diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Animation.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Animation.cs
index 135d2a4e29..fcd3325bea 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Animation.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Animation.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 	public class Animation
 	{
 		readonly int defaultTick = 40; // 25 fps == 40 ms
-		public Sequence CurrentSequence { get; private set; }
+		public ISpriteSequence CurrentSequence { get; private set; }
 		public bool IsDecoration = false;
 		public Func<bool> Paused;
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 			}
 		}
 
-		public Sequence GetSequence(string sequenceName)
+		public ISpriteSequence GetSequence(string sequenceName)
 		{
 			return sequenceProvider.GetSequence(name, sequenceName);
 		}
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SequenceProvider.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SequenceProvider.cs
index 075d2cdd3e..016d64fb55 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SequenceProvider.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SequenceProvider.cs
@@ -12,11 +12,35 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Reflection;
 
 namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 {
-	using Sequences = IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Lazy<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Sequence>>>;
-	using UnitSequences = Lazy<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Sequence>>;
+	using Sequences = IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Lazy<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, ISpriteSequence>>>;
+	using UnitSequences = Lazy<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, ISpriteSequence>>;
+
+	public interface ISpriteSequence
+	{
+		string Name { get; }
+		int Start { get; }
+		int Length { get; }
+		int Stride { get; }
+		int Facings { get; }
+		int Tick { get; }
+		int ZOffset { get; }
+		int ShadowStart { get; }
+		int ShadowZOffset { get; }
+		int[] Frames { get; }
+
+		Sprite GetSprite(int frame);
+		Sprite GetSprite(int frame, int facing);
+		Sprite GetShadow(int frame, int facing);
+	}
+
+	public interface ISpriteSequenceLoader
+	{
+		IReadOnlyDictionary<string, ISpriteSequence> ParseSequences(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet, SpriteCache cache, MiniYamlNode node);
+	}
 
 	public class SequenceProvider
 	{
@@ -29,13 +53,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 			this.SpriteCache = cache.SpriteCache;
 		}
 
-		public Sequence GetSequence(string unitName, string sequenceName)
+		public ISpriteSequence GetSequence(string unitName, string sequenceName)
 		{
 			UnitSequences unitSeq;
 			if (!sequences.Value.TryGetValue(unitName, out unitSeq))
 				throw new InvalidOperationException("Unit `{0}` does not have any sequences defined.".F(unitName));
 
-			Sequence seq;
+			ISpriteSequence seq;
 			if (!unitSeq.Value.TryGetValue(sequenceName, out seq))
 				throw new InvalidOperationException("Unit `{0}` does not have a sequence named `{1}`".F(unitName, sequenceName));
 
@@ -77,6 +101,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 	public sealed class SequenceCache : IDisposable
 	{
 		readonly ModData modData;
+		readonly TileSet tileSet;
 		readonly Lazy<SpriteCache> spriteCache;
 		public SpriteCache SpriteCache { get { return spriteCache.Value; } }
 
@@ -85,7 +110,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 		public SequenceCache(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet)
 		{
 			this.modData = modData;
+			this.tileSet = tileSet;
 
+			// Every time we load a tile set, we create a sequence cache for it
 			spriteCache = Exts.Lazy(() => new SpriteCache(modData.SpriteLoaders, tileSet.Extensions, new SheetBuilder(SheetType.Indexed)));
 		}
 
@@ -116,7 +143,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 					items.Add(node.Key, t);
 				else
 				{
-					t = Exts.Lazy(() => CreateUnitSequences(node));
+					t = Exts.Lazy(() => modData.SpriteSequenceLoader.ParseSequences(modData, tileSet, SpriteCache, node));
 					sequenceCache.Add(key, t);
 					items.Add(node.Key, t);
 				}
@@ -125,28 +152,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 			return new ReadOnlyDictionary<string, UnitSequences>(items);
 		}
 
-		IReadOnlyDictionary<string, Sequence> CreateUnitSequences(MiniYamlNode node)
-		{
-			var unitSequences = new Dictionary<string, Sequence>();
-
-			foreach (var kvp in node.Value.ToDictionary())
-			{
-				using (new Support.PerfTimer("new Sequence(\"{0}\")".F(node.Key), 20))
-				{
-					try
-					{
-						unitSequences.Add(kvp.Key, new Sequence(spriteCache.Value, node.Key, kvp.Key, kvp.Value));
-					}
-					catch (FileNotFoundException ex)
-					{
-						Log.Write("debug", ex.Message);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			return new ReadOnlyDictionary<string, Sequence>(unitSequences);
-		}
-
 		public void Dispose()
 		{
 			if (spriteCache.IsValueCreated)
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
index b01f8f7f14..fe3945141e 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
@@ -20,6 +20,17 @@ namespace OpenRA
 	public enum TileShape { Rectangle, Diamond }
 	public interface IGlobalModData { }
 
+	public sealed class SpriteSequenceFormat : IGlobalModData
+	{
+		public readonly string Type;
+		public readonly IReadOnlyDictionary<string, MiniYaml> Metadata;
+		public SpriteSequenceFormat(MiniYaml yaml)
+		{
+			Type = yaml.Value;
+			Metadata = new ReadOnlyDictionary<string, MiniYaml>(yaml.ToDictionary());
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Describes what is to be loaded in order to run a mod
 	public class Manifest
 	{
@@ -34,6 +45,7 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public readonly IReadOnlyDictionary<string, string> MapFolders;
 		public readonly MiniYaml LoadScreen;
 		public readonly MiniYaml LobbyDefaults;
+
 		public readonly Dictionary<string, Pair<string, int>> Fonts;
 		public readonly Size TileSize = new Size(24, 24);
 		public readonly TileShape TileShape = TileShape.Rectangle;
@@ -92,8 +104,12 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			Missions = YamlList(yaml, "Missions", true);
 
 			ServerTraits = YamlList(yaml, "ServerTraits");
-			LoadScreen = yaml["LoadScreen"];
-			LobbyDefaults = yaml["LobbyDefaults"];
+
+			if (!yaml.TryGetValue("LoadScreen", out LoadScreen))
+				throw new InvalidDataException("`LoadScreen` section is not defined.");
+
+			if (!yaml.TryGetValue("LobbyDefaults", out LobbyDefaults))
+				throw new InvalidDataException("`LobbyDefaults` section is not defined.");
 
 			Fonts = yaml["Fonts"].ToDictionary(my =>
 				{
@@ -150,8 +166,20 @@ namespace OpenRA
 				if (t == null || !typeof(IGlobalModData).IsAssignableFrom(t))
 					throw new InvalidDataException("`{0}` is not a valid mod manifest entry.".F(kv.Key));
 
-				var module = oc.CreateObject<IGlobalModData>(kv.Key);
-				FieldLoader.Load(module, kv.Value);
+				IGlobalModData module;
+				var ctor = t.GetConstructor(new Type[] { typeof(MiniYaml) });
+				if (ctor != null)
+				{
+					// Class has opted-in to DIY initialization
+					module = (IGlobalModData)ctor.Invoke(new object[] { kv.Value });
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					// Automatically load the child nodes using FieldLoader
+					module = oc.CreateObject<IGlobalModData>(kv.Key);
+					FieldLoader.Load(module, kv.Value);
+				}
+
 				modules.Add(module);
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs b/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
index 8cba16ed01..38cacea1fd 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public readonly WidgetLoader WidgetLoader;
 		public readonly MapCache MapCache;
 		public readonly ISpriteLoader[] SpriteLoaders;
+		public readonly ISpriteSequenceLoader SpriteSequenceLoader;
 		public readonly RulesetCache RulesetCache;
 		public ILoadScreen LoadScreen { get; private set; }
 		public VoxelLoader VoxelLoader { get; private set; }
@@ -52,17 +53,25 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			RulesetCache.LoadingProgress += HandleLoadingProgress;
 			MapCache = new MapCache(this);
 
-			var loaders = new List<ISpriteLoader>();
+			var spriteLoaders = new List<ISpriteLoader>();
 			foreach (var format in Manifest.SpriteFormats)
 			{
 				var loader = ObjectCreator.FindType(format + "Loader");
 				if (loader == null || !loader.GetInterfaces().Contains(typeof(ISpriteLoader)))
 					throw new InvalidOperationException("Unable to find a sprite loader for type '{0}'.".F(format));
 
-				loaders.Add((ISpriteLoader)ObjectCreator.CreateBasic(loader));
+				spriteLoaders.Add((ISpriteLoader)ObjectCreator.CreateBasic(loader));
 			}
 
-			SpriteLoaders = loaders.ToArray();
+			SpriteLoaders = spriteLoaders.ToArray();
+
+			var sequenceFormat = Manifest.Get<SpriteSequenceFormat>();
+			var sequenceLoader = ObjectCreator.FindType(sequenceFormat.Type + "Loader");
+			var ctor = sequenceLoader != null ? sequenceLoader.GetConstructor(new[] { typeof(ModData) }) : null;
+			if (sequenceLoader == null || !sequenceLoader.GetInterfaces().Contains(typeof(ISpriteSequenceLoader)) || ctor == null)
+				throw new InvalidOperationException("Unable to find a sequence loader for type '{0}'.".F(sequenceFormat.Type));
+
+			SpriteSequenceLoader = (ISpriteSequenceLoader)ctor.Invoke(new[] { this });
 
 			// HACK: Mount only local folders so we have a half-working environment for the asset installer
 			GlobalFileSystem.UnmountAll();
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj b/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
index ae14e7c544..e86c309d37 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@
     <Compile Include="Graphics\MappedImage.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\Minimap.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\Renderer.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Graphics\Sequence.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\SequenceProvider.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\Sheet.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Graphics\SheetBuilder.cs" />
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Sequence.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Graphics/DefaultSpriteSequence.cs
similarity index 57%
rename from OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Sequence.cs
rename to OpenRA.Mods.Common/Graphics/DefaultSpriteSequence.cs
index 916af8dbac..c5cc18f1e1 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/Sequence.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Graphics/DefaultSpriteSequence.cs
@@ -9,30 +9,73 @@
 #endregion
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using OpenRA.Graphics;
 
-namespace OpenRA.Graphics
+namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Graphics
 {
-	public class Sequence
+	public class DefaultSpriteSequenceLoader : ISpriteSequenceLoader
+	{
+		public DefaultSpriteSequenceLoader(ModData modData) { }
+
+		public virtual ISpriteSequence CreateSequence(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet, SpriteCache cache, string sequence, string animation, MiniYaml info)
+		{
+			return new DefaultSpriteSequence(modData, tileSet, cache, this, sequence, animation, info);
+		}
+
+		public IReadOnlyDictionary<string, ISpriteSequence> ParseSequences(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet, SpriteCache cache, MiniYamlNode node)
+		{
+			var sequences = new Dictionary<string, ISpriteSequence>();
+
+			foreach (var kvp in node.Value.ToDictionary())
+			{
+				using (new Support.PerfTimer("new Sequence(\"{0}\")".F(node.Key), 20))
+				{
+					try
+					{
+						sequences.Add(kvp.Key, CreateSequence(modData, tileSet, cache, node.Key, kvp.Key, kvp.Value));
+					}
+					catch (FileNotFoundException ex)
+					{
+						// Eat the FileNotFound exceptions from missing sprites
+						Log.Write("debug", ex.Message);
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
+			return new ReadOnlyDictionary<string, ISpriteSequence>(sequences);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public class DefaultSpriteSequence : ISpriteSequence
 	{
 		readonly Sprite[] sprites;
 		readonly bool reverseFacings, transpose;
 
-		public readonly string Name;
-		public readonly int Start;
-		public readonly int Length;
-		public readonly int Stride;
-		public readonly int Facings;
-		public readonly int Tick;
-		public readonly int ZOffset;
-		public readonly int ShadowStart;
-		public readonly int ShadowZOffset;
-		public readonly int[] Frames;
+		protected readonly ISpriteSequenceLoader Loader;
 
-		public Sequence(SpriteCache cache, string unit, string name, MiniYaml info)
+		public string Name { get; private set; }
+		public int Start { get; private set; }
+		public int Length { get; private set; }
+		public int Stride { get; private set; }
+		public int Facings { get; private set; }
+		public int Tick { get; private set; }
+		public int ZOffset { get; private set; }
+		public int ShadowStart { get; private set; }
+		public int ShadowZOffset { get; private set; }
+		public int[] Frames { get; private set; }
+
+		protected virtual string GetSpriteSrc(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet, string sequence, string animation, MiniYaml info, Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> d)
 		{
-			var srcOverride = info.Value;
-			Name = name;
+			return info.Value ?? sequence;
+		}
+
+		public DefaultSpriteSequence(ModData modData, TileSet tileSet, SpriteCache cache, ISpriteSequenceLoader loader, string sequence, string animation, MiniYaml info)
+		{
+			Name = animation;
+			Loader = loader;
 			var d = info.ToDictionary();
 			var offset = float2.Zero;
 			var blendMode = BlendMode.Alpha;
@@ -50,7 +93,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 
 				// Apply offset to each sprite in the sequence
 				// Different sequences may apply different offsets to the same frame
-				sprites = cache[srcOverride ?? unit].Select(
+				var src = GetSpriteSrc(modData, tileSet, sequence, animation, info, d);
+				sprites = cache[src].Select(
 					s => new Sprite(s.Sheet, s.Bounds, s.Offset + offset, s.Channel, blendMode)).ToArray();
 
 				if (!d.ContainsKey("Length"))
@@ -109,17 +153,17 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 				if (Length > Stride)
 					throw new InvalidOperationException(
 						"{0}: Sequence {1}.{2}: Length must be <= stride"
-							.F(info.Nodes[0].Location, unit, name));
+						.F(info.Nodes[0].Location, sequence, animation));
 
 				if (Start < 0 || Start + Facings * Stride > sprites.Length || ShadowStart + Facings * Stride > sprites.Length)
 					throw new InvalidOperationException(
 						"{6}: Sequence {0}.{1} uses frames [{2}..{3}] of SHP `{4}`, but only 0..{5} actually exist"
-						.F(unit, name, Start, Start + Facings * Stride - 1, srcOverride ?? unit, sprites.Length - 1,
+						.F(sequence, animation, Start, Start + Facings * Stride - 1, src, sprites.Length - 1,
 						info.Nodes[0].Location));
 			}
 			catch (FormatException f)
 			{
-				throw new FormatException("Failed to parse sequences for {0}.{1} at {2}:\n{3}".F(unit, name, info.Nodes[0].Location, f));
+				throw new FormatException("Failed to parse sequences for {0}.{1} at {2}:\n{3}".F(sequence, animation, info.Nodes[0].Location, f));
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -138,9 +182,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 			return ShadowStart >= 0 ? GetSprite(ShadowStart, frame, facing) : null;
 		}
 
-		Sprite GetSprite(int start, int frame, int facing)
+		protected virtual Sprite GetSprite(int start, int frame, int facing)
 		{
-			var f = Traits.Util.QuantizeFacing(facing, Facings);
+			var f = OpenRA.Traits.Util.QuantizeFacing(facing, Facings);
 
 			if (reverseFacings)
 				f = (Facings - f) % Facings;
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
index 4010600547..c691fb8526 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
@@ -577,6 +577,7 @@
     <Compile Include="UtilityCommands\ReplayMetadataCommand.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Widgets\Logic\ReplayUtils.cs" />
     <Compile Include="InstallUtils.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Graphics\DefaultSpriteSequence.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <PropertyGroup>
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Graphics/TeslaZapRenderable.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Graphics/TeslaZapRenderable.cs
index 28d25da0ef..194536cf4f 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Graphics/TeslaZapRenderable.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.RA/Graphics/TeslaZapRenderable.cs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Graphics
 					yield return z;
 		}
 
-		static IEnumerable<IFinalizedRenderable> DrawZapWandering(WorldRenderer wr, float2 from, float2 to, Sequence s, string pal)
+		static IEnumerable<IFinalizedRenderable> DrawZapWandering(WorldRenderer wr, float2 from, float2 to, ISpriteSequence s, string pal)
 		{
 			var z = float2.Zero;	/* hack */
 			var dist = to - from;
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.RA.Graphics
 			return renderables;
 		}
 
-		static IEnumerable<IFinalizedRenderable> DrawZap(WorldRenderer wr, float2 from, float2 to, Sequence s, out float2 p, string palette)
+		static IEnumerable<IFinalizedRenderable> DrawZap(WorldRenderer wr, float2 from, float2 to, ISpriteSequence s, out float2 p, string palette)
 		{
 			var dist = to - from;
 			var q = new float2(-dist.Y, dist.X);
diff --git a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
index 0cfff7afb0..33d5238b0c 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
@@ -203,3 +203,5 @@ Missions:
 SupportsMapsFrom: cnc
 
 SpriteFormats: ShpTD, TmpTD, ShpTS, TmpRA
+
+SpriteSequenceFormat: DefaultSpriteSequence
diff --git a/mods/d2k/mod.yaml b/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
index 7e1fcd2fcf..b7936e89e0 100644
--- a/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
@@ -178,3 +178,5 @@ Fonts:
 SupportsMapsFrom: d2k
 
 SpriteFormats: R8, ShpTD, TmpRA
+
+SpriteSequenceFormat: DefaultSpriteSequence
diff --git a/mods/modchooser/mod.yaml b/mods/modchooser/mod.yaml
index 4be6107424..3309f74d2d 100644
--- a/mods/modchooser/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/modchooser/mod.yaml
@@ -51,4 +51,6 @@ Fonts:
 
 LobbyDefaults:
 
-SpriteFormats: ShpTD
\ No newline at end of file
+SpriteFormats: ShpTD
+
+SpriteSequenceFormat: DefaultSpriteSequence
diff --git a/mods/ra/mod.yaml b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
index 25680a7853..f61fad5276 100644
--- a/mods/ra/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
@@ -201,3 +201,5 @@ Missions:
 SupportsMapsFrom: ra
 
 SpriteFormats: ShpTD, TmpRA, TmpTD, ShpTS
+
+SpriteSequenceFormat: DefaultSpriteSequence
diff --git a/mods/ts/mod.yaml b/mods/ts/mod.yaml
index fadf21d7a0..8e2a31618f 100644
--- a/mods/ts/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/ts/mod.yaml
@@ -219,3 +219,5 @@ Fonts:
 SupportsMapsFrom: ts
 
 SpriteFormats: ShpTS, TmpTS, ShpTD
+
+SpriteSequenceFormat: DefaultSpriteSequence