diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
index 5e98d9c98..7e18f358c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/CharSprite.java
@@ -65,7 +65,17 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 	
 	private static final float MOVE_INTERVAL	= 0.1f;
 	private static final float FLASH_INTERVAL	= 0.05f;
-	
+
+	//the amount the sprite is raised from flat when viewed in a raised perspective
+	protected float perspectiveRaise    = 0.4f;
+
+	//the width and height of the shadow are a percentage of sprite size
+	//offset is the number of pixels the shadow is moved down or up (handy for some animations)
+	protected boolean renderShadow  = false;
+	protected float shadowWidth     = 1.2f;
+	protected float shadowHeight    = 0.25f;
+	protected float shadowOffset    = 0.5f;
+
 	public enum State {
 		BURNING, LEVITATING, INVISIBLE, PARALYSED, FROZEN, ILLUMINATED, CHILLED, DARKENED, MARKED
 	}
@@ -116,6 +126,7 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 		
 		place( ch.pos );
 		turnTo( ch.pos, Random.Int( Dungeon.level.length() ) );
+		renderShadow = true;
 
 		ch.updateSpriteState();
 	}
@@ -448,15 +459,16 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 		}
 	}
 
-	//FIXME shadows are really sloppily implemented here, there is surely a neater way to do this.
 	private float[] shadowMatrix;
 
 	@Override
 	protected void updateMatrix() {
 		super.updateMatrix();
 		shadowMatrix = Matrix.clone(matrix);
-		Matrix.translate(shadowMatrix, -width()/13.333f, height()*0.7625f);
-		Matrix.scale(shadowMatrix, 1.15f, 0.25f);
+		Matrix.translate(shadowMatrix,
+				(width() * (1f - shadowWidth)) / 2f,
+				(height() * (1f - shadowHeight)) + shadowOffset);
+		Matrix.scale(shadowMatrix, shadowWidth, shadowHeight);
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -464,31 +476,33 @@ public class CharSprite extends MovieClip implements Tweener.Listener, MovieClip
 		if (texture == null || (!dirty && buffer == null))
 			return;
 
-		if (dirty) {
-			verticesBuffer.position( 0 );
-			verticesBuffer.put( vertices );
-			if (buffer == null)
-				buffer = new Vertexbuffer( verticesBuffer );
-			else
-				buffer.updateVertices( verticesBuffer );
-			dirty = false;
+		if (renderShadow) {
+			if (dirty) {
+				verticesBuffer.position(0);
+				verticesBuffer.put(vertices);
+				if (buffer == null)
+					buffer = new Vertexbuffer(verticesBuffer);
+				else
+					buffer.updateVertices(verticesBuffer);
+				dirty = false;
+			}
+
+			NoosaScript script = script();
+
+			texture.bind();
+
+			script.camera(camera());
+
+			updateMatrix();
+
+			script.uModel.valueM4(shadowMatrix);
+			script.lighting(
+					0, 0, 0, am * .6f,
+					0, 0, 0, aa * .6f);
+
+			script.drawQuad(buffer);
 		}
 
-		NoosaScript script = script();
-
-		texture.bind();
-
-		script.camera( camera() );
-
-		updateMatrix();
-
-		script.uModel.valueM4( shadowMatrix );
-		script.lighting(
-				0, 0, 0, am*.5f,
-				0, 0, 0, aa*.5f );
-
-		script.drawQuad( buffer );
-
 		super.draw();
 
 	}
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/ItemSprite.java b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/ItemSprite.java
index 862695332..4c0eb394e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/ItemSprite.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/shatteredpixel/shatteredpixeldungeon/sprites/ItemSprite.java
@@ -33,8 +33,11 @@ import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.levels.Level;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.levels.Terrain;
 import com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon.scenes.GameScene;
 import com.watabou.gltextures.TextureCache;
+import com.watabou.glwrap.Matrix;
+import com.watabou.glwrap.Vertexbuffer;
 import com.watabou.noosa.Game;
 import com.watabou.noosa.MovieClip;
+import com.watabou.noosa.NoosaScript;
 import com.watabou.noosa.TextureFilm;
 import com.watabou.noosa.audio.Sample;
 import com.watabou.noosa.particles.Emitter;
@@ -57,6 +60,16 @@ public class ItemSprite extends MovieClip {
 	private boolean glowUp;
 	
 	private float dropInterval;
+
+	//the amount the sprite is raised from flat when viewed in a raised perspective
+	protected float perspectiveRaise    = 0.333f;
+
+	//the width and height of the shadow are a percentage of sprite size
+	//offset is the number of pixels the shadow is moved down or up (handy for some animations)
+	protected boolean renderShadow  = false;
+	protected float shadowWidth     = 1f;
+	protected float shadowHeight    = 0.25f;
+	protected float shadowOffset    = 0.5f;
 	
 	public ItemSprite() {
 		this( ItemSpriteSheet.SOMETHING, null );
@@ -85,6 +98,7 @@ public class ItemSprite extends MovieClip {
 	public void link( Heap heap ) {
 		this.heap = heap;
 		view( heap.image(), heap.glowing() );
+		renderShadow = true;
 		place(heap.pos);
 	}
 	
@@ -195,30 +209,83 @@ public class ItemSprite extends MovieClip {
 		emitter = null;
 	}
 
+	private float[] shadowMatrix;
+
+	@Override
+	protected void updateMatrix() {
+		super.updateMatrix();
+		shadowMatrix = Matrix.clone(matrix);
+		Matrix.translate(shadowMatrix,
+				(width() * (1f - shadowWidth)) / 2f,
+				(height() * (1f - shadowHeight)) + shadowOffset);
+		Matrix.scale(shadowMatrix, shadowWidth, shadowHeight);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void draw() {
+		if (texture == null || (!dirty && buffer == null))
+			return;
+
+		if (renderShadow) {
+			if (dirty) {
+				verticesBuffer.position(0);
+				verticesBuffer.put(vertices);
+				if (buffer == null)
+					buffer = new Vertexbuffer(verticesBuffer);
+				else
+					buffer.updateVertices(verticesBuffer);
+				dirty = false;
+			}
+
+			NoosaScript script = script();
+
+			texture.bind();
+
+			script.camera(camera());
+
+			updateMatrix();
+
+			script.uModel.valueM4(shadowMatrix);
+			script.lighting(
+					0, 0, 0, am * .6f,
+					0, 0, 0, aa * .6f);
+
+			script.drawQuad(buffer);
+		}
+
+		super.draw();
+
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public void update() {
 		super.update();
 
 		visible = (heap == null || heap.seen);
 
-		if (dropInterval > 0 && (dropInterval -= Game.elapsed) <= 0) {
-			
-			speed.set( 0 );
-			acc.set( 0 );
-			place( heap.pos );
+		if (dropInterval > 0){
+			shadowOffset -= speed.y * Game.elapsed * 0.8f;
 
-			if (visible) {
-				boolean water = Level.water[heap.pos];
+			if ((dropInterval -= Game.elapsed) <= 0){
 
-				if (water) {
-					GameScene.ripple(heap.pos);
-				} else {
-					int cell = Dungeon.level.map[heap.pos];
-					water = (cell == Terrain.WELL || cell == Terrain.ALCHEMY);
-				}
+				speed.set(0);
+				acc.set(0);
+				shadowOffset = 0.25f;
+				place(heap.pos);
 
-				if (!(heap.peek() instanceof Gold)) {
-					Sample.INSTANCE.play(water ? Assets.SND_WATER : Assets.SND_STEP, 0.8f, 0.8f, 1.2f);
+				if (visible) {
+					boolean water = Level.water[heap.pos];
+
+					if (water) {
+						GameScene.ripple(heap.pos);
+					} else {
+						int cell = Dungeon.level.map[heap.pos];
+						water = (cell == Terrain.WELL || cell == Terrain.ALCHEMY);
+					}
+
+					if (!(heap.peek() instanceof Gold)) {
+						Sample.INSTANCE.play(water ? Assets.SND_WATER : Assets.SND_STEP, 0.8f, 0.8f, 1.2f);
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}