privateThread animatorThread = null;
           
public void start() {
   if (animatorThread == null) {
      animatorThread = new Thread(this);
      animatorThread.start()
   }
}

public void stop() {
   animatorThread = null;
}

public void run() {
   while (Thread.currentThread() == animatorThread){      

      Thread.sleep(10);
   }
}