diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests/Skinning/TestSceneDrawableTaikoMascot.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests/Skinning/TestSceneDrawableTaikoMascot.cs
index 81ea9c0755..0018899769 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests/Skinning/TestSceneDrawableTaikoMascot.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests/Skinning/TestSceneDrawableTaikoMascot.cs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using NUnit.Framework;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Bindables;
+using osu.Framework.Extensions.IEnumerableExtensions;
 using osu.Framework.Testing;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps.ControlPoints;
@@ -50,6 +52,31 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests.Skinning
             AddStep("fail state", () => SetContents(() => new TaikoMascotAnimation(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail)));
         }
 
+        [Test]
+        public void TestClearStateTransition()
+        {
+            AddStep("set beatmap", () => setBeatmap());
+
+            // the bindables need to be independent for each content cell to prevent interference,
+            // as if some of the skins don't implement the animation they'll immediately revert to the previous state from the clear state.
+            var states = new List<Bindable<TaikoMascotAnimationState>>();
+
+            AddStep("create mascot", () => SetContents(() =>
+            {
+                var state = new Bindable<TaikoMascotAnimationState>(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Clear);
+                states.Add(state);
+                return new DrawableTaikoMascot { State = { BindTarget = state } };
+            }));
+
+            AddStep("set clear state", () => states.ForEach(state => state.Value = TaikoMascotAnimationState.Clear));
+            AddStep("miss", () => mascots.ForEach(mascot => mascot.OnNewResult(new JudgementResult(new Hit(), new TaikoJudgement()) { Type = HitResult.Miss })));
+            AddAssert("skins with animations remain in clear state", () => mascots.Any(mascot => mascot.State.Value == TaikoMascotAnimationState.Clear));
+            AddUntilStep("state reverts to fail", () => someMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail));
+
+            AddStep("set clear state again", () => states.ForEach(state => state.Value = TaikoMascotAnimationState.Clear));
+            AddAssert("skins with animations change to clear", () => someMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Clear));
+        }
+
         [Test]
         public void TestPlayfield()
         {
@@ -65,13 +92,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests.Skinning
             });
 
             AddStep("miss result for normal hit", () => addJudgement(HitResult.Miss, new TaikoJudgement()));
-            AddUntilStep("state is fail", () => assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail));
+            AddUntilStep("state is fail", () => allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail));
 
             AddStep("great result for normal hit", () => addJudgement(HitResult.Great, new TaikoJudgement()));
-            AddUntilStep("state is idle", () => assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Idle));
+            AddUntilStep("state is idle", () => allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Idle));
 
             AddStep("miss result for strong hit", () => addJudgement(HitResult.Miss, new TaikoStrongJudgement()));
-            AddAssert("state remains idle", () => assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Idle));
+            AddAssert("state remains idle", () => allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Idle));
         }
 
         [Test]
@@ -92,10 +119,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests.Skinning
                 });
             });
 
-            AddUntilStep("state is fail", () => assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail));
+            AddUntilStep("state is fail", () => allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail));
 
             AddStep("great result for normal hit", () => addJudgement(HitResult.Great, new TaikoJudgement()));
-            AddUntilStep("state is kiai", () => assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Kiai));
+            AddUntilStep("state is kiai", () => allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Kiai));
         }
 
         private void setBeatmap(bool kiai = false)
@@ -135,6 +162,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.Tests.Skinning
             }
         }
 
-        private bool assertState(TaikoMascotAnimationState state) => mascots.All(d => d.State.Value == state);
+        private bool allMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState state) => mascots.All(d => d.State.Value == state);
+        private bool someMascotsIn(TaikoMascotAnimationState state) => mascots.Any(d => d.State.Value == state);
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/DrawableTaikoMascot.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/DrawableTaikoMascot.cs
index bfc1d958c2..f4bc841c15 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/DrawableTaikoMascot.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/DrawableTaikoMascot.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
 
         private readonly Bindable<TaikoMascotAnimationState> state;
         private readonly Dictionary<TaikoMascotAnimationState, TaikoMascotAnimation> animations;
-        private Drawable currentAnimation;
+        private TaikoMascotAnimation currentAnimation;
 
         private bool lastHitMissed;
         private bool kiaiMode;
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
                 animations[TaikoMascotAnimationState.Kiai] = new TaikoMascotAnimation(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Kiai),
                 animations[TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail] = new TaikoMascotAnimation(TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail),
             };
-
-            updateState();
         }
 
         protected override void LoadComplete()
@@ -53,28 +51,32 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
             base.LoadComplete();
 
             animations.Values.ForEach(animation => animation.Hide());
-            State.BindValueChanged(mascotStateChanged, true);
+            state.BindValueChanged(mascotStateChanged, true);
         }
 
         public void OnNewResult(JudgementResult result)
         {
             lastHitMissed = result.Type == HitResult.Miss && result.Judgement.AffectsCombo;
-            updateState();
         }
 
         protected override void OnNewBeat(int beatIndex, TimingControlPoint timingPoint, EffectControlPoint effectPoint, TrackAmplitudes amplitudes)
         {
             kiaiMode = effectPoint.KiaiMode;
-            updateState();
         }
 
-        private void updateState()
+        protected override void Update()
         {
+            base.Update();
             state.Value = getNextState();
         }
 
         private TaikoMascotAnimationState getNextState()
         {
+            // don't change state if current animation is playing
+            // (used for clear state - others are manually animated on new beats)
+            if (currentAnimation != null && !currentAnimation.Completed)
+                return state.Value;
+
             if (lastHitMissed)
                 return TaikoMascotAnimationState.Fail;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoMascotAnimation.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoMascotAnimation.cs
index ee1389147d..165e00cc73 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoMascotAnimation.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko/UI/TaikoMascotAnimation.cs
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
 
             RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both;
             Origin = Anchor = Anchor.BottomLeft;
+            AlwaysPresent = true;
+        }
+
+        public bool Completed => !textureAnimation.IsPlaying || textureAnimation.PlaybackPosition >= textureAnimation.Duration;
+
+        public override void Show()
+        {
+            base.Show();
+            textureAnimation.Seek(0);
         }
 
         protected override void OnNewBeat(int beatIndex, TimingControlPoint timingPoint, EffectControlPoint effectPoint, TrackAmplitudes amplitudes)
@@ -93,6 +102,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Taiko.UI
             public ClearMascotTextureAnimation()
             {
                 DefaultFrameLength = clear_animation_speed;
+                Loop = false;
             }
 
             [BackgroundDependencyLoader]