Working With 3D Models and Animation

That means:

• you import a model asset such as .glb, .gltf, or .iqm
• you assign it to a ModelRenderer
• if the asset contains animations, or you assign a separate animation source, Lenga can play those imported clips at runtime

Use this workflow when your model file already contains animation clips, or when your project stores imported animation in a separate model file.

If you are still getting comfortable with scene scripting, keep the core object model nearby:

• Transform and GameObject

What ModelRenderer Does

ModelRenderer supports:

• selecting a model asset
• selecting an optional animation source asset
• choosing which imported animation to play
• controlling Play On Awake
• controlling Loop
• controlling playback Speed
• controlling playback Playback FPS
• starting and stopping playback from PHP

If Animation Source is left empty, Lenga will try to use embedded animations from the selected Model asset.

Basic Scene Workflow

1. Create or select a GameObject.
2. Add a ModelRenderer component.
3. Assign a model file to Model.
4. If your animation lives in a separate file, assign it to Animation Source.
5. Choose the imported animation from the Animation dropdown.
6. Set Loop, Speed, and Playback FPS.
7. Press Play.

If the asset exposes animation names, the Inspector shows those names directly. If not, you can still choose the animation by numeric index.

PHP Example

use Lenga\Engine\Core\Behaviour;
use Lenga\Engine\Core\ModelRenderer;

final class CharacterAnimationBootstrap extends Behaviour
{
    private ?ModelRenderer $modelRenderer = null;

    public function start(): void
    {
        $this->modelRenderer = $this->gameObject->getComponent(ModelRenderer::class);

        if (!$this->modelRenderer instanceof ModelRenderer) {
            return;
        }

        $this->modelRenderer->modelPath = 'Assets/Models/Knight.glb';
        $this->modelRenderer->animationIndex = 0;
        $this->modelRenderer->loop = true;
        $this->modelRenderer->speed = 1.0;
        $this->modelRenderer->playbackFps = 30.0;
        $this->modelRenderer->play();
    }
}

Using A Separate Animation Source

Some pipelines store the skeleton/model and animations in separate files.

use Lenga\Engine\Core\Behaviour;
use Lenga\Engine\Core\ModelRenderer;

final class EnemyAnimationSetup extends Behaviour
{
    public function start(): void
    {
        $renderer = $this->gameObject->getComponent(ModelRenderer::class);
        if (!$renderer instanceof ModelRenderer) {
            return;
        }

        $renderer->modelPath = 'Assets/Models/Enemy.iqm';
        $renderer->animationPath = 'Assets/Models/Enemy_Run.iqm';
        $renderer->animationIndex = 0;
        $renderer->loop = true;
        $renderer->play();
    }
}

Pause and Step Behaviour

Imported 3D model animation uses scaled gameplay time.

That means:

• pausing the engine freezes model animation playback
• stepping one frame in the editor advances model animation by one authored frame step
• changing speed changes how quickly the animation advances through its imported frames

This keeps 3D animation aligned with the same pause/step model used elsewhere in Lenga.

Use imported playback when you need animated 3D models.

Recommended Next Steps

After you have playback working:

• create a small 3D sample scene that proves the scripting surface end to end
• standardize your model import pipeline so animation names and clip ordering stay predictable
• decide early whether a specific project wants one-file embedded animation assets or separate model/animation files
• use the Transform and GameObject API for follow cameras, sockets, spawn points, and runtime model setup