diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sprite/Sprite.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sprite/Sprite.java
index 0df108c1b..1fc613f7e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sprite/Sprite.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sprite/Sprite.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: Sprite.java,v 1.23 2001/09/17 23:55:45 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: Sprite.java,v 1.24 2001/10/12 00:36:03 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media.sprite;
 
@@ -327,6 +327,14 @@ public class Sprite
         _path = null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Called by the active path when it begins.
+     */
+    protected void pathBeginning ()
+    {
+        // nothing for now
+    }
+
     /**
      * Called by the active path when it has completed.
      */
@@ -377,7 +385,6 @@ public class Sprite
     public void tick (long timestamp)
     {
         int fcount = _frames.getFrameCount();
-        int nfidx = _frameIdx;
         boolean moved = false;
 
         // move the sprite along toward its destination, if any 
@@ -386,13 +393,14 @@ public class Sprite
         }
 
         // increment the display image if performing image animation
+        int nfidx = _frameIdx;
         switch (_animMode) {
         case NO_ANIMATION:
             // nothing doing
             break;
 
         case TIME_BASED:
-            _frameIdx = (int)((timestamp/_frameDelay) % fcount);
+            nfidx = (int)((timestamp/_frameDelay) % fcount);
             break;
 
         case MOVEMENT_CUED:
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/LineSegmentPath.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/LineSegmentPath.java
index 2543d68da..d80e308d1 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/LineSegmentPath.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/util/LineSegmentPath.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: LineSegmentPath.java,v 1.10 2001/09/17 23:55:45 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: LineSegmentPath.java,v 1.11 2001/10/12 00:36:03 shaper Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media.sprite;
 
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ public class LineSegmentPath implements Path
     // documentation inherited
     public void init (Sprite sprite, long timestamp)
     {
+        // give the sprite a chance to perform any starting antics
+        sprite.pathBeginning();
+
         // if we have only one node then let the sprite know that we're
         // done straight away
         if (size() < 2) {