Body Shape
The Body shape adds animated characters to your model. Characters move, rotate, and change state according to the equations you define, bringing physical simulations to life.
Screenshot: Body shape on the board with an animated character running
Overview
A Body shape is an animated sprite placed inside a Referential. Its position (x, y) and rotation are driven by expression terms. As the simulation runs, the character moves according to the mathematical model — walking, running, jumping, or performing custom animations.
Toolbar
Screenshot: Body shape toolbar with character picker and options
- Character picker — Choose from available animated characters
- Flip horizontal — Mirror the character direction
- Color/tint — Adjust character coloring
- Delete — Remove the body from the board
Motion Binding
The Body shape position is controlled by binding terms to its coordinates:
| Property | Bound Term | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| X position | Any numeric term (e.g., x) | Horizontal position in the referential |
| Y position | Any numeric term (e.g., y) | Vertical position in the referential |
| Rotation | Angle term (e.g., θ) | Character orientation in radians or degrees |
Animation States
Characters have multiple animation states that change based on movement:
- Idle — Character is stationary
- Walking — Slow movement detected
- Running — Fast movement detected
- Jumping — Vertical motion without ground contact
Body shapes must be placed inside a Referential shape. The referential defines the coordinate system for positioning.
Properties Panel
Screenshot: Body properties panel showing term bindings
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Character | Which animated sprite to use |
| X term | Term controlling horizontal position |
| Y term | Term controlling vertical position |
| Rotation term | Term controlling angle |
| Scale | Size multiplier for the character |
| Trail | Whether to leave a path trace behind the character |