Looping Animations (VX Ace)

#========================================================================
# LOOPING ANIMATIONS
# Version 1.0
# Author: Shaz
#------------------------------------------------------------------------
# DESCRIPTION
# Allows you to set an animation (from the Animation database) on an
# event to loop endlessly, optionally starting on a specific frame.
#------------------------------------------------------------------------
# TO INSTALL
# Copy and paste into a new slot in Materials.
# This script overwrites Sprite_Character.setup_new_effect and
# Sprite_Character.end_animation and should be placed above any
# other scripts that alias those methods.
# No customization necessary.
#------------------------------------------------------------------------
# TO USE
# Call the method start_anim_loop(anim_id[, start_frame]) on the character
# (which could be the player, a follower, a vehicle or an event) to start
# a looping animation.
# When starting at a frame other than 1, only the first play will start at
# that frame - when it finishes, it will go back to frame 1 to play again.
# Call the method end_anim_loop on the character to stop it repeating after
# the current loop is finished.
#------------------------------------------------------------------------
# EXAMPLES
# $game_player.start_anim_loop(15) - to loop animation 15 on the player
# $game_map.events[5].start_anim_loop(8, 20) - to play animation 15 on
#   event 5, starting at frame 20 for the first pass
# Set Move Route (EV015): start_anim_loop(3, 10) - to use a move route to play
#   animation 3 on event 15, starting at frame 10 for the first pass
# $game_player.end_anim_loop - to stop looping animation on player
# Set Move Route (EV015): end_anim_loop - to stop the animation looping
#   on event 15
#------------------------------------------------------------------------
# VERSIONS
# 20 July 2013  1.0   Initial Release
#  7 Feb  2014  1.1   Fixed slight delay between ending/restarting
#========================================================================

class Game_CharacterBase
  attr_reader   :loop_animation           # animation loops
  attr_accessor :start_frame              # animation start frame

  alias shaz_ra_init_public_members init_public_members

  def init_public_members
    shaz_ra_init_public_members
    @loop_animation = false
    @start_frame = 1
  end

  def start_anim_loop(anim_id, start_frame = 1)
    @loop_animation = true
    @animation_id = anim_id
    @start_frame = start_frame
  end

  def end_anim_loop
    @loop_animation = false
  end
end

class Sprite_Character < Sprite_Base
  def setup_new_effect
    if !animation? && @character.animation_id > 0
      animation = $data_animations[@character.animation_id]
      start_animation(animation)
      if @character.start_frame != 1
        @ani_duration = (animation.frame_max - @character.start_frame) * @ani_rate + 1
        @character.start_frame = 1
      end
    end

    if !@balloon_sprite && @character.balloon_id > 0
      @balloon_id = @character.balloon_id
      start_balloon
    end
  end

  def end_animation
    if @character.loop_animation
      @ani_duration = @animation.frame_max * @ani_rate + 1
    else
      super
      @character.animation_id = 0
    end
  end
end