diff --git a/spine-ts/spine-core/src/AssetManagerBase.ts b/spine-ts/spine-core/src/AssetManagerBase.ts
index 946a10aae..8997c6f2a 100644
--- a/spine-ts/spine-core/src/AssetManagerBase.ts
+++ b/spine-ts/spine-core/src/AssetManagerBase.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ export class AssetManagerBase implements Disposable {
 	private textureLoader: (image: HTMLImageElement | ImageBitmap) => Texture;
 	private downloader: Downloader;
 	private assets: StringMap<any> = {};
+	private assetsRefCount: StringMap<number> = {};
 	private assetsLoaded: StringMap<Promise<any>> = {};
 	private errors: StringMap<string> = {};
 	private toLoad = 0;
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ export class AssetManagerBase implements Disposable {
 		this.toLoad--;
 		this.loaded++;
 		this.assets[path] = asset;
+		this.assetsRefCount[path] = (this.assetsRefCount[path] || 0) + 1;
 		if (callback) callback(path, asset);
 	}
 
@@ -332,15 +334,16 @@ export class AssetManagerBase implements Disposable {
 	remove (path: string) {
 		path = this.pathPrefix + path;
 		let asset = this.assets[path];
-		if ((<any>asset).dispose) (<any>asset).dispose();
+		if (asset.dispose) asset.dispose();
 		delete this.assets[path];
+		delete this.assetsRefCount[path];
 		return asset;
 	}
 
 	removeAll () {
-		for (let key in this.assets) {
-			let asset = this.assets[key];
-			if ((<any>asset).dispose) (<any>asset).dispose();
+		for (let path in this.assets) {
+			let asset = this.assets[path];
+			if (asset.dispose) asset.dispose();
 		}
 		this.assets = {};
 	}
@@ -361,6 +364,14 @@ export class AssetManagerBase implements Disposable {
 		this.removeAll();
 	}
 
+	// dispose asset only if it's not used by others
+	disposeAsset(path: string, a?: string) {
+		if (--this.assetsRefCount[path] === 0) {
+			const asset = this.assets[path];
+			if (asset.dispose) asset.dispose();
+		}
+	}
+
 	hasErrors () {
 		return Object.keys(this.errors).length > 0;
 	}
diff --git a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-gui.html b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-gui.html
index d62a0c2cb..0bfcb0e34 100644
--- a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-gui.html
+++ b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-gui.html
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     <script>
         (async () => {
             const boi = spine.getSpineWidget("boi");
-            let { skeleton } = await boi.loadingPromise;
+            let { skeleton } = await boi.whenReady;
 
             const animations = skeleton.data.animations.map(({ name }) => name);
             animations.push("none");
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
                     boi.skeletonPath = skeletonPath;
                     boi.start();
 
-                    await boi.loadingPromise;
+                    await boi.whenReady;
                     skeleton = boi.skeleton;
 
                     refillAnimations();
diff --git a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-tutorial.html b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-tutorial.html
index d579909c8..68c5efc52 100644
--- a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-tutorial.html
+++ b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/example/webcomponent-tutorial.html
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@
         <script>
             (async () => {
                 const widget = spine.getSpineWidget("raptor");
-                const { state } = await widget.loadingPromise;
+                const { state } = await widget.whenReady;
                 let isRoaring = false;
                 setInterval(() => {
                     const newAnimation = isRoaring ? "walk" : "roar";
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@
 // using js, access the skeleton and the state asynchronously
 (async () => {
     const widget = spine.getSpineWidget("raptor");
-    const { state } = await widget.loadingPromise;
+    const { state } = await widget.whenReady;
     let isRoaring = false;
     setInterval(() => {
         const newAnimation = isRoaring ? "walk" : "roar";
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@
             (async () => {
 
                 {
-                    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-change-animation").loadingPromise;
+                    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-change-animation").whenReady;
                     let toogleAnimation = false;
                     setInterval(() => {
                         const newAnimation = toogleAnimation ? "jump" : "death";
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@
                 }
 
                 {
-                    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-change-animation2").loadingPromise;
+                    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-change-animation2").whenReady;
                     let toogleAnimation = false;
                     setInterval(() => {
                         const newAnimation = toogleAnimation ? "jump" : "death";
@@ -886,7 +886,7 @@
 
         <script>
             async function updateCelesteAnimations() {
-                const celesteAnimations = await spine.getSpineWidget("celeste-animations").loadingPromise;
+                const celesteAnimations = await spine.getSpineWidget("celeste-animations").whenReady;
                 var celesteAnimationsTextArea = document.getElementById("celeste-animations-text-area");
                 celesteAnimations.setAttribute("animations", celesteAnimationsTextArea.value)
             }
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@
 // using js, access the skeleton and the state asynchronously
 (async () => {
     const widget = spine.getSpineWidget("raptor");
-    const { state } = await widget.loadingPromise;
+    const { state } = await widget.whenReady;
     let isRoaring = false;
     setInterval(() => {
         const newAnimation = isRoaring ? "walk" : "roar";
@@ -978,6 +978,101 @@
     /////////////////////
     -->
 
+    <!--
+    /////////////////////
+    // start section //
+    /////////////////////
+    -->
+
+    <div class="section vertical-split">
+
+        <div class="split-top split">
+            <div class="split-left">
+                <button id="add-delete" onclick="addDiv()" disabled>Add</button>
+                <button onclick="removeDiv()">Remove</button>
+            </div>
+            <div class="split-right">
+                <div id="container-delete" style="display: flex; height: 300px;"></div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <script>
+            const containerDelete = document.getElementById('container-delete');
+            window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
+                document.getElementById('add-delete').removeAttribute("disabled");
+            });
+
+
+            function addDiv() {
+                const skins = [
+                    "Assassin", "Beardy", "Buck",
+                    "Chuck", "Commander", "Ducky", "Dummy",
+                    "Fletch", "Gabriel", "MetalMan", "Pamela-1",
+                    "Pamela-2", "Pamela-3", "Pamela-4", "Pamela-5",
+                    "Stumpy", "Truck", "Turbo", "Young",
+                ];
+                const div = document.createElement('div');
+                const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * skins.length);
+                const skin = skins[randomIndex];
+                console.log(randomIndex, skin);
+                div.style.flex = "1";
+                div.style.margin = "1px";
+                div.style.backgroundColor = "lightblue";
+                div.style.flex = "1";
+                div.innerHTML = `
+                    <spine-widget
+                        atlas="assets/spineboy-pma.atlas"
+                        skeleton="assets/spineboy-pro.skel"
+                        animation="walk"
+                    ></spine-widget>
+                `;
+
+                // div.innerHTML = `
+                //     <spine-widget
+                //         atlas="../demos/assets/heroes.atlas"
+                //         skeleton="../demos/assets/demos.json"
+                //         json-skeleton-key="heroes"
+                //         animation="floorIdle"
+                //         skin="${skin}"
+                //         isdraggable
+                //     ></spine-widget>
+                // `;
+
+                containerDelete.appendChild(div);
+            }
+
+            function removeDiv() {
+                if (containerDelete.lastChild) {
+                    containerDelete.removeChild(containerDelete.lastChild);
+                }
+            }
+        </script>
+
+        <div class="split-bottom">
+            <pre><code id="code-display">
+                <script>escapeHTMLandInject(`
+    <spine-widget
+    atlas="assets/sack-pma.atlas"
+    skeleton="assets/sack-pro.skel"
+    animation="cape-follow-example"
+    debug
+    ></spine-widget>`
+    );</script>
+            </code></pre>
+        </div>
+
+</div>
+
+
+
+    <!--
+    /////////////////////
+    // end section //
+    /////////////////////
+    -->
+
+
+
     <!--
     /////////////////////
     // start section //
@@ -1109,7 +1204,7 @@
             const widget = spine.getSpineWidget("widget-loading");
             async function reloadWidget(element) {
                 element.disabled = true;
-                await widget.loadingPromise;
+                await widget.whenReady;
                 const skeleton = widget.skeleton;
                 widget.loading = true;
                 setTimeout(() => {
@@ -1663,7 +1758,7 @@
                 <br>
                 By default, assets are loaded immeaditely. You can postpone that by setting <code>manual-start="false"</code>.
                 Then add the widget to the dom using the asynchronous method <code>appendTo</code>. It's your responsibility to call <code>start()</code> on the widget.
-                As usual, just wait on the <code>loadingPromise</code> to act on the <code>skeleton</code> or the <code>state</code>.
+                As usual, just wait on the <code>whenReady</code> to act on the <code>skeleton</code> or the <code>state</code>.
             </div>
 
             <script>
@@ -1701,7 +1796,7 @@
 
                         // access the state of the first widget and change the animation
                         if (i === 0 && j === 0) {
-                            await widgetSection.loadingPromise;
+                            await widgetSection.whenReady;
                             widgetSection.state.setAnimation(0, "emotes/angry", true);
                         }
 
@@ -1749,7 +1844,7 @@ skins.forEach((skin, i) => {
 
         // access the state of the first widget and change the animation
         if (i === 0 && j === 0) {
-            await widgetSection.loadingPromise;
+            await widgetSection.whenReady;
             widgetSection.state.setAnimation(0, "emotes/angry", true);
         }
 
@@ -1813,7 +1908,7 @@ skins.forEach((skin, i) => {
                     <script>
                         (async () => {
                             const coinWidget = spine.getSpineWidget("coin");
-                            await coinWidget.loadingPromise;
+                            await coinWidget.whenReady;
 
                             let raptorWalking = true;
                             coinWidget.onScreenFunction = widget => {
@@ -1843,7 +1938,7 @@ skins.forEach((skin, i) => {
 
 (async () => {
     const coinWidget = spine.getSpineWidget("coin");
-    await coinWidget.loadingPromise;
+    await coinWidget.whenReady;
 
     let raptorWalking = true;
     coinWidget.onScreenFunction = widget => {
@@ -1913,7 +2008,7 @@ skins.forEach((skin, i) => {
                 }
                 if (!dragon.pages.includes(pageIndex)) {
                     dragon.pages.push(pageIndex);
-                    dragon.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute(dragon.textureAtlas);
+                    dragon.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute();
                 }
             }
         </script>
@@ -1945,7 +2040,7 @@ function loadPageDragon(pageIndex) {
     }
     if (!dragon.pages.includes(pageIndex)) {
         dragon.pages.push(pageIndex);
-        dragon.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute(dragon.textureAtlas);
+        dragon.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute();
     }
 }`)
                 </script>
@@ -2102,7 +2197,7 @@ stretchyman.update = (canvas, delta, skeleton, state) => {
                 (async () => {
                     const tank = spine.getSpineWidget("tank");
                     const tank2 = spine.getSpineWidget("tank2");
-                    await Promise.all([tank.loadingPromise, tank2.loadingPromise]);
+                    await Promise.all([tank.whenReady, tank2.whenReady]);
 
                     tank.beforeUpdateWorldTransforms = (skeleton, state) => {
                         if (!tank.onScreen) return;
@@ -2143,7 +2238,7 @@ stretchyman.update = (canvas, delta, skeleton, state) => {
 (async () => {
     const tank = spine.getSpineWidget("tank");
     const tank2 = spine.getSpineWidget("tank2");
-    await Promise.all([tank.loadingPromise, tank2.loadingPromise]);
+    await Promise.all([tank.whenReady, tank2.whenReady]);
 
     // since we want the tank to overflow the div, we set fit to none
     // then we "sync" the tank scale to the one of the tank above
@@ -2230,7 +2325,7 @@ stretchyman.update = (canvas, delta, skeleton, state) => {
                     <script>
                         (async () => {
                             const celeste = spine.getSpineWidget("celeste");
-                            await celeste.loadingPromise;
+                            await celeste.whenReady;
                             celeste.state.setAnimation(0, "swing", true);
                         })();
                     </script>
@@ -2299,7 +2394,7 @@ stretchyman.update = (canvas, delta, skeleton, state) => {
 
 (async () => {
     const celeste = spine.getSpineWidget("celeste");
-    await celeste.loadingPromise;
+    await celeste.whenReady;
     celeste.state.setAnimation(0, "swing", true);
 })();`);
                 </script>
@@ -2725,7 +2820,7 @@ function createCircleOfDivs(numDivs = 8) {
 
         customElements.whenDefined('spine-widget').then(async () => {
             const widget = spine.getSpineWidget(\`owl\${i}\`);
-            await widget.loadingPromise;
+            await widget.whenReady;
             widget.state.setAnimation(1, "blink", true);
 
             const control = widget.skeleton.findBone("control");
@@ -2821,7 +2916,7 @@ function createCircleOfDivs(numDivs = 8) {
 
         customElements.whenDefined('spine-widget').then(async () => {
             const widget = spine.getSpineWidget(`owl${i}`);
-            await widget.loadingPromise;
+            await widget.whenReady;
             widget.state.setAnimation(1, "blink", true);
 
             const control = widget.skeleton.findBone("control");
@@ -2935,7 +3030,7 @@ const colorPicker = document.getElementById("color-picker");
 const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 
 [0, 1].forEach(async (i) => {
-    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget(`interactive${i}`).loadingPromise;
+    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget(`interactive${i}`).whenReady;
 
     widget.cursorEventCallback = (event) => {
         if (event === "enter") widget.state.setAnimation(0, "emotes/hooray", true).mixDuration = .15;
@@ -2978,7 +3073,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 ></spine-widget>
 
 [0, 1].forEach(async (i) => {
-    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget(\`interactive\${i}\`).loadingPromise;
+    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget(\`interactive\${i}\`).whenReady;
 
     widget.cursorEventCallback = (event) => {
         if (event === "enter") widget.state.setAnimation(0, "emotes/hooray", true).mixDuration = .15;
@@ -3055,7 +3150,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 
         <script>
             (async () => {
-                const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty").loadingPromise;
+                const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty").whenReady;
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-color", document.getElementById("rain/rain-color"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-white", document.getElementById("rain/rain-white"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-blue", document.getElementById("rain/rain-blue"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
@@ -3082,7 +3177,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 ...
 
 (async () => {
-    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty").loadingPromise;
+    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty").whenReady;
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-color", document.getElementById("rain/rain-color"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-white", document.getElementById("rain/rain-white"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-blue", document.getElementById("rain/rain-blue"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
@@ -3129,7 +3224,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 
         <script>
             (async () => {
-                const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty2").loadingPromise;
+                const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty2").whenReady;
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-color", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-1"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-white", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-2"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
                 widget.followSlot("rain/rain-blue", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-3"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
@@ -3156,7 +3251,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
 ...
 
 (async () => {
-    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty2").loadingPromise;
+    const widget = await spine.getSpineWidget("potty2").whenReady;
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-color", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-1"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-white", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-2"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
     widget.followSlot("rain/rain-blue", spine.getSpineWidget("potty2-3"), { followAttachmentAttach: false, hideAttachment: true });
@@ -3271,7 +3366,7 @@ const darkPicker = document.getElementById("dark-picker");
             div5.style.fontSize = "0.9rem";
             div5.style.color = "#666";
 
-            await widget.loadingPromise;
+            await widget.whenReady;
 
             const emotes = widget.skeleton.data.animations.reduce((acc, { name }) => name.startsWith("emotes") ? [...acc, name] : acc, []);
             let leaveAnimation = "emotes/wave";
@@ -3394,7 +3489,7 @@ TODO`
 
                     const form = document.getElementById('loginForm');
                     const widgetButton = spine.getSpineWidget("button-login");
-                    await widgetButton.loadingPromise;
+                    await widgetButton.whenReady;
 
                     widgetButton.skeleton.color.set(.85, .85, .85, 1);
                     widgetButton.cursorEventCallback = (event, originalEvent) => {
@@ -3432,7 +3527,7 @@ TODO`
                     widgetButton.followSlot("CLICK ME", divText, { followScale: false });
 
                     const widget = spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-login");
-                    await widget.loadingPromise;
+                    await widget.whenReady;
 
                     // default settings
                     widget.state.data.defaultMix = 0.15;
@@ -3987,7 +4082,7 @@ TODO`
             (async () => {
 
                 /* SECTION 1 */
-                const widget1 = await spine.getSpineWidget("list").loadingPromise;
+                const widget1 = await spine.getSpineWidget("list").whenReady;
 
                 const setInteractionSectionOne = (itemName, trackNumber) => {
                     const divName = `${itemName}Div`;
@@ -4077,7 +4172,7 @@ TODO`
                 /* SECTION 2 */
                 const btnNext2 = document.getElementById("btn-next-2");
 
-                const widget2 = await spine.getSpineWidget("pan").loadingPromise;
+                const widget2 = await spine.getSpineWidget("pan").whenReady;
                 const foodPiece1 = widget2.skeleton.findSlot(`food-piece-1`);
                 const foodPiece2 = widget2.skeleton.findSlot(`food-piece-2`);
                 const foodPiece3 = widget2.skeleton.findSlot(`food-piece-3`);
@@ -4137,7 +4232,7 @@ TODO`
                 /* SECTION 2 */
 
                 /* SECTION 3 */
-                const widget3 = await spine.getSpineWidget("delivery").loadingPromise;
+                const widget3 = await spine.getSpineWidget("delivery").whenReady;
                 const btnNext3 = document.getElementById("btn-next-3");
                 const box = widget3.skeleton.findSlot("box");
 
@@ -4186,7 +4281,7 @@ TODO`
 
 
                 /* SECTION 4 */
-                const widget4 = await spine.getSpineWidget("ready").loadingPromise;
+                const widget4 = await spine.getSpineWidget("ready").whenReady;
 
                 const slot4Bread = widget4.skeleton.findSlot("salad");
                 widget4.addCursorSlotEventCallback(slot4Bread, (slot, event) => {
@@ -4326,7 +4421,7 @@ TODO`
             (async () => {
                 const spineboy = spine.getSpineWidget("spineboy-game");
                 const windmill = spine.getSpineWidget("windmill-game");
-                await Promise.all([spineboy.loadingPromise, windmill.loadingPromise]);
+                await Promise.all([spineboy.whenReady, windmill.whenReady]);
 
                 spineboy.state.setAnimation(2, "aim", true);
 
diff --git a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/src/SpineWebComponentWidget.ts b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/src/SpineWebComponentWidget.ts
index 801e28a81..fe8f56748 100644
--- a/spine-ts/spine-webgl/src/SpineWebComponentWidget.ts
+++ b/spine-ts/spine-webgl/src/SpineWebComponentWidget.ts
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ interface WidgetPublicProperties {
 	bounds: Rectangle
 	onScreen: boolean
 	onScreenAtLeastOnce: boolean
-	loadingPromise: Promise<SpineWebComponentWidget>
+	whenReady: Promise<SpineWebComponentWidget>
 	loading: boolean
 	started: boolean
 	textureAtlas: TextureAtlas
@@ -681,19 +681,19 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 
 	/**
 	 * The skeleton hosted by this widget. It's ready once assets are loaded.
-	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link loadingPromise}.
+	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link whenReady}.
 	 */
 	public skeleton?: Skeleton;
 
 	/**
 	 * The animation state hosted by this widget. It's ready once assets are loaded.
-	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link loadingPromise}.
+	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link whenReady}.
 	 */
 	public state?: AnimationState;
 
 	/**
 	 * The textureAtlas used by this widget to reference attachments. It's ready once assets are loaded.
-	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link loadingPromise}.
+	 * Safely acces this property by using {@link whenReady}.
 	 */
 	public textureAtlas?: TextureAtlas;
 
@@ -701,7 +701,10 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 	 * A Promise that resolve to the widget itself once assets loading is terminated.
 	 * Useful to safely access {@link skeleton} and {@link state} after a new widget has been just created.
 	 */
-	public loadingPromise: Promise<this>;
+	public get whenReady(): Promise<this> {
+		return this._whenReady;
+	};
+	private _whenReady: Promise<this>;
 
 	/**
 	 * If true, the widget is in the assets loading process.
@@ -847,7 +850,7 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 		this.root = this.attachShadow({ mode: "closed" });
 
 		// these two are terrible code smells
-		this.loadingPromise = new Promise<this>((resolve) => {
+		this._whenReady = new Promise<this>((resolve) => {
 			this.resolveLoadingPromise = resolve;
 		});
 		this.overlayAssignedPromise = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
@@ -899,12 +902,14 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 	 * Remove the widget from the overlay and the DOM.
 	 */
 	dispose () {
-		this.remove();
+		this.disposed = true;
+		this.disposeGLResources();
 		this.loadingScreen?.dispose();
+		this.overlay.removeWidget(this);
+		this.remove();
 		this.skeletonData = undefined;
 		this.skeleton = undefined;
 		this.state = undefined;
-		this.disposed = true;
 	}
 
 	attributeChangedCallback (name: string, oldValue: string | null, newValue: string | null): void {
@@ -917,16 +922,17 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 	/**
 	 * Starts the widget. Starting the widget means to load the assets currently set into
 	 * {@link atlasPath} and {@link skeletonPath}. If start is invoked when the widget is already started,
-	 * the skeleton, state, skin and animation will be reset.
+	 * the skeleton, the state, and the bounds will be reset.
 	 */
 	public start () {
 		if (this.started) {
 			this.skeleton = undefined;
 			this.state = undefined;
-			this._skin = undefined;
-			this._animation = undefined;
 			this.bounds.width = -1;
 			this.bounds.height = -1;
+			this._whenReady = new Promise<this>((resolve) => {
+				this.resolveLoadingPromise = resolve;
+			});
 		}
 		this.started = true;
 
@@ -944,16 +950,34 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 	 * @param atlas the `TextureAtlas` from which to get the `TextureAtlasPage`s
 	 * @returns The list of loaded assets
 	 */
-	public async loadTexturesInPagesAttribute (atlas: TextureAtlas): Promise<Array<any>> {
+	public async loadTexturesInPagesAttribute (): Promise<Array<any>> {
+		const atlas = this.overlay.assetManager.require(this.atlasPath!) as TextureAtlas;
 		const pagesIndexToLoad = this.pages ?? atlas.pages.map((_, i) => i); // if no pages provided, loads all
 		const atlasPath = this.atlasPath?.includes("/") ? this.atlasPath.substring(0, this.atlasPath.lastIndexOf("/") + 1) : "";
 		const promisePageList: Array<Promise<any>> = [];
+		const texturePaths = [];
+
 		for (const index of pagesIndexToLoad) {
 			const page = atlas.pages[index];
-			const promiseTextureLoad = this.overlay.assetManager.loadTextureAsync(`${atlasPath}${page.name}`).then(texture => page.setTexture(texture));
+			const texturePath = `${atlasPath}${page.name}`;
+			texturePaths.push(texturePath);
+
+			const promiseTextureLoad = this.lastTexturePaths.includes(texturePath)
+				? Promise.resolve(texturePath)
+				: this.overlay.assetManager.loadTextureAsync(texturePath).then(texture => {
+					this.lastTexturePaths.push(texturePath);
+					page.setTexture(texture);
+					return texturePath;
+				});
+
 			promisePageList.push(promiseTextureLoad);
 		}
 
+		// dispose textures no longer used
+		for (const lastTexturePath of this.lastTexturePaths) {
+			if (!texturePaths.includes(lastTexturePath)) this.overlay.assetManager.disposeAsset(lastTexturePath);
+		}
+
 		return Promise.all(promisePageList)
 	}
 
@@ -1016,6 +1040,9 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 		this.bounds = bounds;
 	}
 
+	private lastSkelPath = "";
+	private lastAtlasPath = "";
+	private lastTexturePaths: string[] = [];
 	// add a skeleton to the overlay and set the bounds to the given animation or to the setup pose
 	private async loadSkeleton () {
 		this.loading = true;
@@ -1032,17 +1059,33 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 			}
 		}
 
-		// this ensure there is an overlay assigned because the overlay owns the asset manager
+		// this ensure there is an overlay assigned because the overlay owns the asset manager used to load assets below
 		await this.overlayAssignedPromise;
 
+		if (this.lastSkelPath && this.lastSkelPath !== skeletonPath) {
+			this.overlay.assetManager.disposeAsset(this.lastSkelPath);
+			this.lastSkelPath = "";
+		}
+
+		if (this.lastAtlasPath && this.lastAtlasPath !== atlasPath) {
+			this.overlay.assetManager.disposeAsset(this.lastAtlasPath);
+			this.lastAtlasPath = "";
+		}
+
 		// skeleton and atlas txt are loaded immeaditely
 		// textures are loaeded depending on the 'pages' param:
 		// - [0,2]: only pages at index 0 and 2 are loaded
 		// - []: no page is loaded
 		// - undefined: all pages are loaded (default)
 		await Promise.all([
-			isBinary ? this.overlay.assetManager.loadBinaryAsync(skeletonPath) : this.overlay.assetManager.loadJsonAsync(skeletonPath),
-			this.overlay.assetManager.loadTextureAtlasButNoTexturesAsync(atlasPath).then(atlas => this.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute(atlas)),
+			this.lastSkelPath ? Promise.resolve()
+				: (isBinary ? this.overlay.assetManager.loadBinaryAsync(skeletonPath) : this.overlay.assetManager.loadJsonAsync(skeletonPath))
+					.then(() => this.lastSkelPath = skeletonPath),
+			this.lastAtlasPath ? Promise.resolve()
+				: this.overlay.assetManager.loadTextureAtlasButNoTexturesAsync(atlasPath).then(atlas => {
+					this.lastAtlasPath = atlasPath;
+					this.loadTexturesInPagesAttribute();
+			}),
 		]);
 
 		const atlas = this.overlay.assetManager.require(atlasPath) as TextureAtlas;
@@ -1374,6 +1417,13 @@ export class SpineWebComponentWidget extends HTMLElement implements Disposable,
 		}
 	}
 
+	private disposeGLResources() {
+		const { assetManager } = this.overlay;
+		if (this.lastAtlasPath) assetManager.disposeAsset(this.lastAtlasPath, this.identifier);
+		if (this.lastSkelPath) assetManager.disposeAsset(this.lastSkelPath);
+		for (const texturePath of this.lastTexturePaths) assetManager.disposeAsset(texturePath);
+	}
+
 }
 
 interface OverlayAttributes {
@@ -1386,7 +1436,6 @@ interface OverlayAttributes {
 }
 
 class SpineWebComponentOverlay extends HTMLElement implements OverlayAttributes, Disposable {
-
 	private static OVERLAY_ID = "spine-overlay-default-identifier";
 	private static OVERLAY_LIST = new Map<string, SpineWebComponentOverlay>();
 
@@ -1689,13 +1738,20 @@ class SpineWebComponentOverlay extends HTMLElement implements OverlayAttributes,
 	 * Remove the overlay from the DOM, dispose all the contained widgets, and dispose the renderer.
 	 */
 	dispose (): void {
+		for (const widget of [...this.widgets]) widget.dispose();
+
 		this.remove();
-		this.widgets.forEach(widget => widget.dispose());
 		this.widgets.length = 0;
 		this.renderer.dispose();
 		this.disposed = true;
+		this.assetManager.dispose();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Add the widget to the overlay.
+	 * If the widget is after the overlay in the DOM, the overlay is appended after the widget.
+	 * @param widget The widget to add to the overlay
+	 */
 	addWidget (widget: SpineWebComponentWidget) {
 		this.widgets.push(widget);
 		this.intersectionObserver?.observe(widget.getHostElement());
@@ -1708,6 +1764,19 @@ class SpineWebComponentOverlay extends HTMLElement implements OverlayAttributes,
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Remove the widget from the overlay.
+	 * @param widget The widget to remove from the overlay
+	 */
+	removeWidget (widget: SpineWebComponentWidget) {
+		const index = this.widgets.findIndex(w => w === widget);
+		if (index === -1) return false;
+
+		this.widgets.splice(index);
+		this.intersectionObserver?.unobserve(widget.getHostElement());
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	addSlotFollowerElement (element: HTMLElement) {
 		this.boneFollowersParent.appendChild(element);
 		this.resizedCallback();