Constructing an animation timeline via direct manipulation

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• provide an editing pane and an animation script pane to a user via a graphical user interface on a computing device;
• receive a first input identifying an object to which an animation sequence is to be applied to;
• receive a second input manipulating the object within the editing pane;
• interpret the second input manipulating the object as one of a plurality of animation class types;
• receive a third input requesting a setting of a first key frame;
• and
• update the animation script pane by providing an animation descriptor of the animation sequence to be applied to the object.

A system for defining an animation sequence of an object comprising:

• a network interface unit connected to a communications network configured to receive user input from a computer pertaining to defining the animation sequence;
• a memory configured to store data representing the object to which the animation sequence is to be associated with;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• provide an editing pane and an animation script pane to the user,
• receive a first input identifying the object to which the animation sequence is to be applied to,
• receive a second input manipulating the object within the editing pane,
• interpret the second input manipulating the object as one of a plurality of animation class types,
• receive a request requesting setting a first key frame,
• in response to receiving the request, update the animation script pane by indicating a first animation descriptor of the animation sequence to be applied to the object when the object is animated,
• interpret a third input manipulating the object as another one of a plurality of animation class types,
• receive another request requesting setting a second key frame, and
• in response to receiving the another request, update the animation script pane (650) by providing a second animation descriptor of the animation sequence to be applied to the object.