diff --git a/animate2.cpp b/animate2.cpp
index 70f8ecc..b4fcfbc 100644
--- a/animate2.cpp
+++ b/animate2.cpp
@@ -50,10 +50,16 @@ namespace animate2 {
     sprite.setTextureRect(rect);
   }
 
+  void Animate2::apply_effect(std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> effect) {
+    dbc::check(effect != nullptr, "can't apply null effect");
+    effect->setUniform("u_time", sequence.timer.getElapsedTime().asSeconds());
+    sf::Vector2f u_resolution{float(sheet.frame_width), float(sheet.frame_height)};
+    effect->setUniform("u_resolution", u_resolution);
+  }
+
   void Animate2::play_sound() {
     // BUG: this can be optimized way better
     if(sounds.contains(form_name)) {
-      fmt::println("Playing sound for {}", form_name);
       for(auto& [at_frame, sound_name] : sounds.at(form_name)) {
         if(sequence.current == at_frame) {
           sound::play(sound_name);
diff --git a/animate2.hpp b/animate2.hpp
index 52f93b8..33061d6 100644
--- a/animate2.hpp
+++ b/animate2.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <chrono>
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Rect.hpp>
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Sprite.hpp>
+#include <SFML/Graphics/Shader.hpp>
 #include <SFML/System/Clock.hpp>
 #include <SFML/System/Time.hpp>
 #include <functional>
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ namespace animate2 {
       bool has_form(const std::string& as_form);
       void set_form(const std::string& form);
       void apply(sf::Sprite& sprite);
+      void apply_effect(std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> effect);
       void update_frame();
       void update();
       void motion(sf::Sprite& sprite, sf::Vector2f pos, sf::Vector2f scale);
diff --git a/scene.cpp b/scene.cpp
index 4d0e6d9..5a2ca70 100644
--- a/scene.cpp
+++ b/scene.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ namespace scene {
   void Engine::apply_effect(const std::string& actor, const std::string& shader) {
     auto& element = actor_config(actor);
     element.effect = shaders::get(shader);
-
   }
 
   void Engine::attach_text(const std::string& actor, const std::string& text) {
diff --git a/tools/animator.cpp b/tools/animator.cpp
index e094256..99872d7 100644
--- a/tools/animator.cpp
+++ b/tools/animator.cpp
@@ -38,11 +38,10 @@ namespace animator {
     $window.setPosition({0,0});
 
     $ui.init($sprite_name, $background, new_size.x, new_size.y);
-    $sprite = $ui.get_sprite();
 
     // need to keep these around
-    $pos = $sprite->getPosition();
-    $scale = $sprite->getScale();
+    $pos = $ui.sprite->getPosition();
+    $scale = $ui.sprite->getScale();
 
     if(YES_SYNC) {
       $window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
@@ -95,6 +94,9 @@ namespace animator {
         $ui.update_status($anim);
         state(State::START);
         break;
+      case Event::TEST_SHADER:
+        $ui.effect = $ui.effect == nullptr ? shaders::get("flame") : nullptr;
+        break;
       default:
         state(State::START);
     }
@@ -129,8 +131,9 @@ namespace animator {
   void FSM::run_animation() {
     if($anim.playing) {
       $anim.update();
-      $anim.apply(*$sprite);
-      $anim.motion(*$sprite, $pos, $scale);
+      $anim.apply(*$ui.sprite);
+      if($ui.effect != nullptr) $anim.apply_effect($ui.effect);
+      $anim.motion(*$ui.sprite, $pos, $scale);
     }
   }
 
@@ -209,6 +212,8 @@ namespace animator {
           } else if($router.scancode == KEY::M) {
             $mute = !$mute;
             sound::mute($mute);
+          } else if($router.scancode == KEY::S) {
+            event(Event::TEST_SHADER);
           }
           break;
         case MOUSE_CLICK:
@@ -246,9 +251,13 @@ namespace animator {
     }
 
     auto viewer = $ui.entity("viewer");
-    $ui.set<guecs::Sprite>(viewer, { sprite_name, 0, false});
-
+    // BUG: this is some jank bullshit but it works
+    $ui.set<guecs::Sprite>(viewer, {sprite_name, 0, false});
     $ui.init();
+    sprite = $ui.get<guecs::Sprite>(viewer).sprite;
+    dbc::check(sprite != nullptr, "failed to initialize $ui.sprite");
+
+    $ui.remove<guecs::Sprite>(viewer);
 
     $overlay.position(0, 0, width/4, height/4);
     $overlay.layout(
@@ -264,6 +273,7 @@ namespace animator {
 
   void UI::render(sf::RenderWindow& window, bool debug) {
     $ui.render(window);
+    window.draw(*sprite, effect.get());
     $overlay.render(window);
 
     if(debug) {
diff --git a/tools/animator.hpp b/tools/animator.hpp
index 0765974..6e894d7 100644
--- a/tools/animator.hpp
+++ b/tools/animator.hpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ namespace animator {
     PLAY_STOP=__LINE__,
     NEXT_FORM=__LINE__,
     PREV_FORM=__LINE__,
+    TEST_SHADER=__LINE__,
     RELOAD=__LINE__,
   };
 
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ namespace animator {
   struct UI {
     guecs::UI $ui;
     guecs::UI $overlay;
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> sprite = nullptr;
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Shader> effect = nullptr;
     bool $initialized_this_sucks_ass = false;
 
     void button(const std::string& name, std::function<void(guecs::Modifiers mods)> cb);
@@ -44,7 +47,6 @@ namespace animator {
     sf::RenderWindow $window;
     sf::Vector2f $pos{0,0};
     sf::Vector2f $scale{0,0};
-    std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> $sprite = nullptr;
     animate2::Animate2 $anim;
     std::string $sprite_name="";
     std::string $anim_name="";