diff --git a/src/unit_types.cpp b/src/unit_types.cpp
index 8c5fae7edf3..0b278fa71ca 100644
--- a/src/unit_types.cpp
+++ b/src/unit_types.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ attack_type::attack_type(const config& cfg) :
 	teams_(NULL),
 	other_attack_(NULL),
 	cfg_(cfg),
-	animation_(),
 	description_(cfg["description"]),
 	id_(cfg["name"]),
 	type_(cfg["type"]),
diff --git a/src/unit_types.hpp b/src/unit_types.hpp
index 461d69e8a5a..78d5d4ba8cf 100644
--- a/src/unit_types.hpp
+++ b/src/unit_types.hpp
@@ -91,9 +91,6 @@ public:
 	//animations for this attack. It will not return the same attack
 	//each time.
 	const unit_animation* animation(const game_display& disp, const map_location& loc,const unit* my_unit,const unit_animation::hit_type hit,const attack_type* secondary_attack,int swing_num,int damage) const;
-	// made public to ease backward compatibility for WML syntax
-	// to be removed (with all corresponding code once 1.3.6 is reached
-	std::vector<unit_animation> animation_;
 private:
 	t_string description_;
 	std::string id_;