ERROR: Animation '{some name}' doesn't exist. The bug caused by the data in *.tscn file does not sync with Godot editor.

[meowyih]

Tested versions

• Reproducible in 4.5.1 stable version.

System information

Window 11

Issue description

When create an animation in SpriteFrame and assigned to AnimatiedSprited3D, Godot editor write a line in *.tscn to keep track of the activate animation with the name. But when user delelted the animation, Godot editor sometimes does not update the *.tscn file and keep the old non-existing animation name in it. It caused ERROR: Animation '{some name}' doesn't exist. when user run the project.
Since user cannot fix this problem inside editor, when it occurred, user needs to use text editor to change the tscn file manually or delete the whole *.tscn (i.e. the entire scene), which is pretty bad.

Steps to reproduce

To reproduce it:

1. Create a new project.
2. Create a new scene using AnimatedSprite3D type. (Click +Other Node -> AnimatedSprite3D)
3. Create a new SpriteFrame resource with default name "new_sprite_frames.tres" in FileSystem and in the SpriteFrame editor window, create a new animation with default name "new_animation" under default animation.
4. In AnimatedSprite3D's inspector window, assign "new_sprite_frames.tres" to Sprite Frames property and "new_animation" to Animation property.
5. Run the project to save the current scene information in to "animated_sprite_3d.tscn"
6. Stop the running window and delete the "new_animation" in SpriteFrame editor window.
7. Save & Quit the project without running the project second time.
8. Before launch Godot again, you can check in "animated_sprite_3d.tscn" there is a [animation = &“new_animation”]. But we already deleted it in step 6.
9. Because of (8), the non-existing animation name will be there forever. Everytime user run the project will get the "ERROR: Animation 'new_animation' doesn't exist." error message.

Minimal reproduction project (MRP)

bug-nonexisting-animation.zip

[AThousandShips]

I can't replicate this, it prints the error once and then the animation is reset to "default", just loading and saving the scene solves it for me

[meowyih]

I can't replicate this, it prints the error once and then the animation is reset to "default", just loading and saving the scene solves it for me

Sorry, I tried my steps again and it seems I failed to create the MRP for this issue. The situation in my working project is more complicate that involved instance a AnimatedSprite3D scene from other scene and use shared SpriteFrame. It not easy but if I can make another MRP, I will update it in this thread.

[AThousandShips]

@meowyih have you been able to reproduce this issue?

[meowyih]

@meowyih have you been able to reproduce this issue?

Yes, the test project is attached.

test.zip

When you open the project in Godot 4.5.1, you should see "ERROR: Animation 'new_animation' does not exist" message. And when execute this project, there will always be "get_frame_count: Animation 'new_animation' doesn't exist." error in Error tab.

Here is how to create that project in Godot:

1. Create a new project.
2. Create a new scene using AnimatedSprite3D type. (Click +Other Node -> AnimatedSprite3D)
3. Create a new SpriteFrame resource with default name "new_sprite_frames.tres" in FileSystem and in the SpriteFrame editor window, create a new animation with default name "new_animation" under default animation.
4. In AnimatedSprite3D's inspector window, drag "new_sprite_frames.tres" to Sprite Frames property and "new_animation" to Animation property. (make sure you drag the tres file directly from resource window, instead of create another new one in Inspector)
5. Run the project to save the current scene information in to "animated_sprite_3d.tscn"

*** new step ***

7. create another scene by click the + nect to "animated_sprite_3d" tab on top of the editor.
8. In the new scene, click "3D Scene" as the root node
9. Save this new scene as node3d_tscn
10. In this new scene, click "Instantiate Child Scene" and select "animated_sprite_3d.tscn
11. Run the project to save all scene information
12. Stop the running window
13. Switch to animated_sprite3d scene tab, click new_sprite_frames.tres and delete the "new_animation" in SpriteFrame editor window.
14. Save & Quit the project without running the project third time.

---

15. Before launch Godot again, you can check in "animated_sprite_3d.tscn" there is a [animation = &“new_animation”]. But we already deleted it in step 6.
16. Because of (15), the non-existing animation name will be there forever. Everytime user run the project will get the "ERROR: Animation 'new_animation' doesn't exist." error message.

[AThousandShips]

I'll give this new MRP a test when I can!

[AThousandShips]

With the MRP I cannot replicate once again, not in 4.5.1 or in 4.6.dev [4601c07], it shows the error exactly once and then the file is fixed and no more error, not when running or opening the editor

So I can't confirm any issue here, maybe something is missing from the test project that doesn't match the replication steps, but I can't replicate this at all

[meowyih]

With the MRP I cannot replicate once again, not in 4.5.1 or in 4.6.dev [4601c07], it shows the error exactly once and then the file is fixed and no more error, not when running or opening the editor

So I can't confirm any issue here, maybe something is missing from the test project that doesn't match the replication steps, but I can't replicate this at all

I made a video to demonstrate this issue. I am not good at video editing so you will see some traditional chinese character in the background, sorry about that. Hope it helps.
https://youtu.be/prNkbM5Urgo

[AThousandShips]

You only showed the editor opening once and not showing the error every time it's reloaded, did you save the scene again when you reopened?

I cannot replicate this bug still the video instructions match what I tried