the trick in flash to make and stop animations is to create a movies object. click on windows, then library create a new movie by clicking options, the new symbol and select movie. create your animation in the new movie section click on the first frame and choose properties and choose actions, play. now once done go back to scene one. create a new symbol and select button here is the trick to start and stop that animation by its self. http://www.flashplanet.com/body_fla.html will have some examples for you to use. right click on the movie and give it a name (in this case ani) right click on the button and choose actions. On (Release) Begin Tell Target ("/ani") Stop End Tell Target End On