diff --git a/engines/asylum/scene.cpp b/engines/asylum/scene.cpp
index 1f070661754..9902014e623 100644
--- a/engines/asylum/scene.cpp
+++ b/engines/asylum/scene.cpp
@@ -144,14 +144,23 @@ void Scene::update() {
 		scrollScreen = true;
 	}
 
-	if (scrollScreen)
-		_screen->copyToBackBuffer(((byte *)bg->surface.pixels) + _startY * bg->surface.w + _startX, bg->surface.w, 0, 0, 640, 480);
-
-	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 7);	// the "crazy prisoner banging head" anim
+	// Copy the background to the back buffer before updating the scene animations
+	_screen->copyToBackBuffer(((byte *)bg->surface.pixels) + _startY * bg->surface.w + _startX, bg->surface.w, 0, 0, 640, 480);
 
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 0);	// the "statue with fireworks" animation
+	//updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 1);	// inside the middle room
+	//updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 2);	// the lit candles at the base of the statue
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 3);	// the rat animation (in front of the statue)
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 4);	// inside the bottom room
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 6);	// inside the top room (should be shown before the rat animation)
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 5);	// the rat animation (outside the second room)
+	updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 7);	// the "crazy prisoner banging head" animation
+	//updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 8);	// going up the ladder
+	//updateActor(_screen, _resPack, 9);	// going down the ladder
 	// TODO
 }
 
+#if 0
 void Scene::copyToSceneBackground(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y) {
 	int h = frame->surface.h;
     int w = frame->surface.w;
@@ -164,6 +173,7 @@ void Scene::copyToSceneBackground(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y) {
 		buffer += frame->surface.w;
 	}
 }
+#endif
 
 void Scene::copyToBackBufferClipped(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y) {
 	Common::Rect screenRect(_startX, _startY, _startX + 640, _startY + 480);
@@ -175,13 +185,14 @@ void Scene::copyToBackBufferClipped(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y) {
 		animRect.translate(-_startX, -_startY);
 
 		int startX = animRect.right == 640 ? 0 : frame->surface.w - animRect.width();
-		_screen->copyToBackBuffer(((byte*)frame->surface.pixels) +
-								  (frame->surface.h - animRect.height()) * frame->surface.pitch + startX,
-								  frame->surface.pitch,
-								  animRect.left,
-								  animRect.top,
-								  animRect.width(),
-								  animRect.height());
+		_screen->copyToBackBufferWithTransparency(((byte*)frame->surface.pixels) +
+												  (frame->surface.h - animRect.height()) * 
+												  frame->surface.pitch + startX,
+												  frame->surface.pitch,
+												  animRect.left,
+												  animRect.top,
+												  animRect.width(),
+												  animRect.height());
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/engines/asylum/scene.h b/engines/asylum/scene.h
index a8bf97ef003..cceb0545e46 100644
--- a/engines/asylum/scene.h
+++ b/engines/asylum/scene.h
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ public:
 
 	void enterScene();
 private:
+#if 0
 	void copyToSceneBackground(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y);
+#endif
 	void copyToBackBufferClipped(GraphicFrame *frame, int x, int y);
 
 	Screen        *_screen;
diff --git a/engines/asylum/screen.cpp b/engines/asylum/screen.cpp
index ea3e4a6f2e9..b2fdbac2c10 100644
--- a/engines/asylum/screen.cpp
+++ b/engines/asylum/screen.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@ void Screen::copyToBackBuffer(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width,
 	}
 }
 
+void Screen::copyToBackBufferWithTransparency(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height) {
+	int h = height;
+    int w = width;
+	byte *dest = (byte *)_backBuffer.pixels;
+
+	for (int curY = 0; curY < height; curY++) {
+		for (int curX = 0; curX < width; curX++) {
+			if (buffer[curX + curY * width] != 0) {
+				dest[x + curX + (y + curY) * 640] = buffer[curX + curY * pitch];
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void Screen::copyRectToScreen(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height) {
 	_sys->copyRectToScreen(buffer, pitch, x, y, width, height);
 }
diff --git a/engines/asylum/screen.h b/engines/asylum/screen.h
index 285d8de15fc..0d3bb58fe97 100644
--- a/engines/asylum/screen.h
+++ b/engines/asylum/screen.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ public:
 	~Screen();
 
 	void copyToBackBuffer(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height);
+	void copyToBackBufferWithTransparency(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height);
 	void copyBackBufferToScreen();
 	void copyRectToScreen(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height);
 	void copyRectToScreenWithTransparency(byte *buffer, int pitch, int x, int y, int width, int height);