diff --git a/src/battle-scene.ts b/src/battle-scene.ts
index 52490cd16..ac1d3e629 100644
--- a/src/battle-scene.ts
+++ b/src/battle-scene.ts
@@ -429,10 +429,12 @@ export default class BattleScene extends SceneBase {
 
 		ui.setup();
 
+		const defaultMoves = [ Moves.TACKLE, Moves.TAIL_WHIP, Moves.FOCUS_ENERGY, Moves.STRUGGLE ];
+
 		Promise.all([
 			Promise.all(loadPokemonAssets),
 			initCommonAnims().then(() => loadCommonAnimAssets(this, true)),
-			initMoveAnim(Moves.STRUGGLE).then(() => loadMoveAnimAssets(this, [ Moves.STRUGGLE ], true))
+			Promise.all([ Moves.TACKLE, Moves.TAIL_WHIP, Moves.FOCUS_ENERGY, Moves.STRUGGLE ].map(m => initMoveAnim(m))).then(() => loadMoveAnimAssets(this, defaultMoves, true))
 		]).then(() => {
 			this.pushPhase(new LoginPhase(this));
 			this.pushPhase(new TitlePhase(this));
diff --git a/src/data/battle-anims.ts b/src/data/battle-anims.ts
index a3af386d0..9583b47f1 100644
--- a/src/data/battle-anims.ts
+++ b/src/data/battle-anims.ts
@@ -455,16 +455,14 @@ export function initMoveAnim(move: Moves): Promise<void> {
         } else {
             moveAnims.set(move, null);
             const defaultMoveAnim = allMoves[move] instanceof AttackMove ? Moves.TACKLE : allMoves[move] instanceof SelfStatusMove ? Moves.FOCUS_ENERGY : Moves.TAIL_WHIP;
+            const moveName = Moves[move].toLowerCase().replace(/\_/g, '-');
             const fetchAnimAndResolve = (move: Moves) => {
-                fetch(`./battle-anims/${Moves[move].toLowerCase().replace(/\_/g, '-')}.json`)
+                fetch(`./battle-anims/${moveName}.json`)
                     .then(response => {
                         if (!response.ok) {
-                            console.error(response.status, response.statusText);
-                            if (move !== defaultMoveAnim)
-                                fetchAnimAndResolve(defaultMoveAnim);
-                            else
-                                resolve();
-                            return;
+                            console.error(`Could not load animation file for move '${moveName}'`, response.status, response.statusText);
+                            populateMoveAnim(move, moveAnims.get(defaultMoveAnim));
+                            return resolve();
                         }
                         return response.json();
                     })