ANCS (File Format): Difference between revisions

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m (Guessing the term is "animated" rather than "animation")
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The '''ANCS format''' defines characters for animation in Metroid Prime 1 and 2. Starting in Metroid Prime 3, it was replaced by the [[CHAR (Metroid Prime 3)|CHAR]] format. The extension stands for '''AN'''imated '''C'''haracter '''S'''et.
The '''ANCS format''' defines character sets and animation sets in Metroid Prime 1 and 2. Starting in Metroid Prime 3, it was replaced by the [[CHAR (File Format)|CHAR]] and [[SAND (File Format)|SAND]] formats. The extension stands for '''AN'''imation '''C'''haracter '''S'''et.
 
{{todo|Notate Metroid Prime 2 differences.}}
{{research|3|Most of the file structure is known, but we still don't know what any of it actually is! Also, the table at the end of the file is unknown.}}


__TOC__
__TOC__


== Header ==
== Format ==


The ANCS format is split up into multiple nodes. Each node defines a character - a model, a skeleton, and a skin - and then sets a number of animation-related parameters on each one. At the end of the file, after every node, is a listing of [[ANIM (File Format)|ANIM]] and [[EVNT (File Format)|EVNT]] files.
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Notes
|-
| u16
| '''Version'''
| Always 1.
|-
| [[#Character Set|Character Set]]
| '''Character Set'''
| Set of characters that share animation data.
|-
| [[#Animation Set|Animation Set]]
| '''Animation Set'''
| Set of animations used by the characters in the character set.
|}


There's a very short 8-byte header before the nodes begin.
=== Character Set ===


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Offset
! Type
! Size
! Count
! Description
! Name
! Notes
|-
|-
| 0x0
| u16
| 2
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''; always 1}}
| '''Version'''
| Always 1.
|-
|-
| 0x2
| u32
| 2
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''; always 1 (maybe actually one 32-bit magic?)}}
| '''Character Count'''
| Count of characters in this set.
|-
|-
| 0x4
| [[#Character|Character]]
| 4
| ''Character Count''
| '''Node count'''
| '''Characters Array'''
|-
| Array of characters.
| 0x8
| colspan=2 {{unknown|Nodes begin}}
|}
|}


== Nodes ==
==== Character ====


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Count
! Count
! Description
! Name
! Notes
! V1
! V2
! V4
! V5
! V10
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Node number'''; starts at 0, increases by 1 on each subsequent node
| '''Character ID'''
| Typically begins at 0 and increments by 1 on each successive character in the set.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u16
| u16
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|Flags? This value can alter the structure of the file. Usually 6.}}
| '''Version'''
| This can vary between different files/characters. Usually 5 or 6 in MP1 and 10 in MP2.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| string
| string
| 1
| 1
| '''Node name''' (zero-terminated)
| '''Name'''
| Name of the character. Not used by the game; was likely included for debugging purposes.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[CMDL (Metroid Prime)|CMDL]]
| Asset ID ([[CMDL (Metroid Prime)|CMDL]])
| 1
| 1
| '''Model'''
| '''Model ID'''
| ID of the model used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[CSKR (File Format)|CSKR]]
| Asset ID ([[CSKR_(File_Format)|CSKR]])
| 1
| 1
| '''Skin'''
| '''Skin ID'''
| ID of the skin used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[CINF (File Format)|CINF]]
| Asset ID ([[CINF_(File_Format)|CINF]])
| 1
| 1
| '''Skeleton'''
| '''Skeleton ID'''
| ID of the skeleton used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Animation count'''
| '''Animation Name Count'''
|}
| Count of animation names in the next array.
 
| {{check}}
This struct then repeats ''animation count'' times:
| {{check}}
 
| {{check}}
{| class="wikitable"
| {{check}}
! Type
| {{check}}
! Count
|-
! Description
| [[#Animation Name|Animation Name]]
| ''Animation Name Count''
| '''Animation Name Array'''
| Array of names of animations used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| [[PAS Database]]
| 1
| 1
| '''Animation number'''; starts with 0, increases by 1 on each subsequent animation
| '''PAS Database'''
| Not much is known about how this data is used.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u8
| [[#Particle Resource Data|Particle Resource Data]]
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''; usually 0}}
| '''Particle Resource Data'''
| List of particle assets being used by this character. This includes particles being used by attached effects as well as by [[EVNT (File Format)|animation events]].
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| string
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Animation name''' (zero-terminated)
| {{unknown}}
|}
|  
 
| {{check}}
=== PAS Database ===
| {{check}}
 
| {{check}}
The next part of the file is the PAS Database, which creates animation states and sets parameters on them. The PAS Database header is structured:
| {{check}}
 
| {{check}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Offset
! Size
! Description
|-
| 0x0
| 4
| '''"PAS4" magic''' fourCC
|-
| 0x4
| 4
| '''Anim state count'''
|-
| 0x8
| 4
| '''Default state''' (will be 0xFFFFFFFF on files with no anim states)
|}
 
==== Anim State ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Count
! Description
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| {{unknown}}
|  
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Parm Info count''' (PC)
| '''Animation AABB Count'''
| Count of animation bounding boxes.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| [[#Animation AABB|Animation AABB]]
| ''Animation AABB Count''
| '''Animation AABB Array'''
| Array of animation bounding boxes for this character.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Anim Info count''' (AC)
| '''Effect Count'''
| Count of attached effects.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[#Parm Info|Parm Info]]
| [[#Effect|Effect]]
| PC
| ''Effect Count''
| '''Parm Info'''
| '''Effect Array'''
| Effects attached to this character.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[#Anim Info|Anim Info]]
| Asset ID ([[CMDL_(Metroid_Prime)|CMDL]])
| AC
| 1
| '''Anim Info'''
| '''Frozen Model'''
|}
| Overlay model that appears when the character is frozen with the Ice/Dark Beam.
 
| {{nocheck}}
===== Parm Info =====
| {{nocheck}}
 
| {{check}}
{| class="wikitable"
| {{check}}
! Type
| {{check}}
! Count
|-
! Description
| Asset ID ([[CSKR_(File_Format)|CSKR]])
| 1
| '''Frozen Skin'''
| Skin for rigging the ''Frozen Model'' to the character's skeleton.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Parm Type'''; enum ranging from 0 to 4, see below for possible values
| '''Animation Count'''
| Count of animations used by this character.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| ''Animation Count''
| '''Animation ID Map'''
| Array of animation IDs. Indexing this array with the character-relative animation ID returns the animset-relative animation ID.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| Asset ID ([[CSPP (File Format)|CSPP]])
| 1
| '''Spatial Primitives ID'''
| ID of the spatial primitives used by this character.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
| u8
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| {{unknown}}
|  
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| float
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Indexed Animation AABB Count'''
| Count of indexed animation bounding boxes.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| ParmType
| [[#Indexed Animation AABB|Indexed Animation AABB]]
| 2
| ''Indexed Animation AABB Count''
| '''Parms'''
| '''Indexed Animation AABB Array'''
| Unknown purpose.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|}
|}


These are the possible types that can be specified by Parm Type:
===== Animation Name =====


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Value
! Size
! Type
! Type
! Name
! Notes
! V1
! V10
|-
|-
| 0
| 4
| s32
|-
| 1
| 4
| u32
| u32
| '''Animation ID'''
| Character-relative animation ID. Must be remapped via the ''Animation ID Map'' to access the corresponding animation in the animset.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| 2
| string
| 4
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| float
| Always empty.
| {{check}}
| {{nocheck}}
|-
|-
| 3
| string
| 1
| '''Animation Name'''
| bool
| The name of the animation.
|-
| {{check}}
| 4
| {{check}}
| 4
| enum
|}
|}


===== Anim Info =====
===== Particle Resource Data =====
 
The Anim Info structure is a little unorthodox. It starts with an unknown 32-bit value, and then is followed by a set of values. There's one value present per Parm Info instance, and the type of each value corresponds to that Parm Info's Parm Type setting.
 
=== Particles ===
 
Note: if the flag value at the start of the node is 5 instead of 6, one of these values is missing. It's currently not known specifically which one it toggles, so be careful. However if the value is 10 the data is from Metroid Prime 2 and special attention must be paid in order to properly read the information.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Count
! Count
! Description
! Name
! Notes
! Notes
! V5
! V6
! V10
|-
|-
| u32
| u32  
| 1
| 1
| '''Particle count''' (PC)
| '''Generic Particle Count'''
|
| Count of generic particle systems.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[PART (File Format)|PART]]
| Asset ID ([[PART (File Format)|PART]])
| PC
| ''Generic Particle Count''
| '''Particle file IDs'''
| '''Generic Particle List'''
|
| List of generic particle systems used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Swoosh particle count''' (SC)
| '''Swoosh Particle Count'''
|
| Count of swoosh particle systems.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[SWHC (File Format)|SWHC]]
| Asset ID ([[SWHC (File Format)|SWHC]])
| SC
| ''Swoosh Particle Count''
| '''Swoosh particle file IDs'''
| '''Swoosh Particle List'''
|
| List of swoosh particle systems used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32  
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| {{unknown}}
|
| Always 0.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32  
| 1
| 1
| '''Electric particle count''' (EC)
| '''Electric Particle Count'''
|
| Count of electric particle systems.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[ELSC (File Format)|ELSC]]
| Asset ID ([[ELSC_(File_Format)|ELSC]])
| EC
| ''Electric Particle Count''
| '''Electric particle file IDs'''
| '''Electric Particle List'''
|
| List of electric particle systems used by this character.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Spawn Particle Count'''
|
| Count of spawn particle systems.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
| Asset ID ([[SPSC (File Format)|SPSC]])
| ''Spawn Particle Count''
| '''Spawn Particle List'''
| List of spawn particle systems used by this character.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|}
 
===== Animation AABB =====
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Notes
|-
| string
| '''Animation Name'''
|
|-
| {{AABox}}
| '''Animation Bounding Box'''
|
|}
 
===== Indexed Animation AABB =====
 
Similar to [[#Animation AABB|Animation AABB]], but with animations referenced via ID instead of name.
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Notes
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| '''Animation ID'''
| Confirm this is character-relative?
|-
| {{AABox}}
| '''Animation Bounding Box'''
|
|}
===== Effect =====
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Count
! Name
! Notes
|-
| string
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Effect Name'''
| Only in Metroid Prime 2
| Name of the effect.
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Effect Component Count'''
| Only in Metroid Prime 2
| Count of effect components
|-
| [[#Effect Component|Effect Component]]
| ''Effect Component Count''
| '''Effect Components'''
| Array of effect components used by this effect.
|}
|}


=== Animations ===
====== Effect Component ======
 
This section begins with a 32-bit count value, then this struct repeats:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Count
! Name
! Description
! Notes
|-
| string
| '''Component Name'''
| Name of this effect component.
|-
| {{FourCC}}
| '''Particle Asset Type'''
| Type of the particle used by this effect.
|-
| Asset ID
| '''Particle Asset ID'''
| Particle resource used by this effect.
|-
|-
| string
| string
| 1
| '''Bone Name'''
| '''Animation name'''
| Bone that the component is attached to.
|-
|-
| float
| float
| 6
| '''Scale'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''; possibly an AABB}}
| Scale of the component.
|-
| u32
| '''Parented Mode'''
| Needs documentation
|-
| u32
| '''Flags'''
| Needs documentation
|}
|}


=== Effects ===
=== Animation Set ===
 
This section is used for effect placement - binding particles to bones, which is used for things like Space Pirate eye fire. It starts with a 32-bit count value, then this struct repeats:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Count
! Count
! Description
! Name
! Notes
! Notes
! MP1
! MP2
|-
|-
| string
| u16
| 1
| '''Version'''
| Always 4. Note there are format differences between MP1 and MP2 despite them both being version 4.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| u32
| 1
| 1
| '''Effect name'''
| '''Animation Count'''
|
| Count of animations contained by the set.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| [[#Animation|Animation]]
| ''Animation Count''
| '''Animation Array'''
| Array of animations.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Transition Count'''
|
| Count of transitions contained by the set.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| [[#Transition|Transition]]
| ''Transition Count''
| '''Transition Array'''
| Array of transitions.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| string
| [[Meta-Transition]]
| 1
| 1
| '''Effect name 2'''
| '''Default Transition'''
|  
|  
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| char
| u32
| 4
| 1
| '''"PART" fourCC'''
| '''Additive Animation Count'''
|
| Count of additive animations contained by the set.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| [[PART (File Format)|PART]]
| [[#Additive Animation|Additive Animation]]
| ''Additive Animation Count''
| '''Additive Animation Array'''
| Array of additive animations. Although any animation can be used as additive, this array allows for customizing the fade in/out time for each animation.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
| float
| 1
| 1
| '''Particle file ID'''
| '''Default Additive Fade-In Time'''
|
| Fade-in time used for additive animations not listed in the above array.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| string
| float
| 1
| 1
| '''Bone name'''
| '''Default Additive Fade-Out Time'''
| Metroid Prime 1 only
| Fade-out time used for additive animations not listed in the above array.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Half Transition Count'''
| Metroid Prime 2 only
| Count of half transitions contained by the set.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| float
| [[#Half Transition|Half Transition]]
| 1
| ''Half Transition Count''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Half Transition Array'''
|
| Array of half transitions.
| {{check}}
| {{check}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Animation Resource Count'''
|
| Count of animation assets used by this set.
| {{check}}
| {{nocheck}}
|-
| [[#Animation Resource Pair|Animation Resource Pair]]
| ''Animation Resource Count''
| '''Animation Resource List'''
| List of animation assets used by this set.
| {{check}}
| {{nocheck}}
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| 1
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Event Set Count'''
|
| Count of event sets. Matches the animation count.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|-
| [[EVNT_(File_Format)|Event Set]]
| ''Event Set Count''
| '''Event Set Array'''
| Array of animation events. Each event set maps to the animation at the same index. Note this is basically MP1's [[EVNT (File Format)|EVNT]] file format, but embedded in ANCS.
| {{nocheck}}
| {{check}}
|}
|}


=== Footer ===
==== Animation ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Notes
|-
| string
| '''Name'''
| Animation name.
|-
| [[Meta-Animation]]
| '''Animation'''
| Meta-animation data.
|}


The end of the node structure contains this data:
==== Transition ====


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Count
! Name
! Description
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
| [[CMDL (Metroid Prime)|CMDL]]
| u32
| 1
| {{unknown}}
| {{unknown|'''Unknown model'''}}
|  
|
|-
|-
| [[CSKR (Metroid Prime)|CSKR]]
| u32
| 1
| '''Animation ID A'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown skin'''}}
| The animation being transitioned from.
|
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| 1
| '''Animation ID B'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown count (UC)'''}}
| The animation being transitioned to.
|
|-
| [[Meta-Transition]]
| '''Transition'''
| Meta-transition data.
|}
 
==== Additive Animation ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Notes
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| UC
| '''Animation ID'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown array'''}}
|  
|
|-
|-
| u32
| float
| 1
| '''Fade-In Time'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| Fade-in duration.
| Only in Metroid Prime 2
|-
|-
| u8
| float
| 1
| '''Fade-Out Time'''
| {{unknown|'''Unknown bool?'''}}
| Fade-out duration.
| Only in Metroid prime 2
|}
|}


=== Metroid Prime 2 Unknown Struct ===
==== Half Transition ====
Immediately following the the footer is a second count/struct pair that only appears in Metroid Prime 2, it is currently unknown what purpose this serves. The count is a 32bit integer and is directly followed by an array of the following struct:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Type
! Description
! Name
! Notes
|-
|-
| u32
| u32
| '''Action ID'''
| '''Animation ID'''
| The animation being transitioned from.
|-
|-
| CAABox
| [[Meta-Transition]]
| {{unknown|'''Unknown'''}}
| '''Transition'''
| Meta-transition data.
|}
|}


==== Animation Resource Pair ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
|-
| Asset ID ([[ANIM_(File_Format)|ANIM]])
| '''ANIM ID'''
|-
| Asset ID ([[EVNT_(File_Format)|EVNT]])
| '''EVNT ID'''
|}


[[Category:File Formats]]
[[Category:File Formats]]
[[Category:Metroid Prime]]
[[Category:Metroid Prime]]
[[Category:Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]]
[[Category:Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]]

Latest revision as of 08:04, 3 March 2017

The ANCS format defines character sets and animation sets in Metroid Prime 1 and 2. Starting in Metroid Prime 3, it was replaced by the CHAR and SAND formats. The extension stands for ANimation Character Set.

Format

Type Name Notes
u16 Version Always 1.
Character Set Character Set Set of characters that share animation data.
Animation Set Animation Set Set of animations used by the characters in the character set.

Character Set

Type Count Name Notes
u16 1 Version Always 1.
u32 1 Character Count Count of characters in this set.
Character Character Count Characters Array Array of characters.

Character

Type Count Name Notes V1 V2 V4 V5 V10
u32 1 Character ID Typically begins at 0 and increments by 1 on each successive character in the set.
u16 1 Version This can vary between different files/characters. Usually 5 or 6 in MP1 and 10 in MP2.
string 1 Name Name of the character. Not used by the game; was likely included for debugging purposes.
Asset ID (CMDL) 1 Model ID ID of the model used by this character.
Asset ID (CSKR) 1 Skin ID ID of the skin used by this character.
Asset ID (CINF) 1 Skeleton ID ID of the skeleton used by this character.
u32 1 Animation Name Count Count of animation names in the next array.
Animation Name Animation Name Count Animation Name Array Array of names of animations used by this character.
PAS Database 1 PAS Database Not much is known about how this data is used.
Particle Resource Data 1 Particle Resource Data List of particle assets being used by this character. This includes particles being used by attached effects as well as by animation events.
u32 1 Unknown
u32 1 Unknown
u32 1 Animation AABB Count Count of animation bounding boxes.
Animation AABB Animation AABB Count Animation AABB Array Array of animation bounding boxes for this character.
u32 1 Effect Count Count of attached effects.
Effect Effect Count Effect Array Effects attached to this character.
Asset ID (CMDL) 1 Frozen Model Overlay model that appears when the character is frozen with the Ice/Dark Beam.
Asset ID (CSKR) 1 Frozen Skin Skin for rigging the Frozen Model to the character's skeleton.
u32 1 Animation Count Count of animations used by this character.
u32 Animation Count Animation ID Map Array of animation IDs. Indexing this array with the character-relative animation ID returns the animset-relative animation ID.
Asset ID (CSPP) 1 Spatial Primitives ID ID of the spatial primitives used by this character.
u8 1 Unknown
u32 1 Indexed Animation AABB Count Count of indexed animation bounding boxes.
Indexed Animation AABB Indexed Animation AABB Count Indexed Animation AABB Array Unknown purpose.
Animation Name
Type Name Notes V1 V10
u32 Animation ID Character-relative animation ID. Must be remapped via the Animation ID Map to access the corresponding animation in the animset.
string Unknown Always empty.
string Animation Name The name of the animation.
Particle Resource Data
Type Count Name Notes V5 V6 V10
u32 1 Generic Particle Count Count of generic particle systems.
Asset ID (PART) Generic Particle Count Generic Particle List List of generic particle systems used by this character.
u32 1 Swoosh Particle Count Count of swoosh particle systems.
Asset ID (SWHC) Swoosh Particle Count Swoosh Particle List List of swoosh particle systems used by this character.
u32 1 Unknown Always 0.
u32 1 Electric Particle Count Count of electric particle systems.
Asset ID (ELSC) Electric Particle Count Electric Particle List List of electric particle systems used by this character.
u32 1 Spawn Particle Count Count of spawn particle systems.
Asset ID (SPSC) Spawn Particle Count Spawn Particle List List of spawn particle systems used by this character.
Animation AABB
Type Name Notes
string Animation Name
AABox Animation Bounding Box
Indexed Animation AABB

Similar to Animation AABB, but with animations referenced via ID instead of name.

Type Name Notes
u32 Animation ID Confirm this is character-relative?
AABox Animation Bounding Box
Effect
Type Count Name Notes
string 1 Effect Name Name of the effect.
u32 1 Effect Component Count Count of effect components
Effect Component Effect Component Count Effect Components Array of effect components used by this effect.
Effect Component
Type Name Notes
string Component Name Name of this effect component.
FourCC Particle Asset Type Type of the particle used by this effect.
Asset ID Particle Asset ID Particle resource used by this effect.
string Bone Name Bone that the component is attached to.
float Scale Scale of the component.
u32 Parented Mode Needs documentation
u32 Flags Needs documentation

Animation Set

Type Count Name Notes MP1 MP2
u16 1 Version Always 4. Note there are format differences between MP1 and MP2 despite them both being version 4.
u32 1 Animation Count Count of animations contained by the set.
Animation Animation Count Animation Array Array of animations.
u32 1 Transition Count Count of transitions contained by the set.
Transition Transition Count Transition Array Array of transitions.
Meta-Transition 1 Default Transition
u32 1 Additive Animation Count Count of additive animations contained by the set.
Additive Animation Additive Animation Count Additive Animation Array Array of additive animations. Although any animation can be used as additive, this array allows for customizing the fade in/out time for each animation.
float 1 Default Additive Fade-In Time Fade-in time used for additive animations not listed in the above array.
float 1 Default Additive Fade-Out Time Fade-out time used for additive animations not listed in the above array.
u32 1 Half Transition Count Count of half transitions contained by the set.
Half Transition Half Transition Count Half Transition Array Array of half transitions.
u32 1 Animation Resource Count Count of animation assets used by this set.
Animation Resource Pair Animation Resource Count Animation Resource List List of animation assets used by this set.
u32 1 Event Set Count Count of event sets. Matches the animation count.
Event Set Event Set Count Event Set Array Array of animation events. Each event set maps to the animation at the same index. Note this is basically MP1's EVNT file format, but embedded in ANCS.

Animation

Type Name Notes
string Name Animation name.
Meta-Animation Animation Meta-animation data.

Transition

Type Name Notes
u32 Unknown
u32 Animation ID A The animation being transitioned from.
u32 Animation ID B The animation being transitioned to.
Meta-Transition Transition Meta-transition data.

Additive Animation

Type Name Notes
u32 Animation ID
float Fade-In Time Fade-in duration.
float Fade-Out Time Fade-out duration.

Half Transition

Type Name Notes
u32 Animation ID The animation being transitioned from.
Meta-Transition Transition Meta-transition data.

Animation Resource Pair

Type Name
Asset ID (ANIM) ANIM ID
Asset ID (EVNT) EVNT ID