diff --git a/src/actors/child.asm b/src/actors/child.asm
index e2573897..b471c546 100644
--- a/src/actors/child.asm
+++ b/src/actors/child.asm
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 .IMPORT Ram_ActorFlags_bObj_arr
 .IMPORT Ram_ActorState1_byte_arr
 .IMPORT Ram_Oam_sObj_arr64
+.IMPORTZP Zp_FrameCounter_u8
 
 ;;;=========================================================================;;;
 
@@ -79,9 +80,20 @@ kPaletteObjChild = 1
     lda Ram_ActorState1_byte_arr, x
     stx T0  ; actor index
     tax  ; eNpcChild value
+    ;; Special case: for eNpcChild::AlexSwimming1, automatically animate
+    ;; between AlexSwimming1 and AlexSwimming2.
+    cpx #eNpcChild::AlexSwimming1
+    bne @setTiles
+    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
+    adc #6  ; offset so swimming animation isn't synced with player avatar
+    and #$10
+    bne @setTiles
+    ldx #eNpcChild::AlexSwimming2
+    @setTiles:
+    ;; Set tile IDs for the objects.
     lda _Feet_u8_arr, x
     sta Ram_Oam_sObj_arr64 + .sizeof(sObj) * 1 + sObj::Tile_u8, y
-    adc #1
+    add #1
     sta Ram_Oam_sObj_arr64 + .sizeof(sObj) * 3 + sObj::Tile_u8, y
     lda _Head_u8_arr, x
     sta Ram_Oam_sObj_arr64 + .sizeof(sObj) * 0 + sObj::Tile_u8, y
diff --git a/src/avatar.asm b/src/avatar.asm
index a00f0869..16c14817 100644
--- a/src/avatar.asm
+++ b/src/avatar.asm
@@ -251,16 +251,7 @@ _SetPoseInAir:
     sta Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
     rts
 _SetPoseInWater:
-    ;; The player avatar is in water, so set its pose to Swimming.
-    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
-    and #$10
-    bne @swimming2
-    @swimming1:
-    lda #eAvatar::Swimming1
-    bne @setAvatarPose  ; unconditional
-    @swimming2:
-    lda #eAvatar::Swimming2
-    @setAvatarPose:
+    lda #eAvatar::Swimming1  ; animates automatically
     sta Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
     rts
 _SetPoseOnGround:
@@ -847,11 +838,23 @@ _InAirReverseGravity:
     @notInvincible:
 _DrawObjects:
     jsr FuncA_Objects_SetShapePosToAvatarCenter
-    lda Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
+    ;; If the player avatar is hidden, don't draw it.
+    ldx Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
     .assert eAvatar::Hidden = 0, error
     beq _Done
+    ;; Special case: for eAvatar::Swimming1, automatically animate between
+    ;; Swimming1 and Swimming2.
+    cpx #eAvatar::Swimming1
+    bne @drawPose
+    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
+    and #$10
+    bne @drawPose
+    ldx #eAvatar::Swimming2
+    @drawPose:
+    ;; Draw objects for the player avatar.
+    txa  ; eAvatar value
     mul #4
-    tax
+    tax  ; byte index into _Tiles_u8_arr4_arr
     lda Zp_AvatarFlags_bObj  ; param: object flags
     jsr FuncA_Objects_Alloc2x2Shape  ; preserves X, returns C and Y
     bcs _Done
diff --git a/src/cutscene.asm b/src/cutscene.asm
index 0cb59688..28e6cdb8 100644
--- a/src/cutscene.asm
+++ b/src/cutscene.asm
@@ -918,17 +918,7 @@ _MoveByYA:
 ;;; @preserve X, Y, T0+
 .PROC FuncA_Cutscene_AnimateAvatarSwimming
     jsr FuncA_Cutscene_FaceAvatarTowardsN
-_AnimatePose:
-    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
-    and #$10
-    beq @swim2
-    @swim1:
-    lda #eAvatar::Swimming1
-    .assert eAvatar::Swimming1 > 0, error
-    bne @setPose  ; unconditional
-    @swim2:
-    lda #eAvatar::Swimming2
-    @setPose:
+    lda #eAvatar::Swimming1  ; animates automatically
     sta Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
     rts
 .ENDPROC
@@ -964,17 +954,8 @@ _AnimatePose:
     jsr FuncA_Cutscene_SetActorFlipHFromN  ; preserves X, Y and T0+
     lda #$ff
     sta Ram_ActorState2_byte_arr, x
-_AnimatePose:
-    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
-    and #$10
-    beq @swim2
-    @swim1:
+    ;; Set pose to AlexSwimming1; this will animate automatically.
     lda #eNpcChild::AlexSwimming1
-    .assert eNpcChild::AlexSwimming1 > 0, error
-    bne @setState  ; unconditional
-    @swim2:
-    lda #eNpcChild::AlexSwimming2
-    @setState:
     sta Ram_ActorState1_byte_arr, x
     rts
 .ENDPROC
diff --git a/src/dialog.asm b/src/dialog.asm
index beff941c..bb9147da 100644
--- a/src/dialog.asm
+++ b/src/dialog.asm
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ _GameLoop:
     jsr_prga FuncA_Objects_DrawDialogCursorAndObjectsForRoom
     jsr Func_ClearRestOfOamAndProcessFrame
 _Tick:
-    jsr_prga FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatarAndText  ; returns C, Z, T2, and T1T0
+    jsr_prga FuncA_Dialog_TickText  ; returns C, Z, T2, and T1T0
     bcs Main_Dialog_CloseWindow
     beq @done
     jsr FuncM_CopyDialogText
@@ -698,35 +698,6 @@ _Done:
     rts
 .ENDPROC
 
-;;; Animates the player avatar as needed during dialog.  In particular, if the
-;;; avatar is swimming, updates the swimming animation.
-.PROC FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatar
-    bit Zp_AvatarState_bAvatar
-    .assert bAvatar::Swimming = bProc::Overflow, error
-    bvc _Return  ; player avatar is not swimming
-_SetSwimmingPose:
-    ldy #eAvatar::Swimming2
-    lda Zp_FrameCounter_u8
-    and #$10
-    bne @setAvatarPose
-    @swimming1:
-    ldy #eAvatar::Swimming1
-    @setAvatarPose:
-    sty Zp_AvatarPose_eAvatar
-_Return:
-    rts
-.ENDPROC
-
-;;; Calls FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatar and then FuncA_Dialog_TickText.
-;;; @return C Set if dialog is finished and the window should be closed.
-;;; @return Z Cleared if we should copy the next pane of dialog text.
-;;; @return T2 The PRGA bank number that contains the next dialog text.
-;;; @return T1T0 A pointer to the start of the next dialog text.
-.PROC FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatarAndText
-    jsr FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatar
-    fall FuncA_Dialog_TickText  ; returns C, Z, T2, and T1T0
-.ENDPROC
-
 ;;; Updates the dialog text based on joypad input and animates the dialog
 ;;; portrait appropriately.  The return values indicate whether dialog should
 ;;; end or continue, and whether it's time to copy the next pane of dialog
@@ -927,7 +898,6 @@ _UpdateDialogPointer:
 ;;; is closing.
 ;;; @return C Set if the window is now fully scrolled out.
 .PROC FuncA_Dialog_ScrollWindowDown
-    jsr FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatar
 _ScrollWindow:
     lda Zp_WindowTop_u8
     add #kDialogWindowScrollSpeed
@@ -955,7 +925,6 @@ _FullyClosed:
 ;;; this each frame when the window is opening.
 ;;; @return C Set if the window is now fully scrolled in.
 .PROC FuncA_Dialog_ScrollWindowUp
-    jsr FuncA_Dialog_TickAvatar
 _AdjustAvatarHorz:
     ;; Only adjust the player avatar's position if this dialog was started by
     ;; using a device, rather than from a cutscene.