Animation Events (File Format)

This file format is almost completely documented Some event parameters need research

Animation events control functional events synchronized to rigged animations for things like sound effects, visual effects, character messages, and playback control. The events can be found in different places in each game; in Prime 1, they are stored in their own file format, the EVNT format. In Echoes, the format is the same as Prime 1, but was merged in to the ANCS format instead of getting its own file. In Prime 3 and the Donkey Kong Country series, events can be found in the CHAR format, as well as Prime 3's SAND format.

Format

File Structure (Metroid Prime 1/2)

Type	Count	Name	Notes
u32	1	Version	Either 1 or 2. Both can appear in Prime 1, while Echoes uses version 2 (the version number wasn't updated in Echoes despite format changes).
u32	1	Loop Event Count
Loop Event	Loop Event Count	Loop Events
u32	1	User Event Count
User Event	User Event Count	User Events
u32	1	Effect Event Count
Effect Event	Effect Event Count	Effect Events
u32	1	Sound Event Count	Not present in version 1
Sound Event	Sound Event Count	Sound Events	Not present in version 1

Event Type

Table is accurate to Prime 1, unknown for other games.

ID	Type
0	Loop
1	EmptyBool
2	EmptyInt32
4	SoundInt32
5	Particle
6	UserEvent
7	RandRate
8	Sound

Event Base

These parameters are common to every event type.

Type	Count	Name	Notes	MP1/2	MP3
u16	1	Unknown		✔	✔
string	1	Event Name		✔	✔
u16	1	Event Type	Enumerated event type (unknown values)	✔	✔
Char Anim Time	1	Event Timestamp	Time (in seconds) from start of ANIM to trigger event	✔	✔
u32	1	Event Index	Index of event unique from other events (perhaps used to maintain a triggered bitmap)	✔	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✖	✔
bool	1	Unique		✔	✔
float	1	Weight	The likelihood of this event being selected	✔	✔
s32	1	Character Index	Character index that this event should trigger for. If -1, this event triggers for all characters.	✔	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✔	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✖	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✖	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✖	✔
float	1	Unknown		✖	✔
float	1	Unknown		✖	✔

Loop Event

Type	Count	Name	Notes
Event Base	1	Event Base
bool	1	Unknown

User Event

Metroid Prime 1/2

Type	Count	Name	Notes
Event Base	1	Event Base
u32	1	User Event Type	Enumerated user event type (unknown values)
string	1	Bone Name	Name of the CINF bone to attach this event to (for applicable events)

Metroid Prime 3

Type	Count	Name	Notes
Event Base	1	Event Base
u8	1	Unknown
u16	1	Unknown
u16	1	Unknown

Effect Event

Type	Count	Name	Notes	MP1	MP2	MP3
Event Base	1	Event Base		✔	✔	✔
u32	1	Frame Count	Number of frames to run the effect emitter for	✔	✔	✖
FourCC	1	Effect Type	FourCC of effect's type; either PART, SWHC, or ELSC	✔	✔	✔
Asset ID	1	Effect ID	Asset ID of the effect resource	✔	✔	✔
string	1	Bone Name	Name of the CINF bone to attach this effect to	✔	✖	✖
u32	1	Bone ID	ID of the CINF bone to attach this effect to	✖	✔	✖
float	1	Effect Scale	Uniform scale of the particle effect	✔	✔	✖
u32	1	Transform Type	Enumerated transform-mode relating effect to actor's bone: Emitter transformed to bone for initial frame, then retained Emitter continuously transformed to bone Entire effect (including particle instances) continuously transformed to bone	✔	✔	✖
float	1	Unknown	Probably effect scale?	✖	✖	✔
u32	1	Unknown	Probably bone ID?	✖	✖	✔

Sound Event

Metroid Prime 1/2

Type	Count	Name	Notes	MP1	MP2
Event Base	1	Event Base		✔	✔
u32	1	Sound ID	Lower 16 bits are an AGSC sound ID indirected via the ATBL; most significant bit is a looped flag	✔	✔
float	1	Reference Amplitude	Reference amplitude for audio attenuation	✔	✔
float	1	Reference Distance	Reference distance for audio attenuation	✔	✔
u32	1	Unknown		✖	✔
u16	1	Unknown		✖	✔
u16	1	Unknown		✖	✔
float	1	Unknown		✖	✔

Metroid Prime 3

Type	Count	Name	Notes
Event Base	1	Event Base
Asset ID (CAUD)	1	Sound Effect	Sound to be played.
u32	1	Unknown
u32	1	Unknown
Unknown Typed Structure	1	Unknown
Unknown Typed Structure	1	Unknown

Unknown Typed Structure

Contains a 32-bit type value, followed by either:

• Type 0: Nothing
• Type 1: A float
• Type 2: A Maya Spline