A couple weeks ago I wrote about Dancing in Second Life, and I wanted to elaborate on something I had mentioned: animation overrides. This is a scripted attachment that changes the manner in which your avatar’s body moves. Like most things in SL, they are created by Residents and the marketplace has a multitude of styles if you’d like to add a little oomph to the way you walk, jump, stand, etc.

(Photo by Catloafs)

You can get a set of animations or even a single gesture if you’re looking for something very specific. There are AOs made for females, males, and some are unisex. Some basic AO sets come with dances as well, which you can try out using the HUD. Swim like a mermaid, strut without a care in the world, or bellydance on a colorful Oriental rug. I even saw an AO that replicated the final dance scene in Dirty Dancing, so there is certainly no shortage of options. The animations category of the Destination Guide has many great shops in which you can demo different styles before purchasing.

It’s important to note that certain situations, like pose balls or sitting on furniture, will require you to turn off your AO to function properly. This script will make that automatic, if you prefer. Since most Bento heads come with a selection of facial expressions, you can decide if you want an AO for the entire body or from the neck down. If you don’t know where to start, a tutorial should make the variety of animations a little more approachable. Our bodies are such a huge part of how we express ourselves in RL, so why not extend that element to your presence inworld?

If you have a photo or video of yourself being particularly lively, silly, sleepy, etc., submit it to our Flickr!