> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://rive-transitions-2.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Animation Playback

> ⚠️ DEPRECATED: Use State Machines instead of direct animation playback at runtime

<Warning>
  **DEPRECATION NOTICE:** This entire page documents the legacy Animation
  Playback system. **For new projects:** Use <Link href="state-machines">State Machines</Link> instead. **For existing projects:** Plan
  to migrate from direct animation control to State Machines as soon as
  possible. **This content is provided for legacy support only.**
</Warning>

Rive lets you specify what animations and state machines to mix and play and control the play/pause state of each animation.

The term *animations* may collectively refer to both animations and state machines. In this section, we explore how to deal with specific animation playback, rather than state machines.

<Note>
  If you are trying to coordinate multiple animations' playback at runtime,
  consider using a state machine instead to do this for you!
</Note>

## Choosing starting animations

Starting animations can also be chosen when Rive is instantiated. The first animation on the artboard may play if one is not provided, or a state machine is not set.

```dart theme={null}
// Create a File, Artboard, and SingleAnimationPainter
final file = (await File.asset(
  'assets/rewards.riv',
  riveFactory: Factory.rive,
))!;
final artboard = file.artboard('Main')!;
final animationPainter = SingleAnimationPainter("Artboard Name");

// Later create the widget
return RiveArtboardWidget(
  artboard: artboard,
  painter: animationPainter,
);
```

## Controlling playback

Flutter handles things a little differently compared to the other runtimes due to its reactive nature.

Every animation and state machine in Flutter has an underlying painter that manages the state/painting/advancing.

In order to access controls for animations, you'll need to create a `SingleAnimationPainter` or `StateMachinePainter` and pass it to the `RiveArtboardWidget`.

Or you can create `RiveWidgetController` and pass it to the `RiveWidget` to control playback of state machines with a more feature-rich API (recommended).

This painter concept is extensible, and you can also create your own custom painter, for example, to control multiple animations at once.