Abstract: A request may be received to trigger an animation action in response to reaching a bookmark during playback of a media object. In response to the request, data is stored defining a new animation timeline configured to perform the animation action when playback of the media object reaches the bookmark. When the media object is played back, a determination is made as to whether the bookmark has been encountered. If the bookmark is encountered, the new animation timeline is started, thereby triggering the specified animation action. An animation action may also be added to an animation timeline that triggers a media object action at a location within a media object. When the animation action is encountered during playback of the animation timeline, the specified media object action is performed on the associated media object.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for animating objects through the use of animation schemes. An animation scheme is defined using a declarative language that includes instructions defining the animations and/or visual effects to be applied to one or more objects and how the animations or visual effects should be applied. The animation scheme may include rules which, when evaluated, define how the objects are to be animated. An animation scheme engine is also provided for evaluating an animation scheme along with other factors to apply the appropriate animation to each of the objects. The animation scheme engine retrieves an animation scheme and data regarding the objects. The animation scheme engine then evaluates the animation scheme along with the data regarding the objects to identify the animation to be applied to each object. The identified animations and visual effects are then applied to the objects.