diff --git a/animationMario.go b/animationMario.go
index cb53655..7a6dbd9 100644
--- a/animationMario.go
+++ b/animationMario.go
@@ -96,51 +96,19 @@ func (a *Animation) updateMarioPosition() {
 		maxCenterY = centerY
 	}
 
-	// parametric angle before any reflection
+	// advance angle for this frame
+	delta := 0.05
 	t := a.mario.angle
-
-	// compute candidate center position on the ellipse
-	marioX := int(math.Round(a.mario.a*math.Cos(t))) + centerX
-	marioY := int(math.Round(a.mario.b*math.Sin(t))) + centerY
-
-	// detect collisions against allowed center ranges
-	collidedX := marioX < minCenterX || marioX > maxCenterX
-	collidedY := marioY < minCenterY || marioY > maxCenterY
-
-	// If allowed range collapsed to the center, don't reflect on that axis
-	// because reflection would keep flipping every frame. Treat that as
-	// non-colliding for reflection purposes (we'll clamp position later).
-	if minCenterX == maxCenterX {
-		collidedX = false
-	}
-	if minCenterY == maxCenterY {
-		collidedY = false
-	}
-
-	// Reflect the parametric angle correctly:
-	// - For horizontal collision we want cos(t_new) = -cos(t) => t_new = Pi - t
-	// - For vertical collision we want sin(t_new) = -sin(t)   => t_new = -t
-	if collidedX {
-		t = math.Pi - t
-	}
-	if collidedY {
-		t = -t
+	tNext := t + delta
+	if tNext >= 2*math.Pi {
+		tNext -= 2 * math.Pi
 	}
 
-	// normalize angle into [0, 2π)
-	for t < 0 {
-		t += 2 * math.Pi
-	}
-	for t >= 2*math.Pi {
-		t -= 2 * math.Pi
-	}
-	a.mario.angle = t
+	// compute next candidate center from the next parametric position
+	marioX := int(math.Round(a.mario.a*math.Cos(tNext))) + centerX
+	marioY := int(math.Round(a.mario.b*math.Sin(tNext))) + centerY
 
-	// recompute position from possibly-updated angle so sprite is inside bounds
-	marioX = int(math.Round(a.mario.a*math.Cos(t))) + centerX
-	marioY = int(math.Round(a.mario.b*math.Sin(t))) + centerY
-
-	// clamp as a safety net
+	// clamp into allowed center ranges so sprite stays fully on panel
 	if marioX < minCenterX {
 		marioX = minCenterX
 	}
@@ -154,24 +122,30 @@ func (a *Animation) updateMarioPosition() {
 		marioY = maxCenterY
 	}
 
+	// commit position and advance angle
 	a.mario.position.X = marioX
 	a.mario.position.Y = marioY
-
-	// advance angle for next frame
-	a.mario.angle += 0.05
-	if a.mario.angle >= 2*math.Pi {
-		a.mario.angle -= 2 * math.Pi
-	}
-
-	// Direction logic (based on param t used for the current frame)
-	if math.Sin(t) > 0 {
-		a.mario.dir.X = -1 // moving left
+	a.mario.angle = tNext
+
+	// Direction logic (based on the motion between t and tNext)
+	// approximate direction by comparing positions (preferable to trig sign when clamped)
+	prevX := int(math.Round(a.mario.a*math.Cos(t))) + centerX
+	if prevX == marioX {
+		// if we didn't move horizontally, keep previous direction
+		// (this prevents flicker when clamped)
+	} else if marioX < prevX {
+		a.mario.dir.X = -1
 	} else {
-		a.mario.dir.X = 1 // moving right
+		a.mario.dir.X = 1
 	}
-	if math.Cos(t) > 0 {
-		a.mario.updown = "marioDown" // moving downward
+
+	// up/down based on vertical movement
+	prevY := int(math.Round(a.mario.b*math.Sin(t))) + centerY
+	if prevY == marioY {
+		// keep previous up/down state
+	} else if marioY < prevY {
+		a.mario.updown = "marioUp"
 	} else {
-		a.mario.updown = "marioUp" // moving upward
+		a.mario.updown = "marioDown"
 	}
 }