diff --git a/sonic-radiance.love/birb/modules/assets/types/animator.lua b/sonic-radiance.love/birb/modules/assets/types/animator.lua
index 38a7f3f..5787e09 100644
--- a/sonic-radiance.love/birb/modules/assets/types/animator.lua
+++ b/sonic-radiance.love/birb/modules/assets/types/animator.lua
@@ -87,9 +87,18 @@ function Animator:changeAnimation(name, restart)
     restart = restart or false
   end
 
-  self.currentAnimation   = name
+  if (self.sprite.data.animations[name] ~= nil) then
+    self.currentAnimation = name
+  else
+    self.currentAnimation = self.sprite.data.metadata.defaultAnim
+  end
+
   self.animationData      = self.sprite.data.animations[self.currentAnimation]
 
+  if (self.animationData == nil) then
+    error("animation " .. self.currentAnimation .. " not found.")
+  end
+
   if (restart == true) then
     self.frame      = self.animationData.startAt
     self.frameTimer = 0