diff --git a/src/character.c b/src/character.c
index 4a28ec5..05341b1 100644
--- a/src/character.c
+++ b/src/character.c
@@ -105,8 +105,13 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void LoadSpritesheets(struct Game* game, struct Character* charact
 		PrintConsole(game, "- %s", tmp->name);
 		if ((!tmp->bitmap) && (tmp->file)) {
 			char filename[255] = {0};
-			snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s/%s", character->name, tmp->file);
-			tmp->bitmap = al_load_bitmap(GetDataFilePath(game, filename));
+			if (strstr(tmp->file, "../") == tmp->file) {
+				snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s", tmp->file + 3);
+			} else {
+				snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s/%s", character->name, tmp->file);
+			}
+			tmp->bitmap = AddBitmap(game, filename);
+			tmp->filepath = strdup(filename);
 			tmp->width = al_get_bitmap_width(tmp->bitmap) / tmp->cols;
 			tmp->height = al_get_bitmap_height(tmp->bitmap) / tmp->rows;
 		}
@@ -116,8 +121,13 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void LoadSpritesheets(struct Game* game, struct Character* charact
 					PrintConsole(game, "  - %s", tmp->frames[i].file);
 				}
 				char filename[255] = {0};
-				snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s/%s", character->name, tmp->frames[i].file);
-				tmp->frames[i].bitmap = al_load_bitmap(GetDataFilePath(game, filename));
+				if (strstr(tmp->frames[i].file, "../") == tmp->frames[i].file) {
+					snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s", tmp->frames[i].file + 3);
+				} else {
+					snprintf(filename, 255, "sprites/%s/%s", character->name, tmp->frames[i].file);
+				}
+				tmp->frames[i].bitmap = AddBitmap(game, filename);
+				tmp->frames[i].filepath = strdup(filename);
 				int width = al_get_bitmap_width(tmp->frames[i].bitmap) + tmp->frames[i].x;
 				if (width > tmp->width) {
 					tmp->width = width;
@@ -146,12 +156,14 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void UnloadSpritesheets(struct Game* game, struct Character* chara
 	struct Spritesheet* tmp = character->spritesheets;
 	while (tmp) {
 		for (int i = 0; i < tmp->frameCount; i++) {
-			if (tmp->frames[i].bitmap) {
+			if (tmp->frames[i].filepath) {
+				RemoveBitmap(game, tmp->frames[i].filepath);
+			} else {
 				al_destroy_bitmap(tmp->frames[i].bitmap);
 			}
 		}
 		if (tmp->bitmap) {
-			al_destroy_bitmap(tmp->bitmap);
+			RemoveBitmap(game, tmp->filepath);
 		}
 		tmp->bitmap = NULL;
 		tmp = tmp->next;
@@ -227,6 +239,8 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void RegisterSpritesheet(struct Game* game, struct Character* char
 		strncpy(s->predecessor, predecessor, len);
 	}
 
+	s->filepath = NULL;
+
 	{
 		s->file = NULL;
 		const char* file = al_get_config_value(config, "animation", "file");
@@ -263,6 +277,7 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void RegisterSpritesheet(struct Game* game, struct Character* char
 			s->frames[i].file = malloc(len * sizeof(char));
 			strncpy(s->frames[i].file, file, len);
 		}
+		s->frames[i].filepath = NULL;
 
 		if (!file) {
 			s->frames[i].col = i % s->cols;
@@ -342,15 +357,23 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void DestroyCharacter(struct Game* game, struct Character* charact
 				free(tmp->file);
 			}
 			for (int i = 0; i < tmp->frameCount; i++) {
-				if (tmp->frames[i].bitmap) {
+				if (tmp->frames[i].filepath) {
+					RemoveBitmap(game, tmp->frames[i].filepath);
+				} else {
 					al_destroy_bitmap(tmp->frames[i].bitmap);
 				}
 				if (tmp->frames[i].file) {
 					free(tmp->frames[i].file);
 				}
+				if (tmp->frames[i].filepath) {
+					free(tmp->frames[i].filepath);
+				}
 			}
 			if (tmp->bitmap) {
-				al_destroy_bitmap(tmp->bitmap);
+				RemoveBitmap(game, tmp->filepath);
+			}
+			if (tmp->filepath) {
+				free(tmp->filepath);
 			}
 			free(tmp->frames);
 			free(tmp->name);
@@ -475,6 +498,7 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT ALLEGRO_TRANSFORM GetCharacterTransform(struct Game* game, struct
 	ALLEGRO_TRANSFORM transform;
 	int w = character->spritesheet->width, h = character->spritesheet->height;
 	al_identity_transform(&transform);
+
 	al_translate_transform(&transform, -w / 2.0, -h / 2.0);
 	al_scale_transform(&transform, ((character->flipX ^ character->spritesheet->flipX ^ character->frame->flipX) ? -1 : 1), ((character->flipY ^ character->spritesheet->flipY ^ character->frame->flipY) ? -1 : 1)); // flipping; FIXME: should it be here or later?
 	al_translate_transform(&transform, w / 2.0, h / 2.0);
@@ -483,10 +507,13 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT ALLEGRO_TRANSFORM GetCharacterTransform(struct Game* game, struct
 	al_translate_transform(&transform, -w * character->spritesheet->pivotX, -h * character->spritesheet->pivotY); // pivot
 	al_scale_transform(&transform, character->scaleX, character->scaleY);
 	al_rotate_transform(&transform, character->angle);
+
 	al_translate_transform(&transform, GetCharacterX(game, character), GetCharacterY(game, character)); // position
+
 	if (character->parent) {
 		ALLEGRO_TRANSFORM parent = GetCharacterTransform(game, character->parent);
 		al_compose_transform(&transform, &parent);
+		// FIXME: position should be calculated in relation to parents pivot point
 	}
 	return transform;
 }
diff --git a/src/character.h b/src/character.h
index 2609759..59c4879 100644
--- a/src/character.h
+++ b/src/character.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 struct SpritesheetFrame {
 	char* file;
+	char* filepath;
 	ALLEGRO_BITMAP* bitmap;
 	double duration;
 	int row;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ struct Spritesheet {
 	int cols; /*!< Number of columns in the spritesheet. */
 	double duration;
 	char* file;
+	char* filepath;
 	int repeats; /*!< Number of repeats to make before the spritesheet is changed to its successor. */
 	char* successor; /*!< Name of animation successor. If it's not blank, then animation will be played only once. */
 	char* predecessor;
diff --git a/src/internal.c b/src/internal.c
index 7c4970c..1d872a5 100644
--- a/src/internal.c
+++ b/src/internal.c
@@ -359,13 +359,13 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL void CloseGamestate(struct Game* game, struct Gamestate* gamesta
 	al_destroy_bitmap(gamestate->fb);
 }
 
-SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct libsuperderpy_list* AddToList(struct libsuperderpy_list* list, void* data) {
+SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct List* AddToList(struct List* list, void* data) {
 	if (!list) {
-		list = malloc(sizeof(struct libsuperderpy_list));
+		list = malloc(sizeof(struct List));
 		list->data = data;
 		list->next = NULL;
 	} else {
-		struct libsuperderpy_list* elem = malloc(sizeof(struct libsuperderpy_list));
+		struct List* elem = malloc(sizeof(struct List));
 		elem->next = list;
 		elem->data = data;
 		list = elem;
@@ -373,12 +373,12 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct libsuperderpy_list* AddToList(struct libsuperderpy_list*
 	return list;
 }
 
-static bool Identity(struct libsuperderpy_list* elem, void* data) {
+static bool Identity(struct List* elem, void* data) {
 	return elem->data == data;
 }
 
-SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct libsuperderpy_list* FindInList(struct libsuperderpy_list* list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct libsuperderpy_list* elem, void* data)) {
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* tmp = list;
+SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct List* FindInList(struct List* list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct List* elem, void* data)) {
+	struct List* tmp = list;
 	if (!identity) {
 		identity = Identity;
 	}
@@ -391,8 +391,8 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL struct libsuperderpy_list* FindInList(struct libsuperderpy_list*
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-SYMBOL_INTERNAL void* RemoveFromList(struct libsuperderpy_list** list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct libsuperderpy_list* elem, void* data)) {
-	struct libsuperderpy_list *prev = NULL, *tmp = *list, *start;
+SYMBOL_INTERNAL void* RemoveFromList(struct List** list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct List* elem, void* data)) {
+	struct List *prev = NULL, *tmp = *list, *start;
 	void* d = NULL;
 	if (!identity) {
 		identity = Identity;
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL void* AddGarbage(struct Game* game, void* data) {
 }
 
 SYMBOL_INTERNAL void ClearGarbage(struct Game* game) {
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* tmp;
+	struct List* tmp;
 	while (game->_priv.garbage) {
 		free(game->_priv.garbage->data);
 		tmp = game->_priv.garbage->next;
@@ -438,16 +438,16 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL void AddTimeline(struct Game* game, struct Timeline* timeline) {
 }
 
 SYMBOL_INTERNAL void RemoveTimeline(struct Game* game, struct Timeline* timeline) {
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* tmp = game->_priv.timelines;
+	struct List* tmp = game->_priv.timelines;
 	if (tmp->data == timeline) {
-		struct libsuperderpy_list* next = tmp->next;
+		struct List* next = tmp->next;
 		free(tmp);
 		game->_priv.timelines = next;
 		return;
 	}
 	while (tmp->next) {
 		if (tmp->next->data == timeline) {
-			struct libsuperderpy_list* next = tmp->next->next;
+			struct List* next = tmp->next->next;
 			free(tmp->next);
 			tmp->next = next;
 			return;
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL void DrawTimelines(struct Game* game) {
 	if (!game->_priv.showtimeline) {
 		return;
 	}
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* tmp = game->_priv.timelines;
+	struct List* tmp = game->_priv.timelines;
 	int i = 0;
 	while (tmp) {
 		DrawTimeline(game, tmp->data, i);
@@ -574,3 +574,54 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL char* GetGameName(struct Game* game, const char* format) {
 	SUPPRESS_END
 	return AddGarbage(game, result);
 }
+
+static int HashString(struct Game* game, const char* str) {
+	unsigned long hash = 5381;
+	int c;
+
+	while ((c = *str++)) {
+		hash = ((hash << 5) + hash) + c; /* hash * 33 + c */
+	}
+
+	//PrintConsole(game, "sum %d, bucket %d", hash, hash % LIBSUPERDERPY_BITMAP_HASHMAP_BUCKETS);
+	return hash % LIBSUPERDERPY_BITMAP_HASHMAP_BUCKETS;
+}
+
+static bool RefCountIdentity(struct List* elem, void* data) {
+	struct RefCount* item = elem->data;
+	return strcmp(data, item->id) == 0;
+}
+
+SYMBOL_INTERNAL ALLEGRO_BITMAP* AddBitmap(struct Game* game, char* filename) {
+	int bucket = HashString(game, filename);
+	struct List* item = FindInList(game->_priv.bitmaps[bucket], filename, RefCountIdentity);
+	struct RefCount* rc;
+	if (item) {
+		rc = item->data;
+		rc->counter++;
+	} else {
+		rc = malloc(sizeof(struct RefCount));
+		rc->counter = 1;
+		rc->id = strdup(filename);
+		rc->data = al_load_bitmap(GetDataFilePath(game, filename));
+		game->_priv.bitmaps[bucket] = AddToList(game->_priv.bitmaps[bucket], rc);
+	}
+	return rc->data;
+}
+
+SYMBOL_INTERNAL void RemoveBitmap(struct Game* game, char* filename) {
+	int bucket = HashString(game, filename);
+	struct List* item = FindInList(game->_priv.bitmaps[bucket], filename, RefCountIdentity);
+	if (item) {
+		struct RefCount* rc = item->data;
+		rc->counter--;
+		if (rc->counter == 0) {
+			RemoveFromList(&game->_priv.bitmaps[bucket], filename, RefCountIdentity);
+			al_destroy_bitmap(rc->data);
+			free(rc->id);
+			free(rc);
+		}
+	} else {
+		PrintConsole(game, "Tried to remove non-existent bitmap %s!", filename);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/internal.h b/src/internal.h
index c089845..eb78bf8 100644
--- a/src/internal.h
+++ b/src/internal.h
@@ -46,9 +46,15 @@
 #define SUPPRESS_END
 #endif
 
-struct libsuperderpy_list {
+struct RefCount {
+	int counter;
+	char* id;
 	void* data;
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* next;
+};
+
+struct List {
+	void* data;
+	struct List* next;
 };
 
 struct GamestateLoadingThreadData {
@@ -80,9 +86,9 @@ void GamestateProgress(struct Game* game);
 void* AddGarbage(struct Game* game, void* data);
 void ClearGarbage(struct Game* game);
 void ClearScreen(struct Game* game);
-struct libsuperderpy_list* AddToList(struct libsuperderpy_list* list, void* data);
-struct libsuperderpy_list* FindInList(struct libsuperderpy_list* list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct libsuperderpy_list* elem, void* data));
-void* RemoveFromList(struct libsuperderpy_list** list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct libsuperderpy_list* elem, void* data));
+struct List* AddToList(struct List* list, void* data);
+struct List* FindInList(struct List* list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct List* elem, void* data));
+void* RemoveFromList(struct List** list, void* data, bool (*identity)(struct List* elem, void* data));
 void AddTimeline(struct Game* game, struct Timeline* timeline);
 void RemoveTimeline(struct Game* game, struct Timeline* timeline);
 void DrawTimelines(struct Game* game);
@@ -96,5 +102,7 @@ void ResumeExecution(struct Game* game);
 void ReloadShaders(struct Game* game, bool force);
 void DestroyShaders(struct Game* game);
 char* GetGameName(struct Game* game, const char* format);
+ALLEGRO_BITMAP* AddBitmap(struct Game* game, char* filename);
+void RemoveBitmap(struct Game* game, char* filename);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/libsuperderpy.h b/src/libsuperderpy.h
index 1917e7e..9a50551 100644
--- a/src/libsuperderpy.h
+++ b/src/libsuperderpy.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ struct GamestateResources;
 #include <math.h>
 #include <sys/param.h>
 
+#define LIBSUPERDERPY_BITMAP_HASHMAP_BUCKETS 16
+
 struct Gamestate;
 
 struct Viewport {
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ struct Game {
 
 		struct Gamestate* current_gamestate;
 
-		struct libsuperderpy_list *garbage, *timelines, *shaders;
+		struct List *garbage, *timelines, *shaders, *bitmaps[LIBSUPERDERPY_BITMAP_HASHMAP_BUCKETS];
 
 		bool draw;
 
diff --git a/src/shader.c b/src/shader.c
index ef4661b..826b08c 100644
--- a/src/shader.c
+++ b/src/shader.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT ALLEGRO_SHADER* CreateShader(struct Game* game, const char* vertex
 	return shader;
 }
 
-static bool ShaderIdentity(struct libsuperderpy_list* item, void* shader) {
+static bool ShaderIdentity(struct List* item, void* shader) {
 	return ((struct ShaderListItem*)item->data)->shader == shader;
 }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ SYMBOL_EXPORT void DestroyShader(struct Game* game, ALLEGRO_SHADER* shader) {
 }
 
 SYMBOL_INTERNAL void ReloadShaders(struct Game* game, bool force) {
-	struct libsuperderpy_list* list = game->_priv.shaders;
+	struct List* list = game->_priv.shaders;
 	PrintConsole(game, "Reloading shaders...");
 	while (list) {
 		struct ShaderListItem* item = list->data;
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ SYMBOL_INTERNAL void DestroyShaders(struct Game* game) {
 		if (item->fragment) {
 			free(item->fragment);
 		}
-		struct libsuperderpy_list* prev = game->_priv.shaders;
+		struct List* prev = game->_priv.shaders;
 		game->_priv.shaders = game->_priv.shaders->next;
 		free(prev);
 	}