diff --git a/crates/bevy_animation/src/graph.rs b/crates/bevy_animation/src/graph.rs
index 6121ecb2ab8a2..aca3220855908 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_animation/src/graph.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_animation/src/graph.rs
@@ -7,11 +7,14 @@ use std::io::{self, Write};
 use bevy_asset::{
     io::Reader, Asset, AssetEvent, AssetId, AssetLoader, AssetPath, Assets, Handle, LoadContext,
 };
+use bevy_derive::{Deref, DerefMut};
 use bevy_ecs::{
+    component::Component,
     event::EventReader,
+    reflect::ReflectComponent,
     system::{Res, ResMut, Resource},
 };
-use bevy_reflect::{Reflect, ReflectSerialize};
+use bevy_reflect::{prelude::ReflectDefault, Reflect, ReflectSerialize};
 use bevy_utils::HashMap;
 use petgraph::{
     graph::{DiGraph, NodeIndex},
@@ -122,6 +125,29 @@ pub struct AnimationGraph {
     pub mask_groups: HashMap<AnimationTargetId, AnimationMask>,
 }
 
+/// A [`Handle`] to the [`AnimationGraph`] to be used by the [`AnimationPlayer`](crate::AnimationPlayer) on the same entity.
+#[derive(Component, Clone, Debug, Default, Deref, DerefMut, Reflect, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[reflect(Component, Default)]
+pub struct AnimationGraphHandle(pub Handle<AnimationGraph>);
+
+impl From<Handle<AnimationGraph>> for AnimationGraphHandle {
+    fn from(handle: Handle<AnimationGraph>) -> Self {
+        Self(handle)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<AnimationGraphHandle> for AssetId<AnimationGraph> {
+    fn from(handle: AnimationGraphHandle) -> Self {
+        handle.id()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&AnimationGraphHandle> for AssetId<AnimationGraph> {
+    fn from(handle: &AnimationGraphHandle) -> Self {
+        handle.id()
+    }
+}
+
 /// A type alias for the `petgraph` data structure that defines the animation
 /// graph.
 pub type AnimationDiGraph = DiGraph<AnimationGraphNode, (), u32>;
diff --git a/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
index c4d54d7f5fa34..e608f57583d37 100755
--- a/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ use core::{
 use graph::AnimationNodeType;
 use prelude::AnimationCurveEvaluator;
 
-use crate::graph::ThreadedAnimationGraphs;
+use crate::graph::{AnimationGraphHandle, ThreadedAnimationGraphs};
 
 use bevy_app::{App, Plugin, PostUpdate};
-use bevy_asset::{Asset, AssetApp, Assets, Handle};
+use bevy_asset::{Asset, AssetApp, Assets};
 use bevy_core::Name;
 use bevy_ecs::{
     entity::{VisitEntities, VisitEntitiesMut},
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ fn trigger_untargeted_animation_events(
     mut commands: Commands,
     clips: Res<Assets<AnimationClip>>,
     graphs: Res<Assets<AnimationGraph>>,
-    players: Query<(Entity, &AnimationPlayer, &Handle<AnimationGraph>)>,
+    players: Query<(Entity, &AnimationPlayer, &AnimationGraphHandle)>,
 ) {
     for (entity, player, graph_id) in &players {
         // The graph might not have loaded yet. Safely bail.
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ pub fn advance_animations(
     time: Res<Time>,
     animation_clips: Res<Assets<AnimationClip>>,
     animation_graphs: Res<Assets<AnimationGraph>>,
-    mut players: Query<(&mut AnimationPlayer, &Handle<AnimationGraph>)>,
+    mut players: Query<(&mut AnimationPlayer, &AnimationGraphHandle)>,
 ) {
     let delta_seconds = time.delta_seconds();
     players
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ pub type AnimationEntityMut<'w> = EntityMutExcept<
         AnimationTarget,
         Transform,
         AnimationPlayer,
-        Handle<AnimationGraph>,
+        AnimationGraphHandle,
     ),
 >;
 
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ pub fn animate_targets(
     clips: Res<Assets<AnimationClip>>,
     graphs: Res<Assets<AnimationGraph>>,
     threaded_animation_graphs: Res<ThreadedAnimationGraphs>,
-    players: Query<(&AnimationPlayer, &Handle<AnimationGraph>)>,
+    players: Query<(&AnimationPlayer, &AnimationGraphHandle)>,
     mut targets: Query<(
         Entity,
         &AnimationTarget,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_animation/src/transition.rs b/crates/bevy_animation/src/transition.rs
index 77e8fdfef5ca3..3b9eaa2805db4 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_animation/src/transition.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_animation/src/transition.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use crate::{graph::AnimationNodeIndex, ActiveAnimation, AnimationPlayer};
 /// between animations.
 ///
 /// To use this component, place it on the same entity as the
-/// [`AnimationPlayer`] and [`bevy_asset::Handle<AnimationGraph>`]. It'll take
+/// [`AnimationPlayer`] and [`AnimationGraphHandle`](crate::AnimationGraphHandle). It'll take
 /// responsibility for adjusting the weight on the [`ActiveAnimation`] in order
 /// to fade out animations smoothly.
 ///
diff --git a/examples/3d/irradiance_volumes.rs b/examples/3d/irradiance_volumes.rs
index f4ef9a229128b..627a9e6ec8ec7 100644
--- a/examples/3d/irradiance_volumes.rs
+++ b/examples/3d/irradiance_volumes.rs
@@ -522,12 +522,12 @@ impl FromWorld for ExampleAssets {
 fn play_animations(
     mut commands: Commands,
     assets: Res<ExampleAssets>,
-    mut players: Query<(Entity, &mut AnimationPlayer), Without<Handle<AnimationGraph>>>,
+    mut players: Query<(Entity, &mut AnimationPlayer), Without<AnimationGraphHandle>>,
 ) {
     for (entity, mut player) in players.iter_mut() {
         commands
             .entity(entity)
-            .insert(assets.fox_animation_graph.clone());
+            .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(assets.fox_animation_graph.clone()));
         player.play(assets.fox_animation_node).repeat();
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/animation/animated_fox.rs b/examples/animation/animated_fox.rs
index 043565cf0d49c..fcd5dd65f2405 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animated_fox.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animated_fox.rs
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ fn setup_scene_once_loaded(
 
         commands
             .entity(entity)
-            .insert(animations.graph.clone())
+            .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(animations.graph.clone()))
             .insert(transitions);
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/animation/animated_transform.rs b/examples/animation/animated_transform.rs
index f5eecd3d8ddb2..1f340a317e529 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animated_transform.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animated_transform.rs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ fn setup(
             MeshMaterial3d(materials.add(Color::srgb(0.8, 0.7, 0.6))),
             // Add the animation graph and player
             planet,
-            graphs.add(graph),
+            AnimationGraphHandle(graphs.add(graph)),
             player,
         ))
         .id();
diff --git a/examples/animation/animated_ui.rs b/examples/animation/animated_ui.rs
index c04abb6a0a2db..64e16fc005e1f 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animated_ui.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animated_ui.rs
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ fn setup(
             ..default()
         })
         .insert(animation_player)
-        .insert(animation_graph)
+        .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(animation_graph))
         .with_children(|builder| {
             // Build the text node.
             let player = builder.parent_entity();
diff --git a/examples/animation/animation_events.rs b/examples/animation/animation_events.rs
index 95f73e89b5cbb..3fd60aad24227 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animation_events.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animation_events.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ fn setup(
     let mut player = AnimationPlayer::default();
     player.play(animation_index).repeat();
 
-    commands.spawn((graphs.add(graph), player));
+    commands.spawn((AnimationGraphHandle(graphs.add(graph)), player));
 }
 
 // Slowly fade out the text opacity.
diff --git a/examples/animation/animation_graph.rs b/examples/animation/animation_graph.rs
index ecc47389d2ce1..9f4abb37968bb 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animation_graph.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animation_graph.rs
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ fn init_animations(
 
     for (entity, mut player) in query.iter_mut() {
         commands.entity(entity).insert((
-            animation_graph.0.clone(),
+            AnimationGraphHandle(animation_graph.0.clone()),
             ExampleAnimationWeights::default(),
         ));
         for &node_index in &CLIP_NODE_INDICES {
diff --git a/examples/animation/animation_masks.rs b/examples/animation/animation_masks.rs
index 9057ae9e8d01b..046711d83f757 100644
--- a/examples/animation/animation_masks.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/animation_masks.rs
@@ -411,7 +411,9 @@ fn setup_animation_graph_once_loaded(
 
         // We're doing constructing the animation graph. Add it as an asset.
         let animation_graph = animation_graphs.add(animation_graph);
-        commands.entity(entity).insert(animation_graph);
+        commands
+            .entity(entity)
+            .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(animation_graph));
 
         // Remove animation targets that aren't in any of the mask groups. If we
         // don't do that, those bones will play all animations at once, which is
@@ -436,7 +438,7 @@ fn setup_animation_graph_once_loaded(
 // off.
 fn handle_button_toggles(
     mut interactions: Query<(&Interaction, &mut AnimationControl), Changed<Interaction>>,
-    mut animation_players: Query<&Handle<AnimationGraph>, With<AnimationPlayer>>,
+    mut animation_players: Query<&AnimationGraphHandle, With<AnimationPlayer>>,
     mut animation_graphs: ResMut<Assets<AnimationGraph>>,
     mut animation_nodes: Option<ResMut<AnimationNodes>>,
     mut app_state: ResMut<AppState>,
diff --git a/examples/animation/morph_targets.rs b/examples/animation/morph_targets.rs
index 95241ca0e7d40..7d5e26047c34a 100644
--- a/examples/animation/morph_targets.rs
+++ b/examples/animation/morph_targets.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,9 @@ fn setup_animations(
         }
 
         let (graph, animation) = AnimationGraph::from_clip(morph_data.the_wave.clone());
-        commands.entity(entity).insert(graphs.add(graph));
+        commands
+            .entity(entity)
+            .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(graphs.add(graph)));
 
         player.play(animation).repeat();
         *has_setup = true;
diff --git a/examples/stress_tests/many_foxes.rs b/examples/stress_tests/many_foxes.rs
index 43139ebdd3988..9a053a32f113d 100644
--- a/examples/stress_tests/many_foxes.rs
+++ b/examples/stress_tests/many_foxes.rs
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ fn setup_scene_once_loaded(
         for (entity, mut player) in &mut player {
             commands
                 .entity(entity)
-                .insert(animations.graph.clone())
+                .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(animations.graph.clone()))
                 .insert(AnimationTransitions::new());
 
             let playing_animation = player.play(animations.node_indices[0]).repeat();
diff --git a/examples/tools/scene_viewer/animation_plugin.rs b/examples/tools/scene_viewer/animation_plugin.rs
index f892811bd2cf7..7e7a51736a675 100644
--- a/examples/tools/scene_viewer/animation_plugin.rs
+++ b/examples/tools/scene_viewer/animation_plugin.rs
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ fn assign_clips(
         commands
             .entity(player_entity)
             .insert(animations)
-            .insert(graph);
+            .insert(AnimationGraphHandle(graph));
     }
 }