diff --git a/graph.cpp b/graph.cpp
index 08c37c540..d25bbb719 100644
--- a/graph.cpp
+++ b/graph.cpp
@@ -2412,6 +2412,7 @@ void drawaura() {
       }
     }
   glflush();
+  current_display->set_projection(0, false);
   glhr::switch_mode(glhr::gmVarColored, glhr::shader_projection::standard);
   glhr::id_modelview();
   glhr::prepare(auravertices);
diff --git a/hyper.cpp b/hyper.cpp
index a858777c6..c2cb53d6f 100644
--- a/hyper.cpp
+++ b/hyper.cpp
@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   start_game();
 #endif
 #if !ISWEB
-  if(showstartmenu && !vid.skipstart)
+  if(showstartmenu && !vid.skipstart) {
+    startanims::pick();
     pushScreen(showStartMenu);
+    }
 #endif
   mainloop();
   finishAll();  
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index 9828ff867..7b1223252 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -2590,6 +2590,8 @@ extern bool useRangedOrb;
 
 void addaura(hyperpoint h, color_t col, int fd);
 void addauraspecial(hyperpoint h, color_t col, int dir);
+void drawaura();
+void clearaura();
 
 void drawBug(const cellwalker& cw, color_t col);
 
@@ -4429,6 +4431,11 @@ namespace anims {
   extern ld period, cycle_length, parabolic_length, rug_angle, circle_radius, circle_spins;
   }
 
+namespace startanims {
+  extern reaction_t current;  
+  void pick();
+  }
+
 extern int animation_lcm;
 extern ld animation_factor;
 ld parseld(const string& s);
diff --git a/menus.cpp b/menus.cpp
index f83efc59d..8bcef6a60 100644
--- a/menus.cpp
+++ b/menus.cpp
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ void showMainMenu() {
     else if(uni == 'd') pushScreen(showDisplayMode);
     else if(uni == 'm') pushScreen(showChangeMode);
     else if(uni == 'R') dialog::do_if_confirmed([] {
-      popScreenAll(), pushScreen(showStartMenu);
+      popScreenAll(), startanims::pick(), pushScreen(showStartMenu);
       });
   #if CAP_SAVE
     else if(uni == 't') scores::load();
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ void showStartMenu() {
       daily_mode = 20;
     }
   
-  gamescreen(2);
+  startanims::current();
 
   getcstat = ' ';
   
@@ -813,6 +813,7 @@ void showStartMenu() {
       clearMessages();
       welcomeMessage();
       }
+    else if(sym == SDLK_F5) startanims::pick();
     };
   }
  
diff --git a/polygons.cpp b/polygons.cpp
index 753a5f274..eddb22728 100644
--- a/polygons.cpp
+++ b/polygons.cpp
@@ -1526,6 +1526,7 @@ hpcshape
   shWestHat1, shWestHat2, shGunInHand,
   shKnightArmor, shKnightCloak, shWightCloak,
   shGhost, shEyes, shSlime, shJelly, shJoint, shWormHead, shTentHead, shShark, shWormSegment, shSmallWormSegment, shWormTail, shSmallWormTail,
+  shMiniGhost, shMiniEyes,
   shHedgehogBlade, shHedgehogBladePlayer,
   shWolfBody, shWolfHead, shWolfLegs, shWolfEyes,
   shWolfFrontLeg, shWolfRearLeg, shWolfFrontPaw, shWolfRearPaw,
@@ -2356,6 +2357,7 @@ void buildpolys() {
 
   // monsters
   bshape(shGhost, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor, 69);
+  bshape(shMiniGhost, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor/3, 69);
   bshape(shGargoyleWings, PPR::MONSTER_CLOAK, scalefactor, 70);
   bshape(shGargoyleBody, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor, 71);
   bshape(shDogStripes, PPR::MONSTER_ARMOR1, scalefactor, 72);
@@ -2490,6 +2492,7 @@ void buildpolys() {
   bshape(shFlowerHand, PPR::MONSTER_WPN, scalefactor, 133);
   bshape(shPFace, PPR::MONSTER_FACE, scalefactor, 134);
   bshape(shEyes, PPR::MONSTER_EYE0, scalefactor, 135);
+  bshape(shMiniEyes, PPR::MONSTER_EYE0, scalefactor/3, 135);
   bshape(shShark, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor, 136);
   bshape(shTinyShark, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor / 2, 136);
   bshape(shBugBody, PPR::MONSTER_BODY, scalefactor, 137);
diff --git a/screenshot.cpp b/screenshot.cpp
index 39033b227..53af6655d 100644
--- a/screenshot.cpp
+++ b/screenshot.cpp
@@ -1006,4 +1006,124 @@ bool center_music() {
 
 }
 #endif
+
+namespace startanims {
+
+int ticks_start = 0;
+
+void null_animation() {
+  gamescreen(2);  
+  }
+
+void joukowsky() {
+  dynamicval<eModel> dm(pmodel, mdJoukowskyInverted);
+  dynamicval<ld> dt(conformal::model_orientation, ticks / 25.);
+  dynamicval<int> dv(vid.use_smart_range, 2);
+  dynamicval<ld> ds(vid.scale, 1/4.);
+  conformal::configure();
+  dynamicval<color_t> dc(ringcolor, 0);  
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+void bandspin() {
+  dynamicval<eModel> dm(pmodel, mdBand);
+  dynamicval<ld> dt(conformal::model_orientation, ticks / 25.);
+  dynamicval<int> dv(vid.use_smart_range, 2);
+  conformal::configure();
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+void perspective() {
+  ld x = sin(ticks / 1500.);
+  x += 1;
+  x /= 2;
+  x *= 1.5;
+  x = tan(x);
+  dynamicval<ld> da(vid.alpha, x);
+  dynamicval<ld> ds(vid.scale, (1+x)/2);
+  calcparam();
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+void rug() {
+  dynamicval<bool> b(rug::rugged, true);
+  rug::physics();
+  rug::apply_rotation(rotmatrix(ticks / 3000., 1, 2));
+  gamescreen(2);
+  rug::apply_rotation(rotmatrix(-ticks / 3000., 1, 2));
+  }
+
+void spin_around() {
+  dynamicval<ld> da(vid.alpha, 999);
+  dynamicval<ld> ds(vid.scale, 500);
+  ld alpha = 2 * M_PI * ticks / 10000.;
+  ld circle_radius = acosh(2.);
+  dynamicval<transmatrix> dv(View, spin(-cos_auto(circle_radius)*alpha) * xpush(circle_radius) * spin(alpha) * View);
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+reaction_t add_to_frame;
+
+void draw_ghost(const transmatrix V) {
+  queuepoly(V, shMiniGhost, 0xFFFFFFC0);
+  queuepoly(V, shMiniEyes, 0xFF);
+  }
+
+void row_of_ghosts() {
+  dynamicval<reaction_t> r(add_to_frame, [] {
+    for(ld x=-5; x<=5; x+=0.2)
+      for(ld y=-5; y<=5; y+=0.2) {
+        ld ay = y + (ticks % 1000) / 1000.;
+        draw_ghost(xpush(x) * spin(M_PI/2) * xpush(ay));
+        }
+    });
+  dynamicval<bool> rd(mapeditor::drawplayer, false);
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+void army_of_ghosts() {
+  dynamicval<bool> rd(mapeditor::drawplayer, false);
+  dynamicval<reaction_t> r(add_to_frame, [] {
+    for(ld x=-3; x<=3; x+=0.5) {
+      int minv = int(cosh(x) * 3);
+      for(ld y=-minv; y<=minv; y+=0.5) {
+        ld ay = y + (ticks % 2000) / 2000.;
+        draw_ghost(spin(M_PI/2) * xpush(ay / cosh(x)) * spin(-M_PI/2) * xpush(x) * spin(M_PI/2));
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+void ghost_spiral() {
+  dynamicval<reaction_t> r(add_to_frame, [] {
+    ld t = (ticks - ticks_start - 2000) / 150000.;
+    for(ld i=3; i<=40; i++) {
+      draw_ghost(spin(t * i * 2 * M_PI) * xpush(asinh(15. / i)) * spin(M_PI/2));
+      }
+    });
+  gamescreen(2);
+  }
+
+// more start animations:
+// - fly a ghost around center, in Gans model
+// - triangle edges?
+
+reaction_t current = null_animation;
+
+void pick() {
+  if(((gold() > 0 || tkills() > 0) && canmove) || geometry != gNormal || ISWEB || ISMOBILE) {
+    current = null_animation;
+    return;
+    }
+  vector<reaction_t> known = { null_animation, perspective, joukowsky, bandspin, rug, spin_around, row_of_ghosts, ghost_spiral, army_of_ghosts };
+  int id = rand() % 9;
+  current = known[id];
+  ticks_start = ticks;
+  if(id == 4) rug::init(), rug::rugged = false;
+  }
+
+auto sanimhook = addHook(hooks_frame, 100, []() { if(add_to_frame) add_to_frame(); });
+
+}
 }