diff --git a/client/render/CDefFile.cpp b/client/render/CDefFile.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31a18f5e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/CDefFile.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,1304 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.cpp, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#include "StdInc.h"
+#include "CAnimation.h"
+
+#include "SDL_Extensions.h"
+#include "ColorFilter.h"
+
+#include "../CBitmapHandler.h"
+#include "../Graphics.h"
+
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/Filesystem.h"
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/ISimpleResourceLoader.h"
+#include "../../lib/JsonNode.h"
+#include "../../lib/CRandomGenerator.h"
+#include "../../lib/vcmi_endian.h"
+
+#include <SDL_surface.h>
+
+class SDLImageLoader;
+
+typedef std::map <size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, IImage* > image_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, image_map > group_map;
+
+/// Class for def loading
+/// After loading will store general info (palette and frame offsets) and pointer to file itself
+class CDefFile
+{
+private:
+
+	PACKED_STRUCT_BEGIN
+	struct SSpriteDef
+	{
+		ui32 size;
+		ui32 format;    /// format in which pixel data is stored
+		ui32 fullWidth; /// full width and height of frame, including borders
+		ui32 fullHeight;
+		ui32 width;     /// width and height of pixel data, borders excluded
+		ui32 height;
+		si32 leftMargin;
+		si32 topMargin;
+	} PACKED_STRUCT_END;
+	//offset[group][frame] - offset of frame data in file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> > offset;
+
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>       data;
+	std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]> palette;
+
+public:
+	CDefFile(std::string Name);
+	~CDefFile();
+
+	//load frame as SDL_Surface
+	template<class ImageLoader>
+	void loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const;
+
+	const std::map<size_t, size_t> getEntries() const;
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * Wrapper around SDL_Surface
+ */
+class SDLImage : public IImage
+{
+public:
+	
+	const static int DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS = 256;
+	
+	//Surface without empty borders
+	SDL_Surface * surf;
+	//size of left and top borders
+	Point margins;
+	//total size including borders
+	Point fullSize;
+
+public:
+	//Load image from def file
+	SDLImage(CDefFile *data, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	//Load from bitmap file
+	SDLImage(std::string filename);
+
+	SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf);
+	//Create using existing surface, extraRef will increase refcount on SDL_Surface
+	SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef);
+	~SDLImage();
+
+	// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+	void savePalette();
+
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX=0, int posY=0, const Rect *src=nullptr) const override;
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const override;
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const override;
+	void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const override;
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player) override;
+	void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player) override;
+	bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const override;
+	Point dimensions() const override;
+
+	void horizontalFlip() override;
+	void verticalFlip() override;
+
+	void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) override;
+	void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) override;
+	void resetPalette(int colorID) override;
+	void resetPalette() override;
+
+	void setAlpha(uint8_t value) override;
+
+	void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) override;
+
+	friend class SDLImageLoader;
+
+private:
+	SDL_Palette * originalPalette;
+};
+
+class SDLImageLoader
+{
+	SDLImage * image;
+	ui8 * lineStart;
+	ui8 * position;
+public:
+	//load size raw pixels from data
+	inline void Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data);
+	//set size pixels to color
+	inline void Load(size_t size, ui8 color=0);
+	inline void EndLine();
+	//init image with these sizes and palette
+	inline void init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal);
+
+	SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img);
+	~SDLImageLoader();
+};
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromFile( const std::string & path )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(path));
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(source, true));
+}
+
+// Extremely simple file cache. TODO: smarter, more general solution
+class CFileCache
+{
+	static const int cacheSize = 50; //Max number of cached files
+	struct FileData
+	{
+		ResourceID             name;
+		size_t                 size;
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data;
+
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCopy()
+		{
+			auto ret = std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>(new ui8[size]);
+			std::copy(data.get(), data.get() + size, ret.get());
+			return ret;
+		}
+		FileData(ResourceID name_, size_t size_, std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data_):
+			name{std::move(name_)},
+			size{size_},
+			data{std::move(data_)}
+		{}
+	};
+
+	std::deque<FileData> cache;
+public:
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCachedFile(ResourceID rid)
+	{
+		for(auto & file : cache)
+		{
+			if (file.name == rid)
+				return file.getCopy();
+		}
+		// Still here? Cache miss
+		if (cache.size() > cacheSize)
+			cache.pop_front();
+
+		auto data =  CResourceHandler::get()->load(rid)->readAll();
+
+		cache.emplace_back(std::move(rid), data.second, std::move(data.first));
+
+		return cache.back().getCopy();
+	}
+};
+
+enum class DefType : uint32_t
+{
+	SPELL = 0x40,
+	SPRITE = 0x41,
+	CREATURE = 0x42,
+	MAP = 0x43,
+	MAP_HERO = 0x44,
+	TERRAIN = 0x45,
+	CURSOR = 0x46,
+	INTERFACE = 0x47,
+	SPRITE_FRAME = 0x48,
+	BATTLE_HERO = 0x49
+};
+
+static CFileCache animationCache;
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  DefFile, class used for def loading                                  *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+bool operator== (const SDL_Color & lhs, const SDL_Color & rhs)
+{
+	return (lhs.a == rhs.a) && (lhs.b == rhs.b) &&(lhs.g == rhs.g) &&(lhs.r == rhs.r);
+}
+
+CDefFile::CDefFile(std::string Name):
+	data(nullptr),
+	palette(nullptr)
+{
+	//First 8 colors in def palette used for transparency
+	static SDL_Color H3Palette[8] =
+	{
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// transparency                  ( used in most images )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// selection                     ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body   below selection ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64} // shadow border below selection ( used in battle def's )
+	};
+	data = animationCache.getCachedFile(ResourceID(std::string("SPRITES/") + Name, EResType::ANIMATION));
+
+	palette = std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]>(new SDL_Color[256]);
+	int it = 0;
+
+	ui32 type = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+	//int width  = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;//not used
+	//int height = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;
+	it+=8;
+	ui32 totalBlocks = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+
+	for (ui32 i= 0; i<256; i++)
+	{
+		palette[i].r = data[it++];
+		palette[i].g = data[it++];
+		palette[i].b = data[it++];
+		palette[i].a = SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE;
+	}
+
+	switch(static_cast<DefType>(type))
+	{
+	case DefType::SPELL:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::SPRITE:
+	case DefType::SPRITE_FRAME:
+		for(ui32 i= 0; i<8; i++)
+			palette[i] = H3Palette[i];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CREATURE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		palette[5] = H3Palette[5];
+		palette[6] = H3Palette[6];
+		palette[7] = H3Palette[7];
+		break;
+	case DefType::MAP:
+	case DefType::MAP_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//5 = owner flag, handled separately
+		break;
+	case DefType::TERRAIN:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[2] = H3Palette[2];
+		palette[3] = H3Palette[3];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CURSOR:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::INTERFACE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//player colors handled separately
+		//TODO: disallow colorizing other def types
+		break;
+	case DefType::BATTLE_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	default:
+		logAnim->error("Unknown def type %d in %s", type, Name);
+		break;
+	}
+
+
+	for (ui32 i=0; i<totalBlocks; i++)
+	{
+		size_t blockID = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=4;
+		size_t totalEntries = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=12;
+		//8 unknown bytes - skipping
+
+		//13 bytes for name of every frame in this block - not used, skipping
+		it+= 13 * (int)totalEntries;
+
+		for (ui32 j=0; j<totalEntries; j++)
+		{
+			size_t currOffset = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+			offset[blockID].push_back(currOffset);
+			it += 4;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+template<class ImageLoader>
+void CDefFile::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> >::const_iterator it;
+	it = offset.find(group);
+	assert (it != offset.end());
+
+	const ui8 * FDef = data.get()+it->second[frame];
+
+	const SSpriteDef sd = * reinterpret_cast<const SSpriteDef *>(FDef);
+	SSpriteDef sprite;
+
+	sprite.format = read_le_u32(&sd.format);
+	sprite.fullWidth = read_le_u32(&sd.fullWidth);
+	sprite.fullHeight = read_le_u32(&sd.fullHeight);
+	sprite.width = read_le_u32(&sd.width);
+	sprite.height = read_le_u32(&sd.height);
+	sprite.leftMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.leftMargin);
+	sprite.topMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.topMargin);
+
+	ui32 currentOffset = sizeof(SSpriteDef);
+
+	//special case for some "old" format defs (SGTWMTA.DEF and SGTWMTB.DEF)
+
+	if(sprite.format == 1 && sprite.width > sprite.fullWidth && sprite.height > sprite.fullHeight)
+	{
+		sprite.leftMargin = 0;
+		sprite.topMargin = 0;
+		sprite.width = sprite.fullWidth;
+		sprite.height = sprite.fullHeight;
+
+		currentOffset -= 16;
+	}
+
+	const ui32 BaseOffset = currentOffset;
+
+	loader.init(Point(sprite.width, sprite.height),
+				Point(sprite.leftMargin, sprite.topMargin),
+				Point(sprite.fullWidth, sprite.fullHeight), palette.get());
+
+	switch(sprite.format)
+	{
+	case 0:
+		{
+			//pixel data is not compressed, copy data to surface
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				loader.Load(sprite.width, FDef + currentOffset);
+				currentOffset += sprite.width;
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 1:
+		{
+			//for each line we have offset of pixel data
+			const ui32 * RWEntriesLoc = reinterpret_cast<const ui32 *>(FDef+currentOffset);
+			currentOffset += sizeof(ui32) * sprite.height;
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				//get position of the line
+				currentOffset=BaseOffset + read_le_u32(RWEntriesLoc + i);
+				ui32 TotalRowLength = 0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segmentType = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui32 length = FDef[currentOffset++] + 1;
+
+					if(segmentType==0xFF)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset+=length;
+					}
+					else// RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, segmentType);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 2:
+		{
+			currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset);
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment=FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength+=length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 3:
+		{
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset+i*2*(sprite.width/32));
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	default:
+	logGlobal->error("Error: unsupported format of def file: %d", sprite.format);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+CDefFile::~CDefFile() = default;
+
+const std::map<size_t, size_t > CDefFile::getEntries() const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, size_t > ret;
+
+	for (auto & elem : offset)
+		ret[elem.first] =  elem.second.size();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for image loaders - helpers for loading from def files       *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+SDLImageLoader::SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img):
+	image(Img),
+	lineStart(nullptr),
+	position(nullptr)
+{
+}
+
+void SDLImageLoader::init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal)
+{
+	//Init image
+	image->surf = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, SpriteSize.x, SpriteSize.y, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	image->margins  = Margins;
+	image->fullSize = FullSize;
+
+	//Prepare surface
+	SDL_Palette * p = SDL_AllocPalette(SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(p, pal, 0, SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetSurfacePalette(image->surf, p);
+	SDL_FreePalette(p);
+
+	SDL_LockSurface(image->surf);
+	lineStart = position = (ui8*)image->surf->pixels;
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memcpy((void *)position, data, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, ui8 color)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memset((void *)position, color, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::EndLine()
+{
+	lineStart += image->surf->pitch;
+	position = lineStart;
+}
+
+SDLImageLoader::~SDLImageLoader()
+{
+	SDL_UnlockSurface(image->surf);
+	SDL_SetColorKey(image->surf, SDL_TRUE, 0);
+	//TODO: RLE if compressed and bpp>1
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for images, support loading from file and drawing on surface *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+IImage::IImage() = default;
+IImage::~IImage() = default;
+
+int IImage::width() const
+{
+	return dimensions().x;
+}
+
+int IImage::height() const
+{
+	return dimensions().y;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(CDefFile * data, size_t frame, size_t group)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	SDLImageLoader loader(this);
+	data->loadFrame(frame, group, loader);
+
+	savePalette();
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = from;
+	if (surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	if (extraRef)
+		surf->refcount++;
+	fullSize.x = surf->w;
+	fullSize.y = surf->h;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	std::string filename = conf["file"].String();
+
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	const JsonNode & jsonMargins = conf["margins"];
+
+	margins.x = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["left"].Integer());
+	margins.y = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["top"].Integer());
+
+	fullSize.x = static_cast<int>(conf["width"].Integer());
+	fullSize.y = static_cast<int>(conf["height"].Integer());
+
+	if(fullSize.x == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.x = margins.x + surf->w + (int)jsonMargins["right"].Integer();
+	}
+
+	if(fullSize.y == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.y = margins.y + surf->h + (int)jsonMargins["bottom"].Integer();
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(std::string filename)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Error: failed to load image %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		savePalette();
+		fullSize.x = surf->w;
+		fullSize.y = surf->h;
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface *where, int posX, int posY, const Rect *src) const
+{
+	if(!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect destRect(posX, posY, surf->w, surf->h);
+	draw(where, &destRect, src);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface* where, const Rect * dest, const Rect* src) const
+{
+	if (!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect sourceRect(0, 0, surf->w, surf->h);
+
+	Point destShift(0, 0);
+
+	if(src)
+	{
+		if(src->x < margins.x)
+			destShift.x += margins.x - src->x;
+
+		if(src->y < margins.y)
+			destShift.y += margins.y - src->y;
+
+		sourceRect = Rect(*src).intersect(Rect(margins.x, margins.y, surf->w, surf->h));
+
+		sourceRect -= margins;
+	}
+	else
+		destShift = margins;
+
+	if(dest)
+		destShift += dest->topLeft();
+
+	uint8_t perSurfaceAlpha;
+	if (SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod(surf, &perSurfaceAlpha) != 0)
+		logGlobal->error("SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod faied! %s", SDL_GetError());
+
+	if(surf->format->BitsPerPixel == 8 && perSurfaceAlpha == SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blit8bppAlphaTo24bpp(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> SDLImage::scaleFast(const Point & size) const
+{
+	float scaleX = float(size.x) / width();
+	float scaleY = float(size.y) / height();
+
+	auto scaled = CSDL_Ext::scaleSurfaceFast(surf, (int)(surf->w * scaleX), (int)(surf->h * scaleY));
+
+	if (scaled->format && scaled->format->palette) // fix color keying, because SDL loses it at this point
+		CSDL_Ext::setColorKey(scaled, scaled->format->palette->colors[0]);
+	else if(scaled->format && scaled->format->Amask)
+		SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(scaled, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);//just in case
+	else
+		CSDL_Ext::setDefaultColorKey(scaled);//just in case
+
+	SDLImage * ret = new SDLImage(scaled, false);
+
+	ret->fullSize.x = (int) round((float)fullSize.x * scaleX);
+	ret->fullSize.y = (int) round((float)fullSize.y * scaleY);
+
+	ret->margins.x = (int) round((float)margins.x * scaleX);
+	ret->margins.y = (int) round((float)margins.y * scaleY);
+
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(ret);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	SDL_SaveBMP(surf, path.string().c_str());
+}
+
+void SDLImage::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	graphics->blueToPlayersAdv(surf, player);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setAlpha(uint8_t value)
+{
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha (surf, value);
+	SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(surf, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	if(player < PlayerColor::PLAYER_LIMIT || player==PlayerColor::NEUTRAL)
+		CSDL_Ext::setPlayerColor(surf, player);
+}
+
+bool SDLImage::isTransparent(const Point & coords) const
+{
+	return CSDL_Ext::isTransparent(surf, coords.x, coords.y);
+}
+
+Point SDLImage::dimensions() const
+{
+	return fullSize;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	margins.y = fullSize.y - surf->h - margins.y;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::horizontalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::verticalFlip()
+{
+	margins.x = fullSize.x - surf->w - margins.x;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::verticalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+void SDLImage::savePalette()
+{
+	// For some images that don't have palette, skip this
+	if(surf->format->palette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		originalPalette = SDL_AllocPalette(DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(originalPalette, surf->format->palette->colors, 0, DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::shiftPalette(int from, int howMany)
+{
+	//works with at most 16 colors, if needed more -> increase values
+	assert(howMany < 16);
+
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		SDL_Color palette[16];
+
+		for(int i=0; i<howMany; ++i)
+		{
+			palette[(i+1)%howMany] = surf->format->palette->colors[from + i];
+		}
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, palette, from, howMany);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip)
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	SDL_Palette* palette = surf->format->palette;
+
+	// Note: here we skip first colors in the palette that are predefined in H3 images
+	for(int i = colorsToSkip; i < palette->ncolors; i++)
+	{
+		palette->colors[i] = shifter.shiftColor(originalPalette->colors[i]);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette()
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+	
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors, 0, originalPalette->ncolors);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette( int colorID )
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors + colorID, colorID, 1);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setSpecialPallete(const IImage::SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette)
+{
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, const_cast<SDL_Color *>(SpecialPalette.data()), 1, 7);
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::~SDLImage()
+{
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+
+	if(originalPalette != nullptr)
+	{
+		SDL_FreePalette(originalPalette);
+		originalPalette = nullptr;
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getFromExtraDef(std::string filename)
+{
+	size_t pos = filename.find(':');
+	if (pos == -1)
+		return nullptr;
+	CAnimation anim(filename.substr(0, pos));
+	pos++;
+	size_t frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	size_t group = 0;
+	pos = filename.find(':', pos);
+	if (pos != -1)
+	{
+		pos++;
+		group = frame;
+		frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	}
+	anim.load(frame ,group);
+	auto ret = anim.images[group][frame];
+	anim.images.clear();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if(size(group) <= frame)
+	{
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	//try to get image from def
+	if(source[group][frame].getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		if(defFile)
+		{
+			auto frameList = defFile->getEntries();
+
+			if(vstd::contains(frameList, group) && frameList.at(group) > frame) // frame is present
+			{
+				images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(defFile.get(), frame, group);
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		// still here? image is missing
+
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>("DEFAULT");
+	}
+	else //load from separate file
+	{
+		auto img = getFromExtraDef(source[group][frame]["file"].String());
+		if(!img)
+			img = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(source[group][frame]);
+
+		images[group][frame] = img;
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		images[group].erase(frame);
+
+		if(images[group].empty())
+			images.erase(group);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::initFromJson(const JsonNode & config)
+{
+	std::string basepath;
+	basepath = config["basepath"].String();
+
+	JsonNode base(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+	base["margins"] = config["margins"];
+	base["width"] = config["width"];
+	base["height"] = config["height"];
+
+	for(const JsonNode & group : config["sequences"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t groupID = group["group"].Integer();//TODO: string-to-value conversion("moving" -> MOVING)
+		source[groupID].clear();
+
+		for(const JsonNode & frame : group["frames"].Vector())
+		{
+			JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+			JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+			toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + frame.String();
+			source[groupID].push_back(toAdd);
+		}
+	}
+
+	for(const JsonNode & node : config["images"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t group = node["group"].Integer();
+		size_t frame = node["frame"].Integer();
+
+		if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+			source[group].resize(frame+1);
+
+		JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+		JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+		toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + node["file"].String();
+		source[group][frame] = toAdd;
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	if(images.empty())
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Nothing to export, animation is empty");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	boost::filesystem::path actualPath = path / "SPRITES" / name;
+	boost::filesystem::create_directories(actualPath);
+
+	size_t counter = 0;
+
+	for(const auto & groupPair : images)
+	{
+		size_t group = groupPair.first;
+
+		for(const auto & imagePair : groupPair.second)
+		{
+			size_t frame = imagePair.first;
+			const auto img = imagePair.second;
+
+			boost::format fmt("%d_%d.bmp");
+			fmt % group % frame;
+
+			img->exportBitmap(actualPath / fmt.str());
+			counter++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	logGlobal->info("Exported %d frames to %s", counter, actualPath.string());
+}
+
+void CAnimation::init()
+{
+	if(defFile)
+	{
+		const std::map<size_t, size_t> defEntries = defFile->getEntries();
+
+		for (auto & defEntry : defEntries)
+			source[defEntry.first].resize(defEntry.second);
+	}
+
+	ResourceID resID(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::TEXT);
+
+	if (vstd::contains(graphics->imageLists, resID.getName()))
+		initFromJson(graphics->imageLists[resID.getName()]);
+
+	auto configList = CResourceHandler::get()->getResourcesWithName(resID);
+
+	for(auto & loader : configList)
+	{
+		auto stream = loader->load(resID);
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> textData(new ui8[stream->getSize()]);
+		stream->read(textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		const JsonNode config((char*)textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		initFromJson(config);
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const
+{
+	logGlobal->error("%s error: Request for frame not present in CAnimation! File name: %s, Group: %d, Frame: %d", type, name, group, frame);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation(std::string Name):
+	name(Name),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	size_t dotPos = name.find_last_of('.');
+	if ( dotPos!=-1 )
+		name.erase(dotPos);
+	std::transform(name.begin(), name.end(), name.begin(), toupper);
+
+	ResourceID resource(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::ANIMATION);
+
+	if(CResourceHandler::get()->existsResource(resource))
+		defFile = std::make_shared<CDefFile>(name);
+
+	init();
+
+	if(source.empty())
+		logAnim->error("Animation %s failed to load", Name);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation():
+	name(""),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	init();
+}
+
+CAnimation::~CAnimation() = default;
+
+void CAnimation::duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	if(!source.count(sourceGroup))
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Group %d missing in %s", sourceGroup, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(source[sourceGroup].size() <= sourceFrame)
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Frame [%d %d] missing in %s", sourceGroup, sourceFrame, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	//todo: clone actual loaded Image object
+	JsonNode clone(source[sourceGroup][sourceFrame]);
+
+	if(clone.getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		std::string temp =  name+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceGroup)+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceFrame);
+		clone["file"].String() = temp;
+	}
+
+	source[targetGroup].push_back(clone);
+
+	size_t index = source[targetGroup].size() - 1;
+
+	if(preloaded)
+		load(index, targetGroup);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+		source[group].resize(frame+1);
+	source[group][frame]["file"].String() = filename;
+	//FIXME: update image if already loaded
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getImage(size_t frame, size_t group, bool verbose) const
+{
+	auto groupIter = images.find(group);
+	if (groupIter != images.end())
+	{
+		auto imageIter = groupIter->second.find(frame);
+		if (imageIter != groupIter->second.end())
+			return imageIter->second;
+	}
+	if (verbose)
+		printError(frame, group, "GetImage");
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, elem.first);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, elem.first);
+
+}
+
+void CAnimation::preload()
+{
+	if(!preloaded)
+	{
+		preloaded = true;
+		load();
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::loadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unloadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	loadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	unloadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+size_t CAnimation::size(size_t group) const
+{
+	auto iter = source.find(group);
+	if (iter != source.end())
+		return iter->second.size();
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->horizontalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::verticalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->verticalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->playerColored(player);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	for(size_t frame = 0; frame < size(sourceGroup); ++frame)
+	{
+		duplicateImage(sourceGroup, frame, targetGroup);
+
+		auto image = getImage(frame, targetGroup);
+		image->verticalFlip();
+	}
+}
+
+float CFadeAnimation::initialCounter() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return 1.0f;
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::update()
+{
+	if (!fading)
+		return;
+
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		fadingCounter -= delta;
+	else
+		fadingCounter += delta;
+
+	if (isFinished())
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		if (shouldFreeSurface)
+		{
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+			fadingSurface = nullptr;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+bool CFadeAnimation::isFinished() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return fadingCounter <= 0.0f;
+	return fadingCounter >= 1.0f;
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::CFadeAnimation()
+	: delta(0),	fadingSurface(nullptr), fading(false), fadingCounter(0), shouldFreeSurface(false),
+	  fadingMode(EMode::NONE)
+{
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::~CFadeAnimation()
+{
+	if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+		SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd, float animDelta)
+{
+	if (fading)
+	{
+		// in that case, immediately finish the previous fade
+		// (alternatively, we could just return here to ignore the new fade request until this one finished (but we'd need to free the passed bitmap to avoid leaks))
+		logGlobal->warn("Tried to init fading animation that is already running.");
+		if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+	}
+	if (animDelta <= 0.0f)
+	{
+		logGlobal->warn("Fade anim: delta should be positive; %f given.", animDelta);
+		animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA;
+	}
+
+	if (sourceSurface)
+		fadingSurface = sourceSurface;
+
+	delta = animDelta;
+	fadingMode = mode;
+	fadingCounter = initialCounter();
+	fading = true;
+	shouldFreeSurface = freeSurfaceAtEnd;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point &targetPoint)
+{
+	if (!fading || !fadingSurface || fadingMode == EMode::NONE)
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, (int)(fadingCounter * 255));
+	CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(fadingSurface, targetSurface, targetPoint); //FIXME
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, 255);
+}
diff --git a/client/render/CFadeAnimation.cpp b/client/render/CFadeAnimation.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31a18f5e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/CFadeAnimation.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,1304 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.cpp, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#include "StdInc.h"
+#include "CAnimation.h"
+
+#include "SDL_Extensions.h"
+#include "ColorFilter.h"
+
+#include "../CBitmapHandler.h"
+#include "../Graphics.h"
+
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/Filesystem.h"
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/ISimpleResourceLoader.h"
+#include "../../lib/JsonNode.h"
+#include "../../lib/CRandomGenerator.h"
+#include "../../lib/vcmi_endian.h"
+
+#include <SDL_surface.h>
+
+class SDLImageLoader;
+
+typedef std::map <size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, IImage* > image_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, image_map > group_map;
+
+/// Class for def loading
+/// After loading will store general info (palette and frame offsets) and pointer to file itself
+class CDefFile
+{
+private:
+
+	PACKED_STRUCT_BEGIN
+	struct SSpriteDef
+	{
+		ui32 size;
+		ui32 format;    /// format in which pixel data is stored
+		ui32 fullWidth; /// full width and height of frame, including borders
+		ui32 fullHeight;
+		ui32 width;     /// width and height of pixel data, borders excluded
+		ui32 height;
+		si32 leftMargin;
+		si32 topMargin;
+	} PACKED_STRUCT_END;
+	//offset[group][frame] - offset of frame data in file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> > offset;
+
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>       data;
+	std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]> palette;
+
+public:
+	CDefFile(std::string Name);
+	~CDefFile();
+
+	//load frame as SDL_Surface
+	template<class ImageLoader>
+	void loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const;
+
+	const std::map<size_t, size_t> getEntries() const;
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * Wrapper around SDL_Surface
+ */
+class SDLImage : public IImage
+{
+public:
+	
+	const static int DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS = 256;
+	
+	//Surface without empty borders
+	SDL_Surface * surf;
+	//size of left and top borders
+	Point margins;
+	//total size including borders
+	Point fullSize;
+
+public:
+	//Load image from def file
+	SDLImage(CDefFile *data, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	//Load from bitmap file
+	SDLImage(std::string filename);
+
+	SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf);
+	//Create using existing surface, extraRef will increase refcount on SDL_Surface
+	SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef);
+	~SDLImage();
+
+	// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+	void savePalette();
+
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX=0, int posY=0, const Rect *src=nullptr) const override;
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const override;
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const override;
+	void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const override;
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player) override;
+	void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player) override;
+	bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const override;
+	Point dimensions() const override;
+
+	void horizontalFlip() override;
+	void verticalFlip() override;
+
+	void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) override;
+	void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) override;
+	void resetPalette(int colorID) override;
+	void resetPalette() override;
+
+	void setAlpha(uint8_t value) override;
+
+	void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) override;
+
+	friend class SDLImageLoader;
+
+private:
+	SDL_Palette * originalPalette;
+};
+
+class SDLImageLoader
+{
+	SDLImage * image;
+	ui8 * lineStart;
+	ui8 * position;
+public:
+	//load size raw pixels from data
+	inline void Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data);
+	//set size pixels to color
+	inline void Load(size_t size, ui8 color=0);
+	inline void EndLine();
+	//init image with these sizes and palette
+	inline void init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal);
+
+	SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img);
+	~SDLImageLoader();
+};
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromFile( const std::string & path )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(path));
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(source, true));
+}
+
+// Extremely simple file cache. TODO: smarter, more general solution
+class CFileCache
+{
+	static const int cacheSize = 50; //Max number of cached files
+	struct FileData
+	{
+		ResourceID             name;
+		size_t                 size;
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data;
+
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCopy()
+		{
+			auto ret = std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>(new ui8[size]);
+			std::copy(data.get(), data.get() + size, ret.get());
+			return ret;
+		}
+		FileData(ResourceID name_, size_t size_, std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data_):
+			name{std::move(name_)},
+			size{size_},
+			data{std::move(data_)}
+		{}
+	};
+
+	std::deque<FileData> cache;
+public:
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCachedFile(ResourceID rid)
+	{
+		for(auto & file : cache)
+		{
+			if (file.name == rid)
+				return file.getCopy();
+		}
+		// Still here? Cache miss
+		if (cache.size() > cacheSize)
+			cache.pop_front();
+
+		auto data =  CResourceHandler::get()->load(rid)->readAll();
+
+		cache.emplace_back(std::move(rid), data.second, std::move(data.first));
+
+		return cache.back().getCopy();
+	}
+};
+
+enum class DefType : uint32_t
+{
+	SPELL = 0x40,
+	SPRITE = 0x41,
+	CREATURE = 0x42,
+	MAP = 0x43,
+	MAP_HERO = 0x44,
+	TERRAIN = 0x45,
+	CURSOR = 0x46,
+	INTERFACE = 0x47,
+	SPRITE_FRAME = 0x48,
+	BATTLE_HERO = 0x49
+};
+
+static CFileCache animationCache;
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  DefFile, class used for def loading                                  *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+bool operator== (const SDL_Color & lhs, const SDL_Color & rhs)
+{
+	return (lhs.a == rhs.a) && (lhs.b == rhs.b) &&(lhs.g == rhs.g) &&(lhs.r == rhs.r);
+}
+
+CDefFile::CDefFile(std::string Name):
+	data(nullptr),
+	palette(nullptr)
+{
+	//First 8 colors in def palette used for transparency
+	static SDL_Color H3Palette[8] =
+	{
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// transparency                  ( used in most images )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// selection                     ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body   below selection ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64} // shadow border below selection ( used in battle def's )
+	};
+	data = animationCache.getCachedFile(ResourceID(std::string("SPRITES/") + Name, EResType::ANIMATION));
+
+	palette = std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]>(new SDL_Color[256]);
+	int it = 0;
+
+	ui32 type = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+	//int width  = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;//not used
+	//int height = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;
+	it+=8;
+	ui32 totalBlocks = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+
+	for (ui32 i= 0; i<256; i++)
+	{
+		palette[i].r = data[it++];
+		palette[i].g = data[it++];
+		palette[i].b = data[it++];
+		palette[i].a = SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE;
+	}
+
+	switch(static_cast<DefType>(type))
+	{
+	case DefType::SPELL:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::SPRITE:
+	case DefType::SPRITE_FRAME:
+		for(ui32 i= 0; i<8; i++)
+			palette[i] = H3Palette[i];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CREATURE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		palette[5] = H3Palette[5];
+		palette[6] = H3Palette[6];
+		palette[7] = H3Palette[7];
+		break;
+	case DefType::MAP:
+	case DefType::MAP_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//5 = owner flag, handled separately
+		break;
+	case DefType::TERRAIN:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[2] = H3Palette[2];
+		palette[3] = H3Palette[3];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CURSOR:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::INTERFACE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//player colors handled separately
+		//TODO: disallow colorizing other def types
+		break;
+	case DefType::BATTLE_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	default:
+		logAnim->error("Unknown def type %d in %s", type, Name);
+		break;
+	}
+
+
+	for (ui32 i=0; i<totalBlocks; i++)
+	{
+		size_t blockID = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=4;
+		size_t totalEntries = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=12;
+		//8 unknown bytes - skipping
+
+		//13 bytes for name of every frame in this block - not used, skipping
+		it+= 13 * (int)totalEntries;
+
+		for (ui32 j=0; j<totalEntries; j++)
+		{
+			size_t currOffset = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+			offset[blockID].push_back(currOffset);
+			it += 4;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+template<class ImageLoader>
+void CDefFile::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> >::const_iterator it;
+	it = offset.find(group);
+	assert (it != offset.end());
+
+	const ui8 * FDef = data.get()+it->second[frame];
+
+	const SSpriteDef sd = * reinterpret_cast<const SSpriteDef *>(FDef);
+	SSpriteDef sprite;
+
+	sprite.format = read_le_u32(&sd.format);
+	sprite.fullWidth = read_le_u32(&sd.fullWidth);
+	sprite.fullHeight = read_le_u32(&sd.fullHeight);
+	sprite.width = read_le_u32(&sd.width);
+	sprite.height = read_le_u32(&sd.height);
+	sprite.leftMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.leftMargin);
+	sprite.topMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.topMargin);
+
+	ui32 currentOffset = sizeof(SSpriteDef);
+
+	//special case for some "old" format defs (SGTWMTA.DEF and SGTWMTB.DEF)
+
+	if(sprite.format == 1 && sprite.width > sprite.fullWidth && sprite.height > sprite.fullHeight)
+	{
+		sprite.leftMargin = 0;
+		sprite.topMargin = 0;
+		sprite.width = sprite.fullWidth;
+		sprite.height = sprite.fullHeight;
+
+		currentOffset -= 16;
+	}
+
+	const ui32 BaseOffset = currentOffset;
+
+	loader.init(Point(sprite.width, sprite.height),
+				Point(sprite.leftMargin, sprite.topMargin),
+				Point(sprite.fullWidth, sprite.fullHeight), palette.get());
+
+	switch(sprite.format)
+	{
+	case 0:
+		{
+			//pixel data is not compressed, copy data to surface
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				loader.Load(sprite.width, FDef + currentOffset);
+				currentOffset += sprite.width;
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 1:
+		{
+			//for each line we have offset of pixel data
+			const ui32 * RWEntriesLoc = reinterpret_cast<const ui32 *>(FDef+currentOffset);
+			currentOffset += sizeof(ui32) * sprite.height;
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				//get position of the line
+				currentOffset=BaseOffset + read_le_u32(RWEntriesLoc + i);
+				ui32 TotalRowLength = 0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segmentType = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui32 length = FDef[currentOffset++] + 1;
+
+					if(segmentType==0xFF)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset+=length;
+					}
+					else// RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, segmentType);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 2:
+		{
+			currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset);
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment=FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength+=length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 3:
+		{
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset+i*2*(sprite.width/32));
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	default:
+	logGlobal->error("Error: unsupported format of def file: %d", sprite.format);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+CDefFile::~CDefFile() = default;
+
+const std::map<size_t, size_t > CDefFile::getEntries() const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, size_t > ret;
+
+	for (auto & elem : offset)
+		ret[elem.first] =  elem.second.size();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for image loaders - helpers for loading from def files       *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+SDLImageLoader::SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img):
+	image(Img),
+	lineStart(nullptr),
+	position(nullptr)
+{
+}
+
+void SDLImageLoader::init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal)
+{
+	//Init image
+	image->surf = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, SpriteSize.x, SpriteSize.y, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	image->margins  = Margins;
+	image->fullSize = FullSize;
+
+	//Prepare surface
+	SDL_Palette * p = SDL_AllocPalette(SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(p, pal, 0, SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetSurfacePalette(image->surf, p);
+	SDL_FreePalette(p);
+
+	SDL_LockSurface(image->surf);
+	lineStart = position = (ui8*)image->surf->pixels;
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memcpy((void *)position, data, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, ui8 color)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memset((void *)position, color, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::EndLine()
+{
+	lineStart += image->surf->pitch;
+	position = lineStart;
+}
+
+SDLImageLoader::~SDLImageLoader()
+{
+	SDL_UnlockSurface(image->surf);
+	SDL_SetColorKey(image->surf, SDL_TRUE, 0);
+	//TODO: RLE if compressed and bpp>1
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for images, support loading from file and drawing on surface *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+IImage::IImage() = default;
+IImage::~IImage() = default;
+
+int IImage::width() const
+{
+	return dimensions().x;
+}
+
+int IImage::height() const
+{
+	return dimensions().y;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(CDefFile * data, size_t frame, size_t group)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	SDLImageLoader loader(this);
+	data->loadFrame(frame, group, loader);
+
+	savePalette();
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = from;
+	if (surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	if (extraRef)
+		surf->refcount++;
+	fullSize.x = surf->w;
+	fullSize.y = surf->h;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	std::string filename = conf["file"].String();
+
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	const JsonNode & jsonMargins = conf["margins"];
+
+	margins.x = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["left"].Integer());
+	margins.y = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["top"].Integer());
+
+	fullSize.x = static_cast<int>(conf["width"].Integer());
+	fullSize.y = static_cast<int>(conf["height"].Integer());
+
+	if(fullSize.x == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.x = margins.x + surf->w + (int)jsonMargins["right"].Integer();
+	}
+
+	if(fullSize.y == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.y = margins.y + surf->h + (int)jsonMargins["bottom"].Integer();
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(std::string filename)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Error: failed to load image %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		savePalette();
+		fullSize.x = surf->w;
+		fullSize.y = surf->h;
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface *where, int posX, int posY, const Rect *src) const
+{
+	if(!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect destRect(posX, posY, surf->w, surf->h);
+	draw(where, &destRect, src);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface* where, const Rect * dest, const Rect* src) const
+{
+	if (!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect sourceRect(0, 0, surf->w, surf->h);
+
+	Point destShift(0, 0);
+
+	if(src)
+	{
+		if(src->x < margins.x)
+			destShift.x += margins.x - src->x;
+
+		if(src->y < margins.y)
+			destShift.y += margins.y - src->y;
+
+		sourceRect = Rect(*src).intersect(Rect(margins.x, margins.y, surf->w, surf->h));
+
+		sourceRect -= margins;
+	}
+	else
+		destShift = margins;
+
+	if(dest)
+		destShift += dest->topLeft();
+
+	uint8_t perSurfaceAlpha;
+	if (SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod(surf, &perSurfaceAlpha) != 0)
+		logGlobal->error("SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod faied! %s", SDL_GetError());
+
+	if(surf->format->BitsPerPixel == 8 && perSurfaceAlpha == SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blit8bppAlphaTo24bpp(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> SDLImage::scaleFast(const Point & size) const
+{
+	float scaleX = float(size.x) / width();
+	float scaleY = float(size.y) / height();
+
+	auto scaled = CSDL_Ext::scaleSurfaceFast(surf, (int)(surf->w * scaleX), (int)(surf->h * scaleY));
+
+	if (scaled->format && scaled->format->palette) // fix color keying, because SDL loses it at this point
+		CSDL_Ext::setColorKey(scaled, scaled->format->palette->colors[0]);
+	else if(scaled->format && scaled->format->Amask)
+		SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(scaled, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);//just in case
+	else
+		CSDL_Ext::setDefaultColorKey(scaled);//just in case
+
+	SDLImage * ret = new SDLImage(scaled, false);
+
+	ret->fullSize.x = (int) round((float)fullSize.x * scaleX);
+	ret->fullSize.y = (int) round((float)fullSize.y * scaleY);
+
+	ret->margins.x = (int) round((float)margins.x * scaleX);
+	ret->margins.y = (int) round((float)margins.y * scaleY);
+
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(ret);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	SDL_SaveBMP(surf, path.string().c_str());
+}
+
+void SDLImage::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	graphics->blueToPlayersAdv(surf, player);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setAlpha(uint8_t value)
+{
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha (surf, value);
+	SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(surf, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	if(player < PlayerColor::PLAYER_LIMIT || player==PlayerColor::NEUTRAL)
+		CSDL_Ext::setPlayerColor(surf, player);
+}
+
+bool SDLImage::isTransparent(const Point & coords) const
+{
+	return CSDL_Ext::isTransparent(surf, coords.x, coords.y);
+}
+
+Point SDLImage::dimensions() const
+{
+	return fullSize;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	margins.y = fullSize.y - surf->h - margins.y;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::horizontalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::verticalFlip()
+{
+	margins.x = fullSize.x - surf->w - margins.x;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::verticalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+void SDLImage::savePalette()
+{
+	// For some images that don't have palette, skip this
+	if(surf->format->palette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		originalPalette = SDL_AllocPalette(DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(originalPalette, surf->format->palette->colors, 0, DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::shiftPalette(int from, int howMany)
+{
+	//works with at most 16 colors, if needed more -> increase values
+	assert(howMany < 16);
+
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		SDL_Color palette[16];
+
+		for(int i=0; i<howMany; ++i)
+		{
+			palette[(i+1)%howMany] = surf->format->palette->colors[from + i];
+		}
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, palette, from, howMany);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip)
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	SDL_Palette* palette = surf->format->palette;
+
+	// Note: here we skip first colors in the palette that are predefined in H3 images
+	for(int i = colorsToSkip; i < palette->ncolors; i++)
+	{
+		palette->colors[i] = shifter.shiftColor(originalPalette->colors[i]);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette()
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+	
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors, 0, originalPalette->ncolors);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette( int colorID )
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors + colorID, colorID, 1);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setSpecialPallete(const IImage::SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette)
+{
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, const_cast<SDL_Color *>(SpecialPalette.data()), 1, 7);
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::~SDLImage()
+{
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+
+	if(originalPalette != nullptr)
+	{
+		SDL_FreePalette(originalPalette);
+		originalPalette = nullptr;
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getFromExtraDef(std::string filename)
+{
+	size_t pos = filename.find(':');
+	if (pos == -1)
+		return nullptr;
+	CAnimation anim(filename.substr(0, pos));
+	pos++;
+	size_t frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	size_t group = 0;
+	pos = filename.find(':', pos);
+	if (pos != -1)
+	{
+		pos++;
+		group = frame;
+		frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	}
+	anim.load(frame ,group);
+	auto ret = anim.images[group][frame];
+	anim.images.clear();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if(size(group) <= frame)
+	{
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	//try to get image from def
+	if(source[group][frame].getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		if(defFile)
+		{
+			auto frameList = defFile->getEntries();
+
+			if(vstd::contains(frameList, group) && frameList.at(group) > frame) // frame is present
+			{
+				images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(defFile.get(), frame, group);
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		// still here? image is missing
+
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>("DEFAULT");
+	}
+	else //load from separate file
+	{
+		auto img = getFromExtraDef(source[group][frame]["file"].String());
+		if(!img)
+			img = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(source[group][frame]);
+
+		images[group][frame] = img;
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		images[group].erase(frame);
+
+		if(images[group].empty())
+			images.erase(group);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::initFromJson(const JsonNode & config)
+{
+	std::string basepath;
+	basepath = config["basepath"].String();
+
+	JsonNode base(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+	base["margins"] = config["margins"];
+	base["width"] = config["width"];
+	base["height"] = config["height"];
+
+	for(const JsonNode & group : config["sequences"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t groupID = group["group"].Integer();//TODO: string-to-value conversion("moving" -> MOVING)
+		source[groupID].clear();
+
+		for(const JsonNode & frame : group["frames"].Vector())
+		{
+			JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+			JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+			toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + frame.String();
+			source[groupID].push_back(toAdd);
+		}
+	}
+
+	for(const JsonNode & node : config["images"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t group = node["group"].Integer();
+		size_t frame = node["frame"].Integer();
+
+		if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+			source[group].resize(frame+1);
+
+		JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+		JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+		toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + node["file"].String();
+		source[group][frame] = toAdd;
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	if(images.empty())
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Nothing to export, animation is empty");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	boost::filesystem::path actualPath = path / "SPRITES" / name;
+	boost::filesystem::create_directories(actualPath);
+
+	size_t counter = 0;
+
+	for(const auto & groupPair : images)
+	{
+		size_t group = groupPair.first;
+
+		for(const auto & imagePair : groupPair.second)
+		{
+			size_t frame = imagePair.first;
+			const auto img = imagePair.second;
+
+			boost::format fmt("%d_%d.bmp");
+			fmt % group % frame;
+
+			img->exportBitmap(actualPath / fmt.str());
+			counter++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	logGlobal->info("Exported %d frames to %s", counter, actualPath.string());
+}
+
+void CAnimation::init()
+{
+	if(defFile)
+	{
+		const std::map<size_t, size_t> defEntries = defFile->getEntries();
+
+		for (auto & defEntry : defEntries)
+			source[defEntry.first].resize(defEntry.second);
+	}
+
+	ResourceID resID(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::TEXT);
+
+	if (vstd::contains(graphics->imageLists, resID.getName()))
+		initFromJson(graphics->imageLists[resID.getName()]);
+
+	auto configList = CResourceHandler::get()->getResourcesWithName(resID);
+
+	for(auto & loader : configList)
+	{
+		auto stream = loader->load(resID);
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> textData(new ui8[stream->getSize()]);
+		stream->read(textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		const JsonNode config((char*)textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		initFromJson(config);
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const
+{
+	logGlobal->error("%s error: Request for frame not present in CAnimation! File name: %s, Group: %d, Frame: %d", type, name, group, frame);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation(std::string Name):
+	name(Name),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	size_t dotPos = name.find_last_of('.');
+	if ( dotPos!=-1 )
+		name.erase(dotPos);
+	std::transform(name.begin(), name.end(), name.begin(), toupper);
+
+	ResourceID resource(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::ANIMATION);
+
+	if(CResourceHandler::get()->existsResource(resource))
+		defFile = std::make_shared<CDefFile>(name);
+
+	init();
+
+	if(source.empty())
+		logAnim->error("Animation %s failed to load", Name);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation():
+	name(""),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	init();
+}
+
+CAnimation::~CAnimation() = default;
+
+void CAnimation::duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	if(!source.count(sourceGroup))
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Group %d missing in %s", sourceGroup, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(source[sourceGroup].size() <= sourceFrame)
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Frame [%d %d] missing in %s", sourceGroup, sourceFrame, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	//todo: clone actual loaded Image object
+	JsonNode clone(source[sourceGroup][sourceFrame]);
+
+	if(clone.getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		std::string temp =  name+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceGroup)+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceFrame);
+		clone["file"].String() = temp;
+	}
+
+	source[targetGroup].push_back(clone);
+
+	size_t index = source[targetGroup].size() - 1;
+
+	if(preloaded)
+		load(index, targetGroup);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+		source[group].resize(frame+1);
+	source[group][frame]["file"].String() = filename;
+	//FIXME: update image if already loaded
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getImage(size_t frame, size_t group, bool verbose) const
+{
+	auto groupIter = images.find(group);
+	if (groupIter != images.end())
+	{
+		auto imageIter = groupIter->second.find(frame);
+		if (imageIter != groupIter->second.end())
+			return imageIter->second;
+	}
+	if (verbose)
+		printError(frame, group, "GetImage");
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, elem.first);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, elem.first);
+
+}
+
+void CAnimation::preload()
+{
+	if(!preloaded)
+	{
+		preloaded = true;
+		load();
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::loadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unloadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	loadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	unloadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+size_t CAnimation::size(size_t group) const
+{
+	auto iter = source.find(group);
+	if (iter != source.end())
+		return iter->second.size();
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->horizontalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::verticalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->verticalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->playerColored(player);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	for(size_t frame = 0; frame < size(sourceGroup); ++frame)
+	{
+		duplicateImage(sourceGroup, frame, targetGroup);
+
+		auto image = getImage(frame, targetGroup);
+		image->verticalFlip();
+	}
+}
+
+float CFadeAnimation::initialCounter() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return 1.0f;
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::update()
+{
+	if (!fading)
+		return;
+
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		fadingCounter -= delta;
+	else
+		fadingCounter += delta;
+
+	if (isFinished())
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		if (shouldFreeSurface)
+		{
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+			fadingSurface = nullptr;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+bool CFadeAnimation::isFinished() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return fadingCounter <= 0.0f;
+	return fadingCounter >= 1.0f;
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::CFadeAnimation()
+	: delta(0),	fadingSurface(nullptr), fading(false), fadingCounter(0), shouldFreeSurface(false),
+	  fadingMode(EMode::NONE)
+{
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::~CFadeAnimation()
+{
+	if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+		SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd, float animDelta)
+{
+	if (fading)
+	{
+		// in that case, immediately finish the previous fade
+		// (alternatively, we could just return here to ignore the new fade request until this one finished (but we'd need to free the passed bitmap to avoid leaks))
+		logGlobal->warn("Tried to init fading animation that is already running.");
+		if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+	}
+	if (animDelta <= 0.0f)
+	{
+		logGlobal->warn("Fade anim: delta should be positive; %f given.", animDelta);
+		animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA;
+	}
+
+	if (sourceSurface)
+		fadingSurface = sourceSurface;
+
+	delta = animDelta;
+	fadingMode = mode;
+	fadingCounter = initialCounter();
+	fading = true;
+	shouldFreeSurface = freeSurfaceAtEnd;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point &targetPoint)
+{
+	if (!fading || !fadingSurface || fadingMode == EMode::NONE)
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, (int)(fadingCounter * 255));
+	CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(fadingSurface, targetSurface, targetPoint); //FIXME
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, 255);
+}
diff --git a/client/render/CFadeAnimation.h b/client/render/CFadeAnimation.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e5881c65f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/CFadeAnimation.h
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.h, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../../lib/GameConstants.h"
+
+#ifdef IN
+#undef IN
+#endif
+
+#ifdef OUT
+#undef OUT
+#endif
+
+VCMI_LIB_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+
+class JsonNode;
+class Rect;
+class Point;
+
+VCMI_LIB_NAMESPACE_END
+
+struct SDL_Surface;
+struct SDL_Color;
+class CDefFile;
+class ColorFilter;
+
+/*
+ * Base class for images, can be used for non-animation pictures as well
+ */
+class IImage
+{
+public:
+	using SpecialPalette = std::array<SDL_Color, 7>;
+
+	//draws image on surface "where" at position
+	virtual void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX = 0, int posY = 0, const Rect * src = nullptr) const = 0;
+	virtual void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const = 0;
+
+	virtual std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const = 0;
+
+	virtual void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const = 0;
+
+	//Change palette to specific player
+	virtual void playerColored(PlayerColor player)=0;
+
+	//set special color for flag
+	virtual void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)=0;
+
+	//test transparency of specific pixel
+	virtual bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const = 0;
+
+	virtual Point dimensions() const = 0;
+	int width() const;
+	int height() const;
+
+	//only indexed bitmaps, 16 colors maximum
+	virtual void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) = 0;
+	virtual void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) = 0;
+	virtual void resetPalette(int colorID) = 0;
+	virtual void resetPalette() = 0;
+
+	virtual void setAlpha(uint8_t value) = 0;
+
+	//only indexed bitmaps with 7 special colors
+	virtual void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) = 0;
+
+	virtual void horizontalFlip() = 0;
+	virtual void verticalFlip() = 0;
+
+	IImage();
+	virtual ~IImage();
+
+	/// loads image from specified file. Returns 0-sized images on failure
+	static std::shared_ptr<IImage> createFromFile( const std::string & path );
+
+	/// temporary compatibility method. Creates IImage from existing SDL_Surface
+	/// Surface will be shared, called must still free it with SDL_FreeSurface
+	static std::shared_ptr<IImage> createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source );
+};
+
+/// Class for handling animation
+class CAnimation
+{
+private:
+	//source[group][position] - file with this frame, if string is empty - image located in def file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source;
+
+	//bitmap[group][position], store objects with loaded bitmaps
+	std::map<size_t, std::map<size_t, std::shared_ptr<IImage> > > images;
+
+	//animation file name
+	std::string name;
+
+	bool preloaded;
+
+	std::shared_ptr<CDefFile> defFile;
+
+	//loader, will be called by load(), require opened def file for loading from it. Returns true if image is loaded
+	bool loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group);
+
+	//unloadFrame, returns true if image has been unloaded ( either deleted or decreased refCount)
+	bool unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group);
+
+	//initialize animation from file
+	void initFromJson(const JsonNode & input);
+	void init();
+
+	//to get rid of copy-pasting error message :]
+	void printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const;
+
+	//not a very nice method to get image from another def file
+	//TODO: remove after implementing resource manager
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> getFromExtraDef(std::string filename);
+
+public:
+	CAnimation(std::string Name);
+	CAnimation();
+	~CAnimation();
+
+	//duplicates frame at [sourceGroup, sourceFrame] as last frame in targetGroup
+	//and loads it if animation is preloaded
+	void duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup);
+
+	//add custom surface to the selected position.
+	void setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> getImage(size_t frame, size_t group=0, bool verbose=true) const;
+
+	void exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const;
+
+	//all available frames
+	void load  ();
+	void unload();
+	void preload();
+
+	//all frames from group
+	void loadGroup  (size_t group);
+	void unloadGroup(size_t group);
+
+	//single image
+	void load  (size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	void unload(size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+
+	//total count of frames in group (including not loaded)
+	size_t size(size_t group=0) const;
+
+	void horizontalFlip();
+	void verticalFlip();
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player);
+
+	void createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup);
+};
+
+const float DEFAULT_DELTA = 0.05f;
+
+class CFadeAnimation
+{
+public:
+	enum class EMode
+	{
+		NONE, IN, OUT
+	};
+private:
+	float delta;
+	SDL_Surface * fadingSurface;
+	bool fading;
+	float fadingCounter;
+	bool shouldFreeSurface;
+
+	float initialCounter() const;
+	bool isFinished() const;
+public:
+	EMode fadingMode;
+
+	CFadeAnimation();
+	~CFadeAnimation();
+	void init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd = false, float animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA);
+	void update();
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point & targetPoint);
+	bool isFading() const { return fading; }
+};
diff --git a/client/render/IImage.h b/client/render/IImage.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e5881c65f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/IImage.h
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.h, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../../lib/GameConstants.h"
+
+#ifdef IN
+#undef IN
+#endif
+
+#ifdef OUT
+#undef OUT
+#endif
+
+VCMI_LIB_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+
+class JsonNode;
+class Rect;
+class Point;
+
+VCMI_LIB_NAMESPACE_END
+
+struct SDL_Surface;
+struct SDL_Color;
+class CDefFile;
+class ColorFilter;
+
+/*
+ * Base class for images, can be used for non-animation pictures as well
+ */
+class IImage
+{
+public:
+	using SpecialPalette = std::array<SDL_Color, 7>;
+
+	//draws image on surface "where" at position
+	virtual void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX = 0, int posY = 0, const Rect * src = nullptr) const = 0;
+	virtual void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const = 0;
+
+	virtual std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const = 0;
+
+	virtual void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const = 0;
+
+	//Change palette to specific player
+	virtual void playerColored(PlayerColor player)=0;
+
+	//set special color for flag
+	virtual void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)=0;
+
+	//test transparency of specific pixel
+	virtual bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const = 0;
+
+	virtual Point dimensions() const = 0;
+	int width() const;
+	int height() const;
+
+	//only indexed bitmaps, 16 colors maximum
+	virtual void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) = 0;
+	virtual void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) = 0;
+	virtual void resetPalette(int colorID) = 0;
+	virtual void resetPalette() = 0;
+
+	virtual void setAlpha(uint8_t value) = 0;
+
+	//only indexed bitmaps with 7 special colors
+	virtual void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) = 0;
+
+	virtual void horizontalFlip() = 0;
+	virtual void verticalFlip() = 0;
+
+	IImage();
+	virtual ~IImage();
+
+	/// loads image from specified file. Returns 0-sized images on failure
+	static std::shared_ptr<IImage> createFromFile( const std::string & path );
+
+	/// temporary compatibility method. Creates IImage from existing SDL_Surface
+	/// Surface will be shared, called must still free it with SDL_FreeSurface
+	static std::shared_ptr<IImage> createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source );
+};
+
+/// Class for handling animation
+class CAnimation
+{
+private:
+	//source[group][position] - file with this frame, if string is empty - image located in def file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source;
+
+	//bitmap[group][position], store objects with loaded bitmaps
+	std::map<size_t, std::map<size_t, std::shared_ptr<IImage> > > images;
+
+	//animation file name
+	std::string name;
+
+	bool preloaded;
+
+	std::shared_ptr<CDefFile> defFile;
+
+	//loader, will be called by load(), require opened def file for loading from it. Returns true if image is loaded
+	bool loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group);
+
+	//unloadFrame, returns true if image has been unloaded ( either deleted or decreased refCount)
+	bool unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group);
+
+	//initialize animation from file
+	void initFromJson(const JsonNode & input);
+	void init();
+
+	//to get rid of copy-pasting error message :]
+	void printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const;
+
+	//not a very nice method to get image from another def file
+	//TODO: remove after implementing resource manager
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> getFromExtraDef(std::string filename);
+
+public:
+	CAnimation(std::string Name);
+	CAnimation();
+	~CAnimation();
+
+	//duplicates frame at [sourceGroup, sourceFrame] as last frame in targetGroup
+	//and loads it if animation is preloaded
+	void duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup);
+
+	//add custom surface to the selected position.
+	void setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> getImage(size_t frame, size_t group=0, bool verbose=true) const;
+
+	void exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const;
+
+	//all available frames
+	void load  ();
+	void unload();
+	void preload();
+
+	//all frames from group
+	void loadGroup  (size_t group);
+	void unloadGroup(size_t group);
+
+	//single image
+	void load  (size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	void unload(size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+
+	//total count of frames in group (including not loaded)
+	size_t size(size_t group=0) const;
+
+	void horizontalFlip();
+	void verticalFlip();
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player);
+
+	void createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup);
+};
+
+const float DEFAULT_DELTA = 0.05f;
+
+class CFadeAnimation
+{
+public:
+	enum class EMode
+	{
+		NONE, IN, OUT
+	};
+private:
+	float delta;
+	SDL_Surface * fadingSurface;
+	bool fading;
+	float fadingCounter;
+	bool shouldFreeSurface;
+
+	float initialCounter() const;
+	bool isFinished() const;
+public:
+	EMode fadingMode;
+
+	CFadeAnimation();
+	~CFadeAnimation();
+	void init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd = false, float animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA);
+	void update();
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point & targetPoint);
+	bool isFading() const { return fading; }
+};
diff --git a/client/render/SDLImage.cpp b/client/render/SDLImage.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31a18f5e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/SDLImage.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,1304 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.cpp, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#include "StdInc.h"
+#include "CAnimation.h"
+
+#include "SDL_Extensions.h"
+#include "ColorFilter.h"
+
+#include "../CBitmapHandler.h"
+#include "../Graphics.h"
+
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/Filesystem.h"
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/ISimpleResourceLoader.h"
+#include "../../lib/JsonNode.h"
+#include "../../lib/CRandomGenerator.h"
+#include "../../lib/vcmi_endian.h"
+
+#include <SDL_surface.h>
+
+class SDLImageLoader;
+
+typedef std::map <size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, IImage* > image_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, image_map > group_map;
+
+/// Class for def loading
+/// After loading will store general info (palette and frame offsets) and pointer to file itself
+class CDefFile
+{
+private:
+
+	PACKED_STRUCT_BEGIN
+	struct SSpriteDef
+	{
+		ui32 size;
+		ui32 format;    /// format in which pixel data is stored
+		ui32 fullWidth; /// full width and height of frame, including borders
+		ui32 fullHeight;
+		ui32 width;     /// width and height of pixel data, borders excluded
+		ui32 height;
+		si32 leftMargin;
+		si32 topMargin;
+	} PACKED_STRUCT_END;
+	//offset[group][frame] - offset of frame data in file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> > offset;
+
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>       data;
+	std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]> palette;
+
+public:
+	CDefFile(std::string Name);
+	~CDefFile();
+
+	//load frame as SDL_Surface
+	template<class ImageLoader>
+	void loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const;
+
+	const std::map<size_t, size_t> getEntries() const;
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * Wrapper around SDL_Surface
+ */
+class SDLImage : public IImage
+{
+public:
+	
+	const static int DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS = 256;
+	
+	//Surface without empty borders
+	SDL_Surface * surf;
+	//size of left and top borders
+	Point margins;
+	//total size including borders
+	Point fullSize;
+
+public:
+	//Load image from def file
+	SDLImage(CDefFile *data, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	//Load from bitmap file
+	SDLImage(std::string filename);
+
+	SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf);
+	//Create using existing surface, extraRef will increase refcount on SDL_Surface
+	SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef);
+	~SDLImage();
+
+	// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+	void savePalette();
+
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX=0, int posY=0, const Rect *src=nullptr) const override;
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const override;
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const override;
+	void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const override;
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player) override;
+	void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player) override;
+	bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const override;
+	Point dimensions() const override;
+
+	void horizontalFlip() override;
+	void verticalFlip() override;
+
+	void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) override;
+	void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) override;
+	void resetPalette(int colorID) override;
+	void resetPalette() override;
+
+	void setAlpha(uint8_t value) override;
+
+	void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) override;
+
+	friend class SDLImageLoader;
+
+private:
+	SDL_Palette * originalPalette;
+};
+
+class SDLImageLoader
+{
+	SDLImage * image;
+	ui8 * lineStart;
+	ui8 * position;
+public:
+	//load size raw pixels from data
+	inline void Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data);
+	//set size pixels to color
+	inline void Load(size_t size, ui8 color=0);
+	inline void EndLine();
+	//init image with these sizes and palette
+	inline void init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal);
+
+	SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img);
+	~SDLImageLoader();
+};
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromFile( const std::string & path )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(path));
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(source, true));
+}
+
+// Extremely simple file cache. TODO: smarter, more general solution
+class CFileCache
+{
+	static const int cacheSize = 50; //Max number of cached files
+	struct FileData
+	{
+		ResourceID             name;
+		size_t                 size;
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data;
+
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCopy()
+		{
+			auto ret = std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>(new ui8[size]);
+			std::copy(data.get(), data.get() + size, ret.get());
+			return ret;
+		}
+		FileData(ResourceID name_, size_t size_, std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data_):
+			name{std::move(name_)},
+			size{size_},
+			data{std::move(data_)}
+		{}
+	};
+
+	std::deque<FileData> cache;
+public:
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCachedFile(ResourceID rid)
+	{
+		for(auto & file : cache)
+		{
+			if (file.name == rid)
+				return file.getCopy();
+		}
+		// Still here? Cache miss
+		if (cache.size() > cacheSize)
+			cache.pop_front();
+
+		auto data =  CResourceHandler::get()->load(rid)->readAll();
+
+		cache.emplace_back(std::move(rid), data.second, std::move(data.first));
+
+		return cache.back().getCopy();
+	}
+};
+
+enum class DefType : uint32_t
+{
+	SPELL = 0x40,
+	SPRITE = 0x41,
+	CREATURE = 0x42,
+	MAP = 0x43,
+	MAP_HERO = 0x44,
+	TERRAIN = 0x45,
+	CURSOR = 0x46,
+	INTERFACE = 0x47,
+	SPRITE_FRAME = 0x48,
+	BATTLE_HERO = 0x49
+};
+
+static CFileCache animationCache;
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  DefFile, class used for def loading                                  *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+bool operator== (const SDL_Color & lhs, const SDL_Color & rhs)
+{
+	return (lhs.a == rhs.a) && (lhs.b == rhs.b) &&(lhs.g == rhs.g) &&(lhs.r == rhs.r);
+}
+
+CDefFile::CDefFile(std::string Name):
+	data(nullptr),
+	palette(nullptr)
+{
+	//First 8 colors in def palette used for transparency
+	static SDL_Color H3Palette[8] =
+	{
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// transparency                  ( used in most images )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// selection                     ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body   below selection ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64} // shadow border below selection ( used in battle def's )
+	};
+	data = animationCache.getCachedFile(ResourceID(std::string("SPRITES/") + Name, EResType::ANIMATION));
+
+	palette = std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]>(new SDL_Color[256]);
+	int it = 0;
+
+	ui32 type = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+	//int width  = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;//not used
+	//int height = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;
+	it+=8;
+	ui32 totalBlocks = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+
+	for (ui32 i= 0; i<256; i++)
+	{
+		palette[i].r = data[it++];
+		palette[i].g = data[it++];
+		palette[i].b = data[it++];
+		palette[i].a = SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE;
+	}
+
+	switch(static_cast<DefType>(type))
+	{
+	case DefType::SPELL:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::SPRITE:
+	case DefType::SPRITE_FRAME:
+		for(ui32 i= 0; i<8; i++)
+			palette[i] = H3Palette[i];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CREATURE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		palette[5] = H3Palette[5];
+		palette[6] = H3Palette[6];
+		palette[7] = H3Palette[7];
+		break;
+	case DefType::MAP:
+	case DefType::MAP_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//5 = owner flag, handled separately
+		break;
+	case DefType::TERRAIN:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[2] = H3Palette[2];
+		palette[3] = H3Palette[3];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CURSOR:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::INTERFACE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//player colors handled separately
+		//TODO: disallow colorizing other def types
+		break;
+	case DefType::BATTLE_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	default:
+		logAnim->error("Unknown def type %d in %s", type, Name);
+		break;
+	}
+
+
+	for (ui32 i=0; i<totalBlocks; i++)
+	{
+		size_t blockID = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=4;
+		size_t totalEntries = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=12;
+		//8 unknown bytes - skipping
+
+		//13 bytes for name of every frame in this block - not used, skipping
+		it+= 13 * (int)totalEntries;
+
+		for (ui32 j=0; j<totalEntries; j++)
+		{
+			size_t currOffset = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+			offset[blockID].push_back(currOffset);
+			it += 4;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+template<class ImageLoader>
+void CDefFile::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> >::const_iterator it;
+	it = offset.find(group);
+	assert (it != offset.end());
+
+	const ui8 * FDef = data.get()+it->second[frame];
+
+	const SSpriteDef sd = * reinterpret_cast<const SSpriteDef *>(FDef);
+	SSpriteDef sprite;
+
+	sprite.format = read_le_u32(&sd.format);
+	sprite.fullWidth = read_le_u32(&sd.fullWidth);
+	sprite.fullHeight = read_le_u32(&sd.fullHeight);
+	sprite.width = read_le_u32(&sd.width);
+	sprite.height = read_le_u32(&sd.height);
+	sprite.leftMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.leftMargin);
+	sprite.topMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.topMargin);
+
+	ui32 currentOffset = sizeof(SSpriteDef);
+
+	//special case for some "old" format defs (SGTWMTA.DEF and SGTWMTB.DEF)
+
+	if(sprite.format == 1 && sprite.width > sprite.fullWidth && sprite.height > sprite.fullHeight)
+	{
+		sprite.leftMargin = 0;
+		sprite.topMargin = 0;
+		sprite.width = sprite.fullWidth;
+		sprite.height = sprite.fullHeight;
+
+		currentOffset -= 16;
+	}
+
+	const ui32 BaseOffset = currentOffset;
+
+	loader.init(Point(sprite.width, sprite.height),
+				Point(sprite.leftMargin, sprite.topMargin),
+				Point(sprite.fullWidth, sprite.fullHeight), palette.get());
+
+	switch(sprite.format)
+	{
+	case 0:
+		{
+			//pixel data is not compressed, copy data to surface
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				loader.Load(sprite.width, FDef + currentOffset);
+				currentOffset += sprite.width;
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 1:
+		{
+			//for each line we have offset of pixel data
+			const ui32 * RWEntriesLoc = reinterpret_cast<const ui32 *>(FDef+currentOffset);
+			currentOffset += sizeof(ui32) * sprite.height;
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				//get position of the line
+				currentOffset=BaseOffset + read_le_u32(RWEntriesLoc + i);
+				ui32 TotalRowLength = 0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segmentType = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui32 length = FDef[currentOffset++] + 1;
+
+					if(segmentType==0xFF)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset+=length;
+					}
+					else// RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, segmentType);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 2:
+		{
+			currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset);
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment=FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength+=length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 3:
+		{
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset+i*2*(sprite.width/32));
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	default:
+	logGlobal->error("Error: unsupported format of def file: %d", sprite.format);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+CDefFile::~CDefFile() = default;
+
+const std::map<size_t, size_t > CDefFile::getEntries() const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, size_t > ret;
+
+	for (auto & elem : offset)
+		ret[elem.first] =  elem.second.size();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for image loaders - helpers for loading from def files       *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+SDLImageLoader::SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img):
+	image(Img),
+	lineStart(nullptr),
+	position(nullptr)
+{
+}
+
+void SDLImageLoader::init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal)
+{
+	//Init image
+	image->surf = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, SpriteSize.x, SpriteSize.y, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	image->margins  = Margins;
+	image->fullSize = FullSize;
+
+	//Prepare surface
+	SDL_Palette * p = SDL_AllocPalette(SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(p, pal, 0, SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetSurfacePalette(image->surf, p);
+	SDL_FreePalette(p);
+
+	SDL_LockSurface(image->surf);
+	lineStart = position = (ui8*)image->surf->pixels;
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memcpy((void *)position, data, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, ui8 color)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memset((void *)position, color, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::EndLine()
+{
+	lineStart += image->surf->pitch;
+	position = lineStart;
+}
+
+SDLImageLoader::~SDLImageLoader()
+{
+	SDL_UnlockSurface(image->surf);
+	SDL_SetColorKey(image->surf, SDL_TRUE, 0);
+	//TODO: RLE if compressed and bpp>1
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for images, support loading from file and drawing on surface *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+IImage::IImage() = default;
+IImage::~IImage() = default;
+
+int IImage::width() const
+{
+	return dimensions().x;
+}
+
+int IImage::height() const
+{
+	return dimensions().y;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(CDefFile * data, size_t frame, size_t group)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	SDLImageLoader loader(this);
+	data->loadFrame(frame, group, loader);
+
+	savePalette();
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = from;
+	if (surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	if (extraRef)
+		surf->refcount++;
+	fullSize.x = surf->w;
+	fullSize.y = surf->h;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	std::string filename = conf["file"].String();
+
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	const JsonNode & jsonMargins = conf["margins"];
+
+	margins.x = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["left"].Integer());
+	margins.y = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["top"].Integer());
+
+	fullSize.x = static_cast<int>(conf["width"].Integer());
+	fullSize.y = static_cast<int>(conf["height"].Integer());
+
+	if(fullSize.x == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.x = margins.x + surf->w + (int)jsonMargins["right"].Integer();
+	}
+
+	if(fullSize.y == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.y = margins.y + surf->h + (int)jsonMargins["bottom"].Integer();
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(std::string filename)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Error: failed to load image %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		savePalette();
+		fullSize.x = surf->w;
+		fullSize.y = surf->h;
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface *where, int posX, int posY, const Rect *src) const
+{
+	if(!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect destRect(posX, posY, surf->w, surf->h);
+	draw(where, &destRect, src);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface* where, const Rect * dest, const Rect* src) const
+{
+	if (!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect sourceRect(0, 0, surf->w, surf->h);
+
+	Point destShift(0, 0);
+
+	if(src)
+	{
+		if(src->x < margins.x)
+			destShift.x += margins.x - src->x;
+
+		if(src->y < margins.y)
+			destShift.y += margins.y - src->y;
+
+		sourceRect = Rect(*src).intersect(Rect(margins.x, margins.y, surf->w, surf->h));
+
+		sourceRect -= margins;
+	}
+	else
+		destShift = margins;
+
+	if(dest)
+		destShift += dest->topLeft();
+
+	uint8_t perSurfaceAlpha;
+	if (SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod(surf, &perSurfaceAlpha) != 0)
+		logGlobal->error("SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod faied! %s", SDL_GetError());
+
+	if(surf->format->BitsPerPixel == 8 && perSurfaceAlpha == SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blit8bppAlphaTo24bpp(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> SDLImage::scaleFast(const Point & size) const
+{
+	float scaleX = float(size.x) / width();
+	float scaleY = float(size.y) / height();
+
+	auto scaled = CSDL_Ext::scaleSurfaceFast(surf, (int)(surf->w * scaleX), (int)(surf->h * scaleY));
+
+	if (scaled->format && scaled->format->palette) // fix color keying, because SDL loses it at this point
+		CSDL_Ext::setColorKey(scaled, scaled->format->palette->colors[0]);
+	else if(scaled->format && scaled->format->Amask)
+		SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(scaled, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);//just in case
+	else
+		CSDL_Ext::setDefaultColorKey(scaled);//just in case
+
+	SDLImage * ret = new SDLImage(scaled, false);
+
+	ret->fullSize.x = (int) round((float)fullSize.x * scaleX);
+	ret->fullSize.y = (int) round((float)fullSize.y * scaleY);
+
+	ret->margins.x = (int) round((float)margins.x * scaleX);
+	ret->margins.y = (int) round((float)margins.y * scaleY);
+
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(ret);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	SDL_SaveBMP(surf, path.string().c_str());
+}
+
+void SDLImage::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	graphics->blueToPlayersAdv(surf, player);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setAlpha(uint8_t value)
+{
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha (surf, value);
+	SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(surf, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	if(player < PlayerColor::PLAYER_LIMIT || player==PlayerColor::NEUTRAL)
+		CSDL_Ext::setPlayerColor(surf, player);
+}
+
+bool SDLImage::isTransparent(const Point & coords) const
+{
+	return CSDL_Ext::isTransparent(surf, coords.x, coords.y);
+}
+
+Point SDLImage::dimensions() const
+{
+	return fullSize;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	margins.y = fullSize.y - surf->h - margins.y;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::horizontalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::verticalFlip()
+{
+	margins.x = fullSize.x - surf->w - margins.x;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::verticalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+void SDLImage::savePalette()
+{
+	// For some images that don't have palette, skip this
+	if(surf->format->palette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		originalPalette = SDL_AllocPalette(DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(originalPalette, surf->format->palette->colors, 0, DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::shiftPalette(int from, int howMany)
+{
+	//works with at most 16 colors, if needed more -> increase values
+	assert(howMany < 16);
+
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		SDL_Color palette[16];
+
+		for(int i=0; i<howMany; ++i)
+		{
+			palette[(i+1)%howMany] = surf->format->palette->colors[from + i];
+		}
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, palette, from, howMany);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip)
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	SDL_Palette* palette = surf->format->palette;
+
+	// Note: here we skip first colors in the palette that are predefined in H3 images
+	for(int i = colorsToSkip; i < palette->ncolors; i++)
+	{
+		palette->colors[i] = shifter.shiftColor(originalPalette->colors[i]);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette()
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+	
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors, 0, originalPalette->ncolors);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette( int colorID )
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors + colorID, colorID, 1);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setSpecialPallete(const IImage::SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette)
+{
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, const_cast<SDL_Color *>(SpecialPalette.data()), 1, 7);
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::~SDLImage()
+{
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+
+	if(originalPalette != nullptr)
+	{
+		SDL_FreePalette(originalPalette);
+		originalPalette = nullptr;
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getFromExtraDef(std::string filename)
+{
+	size_t pos = filename.find(':');
+	if (pos == -1)
+		return nullptr;
+	CAnimation anim(filename.substr(0, pos));
+	pos++;
+	size_t frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	size_t group = 0;
+	pos = filename.find(':', pos);
+	if (pos != -1)
+	{
+		pos++;
+		group = frame;
+		frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	}
+	anim.load(frame ,group);
+	auto ret = anim.images[group][frame];
+	anim.images.clear();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if(size(group) <= frame)
+	{
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	//try to get image from def
+	if(source[group][frame].getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		if(defFile)
+		{
+			auto frameList = defFile->getEntries();
+
+			if(vstd::contains(frameList, group) && frameList.at(group) > frame) // frame is present
+			{
+				images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(defFile.get(), frame, group);
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		// still here? image is missing
+
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>("DEFAULT");
+	}
+	else //load from separate file
+	{
+		auto img = getFromExtraDef(source[group][frame]["file"].String());
+		if(!img)
+			img = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(source[group][frame]);
+
+		images[group][frame] = img;
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		images[group].erase(frame);
+
+		if(images[group].empty())
+			images.erase(group);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::initFromJson(const JsonNode & config)
+{
+	std::string basepath;
+	basepath = config["basepath"].String();
+
+	JsonNode base(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+	base["margins"] = config["margins"];
+	base["width"] = config["width"];
+	base["height"] = config["height"];
+
+	for(const JsonNode & group : config["sequences"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t groupID = group["group"].Integer();//TODO: string-to-value conversion("moving" -> MOVING)
+		source[groupID].clear();
+
+		for(const JsonNode & frame : group["frames"].Vector())
+		{
+			JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+			JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+			toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + frame.String();
+			source[groupID].push_back(toAdd);
+		}
+	}
+
+	for(const JsonNode & node : config["images"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t group = node["group"].Integer();
+		size_t frame = node["frame"].Integer();
+
+		if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+			source[group].resize(frame+1);
+
+		JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+		JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+		toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + node["file"].String();
+		source[group][frame] = toAdd;
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	if(images.empty())
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Nothing to export, animation is empty");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	boost::filesystem::path actualPath = path / "SPRITES" / name;
+	boost::filesystem::create_directories(actualPath);
+
+	size_t counter = 0;
+
+	for(const auto & groupPair : images)
+	{
+		size_t group = groupPair.first;
+
+		for(const auto & imagePair : groupPair.second)
+		{
+			size_t frame = imagePair.first;
+			const auto img = imagePair.second;
+
+			boost::format fmt("%d_%d.bmp");
+			fmt % group % frame;
+
+			img->exportBitmap(actualPath / fmt.str());
+			counter++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	logGlobal->info("Exported %d frames to %s", counter, actualPath.string());
+}
+
+void CAnimation::init()
+{
+	if(defFile)
+	{
+		const std::map<size_t, size_t> defEntries = defFile->getEntries();
+
+		for (auto & defEntry : defEntries)
+			source[defEntry.first].resize(defEntry.second);
+	}
+
+	ResourceID resID(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::TEXT);
+
+	if (vstd::contains(graphics->imageLists, resID.getName()))
+		initFromJson(graphics->imageLists[resID.getName()]);
+
+	auto configList = CResourceHandler::get()->getResourcesWithName(resID);
+
+	for(auto & loader : configList)
+	{
+		auto stream = loader->load(resID);
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> textData(new ui8[stream->getSize()]);
+		stream->read(textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		const JsonNode config((char*)textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		initFromJson(config);
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const
+{
+	logGlobal->error("%s error: Request for frame not present in CAnimation! File name: %s, Group: %d, Frame: %d", type, name, group, frame);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation(std::string Name):
+	name(Name),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	size_t dotPos = name.find_last_of('.');
+	if ( dotPos!=-1 )
+		name.erase(dotPos);
+	std::transform(name.begin(), name.end(), name.begin(), toupper);
+
+	ResourceID resource(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::ANIMATION);
+
+	if(CResourceHandler::get()->existsResource(resource))
+		defFile = std::make_shared<CDefFile>(name);
+
+	init();
+
+	if(source.empty())
+		logAnim->error("Animation %s failed to load", Name);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation():
+	name(""),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	init();
+}
+
+CAnimation::~CAnimation() = default;
+
+void CAnimation::duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	if(!source.count(sourceGroup))
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Group %d missing in %s", sourceGroup, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(source[sourceGroup].size() <= sourceFrame)
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Frame [%d %d] missing in %s", sourceGroup, sourceFrame, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	//todo: clone actual loaded Image object
+	JsonNode clone(source[sourceGroup][sourceFrame]);
+
+	if(clone.getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		std::string temp =  name+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceGroup)+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceFrame);
+		clone["file"].String() = temp;
+	}
+
+	source[targetGroup].push_back(clone);
+
+	size_t index = source[targetGroup].size() - 1;
+
+	if(preloaded)
+		load(index, targetGroup);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+		source[group].resize(frame+1);
+	source[group][frame]["file"].String() = filename;
+	//FIXME: update image if already loaded
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getImage(size_t frame, size_t group, bool verbose) const
+{
+	auto groupIter = images.find(group);
+	if (groupIter != images.end())
+	{
+		auto imageIter = groupIter->second.find(frame);
+		if (imageIter != groupIter->second.end())
+			return imageIter->second;
+	}
+	if (verbose)
+		printError(frame, group, "GetImage");
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, elem.first);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, elem.first);
+
+}
+
+void CAnimation::preload()
+{
+	if(!preloaded)
+	{
+		preloaded = true;
+		load();
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::loadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unloadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	loadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	unloadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+size_t CAnimation::size(size_t group) const
+{
+	auto iter = source.find(group);
+	if (iter != source.end())
+		return iter->second.size();
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->horizontalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::verticalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->verticalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->playerColored(player);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	for(size_t frame = 0; frame < size(sourceGroup); ++frame)
+	{
+		duplicateImage(sourceGroup, frame, targetGroup);
+
+		auto image = getImage(frame, targetGroup);
+		image->verticalFlip();
+	}
+}
+
+float CFadeAnimation::initialCounter() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return 1.0f;
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::update()
+{
+	if (!fading)
+		return;
+
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		fadingCounter -= delta;
+	else
+		fadingCounter += delta;
+
+	if (isFinished())
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		if (shouldFreeSurface)
+		{
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+			fadingSurface = nullptr;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+bool CFadeAnimation::isFinished() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return fadingCounter <= 0.0f;
+	return fadingCounter >= 1.0f;
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::CFadeAnimation()
+	: delta(0),	fadingSurface(nullptr), fading(false), fadingCounter(0), shouldFreeSurface(false),
+	  fadingMode(EMode::NONE)
+{
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::~CFadeAnimation()
+{
+	if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+		SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd, float animDelta)
+{
+	if (fading)
+	{
+		// in that case, immediately finish the previous fade
+		// (alternatively, we could just return here to ignore the new fade request until this one finished (but we'd need to free the passed bitmap to avoid leaks))
+		logGlobal->warn("Tried to init fading animation that is already running.");
+		if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+	}
+	if (animDelta <= 0.0f)
+	{
+		logGlobal->warn("Fade anim: delta should be positive; %f given.", animDelta);
+		animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA;
+	}
+
+	if (sourceSurface)
+		fadingSurface = sourceSurface;
+
+	delta = animDelta;
+	fadingMode = mode;
+	fadingCounter = initialCounter();
+	fading = true;
+	shouldFreeSurface = freeSurfaceAtEnd;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point &targetPoint)
+{
+	if (!fading || !fadingSurface || fadingMode == EMode::NONE)
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, (int)(fadingCounter * 255));
+	CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(fadingSurface, targetSurface, targetPoint); //FIXME
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, 255);
+}
diff --git a/client/render/SDLImageLoader.cpp b/client/render/SDLImageLoader.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31a18f5e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/render/SDLImageLoader.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,1304 @@
+/*
+ * CAnimation.cpp, part of VCMI engine
+ *
+ * Authors: listed in file AUTHORS in main folder
+ *
+ * License: GNU General Public License v2.0 or later
+ * Full text of license available in license.txt file, in main folder
+ *
+ */
+#include "StdInc.h"
+#include "CAnimation.h"
+
+#include "SDL_Extensions.h"
+#include "ColorFilter.h"
+
+#include "../CBitmapHandler.h"
+#include "../Graphics.h"
+
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/Filesystem.h"
+#include "../../lib/filesystem/ISimpleResourceLoader.h"
+#include "../../lib/JsonNode.h"
+#include "../../lib/CRandomGenerator.h"
+#include "../../lib/vcmi_endian.h"
+
+#include <SDL_surface.h>
+
+class SDLImageLoader;
+
+typedef std::map <size_t, std::vector <JsonNode> > source_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, IImage* > image_map;
+typedef std::map<size_t, image_map > group_map;
+
+/// Class for def loading
+/// After loading will store general info (palette and frame offsets) and pointer to file itself
+class CDefFile
+{
+private:
+
+	PACKED_STRUCT_BEGIN
+	struct SSpriteDef
+	{
+		ui32 size;
+		ui32 format;    /// format in which pixel data is stored
+		ui32 fullWidth; /// full width and height of frame, including borders
+		ui32 fullHeight;
+		ui32 width;     /// width and height of pixel data, borders excluded
+		ui32 height;
+		si32 leftMargin;
+		si32 topMargin;
+	} PACKED_STRUCT_END;
+	//offset[group][frame] - offset of frame data in file
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> > offset;
+
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>       data;
+	std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]> palette;
+
+public:
+	CDefFile(std::string Name);
+	~CDefFile();
+
+	//load frame as SDL_Surface
+	template<class ImageLoader>
+	void loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const;
+
+	const std::map<size_t, size_t> getEntries() const;
+};
+
+
+/*
+ * Wrapper around SDL_Surface
+ */
+class SDLImage : public IImage
+{
+public:
+	
+	const static int DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS = 256;
+	
+	//Surface without empty borders
+	SDL_Surface * surf;
+	//size of left and top borders
+	Point margins;
+	//total size including borders
+	Point fullSize;
+
+public:
+	//Load image from def file
+	SDLImage(CDefFile *data, size_t frame, size_t group=0);
+	//Load from bitmap file
+	SDLImage(std::string filename);
+
+	SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf);
+	//Create using existing surface, extraRef will increase refcount on SDL_Surface
+	SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef);
+	~SDLImage();
+
+	// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+	void savePalette();
+
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, int posX=0, int posY=0, const Rect *src=nullptr) const override;
+	void draw(SDL_Surface * where, const Rect * dest, const Rect * src) const override;
+	std::shared_ptr<IImage> scaleFast(const Point & size) const override;
+	void exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path & path) const override;
+	void playerColored(PlayerColor player) override;
+	void setFlagColor(PlayerColor player) override;
+	bool isTransparent(const Point & coords) const override;
+	Point dimensions() const override;
+
+	void horizontalFlip() override;
+	void verticalFlip() override;
+
+	void shiftPalette(int from, int howMany) override;
+	void adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip) override;
+	void resetPalette(int colorID) override;
+	void resetPalette() override;
+
+	void setAlpha(uint8_t value) override;
+
+	void setSpecialPallete(const SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette) override;
+
+	friend class SDLImageLoader;
+
+private:
+	SDL_Palette * originalPalette;
+};
+
+class SDLImageLoader
+{
+	SDLImage * image;
+	ui8 * lineStart;
+	ui8 * position;
+public:
+	//load size raw pixels from data
+	inline void Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data);
+	//set size pixels to color
+	inline void Load(size_t size, ui8 color=0);
+	inline void EndLine();
+	//init image with these sizes and palette
+	inline void init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal);
+
+	SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img);
+	~SDLImageLoader();
+};
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromFile( const std::string & path )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(path));
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> IImage::createFromSurface( SDL_Surface * source )
+{
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(new SDLImage(source, true));
+}
+
+// Extremely simple file cache. TODO: smarter, more general solution
+class CFileCache
+{
+	static const int cacheSize = 50; //Max number of cached files
+	struct FileData
+	{
+		ResourceID             name;
+		size_t                 size;
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data;
+
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCopy()
+		{
+			auto ret = std::unique_ptr<ui8[]>(new ui8[size]);
+			std::copy(data.get(), data.get() + size, ret.get());
+			return ret;
+		}
+		FileData(ResourceID name_, size_t size_, std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> data_):
+			name{std::move(name_)},
+			size{size_},
+			data{std::move(data_)}
+		{}
+	};
+
+	std::deque<FileData> cache;
+public:
+	std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> getCachedFile(ResourceID rid)
+	{
+		for(auto & file : cache)
+		{
+			if (file.name == rid)
+				return file.getCopy();
+		}
+		// Still here? Cache miss
+		if (cache.size() > cacheSize)
+			cache.pop_front();
+
+		auto data =  CResourceHandler::get()->load(rid)->readAll();
+
+		cache.emplace_back(std::move(rid), data.second, std::move(data.first));
+
+		return cache.back().getCopy();
+	}
+};
+
+enum class DefType : uint32_t
+{
+	SPELL = 0x40,
+	SPRITE = 0x41,
+	CREATURE = 0x42,
+	MAP = 0x43,
+	MAP_HERO = 0x44,
+	TERRAIN = 0x45,
+	CURSOR = 0x46,
+	INTERFACE = 0x47,
+	SPRITE_FRAME = 0x48,
+	BATTLE_HERO = 0x49
+};
+
+static CFileCache animationCache;
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  DefFile, class used for def loading                                  *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+bool operator== (const SDL_Color & lhs, const SDL_Color & rhs)
+{
+	return (lhs.a == rhs.a) && (lhs.b == rhs.b) &&(lhs.g == rhs.g) &&(lhs.r == rhs.r);
+}
+
+CDefFile::CDefFile(std::string Name):
+	data(nullptr),
+	palette(nullptr)
+{
+	//First 8 colors in def palette used for transparency
+	static SDL_Color H3Palette[8] =
+	{
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// transparency                  ( used in most images )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64},// shadow border                 ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in fog-of-war def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body                   ( used in battle, adventure map def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,   0},// selection                     ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0, 128},// shadow body   below selection ( used in battle def's )
+		{   0,   0,   0,  64} // shadow border below selection ( used in battle def's )
+	};
+	data = animationCache.getCachedFile(ResourceID(std::string("SPRITES/") + Name, EResType::ANIMATION));
+
+	palette = std::unique_ptr<SDL_Color[]>(new SDL_Color[256]);
+	int it = 0;
+
+	ui32 type = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+	//int width  = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;//not used
+	//int height = read_le_u32(data + it); it+=4;
+	it+=8;
+	ui32 totalBlocks = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+	it+=4;
+
+	for (ui32 i= 0; i<256; i++)
+	{
+		palette[i].r = data[it++];
+		palette[i].g = data[it++];
+		palette[i].b = data[it++];
+		palette[i].a = SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE;
+	}
+
+	switch(static_cast<DefType>(type))
+	{
+	case DefType::SPELL:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::SPRITE:
+	case DefType::SPRITE_FRAME:
+		for(ui32 i= 0; i<8; i++)
+			palette[i] = H3Palette[i];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CREATURE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		palette[5] = H3Palette[5];
+		palette[6] = H3Palette[6];
+		palette[7] = H3Palette[7];
+		break;
+	case DefType::MAP:
+	case DefType::MAP_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//5 = owner flag, handled separately
+		break;
+	case DefType::TERRAIN:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[2] = H3Palette[2];
+		palette[3] = H3Palette[3];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	case DefType::CURSOR:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		break;
+	case DefType::INTERFACE:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		//player colors handled separately
+		//TODO: disallow colorizing other def types
+		break;
+	case DefType::BATTLE_HERO:
+		palette[0] = H3Palette[0];
+		palette[1] = H3Palette[1];
+		palette[4] = H3Palette[4];
+		break;
+	default:
+		logAnim->error("Unknown def type %d in %s", type, Name);
+		break;
+	}
+
+
+	for (ui32 i=0; i<totalBlocks; i++)
+	{
+		size_t blockID = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=4;
+		size_t totalEntries = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+		it+=12;
+		//8 unknown bytes - skipping
+
+		//13 bytes for name of every frame in this block - not used, skipping
+		it+= 13 * (int)totalEntries;
+
+		for (ui32 j=0; j<totalEntries; j++)
+		{
+			size_t currOffset = read_le_u32(data.get() + it);
+			offset[blockID].push_back(currOffset);
+			it += 4;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+template<class ImageLoader>
+void CDefFile::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group, ImageLoader &loader) const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, std::vector <size_t> >::const_iterator it;
+	it = offset.find(group);
+	assert (it != offset.end());
+
+	const ui8 * FDef = data.get()+it->second[frame];
+
+	const SSpriteDef sd = * reinterpret_cast<const SSpriteDef *>(FDef);
+	SSpriteDef sprite;
+
+	sprite.format = read_le_u32(&sd.format);
+	sprite.fullWidth = read_le_u32(&sd.fullWidth);
+	sprite.fullHeight = read_le_u32(&sd.fullHeight);
+	sprite.width = read_le_u32(&sd.width);
+	sprite.height = read_le_u32(&sd.height);
+	sprite.leftMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.leftMargin);
+	sprite.topMargin = read_le_u32(&sd.topMargin);
+
+	ui32 currentOffset = sizeof(SSpriteDef);
+
+	//special case for some "old" format defs (SGTWMTA.DEF and SGTWMTB.DEF)
+
+	if(sprite.format == 1 && sprite.width > sprite.fullWidth && sprite.height > sprite.fullHeight)
+	{
+		sprite.leftMargin = 0;
+		sprite.topMargin = 0;
+		sprite.width = sprite.fullWidth;
+		sprite.height = sprite.fullHeight;
+
+		currentOffset -= 16;
+	}
+
+	const ui32 BaseOffset = currentOffset;
+
+	loader.init(Point(sprite.width, sprite.height),
+				Point(sprite.leftMargin, sprite.topMargin),
+				Point(sprite.fullWidth, sprite.fullHeight), palette.get());
+
+	switch(sprite.format)
+	{
+	case 0:
+		{
+			//pixel data is not compressed, copy data to surface
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				loader.Load(sprite.width, FDef + currentOffset);
+				currentOffset += sprite.width;
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 1:
+		{
+			//for each line we have offset of pixel data
+			const ui32 * RWEntriesLoc = reinterpret_cast<const ui32 *>(FDef+currentOffset);
+			currentOffset += sizeof(ui32) * sprite.height;
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				//get position of the line
+				currentOffset=BaseOffset + read_le_u32(RWEntriesLoc + i);
+				ui32 TotalRowLength = 0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segmentType = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui32 length = FDef[currentOffset++] + 1;
+
+					if(segmentType==0xFF)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset+=length;
+					}
+					else// RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, segmentType);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 2:
+		{
+			currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset);
+
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment=FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength+=length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	case 3:
+		{
+			for(ui32 i=0; i<sprite.height; i++)
+			{
+				currentOffset = BaseOffset + read_le_u16(FDef + BaseOffset+i*2*(sprite.width/32));
+				ui32 TotalRowLength=0;
+
+				while(TotalRowLength<sprite.width)
+				{
+					ui8 segment = FDef[currentOffset++];
+					ui8 code = segment / 32;
+					ui8 length = (segment & 31) + 1;
+
+					if(code==7)//Raw data
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, FDef + currentOffset);
+						currentOffset += length;
+					}
+					else//RLE
+					{
+						loader.Load(length, code);
+					}
+					TotalRowLength += length;
+				}
+				loader.EndLine();
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	default:
+	logGlobal->error("Error: unsupported format of def file: %d", sprite.format);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+CDefFile::~CDefFile() = default;
+
+const std::map<size_t, size_t > CDefFile::getEntries() const
+{
+	std::map<size_t, size_t > ret;
+
+	for (auto & elem : offset)
+		ret[elem.first] =  elem.second.size();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for image loaders - helpers for loading from def files       *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+SDLImageLoader::SDLImageLoader(SDLImage * Img):
+	image(Img),
+	lineStart(nullptr),
+	position(nullptr)
+{
+}
+
+void SDLImageLoader::init(Point SpriteSize, Point Margins, Point FullSize, SDL_Color *pal)
+{
+	//Init image
+	image->surf = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, SpriteSize.x, SpriteSize.y, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+	image->margins  = Margins;
+	image->fullSize = FullSize;
+
+	//Prepare surface
+	SDL_Palette * p = SDL_AllocPalette(SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(p, pal, 0, SDLImage::DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+	SDL_SetSurfacePalette(image->surf, p);
+	SDL_FreePalette(p);
+
+	SDL_LockSurface(image->surf);
+	lineStart = position = (ui8*)image->surf->pixels;
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, const ui8 * data)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memcpy((void *)position, data, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::Load(size_t size, ui8 color)
+{
+	if (size)
+	{
+		memset((void *)position, color, size);
+		position += size;
+	}
+}
+
+inline void SDLImageLoader::EndLine()
+{
+	lineStart += image->surf->pitch;
+	position = lineStart;
+}
+
+SDLImageLoader::~SDLImageLoader()
+{
+	SDL_UnlockSurface(image->surf);
+	SDL_SetColorKey(image->surf, SDL_TRUE, 0);
+	//TODO: RLE if compressed and bpp>1
+}
+
+/*************************************************************************
+ *  Classes for images, support loading from file and drawing on surface *
+ *************************************************************************/
+
+IImage::IImage() = default;
+IImage::~IImage() = default;
+
+int IImage::width() const
+{
+	return dimensions().x;
+}
+
+int IImage::height() const
+{
+	return dimensions().y;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(CDefFile * data, size_t frame, size_t group)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	SDLImageLoader loader(this);
+	data->loadFrame(frame, group, loader);
+
+	savePalette();
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(SDL_Surface * from, bool extraRef)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = from;
+	if (surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	if (extraRef)
+		surf->refcount++;
+	fullSize.x = surf->w;
+	fullSize.y = surf->h;
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(const JsonNode & conf)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	std::string filename = conf["file"].String();
+
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	savePalette();
+
+	const JsonNode & jsonMargins = conf["margins"];
+
+	margins.x = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["left"].Integer());
+	margins.y = static_cast<int>(jsonMargins["top"].Integer());
+
+	fullSize.x = static_cast<int>(conf["width"].Integer());
+	fullSize.y = static_cast<int>(conf["height"].Integer());
+
+	if(fullSize.x == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.x = margins.x + surf->w + (int)jsonMargins["right"].Integer();
+	}
+
+	if(fullSize.y == 0)
+	{
+		fullSize.y = margins.y + surf->h + (int)jsonMargins["bottom"].Integer();
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::SDLImage(std::string filename)
+	: surf(nullptr),
+	margins(0, 0),
+	fullSize(0, 0),
+	originalPalette(nullptr)
+{
+	surf = BitmapHandler::loadBitmap(filename);
+
+	if(surf == nullptr)
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Error: failed to load image %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		savePalette();
+		fullSize.x = surf->w;
+		fullSize.y = surf->h;
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface *where, int posX, int posY, const Rect *src) const
+{
+	if(!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect destRect(posX, posY, surf->w, surf->h);
+	draw(where, &destRect, src);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::draw(SDL_Surface* where, const Rect * dest, const Rect* src) const
+{
+	if (!surf)
+		return;
+
+	Rect sourceRect(0, 0, surf->w, surf->h);
+
+	Point destShift(0, 0);
+
+	if(src)
+	{
+		if(src->x < margins.x)
+			destShift.x += margins.x - src->x;
+
+		if(src->y < margins.y)
+			destShift.y += margins.y - src->y;
+
+		sourceRect = Rect(*src).intersect(Rect(margins.x, margins.y, surf->w, surf->h));
+
+		sourceRect -= margins;
+	}
+	else
+		destShift = margins;
+
+	if(dest)
+		destShift += dest->topLeft();
+
+	uint8_t perSurfaceAlpha;
+	if (SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod(surf, &perSurfaceAlpha) != 0)
+		logGlobal->error("SDL_GetSurfaceAlphaMod faied! %s", SDL_GetError());
+
+	if(surf->format->BitsPerPixel == 8 && perSurfaceAlpha == SDL_ALPHA_OPAQUE)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blit8bppAlphaTo24bpp(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(surf, sourceRect, where, destShift);
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> SDLImage::scaleFast(const Point & size) const
+{
+	float scaleX = float(size.x) / width();
+	float scaleY = float(size.y) / height();
+
+	auto scaled = CSDL_Ext::scaleSurfaceFast(surf, (int)(surf->w * scaleX), (int)(surf->h * scaleY));
+
+	if (scaled->format && scaled->format->palette) // fix color keying, because SDL loses it at this point
+		CSDL_Ext::setColorKey(scaled, scaled->format->palette->colors[0]);
+	else if(scaled->format && scaled->format->Amask)
+		SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(scaled, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);//just in case
+	else
+		CSDL_Ext::setDefaultColorKey(scaled);//just in case
+
+	SDLImage * ret = new SDLImage(scaled, false);
+
+	ret->fullSize.x = (int) round((float)fullSize.x * scaleX);
+	ret->fullSize.y = (int) round((float)fullSize.y * scaleY);
+
+	ret->margins.x = (int) round((float)margins.x * scaleX);
+	ret->margins.y = (int) round((float)margins.y * scaleY);
+
+	return std::shared_ptr<IImage>(ret);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::exportBitmap(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	SDL_SaveBMP(surf, path.string().c_str());
+}
+
+void SDLImage::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	graphics->blueToPlayersAdv(surf, player);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setAlpha(uint8_t value)
+{
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha (surf, value);
+	SDL_SetSurfaceBlendMode(surf, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setFlagColor(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	if(player < PlayerColor::PLAYER_LIMIT || player==PlayerColor::NEUTRAL)
+		CSDL_Ext::setPlayerColor(surf, player);
+}
+
+bool SDLImage::isTransparent(const Point & coords) const
+{
+	return CSDL_Ext::isTransparent(surf, coords.x, coords.y);
+}
+
+Point SDLImage::dimensions() const
+{
+	return fullSize;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	margins.y = fullSize.y - surf->h - margins.y;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::horizontalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+void SDLImage::verticalFlip()
+{
+	margins.x = fullSize.x - surf->w - margins.x;
+
+	//todo: modify in-place
+	SDL_Surface * flipped = CSDL_Ext::verticalFlip(surf);
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+	surf = flipped;
+}
+
+// Keep the original palette, in order to do color switching operation
+void SDLImage::savePalette()
+{
+	// For some images that don't have palette, skip this
+	if(surf->format->palette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		originalPalette = SDL_AllocPalette(DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(originalPalette, surf->format->palette->colors, 0, DEFAULT_PALETTE_COLORS);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::shiftPalette(int from, int howMany)
+{
+	//works with at most 16 colors, if needed more -> increase values
+	assert(howMany < 16);
+
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		SDL_Color palette[16];
+
+		for(int i=0; i<howMany; ++i)
+		{
+			palette[(i+1)%howMany] = surf->format->palette->colors[from + i];
+		}
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, palette, from, howMany);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::adjustPalette(const ColorFilter & shifter, size_t colorsToSkip)
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	SDL_Palette* palette = surf->format->palette;
+
+	// Note: here we skip first colors in the palette that are predefined in H3 images
+	for(int i = colorsToSkip; i < palette->ncolors; i++)
+	{
+		palette->colors[i] = shifter.shiftColor(originalPalette->colors[i]);
+	}
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette()
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+	
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors, 0, originalPalette->ncolors);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::resetPalette( int colorID )
+{
+	if(originalPalette == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	// Always keept the original palette not changed, copy a new palette to assign to surface
+	SDL_SetPaletteColors(surf->format->palette, originalPalette->colors + colorID, colorID, 1);
+}
+
+void SDLImage::setSpecialPallete(const IImage::SpecialPalette & SpecialPalette)
+{
+	if(surf->format->palette)
+	{
+		CSDL_Ext::setColors(surf, const_cast<SDL_Color *>(SpecialPalette.data()), 1, 7);
+	}
+}
+
+SDLImage::~SDLImage()
+{
+	SDL_FreeSurface(surf);
+
+	if(originalPalette != nullptr)
+	{
+		SDL_FreePalette(originalPalette);
+		originalPalette = nullptr;
+	}
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getFromExtraDef(std::string filename)
+{
+	size_t pos = filename.find(':');
+	if (pos == -1)
+		return nullptr;
+	CAnimation anim(filename.substr(0, pos));
+	pos++;
+	size_t frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	size_t group = 0;
+	pos = filename.find(':', pos);
+	if (pos != -1)
+	{
+		pos++;
+		group = frame;
+		frame = atoi(filename.c_str()+pos);
+	}
+	anim.load(frame ,group);
+	auto ret = anim.images[group][frame];
+	anim.images.clear();
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::loadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if(size(group) <= frame)
+	{
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	//try to get image from def
+	if(source[group][frame].getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		if(defFile)
+		{
+			auto frameList = defFile->getEntries();
+
+			if(vstd::contains(frameList, group) && frameList.at(group) > frame) // frame is present
+			{
+				images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(defFile.get(), frame, group);
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		// still here? image is missing
+
+		printError(frame, group, "LoadFrame");
+		images[group][frame] = std::make_shared<SDLImage>("DEFAULT");
+	}
+	else //load from separate file
+	{
+		auto img = getFromExtraDef(source[group][frame]["file"].String());
+		if(!img)
+			img = std::make_shared<SDLImage>(source[group][frame]);
+
+		images[group][frame] = img;
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+bool CAnimation::unloadFrame(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	auto image = getImage(frame, group, false);
+	if(image)
+	{
+		images[group].erase(frame);
+
+		if(images[group].empty())
+			images.erase(group);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::initFromJson(const JsonNode & config)
+{
+	std::string basepath;
+	basepath = config["basepath"].String();
+
+	JsonNode base(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+	base["margins"] = config["margins"];
+	base["width"] = config["width"];
+	base["height"] = config["height"];
+
+	for(const JsonNode & group : config["sequences"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t groupID = group["group"].Integer();//TODO: string-to-value conversion("moving" -> MOVING)
+		source[groupID].clear();
+
+		for(const JsonNode & frame : group["frames"].Vector())
+		{
+			JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+			JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+			toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + frame.String();
+			source[groupID].push_back(toAdd);
+		}
+	}
+
+	for(const JsonNode & node : config["images"].Vector())
+	{
+		size_t group = node["group"].Integer();
+		size_t frame = node["frame"].Integer();
+
+		if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+			source[group].resize(frame+1);
+
+		JsonNode toAdd(JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_STRUCT);
+		JsonUtils::inherit(toAdd, base);
+		toAdd["file"].String() = basepath + node["file"].String();
+		source[group][frame] = toAdd;
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::exportBitmaps(const boost::filesystem::path& path) const
+{
+	if(images.empty())
+	{
+		logGlobal->error("Nothing to export, animation is empty");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	boost::filesystem::path actualPath = path / "SPRITES" / name;
+	boost::filesystem::create_directories(actualPath);
+
+	size_t counter = 0;
+
+	for(const auto & groupPair : images)
+	{
+		size_t group = groupPair.first;
+
+		for(const auto & imagePair : groupPair.second)
+		{
+			size_t frame = imagePair.first;
+			const auto img = imagePair.second;
+
+			boost::format fmt("%d_%d.bmp");
+			fmt % group % frame;
+
+			img->exportBitmap(actualPath / fmt.str());
+			counter++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	logGlobal->info("Exported %d frames to %s", counter, actualPath.string());
+}
+
+void CAnimation::init()
+{
+	if(defFile)
+	{
+		const std::map<size_t, size_t> defEntries = defFile->getEntries();
+
+		for (auto & defEntry : defEntries)
+			source[defEntry.first].resize(defEntry.second);
+	}
+
+	ResourceID resID(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::TEXT);
+
+	if (vstd::contains(graphics->imageLists, resID.getName()))
+		initFromJson(graphics->imageLists[resID.getName()]);
+
+	auto configList = CResourceHandler::get()->getResourcesWithName(resID);
+
+	for(auto & loader : configList)
+	{
+		auto stream = loader->load(resID);
+		std::unique_ptr<ui8[]> textData(new ui8[stream->getSize()]);
+		stream->read(textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		const JsonNode config((char*)textData.get(), stream->getSize());
+
+		initFromJson(config);
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::printError(size_t frame, size_t group, std::string type) const
+{
+	logGlobal->error("%s error: Request for frame not present in CAnimation! File name: %s, Group: %d, Frame: %d", type, name, group, frame);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation(std::string Name):
+	name(Name),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	size_t dotPos = name.find_last_of('.');
+	if ( dotPos!=-1 )
+		name.erase(dotPos);
+	std::transform(name.begin(), name.end(), name.begin(), toupper);
+
+	ResourceID resource(std::string("SPRITES/") + name, EResType::ANIMATION);
+
+	if(CResourceHandler::get()->existsResource(resource))
+		defFile = std::make_shared<CDefFile>(name);
+
+	init();
+
+	if(source.empty())
+		logAnim->error("Animation %s failed to load", Name);
+}
+
+CAnimation::CAnimation():
+	name(""),
+	preloaded(false),
+	defFile()
+{
+	init();
+}
+
+CAnimation::~CAnimation() = default;
+
+void CAnimation::duplicateImage(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t sourceFrame, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	if(!source.count(sourceGroup))
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Group %d missing in %s", sourceGroup, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(source[sourceGroup].size() <= sourceFrame)
+	{
+		logAnim->error("Frame [%d %d] missing in %s", sourceGroup, sourceFrame, name);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	//todo: clone actual loaded Image object
+	JsonNode clone(source[sourceGroup][sourceFrame]);
+
+	if(clone.getType() == JsonNode::JsonType::DATA_NULL)
+	{
+		std::string temp =  name+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceGroup)+":"+boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(sourceFrame);
+		clone["file"].String() = temp;
+	}
+
+	source[targetGroup].push_back(clone);
+
+	size_t index = source[targetGroup].size() - 1;
+
+	if(preloaded)
+		load(index, targetGroup);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::setCustom(std::string filename, size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	if (source[group].size() <= frame)
+		source[group].resize(frame+1);
+	source[group][frame]["file"].String() = filename;
+	//FIXME: update image if already loaded
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<IImage> CAnimation::getImage(size_t frame, size_t group, bool verbose) const
+{
+	auto groupIter = images.find(group);
+	if (groupIter != images.end())
+	{
+		auto imageIter = groupIter->second.find(frame);
+		if (imageIter != groupIter->second.end())
+			return imageIter->second;
+	}
+	if (verbose)
+		printError(frame, group, "GetImage");
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, elem.first);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload()
+{
+	for (auto & elem : source)
+		for (size_t image=0; image < elem.second.size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, elem.first);
+
+}
+
+void CAnimation::preload()
+{
+	if(!preloaded)
+	{
+		preloaded = true;
+		load();
+	}
+}
+
+void CAnimation::loadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			loadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unloadGroup(size_t group)
+{
+	if (vstd::contains(source, group))
+		for (size_t image=0; image < source[group].size(); image++)
+			unloadFrame(image, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::load(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	loadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::unload(size_t frame, size_t group)
+{
+	unloadFrame(frame, group);
+}
+
+size_t CAnimation::size(size_t group) const
+{
+	auto iter = source.find(group);
+	if (iter != source.end())
+		return iter->second.size();
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void CAnimation::horizontalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->horizontalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::verticalFlip()
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->verticalFlip();
+}
+
+void CAnimation::playerColored(PlayerColor player)
+{
+	for(auto & group : images)
+		for(auto & image : group.second)
+			image.second->playerColored(player);
+}
+
+void CAnimation::createFlippedGroup(const size_t sourceGroup, const size_t targetGroup)
+{
+	for(size_t frame = 0; frame < size(sourceGroup); ++frame)
+	{
+		duplicateImage(sourceGroup, frame, targetGroup);
+
+		auto image = getImage(frame, targetGroup);
+		image->verticalFlip();
+	}
+}
+
+float CFadeAnimation::initialCounter() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return 1.0f;
+	return 0.0f;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::update()
+{
+	if (!fading)
+		return;
+
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		fadingCounter -= delta;
+	else
+		fadingCounter += delta;
+
+	if (isFinished())
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		if (shouldFreeSurface)
+		{
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+			fadingSurface = nullptr;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+bool CFadeAnimation::isFinished() const
+{
+	if (fadingMode == EMode::OUT)
+		return fadingCounter <= 0.0f;
+	return fadingCounter >= 1.0f;
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::CFadeAnimation()
+	: delta(0),	fadingSurface(nullptr), fading(false), fadingCounter(0), shouldFreeSurface(false),
+	  fadingMode(EMode::NONE)
+{
+}
+
+CFadeAnimation::~CFadeAnimation()
+{
+	if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+		SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::init(EMode mode, SDL_Surface * sourceSurface, bool freeSurfaceAtEnd, float animDelta)
+{
+	if (fading)
+	{
+		// in that case, immediately finish the previous fade
+		// (alternatively, we could just return here to ignore the new fade request until this one finished (but we'd need to free the passed bitmap to avoid leaks))
+		logGlobal->warn("Tried to init fading animation that is already running.");
+		if (fadingSurface && shouldFreeSurface)
+			SDL_FreeSurface(fadingSurface);
+	}
+	if (animDelta <= 0.0f)
+	{
+		logGlobal->warn("Fade anim: delta should be positive; %f given.", animDelta);
+		animDelta = DEFAULT_DELTA;
+	}
+
+	if (sourceSurface)
+		fadingSurface = sourceSurface;
+
+	delta = animDelta;
+	fadingMode = mode;
+	fadingCounter = initialCounter();
+	fading = true;
+	shouldFreeSurface = freeSurfaceAtEnd;
+}
+
+void CFadeAnimation::draw(SDL_Surface * targetSurface, const Point &targetPoint)
+{
+	if (!fading || !fadingSurface || fadingMode == EMode::NONE)
+	{
+		fading = false;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, (int)(fadingCounter * 255));
+	CSDL_Ext::blitSurface(fadingSurface, targetSurface, targetPoint); //FIXME
+	CSDL_Ext::setAlpha(fadingSurface, 255);
+}