While I really hope this means new PC models, there's precendence of new animations being added without model updates. Before Wrath, there was /cower. With Cataclysm, there was the ocean-floor run for Vashj'ir.

Those were animations that were possible to do with the original models. I could certainly see a roll being more difficult, since it's a more complex motion that involves overlapping polygons as the body folds up.

Anne's right that the most telling thing about the monk roll and what it means for PC models is that Worgen and Goblins are conspiculously the only races not able to be monks.

*fingers hopefully crossed*

It's already been confirmed that work on revamping the existing player models is already underway and that it's currently a "top priority", and Zarhym also commented on that in the forums.

I'm not sure how she got "unknown" out of that, when we were told point blank during one of the Q&As that it's going to happen, monk or not. Hell, we were told that last year before monks were even on the radar. The only thing "unknown" about this is the time frame, which they've been typically vague about. I wouldn't expect anything but the new monk-specific animations to go live with the expansion though, the way they've been talking.

There was mention during the art panel that they're working on new models, but have to be very careful to not piss off the people who are super attached to the old. There was no definite 'yes' on it, but that was pretty damn close to one.

I hope this character model update makes the gnome walk look normal, and not like they have stick-in-ass syndrome. It's the only thing that bugs me about my main.

While i dearly hope that you are correct, I ain't holding my breath.