
-    void setAnimationData(const QVector<AnimationData>& animationData);
-    const QVector<AnimationData>& getAnimationData() const { return _animationData; }
-
     //  Set what driving keys are being pressed to control thrust levels
     void setDriveKeys(int key, float val) { _driveKeys[key] = val; };
     bool getDriveKeys(int key) { return _driveKeys[key] != 0.f; };
@@ -158,16 +155,7 @@ private:
     bool _billboardValid;
     float _oculusYawOffset;
 
-    QVector<AnimationData> _animationData;
-
-    class AnimationState {
-    public:
-        AnimationPointer animation;
-        QVector<int> jointMappings;
-        float frameIndex;
-    };
-
-    QVector<AnimationState> _animationStates;
+    QList<AnimationHandlePointer> _animationHandles;
 
 	// private methods
     void updateOrientation(float deltaTime);
@@ -185,15 +173,4 @@ private:
     void setGravity(const glm::vec3& gravity);
 };
 
-/// Describes an animation being run on the avatar.
-class AnimationData {
-public:
-    QUrl url;
-    float fps;
-    
-    AnimationData();
-    
-    bool operator==(const AnimationData& other) const;
-};
-
 #endif // hifi_MyAvatar_h
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
index ec68c87a76..b5bd63ab87 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
@@ -404,6 +404,22 @@ QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> NetworkGeometry::getLODOrFallback(float distance
     return lod;
 }
 
+uint qHash(const QWeakPointer<Animation>& animation, uint seed = 0) {
+    return qHash(animation.data(), seed);
+}
+
+QVector<int> NetworkGeometry::getJointMappings(const AnimationPointer& animation) {
+    QVector<int> mappings = _jointMappings.value(animation);
+    if (mappings.isEmpty() && isLoaded() && animation && animation->isLoaded()) {
+        const FBXGeometry& animationGeometry = animation->getGeometry();
+        for (int i = 0; i < animationGeometry.joints.size(); i++) { 
+            mappings.append(_geometry.jointIndices.value(animationGeometry.joints.at(i).name) - 1);
+        }
+        _jointMappings.insert(animation, mappings);
+    }
+    return mappings;
+}
+
 void NetworkGeometry::setLoadPriority(const QPointer<QObject>& owner, float priority) {
     Resource::setLoadPriority(owner, priority);
     
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
index deecfd56c5..41bedc5e05 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 #include <FBXReader.h>
 
+#include <AnimationCache.h>
+
 class Model;
 class NetworkGeometry;
 class NetworkMesh;
@@ -90,6 +92,8 @@ public:
     const FBXGeometry& getFBXGeometry() const { return _geometry; }
     const QVector<NetworkMesh>& getMeshes() const { return _meshes; }
 
+    QVector<int> getJointMappings(const AnimationPointer& animation);
+
     virtual void setLoadPriority(const QPointer<QObject>& owner, float priority);
     virtual void setLoadPriorities(const QHash<QPointer<QObject>, float>& priorities);
     virtual void clearLoadPriority(const QPointer<QObject>& owner);
@@ -117,6 +121,8 @@ private:
     QVector<NetworkMesh> _meshes;
     
     QWeakPointer<NetworkGeometry> _lodParent;
+    
+    QHash<QWeakPointer<Animation>, QVector<int> > _jointMappings;
 };
 
 /// The state associated with a single mesh part.
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index 7e1ba69e27..3914f46fe7 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -594,13 +594,15 @@ QStringList Model::getJointNames() const {
     return isActive() ? _geometry->getFBXGeometry().getJointNames() : QStringList();
 }
 
-void Model::startAnimation(const QUrl& url, float fps, bool loop, float offset) {
-    AnimationState state = { Application::getInstance()->getAnimationCache()->getAnimation(url), fps, loop, offset };
-    _animationStates.append(state);
+uint qHash(const WeakAnimationHandlePointer& handle, uint seed) {
+    return qHash(handle.data(), seed);
 }
 
-void Model::stopAnimation() {
-    _animationStates.clear();
+AnimationHandlePointer Model::createAnimationHandle() {
+    AnimationHandlePointer handle(new AnimationHandle(this));
+    handle->_self = handle;
+    _animationHandles.insert(handle);
+    return handle;
 }
 
 void Model::clearShapes() {
@@ -1015,19 +1017,8 @@ void Model::simulate(float deltaTime, bool fullUpdate) {
 
 void Model::simulateInternal(float deltaTime) {
     // update animations
-    const FBXGeometry& geometry = _geometry->getFBXGeometry();
-    for (int i = 0; i < _animationStates.size(); i++) {
-        AnimationState& state = _animationStates[i];
-        if (!(state.animation && state.animation->isLoaded())) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        const FBXGeometry& animationGeometry = state.animation->getGeometry();
-        if (state.jointMappings.isEmpty()) {
-            for (int j = 0; j < geometry.joints.size(); j++) {
-                state.jointMappings.append(animationGeometry.jointIndices.value(geometry.joints.at(j).name) - 1);
-            }
-        }
-        
+    foreach (const AnimationHandlePointer& handle, _runningAnimations) {
+        handle->simulate(deltaTime);
     }
 
     // NOTE: this is a recursive call that walks all attachments, and their attachments
@@ -1038,6 +1029,7 @@ void Model::simulateInternal(float deltaTime) {
     _shapesAreDirty = true;
     
     // update the attachment transforms and simulate them
+    const FBXGeometry& geometry = _geometry->getFBXGeometry();
     for (int i = 0; i < _attachments.size(); i++) {
         const FBXAttachment& attachment = geometry.attachments.at(i);
         Model* model = _attachments.at(i);
@@ -1448,8 +1440,14 @@ void Model::deleteGeometry() {
     _meshStates.clear();
     clearShapes();
     
-    for (int i = 0; i < _animationStates.size(); i++) {
-        _animationStates[i].jointMappings.clear();
+    for (QSet<WeakAnimationHandlePointer>::iterator it = _animationHandles.begin(); it != _animationHandles.end(); ) {
+        AnimationHandlePointer handle = it->toStrongRef();
+        if (handle) {
+            handle->_jointMappings.clear();
+            it++;
+        } else {
+            it = _animationHandles.erase(it);
+        }
     }
     
     if (_geometry) {
@@ -1647,3 +1645,71 @@ void Model::renderMeshes(float alpha, RenderMode mode, bool translucent) {
         activeProgram->release();
     }
 }
+
+void AnimationHandle::setURL(const QUrl& url) {
+    _animation = Application::getInstance()->getAnimationCache()->getAnimation(_url = url);
+    _jointMappings.clear();
+}
+
+void AnimationHandle::start() {
+    if (!_model->_runningAnimations.contains(_self)) {
+        _model->_runningAnimations.append(_self);
+    }
+    _frameIndex = 0.0f;
+}
+
+void AnimationHandle::stop() {
+    _model->_runningAnimations.removeOne(_self);
+}
+
+AnimationHandle::AnimationHandle(Model* model) :
+    QObject(model),
+    _model(model),
+    _fps(30.0f),
+    _loop(false) {
+}
+
+void AnimationHandle::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+    _frameIndex += deltaTime * _fps;
+    
+    // update the joint mappings if necessary/possible
+    if (_jointMappings.isEmpty()) {
+        if (_model->isActive()) {
+            _jointMappings = _model->getGeometry()->getJointMappings(_animation);
+        }
+        if (_jointMappings.isEmpty()) {
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    const FBXGeometry& animationGeometry = _animation->getGeometry();
+    if (animationGeometry.animationFrames.isEmpty()) {
+        stop();
+        return;
+    }
+    int ceilFrameIndex = (int)glm::ceil(_frameIndex);
+    if (!_loop && ceilFrameIndex >= animationGeometry.animationFrames.size()) {
+        const FBXAnimationFrame& frame = animationGeometry.animationFrames.last();
+        for (int i = 0; i < _jointMappings.size(); i++) {
+            int mapping = _jointMappings.at(i);
+            if (mapping != -1) {
+                _model->_jointStates[mapping].rotation = frame.rotations.at(i);
+            }
+        }
+        stop();
+        return;
+    }
+    const FBXAnimationFrame& ceilFrame = animationGeometry.animationFrames.at(
+        ceilFrameIndex % animationGeometry.animationFrames.size());
+    const FBXAnimationFrame& floorFrame = animationGeometry.animationFrames.at(
+        (int)glm::floor(_frameIndex) % animationGeometry.animationFrames.size());
+    float frameFraction = glm::fract(_frameIndex);
+    for (int i = 0; i < _jointMappings.size(); i++) {
+        int mapping = _jointMappings.at(i);
+        if (mapping != -1) {
+            _model->_jointStates[mapping].rotation = safeMix(floorFrame.rotations.at(i),
+                ceilFrame.rotations.at(i), frameFraction);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
index 5b8e640401..b8b877ac96 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
@@ -24,8 +24,12 @@
 #include "ProgramObject.h"
 #include "TextureCache.h"
 
+class AnimationHandle;
 class Shape;
 
+typedef QSharedPointer<AnimationHandle> AnimationHandlePointer;
+typedef QWeakPointer<AnimationHandle> WeakAnimationHandlePointer;
+
 /// A generic 3D model displaying geometry loaded from a URL.
 class Model : public QObject {
     Q_OBJECT
@@ -187,22 +191,7 @@ public:
 
     QStringList getJointNames() const;
     
-    class AnimationState {
-    public:
-        AnimationPointer animation;
-        float fps;
-        bool loop;    
-        float offset;
-        QVector<int> jointMappings;
-    };
-
-    const QVector<AnimationState>& getAnimationStates() const { return _animationStates; }
-    
-    /// Starts playing the animation at the specified URL.
-    void startAnimation(const QUrl& url, float fps = 30.0f, bool loop = true, float offset = 0.0f);
-    
-    /// Stops playing all animations.
-    void stopAnimation();
+    AnimationHandlePointer createAnimationHandle();
     
     void clearShapes();
     void rebuildShapes();
@@ -279,8 +268,6 @@ protected:
     
     QVector<MeshState> _meshStates;
     
-    QVector<AnimationState> _animationStates;
-    
     // returns 'true' if needs fullUpdate after geometry change
     bool updateGeometry();
     
@@ -320,6 +307,8 @@ protected:
 
 private:
     
+    friend class AnimationHandle;
+    
     void applyNextGeometry();
     void deleteGeometry();
     void renderMeshes(float alpha, RenderMode mode, bool translucent);
@@ -343,6 +332,10 @@ private:
     
     QVector<Model*> _attachments;
 
+    QSet<WeakAnimationHandlePointer> _animationHandles;
+
+    QList<AnimationHandlePointer> _runningAnimations;
+
     static ProgramObject _program;
     static ProgramObject _normalMapProgram;
     static ProgramObject _specularMapProgram;
@@ -378,4 +371,40 @@ Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(QPointer<Model>)
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(QWeakPointer<NetworkGeometry>)
 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);
+    const QUrl& getURL() const { return _url; }
+    
+    void setFPS(float fps) { _fps = fps; }
+    float getFPS() const { return _fps; }
+    
+    void setLoop(bool loop) { _loop = loop; }
+    bool getLoop() const { return _loop; }
+    
+    void start();
+    void stop();
+    
+private:
+
+    friend class Model;
+
+    AnimationHandle(Model* model);
+        
+    void simulate(float deltaTime);
+        
+    Model* _model;
+    WeakAnimationHandlePointer _self;
+    AnimationPointer _animation;
+    QUrl _url;
+    float _fps;
+    bool _loop;
+    QVector<int> _jointMappings;
+    float _frameIndex;
+};
+
 #endif // hifi_Model_h
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
index 5285c294ab..2beea24578 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.cpp
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ AnimationsDialog::AnimationsDialog() :
     area->setWidget(container);
     _animations->addStretch(1);
     
-    foreach (const AnimationData& data, Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->getAnimationData()) {
-        addAnimation(data);
+    foreach (const AnimationHandlePointer& handle, Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->getAnimationHandles()) {
+        _animations->insertWidget(_animations->count() - 1, new AnimationPanel(this, handle));
     }
     
     QPushButton* newAnimation = new QPushButton("New Animation");
@@ -64,20 +64,14 @@ void AnimationsDialog::setVisible(bool visible) {
     }
 }
 
-void AnimationsDialog::updateAnimationData() {
-    QVector<AnimationData> data;
-    for (int i = 0; i < _animations->count() - 1; i++) {
-        data.append(static_cast<AnimationPanel*>(_animations->itemAt(i)->widget())->getAnimationData());
-    }
-    Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->setAnimationData(data);
+void AnimationsDialog::addAnimation() {
+    _animations->insertWidget(_animations->count() - 1, new AnimationPanel(
+        this, Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->addAnimationHandle()));
 }
 
-void AnimationsDialog::addAnimation(const AnimationData& data) {
-    _animations->insertWidget(_animations->count() - 1, new AnimationPanel(this, data));
-}
-
-AnimationPanel::AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationData& data) :
+AnimationPanel::AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationHandlePointer& handle) :
         _dialog(dialog),
+        _handle(handle),
         _applying(false) {
     setFrameStyle(QFrame::StyledPanel);
     
@@ -87,8 +81,8 @@ AnimationPanel::AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationData& da
     
     QHBoxLayout* urlBox = new QHBoxLayout();
     layout->addRow("URL:", urlBox);
-    urlBox->addWidget(_url = new QLineEdit(data.url.toString()), 1);
-    dialog->connect(_url, SIGNAL(returnPressed()), SLOT(updateAnimationData()));
+    urlBox->addWidget(_url = new QLineEdit(handle->getURL().toString()), 1);
+    connect(_url, SIGNAL(returnPressed()), SLOT(updateHandle()));
     QPushButton* chooseURL = new QPushButton("Choose");
     urlBox->addWidget(chooseURL);
     connect(chooseURL, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), SLOT(chooseURL()));
@@ -96,20 +90,12 @@ AnimationPanel::AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationData& da
     layout->addRow("FPS:", _fps = new QDoubleSpinBox());
     _fps->setSingleStep(0.01);
     _fps->setMaximum(FLT_MAX);
-    _fps->setValue(data.fps);
-    dialog->connect(_fps, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), SLOT(updateAnimationData()));
+    _fps->setValue(handle->getFPS());
+    connect(_fps, SIGNAL(valueChanged(double)), SLOT(updateHandle()));
     
     QPushButton* remove = new QPushButton("Delete");
     layout->addRow(remove);
-    connect(remove, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), SLOT(deleteLater()));
-    dialog->connect(remove, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), SLOT(updateAnimationData()), Qt::QueuedConnection);
-}
-
-AnimationData AnimationPanel::getAnimationData() const {
-    AnimationData data;
-    data.url = _url->text();
-    data.fps = _fps->value();
-    return data;
+    connect(remove, SIGNAL(clicked(bool)), SLOT(removeHandle()));
 }
 
 void AnimationPanel::chooseURL() {
@@ -125,3 +111,12 @@ void AnimationPanel::chooseURL() {
     emit _url->returnPressed();
 }
 
+void AnimationPanel::updateHandle() {
+    _handle->setURL(_url->text());
+    _handle->setFPS(_fps->value());
+}
+
+void AnimationPanel::removeHandle() {
+    Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->removeAnimationHandle(_handle);
+    deleteLater();
+}
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
index 3d969aa32a..d53b3dd6a5 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AnimationsDialog.h
@@ -32,14 +32,10 @@ public:
 
     virtual void setVisible(bool visible);
 
-public slots:
-    
-    void updateAnimationData();
-    
 private slots:
-    
-    void addAnimation(const AnimationData& animation = AnimationData());
-    
+
+    void addAnimation();
+
 private:
     
     QVBoxLayout* _animations;
@@ -52,17 +48,18 @@ class AnimationPanel : public QFrame {
 
 public:
     
-    AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationData& data = AnimationData());
-
-    AnimationData getAnimationData() const;
+    AnimationPanel(AnimationsDialog* dialog, const AnimationHandlePointer& handle);
 
 private slots:
 
     void chooseURL();
+    void updateHandle();
+    void removeHandle();
     
 private:
     
     AnimationsDialog* _dialog;
+    AnimationHandlePointer _handle;
     QLineEdit* _url;
     QDoubleSpinBox* _fps;
     bool _applying;