we'll see how this goes with the larger model

animationMario.go

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 
+	"math"
+
 	"github.com/disintegration/imaging"
 )
 
@@ -14,6 +16,9 @@ type Mario struct {
 	dir      image.Point
 	images   map[string]image.Image
 	updown   string
+	a        float64
+	b        float64
+	angle    float64
 }
 
 func loadMario(file string) image.Image {
@@ -53,20 +58,36 @@ func (a *Animation) animateMario() {
 
 // what mario does every frame
 func (a *Animation) updateMarioPosition() {
-	a.mario.position.X += 1 * a.mario.dir.X
-	a.mario.position.Y += 1 * a.mario.dir.Y
+	// Ellipse parameters (centered on canvas)
+	centerX := a.ctx.Width() / 2
+	centerY := a.ctx.Height() / 2
 
-	if a.mario.position.Y+a.height > a.ctx.Height() {
-		a.mario.dir.Y = -1
-		a.mario.updown = "marioUp"
-	} else if a.mario.position.Y-a.height < 0 {
-		a.mario.updown = "marioDown"
-		a.mario.dir.Y = 1
+	// Calculate new position using parametric ellipse equations
+	t := a.mario.angle
+	marioX := centerX + a.mario.a*math.Cos(t)
+	marioY := centerY + a.mario.b*math.Sin(t)
+
+	// Update angle to move along the ellipse
+	a.mario.angle += 0.1 // Adjust speed as needed
+	if a.mario.angle >= 2*math.Pi {
+		a.mario.angle -= 2 * math.Pi
 	}
 
-	if a.mario.position.X+a.width > a.ctx.Width() {
-		a.mario.dir.X = -1
-	} else if a.mario.position.X-a.width < 0 {
-		a.mario.dir.X = 1
+	// Determine horizontal direction (left/right) for image flipping
+	if math.Sin(t) > 0 {
+		a.mario.dir.X = -1 // Moving left
+	} else {
+		a.mario.dir.X = 1 // Moving right
 	}
+
+	// Determine vertical direction (up/down) for image selection
+	if math.Cos(t) > 0 {
+		a.mario.updown = "marioUp" // Moving downward
+	} else {
+		a.mario.updown = "marioDown" // Moving upward
+	}
+
+	// Update Mario's position
+	a.mario.position.X = marioX
+	a.mario.position.Y = marioY
 }