I'm trying to animate a character but it's throwing an error(I literally just started the project, I'm so frustrated)

[victoryamachree]

extends CharacterBody2D

@onready var animated_sprite_2d = AnimatedSprite2D

@export var move_speed: float = 70.0

var direction: Vector2 = Vector2.ZERO

func _process(delta):
direction = Vector2.ZERO

if Input.is_action_pressed("move_left"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("side")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = true

Question

`Hello everyone I’m new to Godot and this is really frustrating. I’m getting an error

“3:Cannot call non-static function “play()” on the class “AnimatedSprite2D” directly. Make an instance instead.”

[GorevAndrew]

Hello!
You did it right, but NOT correctly use your path to animated sprite node.
You should :

1. right click on animated sprite and make it “Access by unique name”.
2. @onready var animated_sprite_2d = %AnimatedSprite2D

Now this is PATH to your node and assigned variable to it.

[victoryamachree]

Oh my goodness thank you so much!!!

[victoryamachree]

func _process(delta):
direction = Vector2.ZERO

if Input.is_action_pressed("move_left"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("side")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = true
	direction = Vector2.LEFT

elif Input.is_action_pressed("move_right"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("side")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.RIGHT

elif Input.is_action_pressed("backward"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("back")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.UP

elif Input.is_action_pressed("forward"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("front")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.DOWN

This is code to run the character animation but it has thrown up a new error when I try to run it throws "attempt to call function ‘play’ in base null instance on a null instance "

Please could you help me with this too. Thank you so much

[matheusmdx]

I recommend you put a print of your scene structure to make easier help u.

[victoryamachree]

I’m sorry I’m new to this. I’m trying to follow a tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYN4L8afRfQ&t=51s its at 15:03

extends CharacterBody2D

@onready var animated_sprite_2d = %AnimatedSprite2D

@export var move_speed: float = 70.0

var direction: Vector2 = Vector2.ZERO

func _process(delta):
direction = Vector2.ZERO

if Input.is_action_pressed("move_left"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("side")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = true
	direction = Vector2.LEFT

elif Input.is_action_pressed("move_right"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("side")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.RIGHT

elif Input.is_action_pressed("backward"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("back")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.UP

elif Input.is_action_pressed("forward"):
	animated_sprite_2d.play("front")
	animated_sprite_2d.flip_h = false
	direction = Vector2.DOWN
	
velocity = direction * move_speed
move_and_slide()

[matheusmdx]

No problem, but what i talked about is this:

We need to know your scene is structured because you’re getting a null instance, to help you get the correct value we need to know how your nodes are organized.

[victoryamachree]

this is it thank you

[matheusmdx]

In this case you just need to do equal the video u send: @onready var animated_sprite_2d = $AnimatedSprite2D. You forget the “$” before the AnimatedSprite2D

[GorevAndrew]

You should find info about NODE PATH on Youtube.
If you use @onready var animated_sprite_2d = %AnimatedSprite2D, then your NODE in scene tree, must be “Access by unique name”, “%” - sign that trigger Godot to find node by unique name.
If NODE does not use unique name, then you should use “$” before your node name. Thats the point - you need PATH to node.