Gemini-generated Commodore 64 assembly pelican animation, sprite multiplexing dissected
m4rkmc · x · 2026-11-13
The author generated a Commodore 64-style bicycling pelican animation using Gemini (dubbed "gemini 4 hydrogen") — not vector but assembly, with parallax scrolling and original SID music.
The attached diagram is a full technical breakdown: VIC-II hardware sprite multiplexing splits the pelican across six 21-scanline bands with zero-gap ping-pong multiplexing (Sprites 0..3 <-> 4..7) plus priority beak overlay; four head poses combine with 16 bike phases via pointer LUTs, with separate torso/wing pose frames. Replies marvel at the sprite work behind such a simple animation.
Related event: Recreating a C64-Style Cycling Pelican Demo with Gemini(2 posts)→