diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 07aba2f7d..e65195531 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "creaturestats.hpp"
 #include "security.hpp"
 #include "actorutil.hpp"
+#include "spellcasting.hpp"
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -961,34 +962,6 @@ void CharacterController::updateIdleStormState(bool inwater)
     }
 }
 
-void CharacterController::castSpell(const std::string &spellid)
-{
-    static const std::string schools[] = {
-        "alteration", "conjuration", "destruction", "illusion", "mysticism", "restoration"
-    };
-
-    const MWWorld::ESMStore& store = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
-    const ESM::Spell *spell = store.get<ESM::Spell>().find(spellid);
-    const ESM::ENAMstruct &effectentry = spell->mEffects.mList.at(0);
-
-    const ESM::MagicEffect *effect;
-    effect = store.get<ESM::MagicEffect>().find(effectentry.mEffectID);
-
-    const ESM::Static* castStatic;
-    if (!effect->mCasting.empty())
-        castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find (effect->mCasting);
-    else
-        castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find ("VFX_DefaultCast");
-
-    mAnimation->addEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mIndex);
-
-    MWBase::SoundManager *sndMgr = MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager();
-    if(!effect->mCastSound.empty())
-        sndMgr->playSound3D(mPtr, effect->mCastSound, 1.0f, 1.0f);
-    else
-        sndMgr->playSound3D(mPtr, schools[effect->mData.mSchool]+" cast", 1.0f, 1.0f);
-}
-
 bool CharacterController::updateCreatureState()
 {
     const MWWorld::Class &cls = mPtr.getClass();
@@ -1020,7 +993,8 @@ bool CharacterController::updateCreatureState()
                 const std::string spellid = stats.getSpells().getSelectedSpell();
                 if (!spellid.empty() && MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->startSpellCast(mPtr))
                 {
-                    castSpell(spellid);
+                    MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(mPtr, NULL);
+                    cast.playSpellCastingEffects(spellid);
 
                     if (!mAnimation->hasAnimation("spellcast"))
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->castSpell(mPtr); // No "release" text key to use, so cast immediately
@@ -1248,7 +1222,8 @@ bool CharacterController::updateWeaponState()
 
                 if(!spellid.empty() && MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->startSpellCast(mPtr))
                 {
-                    castSpell(spellid);
+                    MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(mPtr, NULL);
+                    cast.playSpellCastingEffects(spellid);
 
                     const ESM::Spell *spell = store.get<ESM::Spell>().find(spellid);
                     const ESM::ENAMstruct &effectentry = spell->mEffects.mList.at(0);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
index 190e171b3..d5dc5fe28 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.hpp
@@ -214,8 +214,6 @@ class CharacterController : public MWRender::Animation::TextKeyListener
 
     void updateHeadTracking(float duration);
 
-    void castSpell(const std::string& spellid);
-
     void updateMagicEffects();
 
     void playDeath(float startpoint, CharacterState death);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index 52815816e..e5f221a02 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -836,6 +836,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         if (mCaster == getPlayer() && spellIncreasesSkill(spell))
             mCaster.getClass().skillUsageSucceeded(mCaster,
                 spellSchoolToSkill(school), 0);
+    
+        // A non-actor doesn't have casting animation so it plays its spell casting effects here
+        if (!mCaster.getClass().isActor())
+            playSpellCastingEffects(mId);
 
         inflict(mCaster, mCaster, spell->mEffects, ESM::RT_Self);
 
@@ -930,6 +934,38 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return true;
     }
 
+    void CastSpell::playSpellCastingEffects(const std::string &spellid){
+       
+        const MWWorld::ESMStore& store = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
+        const ESM::Spell *spell = store.get<ESM::Spell>().find(spellid);
+        const ESM::ENAMstruct &effectentry = spell->mEffects.mList.at(0);
+
+        const ESM::MagicEffect *effect;
+        effect = store.get<ESM::MagicEffect>().find(effectentry.mEffectID);
+
+        if (mCaster.getClass().isActor()) // TODO: Non-actors (except for large statics?) should also create a visual casting effect
+        {
+            const ESM::Static* castStatic;
+            if (!effect->mCasting.empty())
+                castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find (effect->mCasting);
+            else
+                castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find ("VFX_DefaultCast");
+
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getAnimation(mCaster)->addEffect(
+                                "meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mIndex);
+        }
+
+        static const std::string schools[] = {
+            "alteration", "conjuration", "destruction", "illusion", "mysticism", "restoration"
+        };
+
+        MWBase::SoundManager *sndMgr = MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager();
+        if(!effect->mCastSound.empty())
+            sndMgr->playSound3D(mCaster, effect->mCastSound, 1.0f, 1.0f);
+        else
+            sndMgr->playSound3D(mCaster, schools[effect->mData.mSchool]+" cast", 1.0f, 1.0f);
+    }
+
     int getEffectiveEnchantmentCastCost(float castCost, const MWWorld::Ptr &actor)
     {
         /*
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
index ae20a39d0..aba263b01 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.hpp
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         /// @note Auto detects if spell, ingredient or potion
         bool cast (const std::string& id);
 
+        void playSpellCastingEffects(const std::string &spellid);
+
         /// @note \a target can be any type of object, not just actors.
         /// @note \a caster can be any type of object, or even an empty object.
         void inflict (const MWWorld::Ptr& target, const MWWorld::Ptr& caster,