diff --git a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonAnimation.cs b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonAnimation.cs
index 218bd3516..4ab24a88b 100644
--- a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonAnimation.cs
+++ b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonAnimation.cs
@@ -97,19 +97,13 @@ namespace Spine.Unity {
 				if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(value)) {
 					state.ClearTrack(0);
 				} else {
-					TrySetAnimation(value, loop);
+					var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(value);
+					if (animationObject != null)
+						state.SetAnimation(0, animationObject, loop);
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
-		TrackEntry TrySetAnimation (string animationName, bool animationLoop) {
-			var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(animationName);
-			if (animationObject != null)
-				return state.SetAnimation(0, animationObject, animationLoop);
-
-			return null;
-		}
-
 		/// <summary>Whether or not <see cref="AnimationName"/> should loop. This only applies to the initial animation specified in the inspector, or any subsequent Animations played through .AnimationName. Animations set through state.SetAnimation are unaffected.</summary>
 		public bool loop;
 
@@ -153,27 +147,25 @@ namespace Spine.Unity {
 				return;
 
 			state = new Spine.AnimationState(skeletonDataAsset.GetAnimationStateData());
-
-			#if UNITY_EDITOR
+		
 			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_animationName)) {
-				if (Application.isPlaying) {
-					TrackEntry startingTrack = TrySetAnimation(_animationName, loop);
-					if (startingTrack != null)
-						Update(0);
-				} else {
-					// Assume SkeletonAnimation is valid for skeletonData and skeleton. Checked above.
-					var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(_animationName);
-					if (animationObject != null)
-						animationObject.PoseSkeleton(skeleton, 0f);
+				var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(_animationName);
+				if (animationObject != null) {
+					animationObject.PoseSkeleton(skeleton, 0f);
+					skeleton.UpdateWorldTransform();
+
+					#if UNITY_EDITOR
+					if (Application.isPlaying) {
+					#endif
+
+						// Make this block not run in Unity Editor edit mode.
+						state.SetAnimation(0, animationObject, loop);
+
+					#if UNITY_EDITOR
+					}
+					#endif
 				}
 			}
-			#else
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_animationName)) {
-				TrackEntry startingTrack = TrySetAnimation(_animationName, loop);
-				if (startingTrack != null)
-					Update(0);
-			}
-			#endif
 		}
 
 		void Update () {
diff --git a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonRenderer.cs b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonRenderer.cs
index 5d80c81e3..9b1f3f52c 100644
--- a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonRenderer.cs
+++ b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Components/SkeletonRenderer.cs
@@ -166,7 +166,8 @@ namespace Spine.Unity {
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Clears the previously generated mesh and resets the skeleton's pose.</summary>
 		public virtual void ClearState () {
-			meshFilter.sharedMesh = null;
+			var meshFilter = GetComponent<MeshFilter>();
+			if (meshFilter != null) meshFilter.sharedMesh = null;
 			currentInstructions.Clear();
 			if (skeleton != null) skeleton.SetToSetupPose();
 		}
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ namespace Spine.Unity {
 				valid = false;
 			}
 
-			if (!skeletonDataAsset) {
+			if (skeletonDataAsset == null) {
 				if (logErrors) Debug.LogError("Missing SkeletonData asset.", this);
 				return;
 			}
diff --git a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Modules/SkeletonGraphic/SkeletonGraphic.cs b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Modules/SkeletonGraphic/SkeletonGraphic.cs
index 109d1969f..7d44647f9 100644
--- a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Modules/SkeletonGraphic/SkeletonGraphic.cs
+++ b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Runtime/spine-unity/Modules/SkeletonGraphic/SkeletonGraphic.cs
@@ -244,24 +244,24 @@ namespace Spine.Unity {
 			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(initialSkinName))
 				skeleton.SetSkin(initialSkinName);
 
-			#if UNITY_EDITOR
 			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(startingAnimation)) {
-				if (Application.isPlaying) {
-					state.SetAnimation(0, startingAnimation, startingLoop);
-				} else {
-					// Assume SkeletonAnimation is valid for skeletonData and skeleton. Checked above.
-					var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(startingAnimation);
-					if (animationObject != null)
-						animationObject.PoseSkeleton(skeleton, 0);
+				var animationObject = skeletonDataAsset.GetSkeletonData(false).FindAnimation(startingAnimation);
+				if (animationObject != null) {
+					animationObject.PoseSkeleton(skeleton, 0f);
+					skeleton.UpdateWorldTransform();
+
+					#if UNITY_EDITOR
+					if (Application.isPlaying) {
+					#endif
+
+						// Make this block not run in Unity Editor edit mode.
+						state.SetAnimation(0, animationObject, startingLoop);
+
+					#if UNITY_EDITOR
+					}
+					#endif
 				}
-				Update(0);
 			}
-			#else
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(startingAnimation)) {
-				state.SetAnimation(0, startingAnimation, startingLoop);
-				Update(0);
-			}
-			#endif
 		}
 
 		public void UpdateMesh () {