# Animation Runtime Crib

## Live entity lifecycle invariant

`CreateObject` creates a live entity and a real `DeleteObject` destroys it.
`ObjDescEvent (0xF625)` is neither: it changes appearance on the existing object.

For an appearance update, preserve:

- `WorldEntity` object identity and local `Id`
- `AnimatedEntity`, `AnimationSequencer`, frame/range/rate state
- movement-controller and animation-manager bindings
- physics host, collision registration, dead reckoning, and selection state

Replace only resolved `MeshRefs`, palette override, part overrides, and visual
bounds, then invalidate the entity-classification cache. The paperdoll may clone
the updated appearance separately.

Retail oracle chain:

`SmartBox::HandleObjDescEvent` → `SmartBox::UpdateVisualDesc` →
`ACCObjectMaint::SetVisualDesc` →
`CPhysicsObj::DoObjDescChangesFromDefault` →
`CPartArray::DoObjDescChanges`.

Regression history: treating `0xF625` as despawn/respawn severed the player
controller from the active animation state, so unequipping armor froze character
animation and made animation-dependent door interaction appear frozen. Fixed as
issue #203 on 2026-07-11 and user-gated in a Release client.