Systems and methods for synchronizing the playing of animation objects are presented. An animation object map may assign an animation object to each region of multiple regions of a viewing area. A synchronization shading map may assign a shade to each of the regions, where at least two of the shades assigned to regions differ in intensity. Playing each animation object may involve determining a start time for each of the regions. The start time for each particular region depends upon an intensity of a shade assigned to the particular region by the synchronization shading map, and ones of the regions having different shades differ in their respective start times based on a difference in intensities of shades assigned to those regions by the synchronization shading map. Playing of the animation object within a region begins at the start time determined for the region according to the synchronization map.