diff --git a/animation.cpp b/animation.cpp
index a2bd3c2..f0dd2c4 100644
--- a/animation.cpp
+++ b/animation.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ namespace animation {
     sprite.setPosition(pos);
     sprite.setScale(scale);
 
-
     return anim.playing;
   }
 
@@ -105,6 +104,10 @@ namespace animation {
       for(auto& [name, data] : animations.json().items()) {
         try {
           auto anim = components::convert<Animation>(data);
+
+          dbc::check(sprites.contains(name),
+              fmt::format("animation '{}' doesn't have sprite, spelled wrong in config.json?", name));
+
           auto& sprite_config = sprites[name];
 
           anim.frame_width = sprite_config["frame_width"];
diff --git a/assets/animations.json b/assets/animations.json
index 3cd40a6..71bafe9 100644
--- a/assets/animations.json
+++ b/assets/animations.json
@@ -9,6 +9,16 @@
     "speed": 0.1,
     "stationary": false
   },
+  "hand": {
+    "_type": "Animation",
+    "easing": 0,
+    "ease_rate": 0.5,
+    "scale": 1.0,
+    "simple": false,
+    "frames": 3,
+    "speed": 0.1,
+    "stationary": false
+  },
   "lightning_animation": {
     "_type": "Animation",
     "easing": 0,
diff --git a/assets/config.json b/assets/config.json
index 0f215bd..81f11b0 100644
--- a/assets/config.json
+++ b/assets/config.json
@@ -229,6 +229,11 @@
     {"path": "assets/sprites/dead_body_lootable.png",
       "frame_width": 256,
       "frame_height": 256
+    },
+    "hand":
+    {"path": "assets/hands/hands.png",
+      "frame_width": 900,
+      "frame_height": 600
     }
   },
   "worldgen": {
diff --git a/assets/hands/hands.png b/assets/hands/hands.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb74894
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/hands/hands.png differ
diff --git a/gui/fsm.cpp b/gui/fsm.cpp
index 9c09dd2..35dae80 100644
--- a/gui/fsm.cpp
+++ b/gui/fsm.cpp
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ namespace gui {
         run_systems();
         break;
       case ATTACK:
+        $main_ui.play_hands();
         $main_ui.dirty();
         sound::play("Sword_Hit_1");
         state(State::ATTACKING);
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.cpp b/gui/main_ui.cpp
index 018df0f..36404ea 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ namespace gui {
 
   MainUI::MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window) :
     $window(window),
-    $rayview(std::make_shared<Raycaster>(RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT))
+    $rayview(std::make_shared<Raycaster>(RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT)),
+    $hand(textures::get_sprite("hand")),
+    $hand_anim(animation::load("hand"))
   {
     $window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
     $window.setFramerateLimit(FRAME_LIMIT);
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ namespace gui {
 
     if($mind_reading) render_mind_reading();
     $overlay_ui.render($window);
+
+    if($hand_anim.playing) render_hands();
   }
 
   lel::Cell MainUI::overlay_cell(const std::string& name) {
@@ -133,4 +137,15 @@ namespace gui {
   void MainUI::mouse(int x, int y, guecs::Modifiers mods) {
     $overlay_ui.$gui.mouse(x, y, mods);
   }
+
+  void MainUI::play_hands() {
+    $hand_anim.play();
+  }
+
+  void MainUI::render_hands() {
+    if(animation::apply($hand_anim, *$hand.sprite)) {
+      $hand.sprite->setPosition({RAY_VIEW_X, RAY_VIEW_Y});
+      $window.draw(*$hand.sprite);
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.hpp b/gui/main_ui.hpp
index 354c2c7..48e9804 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.hpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "gui/overlay_ui.hpp"
 #include "gui/debug_ui.hpp"
 #include "raycaster.hpp"
+#include "animation.hpp"
 #include <optional>
 
 namespace gui {
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ namespace gui {
     sf::RenderWindow& $window;
     OverlayUI $overlay_ui;
     std::shared_ptr<Raycaster> $rayview;
+    textures::SpriteTexture $hand;
+    components::Animation $hand_anim;
 
     MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window);
 
@@ -41,5 +44,7 @@ namespace gui {
     void dead_entity(DinkyECS::Entity entity);
     void toggle_mind_reading();
     void render_mind_reading();
+    void play_hands();
+    void render_hands();
   };
 }
diff --git a/scripts/build_assets.ps1 b/scripts/build_assets.ps1
index a7f69c3..fa4ec86 100644
--- a/scripts/build_assets.ps1
+++ b/scripts/build_assets.ps1
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ function Build-Images {
 # Build-Images -Source "Textures" -pixel_count 12
 # Build-Images -Source "Sprites" -pixel_count 6
 # Build-Images -Source "Items" -pixel_count 2
-Build-Images -Source "Animations" -pixel_count 6
+# Build-Images -Source "Animations" -pixel_count 6
+Build-Images -Source "Hands" -pixel_count 2
 
 cp -recurse -force C:\Users\lcthw\Pictures\Games\Renders\Raycaster\UI assets\ui
diff --git a/tests/animation.cpp b/tests/animation.cpp
index 5a0b586..c8f208f 100644
--- a/tests/animation.cpp
+++ b/tests/animation.cpp
@@ -30,11 +30,6 @@ TEST_CASE("animation easing tests", "[animation]") {
   anim.easing = ease::IN_OUT_BACK;
   res = anim.twitching();
   REQUIRE(!std::isnan(res));
-
-  anim.easing = ease::FUCKFACE;
-  bool throws = false;
-  try { anim.twitching(); } catch(...) { throws = true; }
-  REQUIRE(throws);
 }