diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fa5c34b0b..232312259 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ if("${USE_COVERAGE}")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG " --coverage -fprofile-instr-generate -fcoverage-mapping")
 endif()
 
+if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "Linux")
+set(PKGCONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/pkgconfig")
+else()
+set(PKGCONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/libdata/pkgconfig")
+endif()
+
 # global compiler flags
 add_compile_definitions(FORTIFY_SOURCE=2)
 add_compile_options(-Wall -Wextra -W -Wshadow -Wformat -fexceptions)
@@ -114,32 +120,31 @@ endif()
 set_property(GLOBAL APPEND PROPERTY PACKAGES_FOUND qrcodegen)
 endif()
 find_library(LIBRT rt)
+feature_summary(WHAT ALL FATAL_ON_MISSING_REQUIRED_PACKAGES)
 
 file(GLOB COMPATSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/compat/compat.c)
 
-# libnotcurses (core shared library, core static library)
-file(GLOB NCSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/lib/*.c src/lib/*.cpp)
-add_library(notcurses SHARED ${NCSRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
+############################################################################
+# libnotcurses-core (core shared library, core static library)
+file(GLOB NCCORESRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/lib/*.c src/lib/*.cpp)
+add_library(notcurses-core SHARED ${NCCORESRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
 if(${USE_STATIC})
-add_library(notcurses-static STATIC ${NCSRCS})
+add_library(notcurses-core-static STATIC ${NCCORESRCS})
 else()
-add_library(notcurses-static STATIC EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL ${NCSRCS})
+add_library(notcurses-core-static STATIC EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL ${NCCORESRCS})
 endif()
 set_target_properties(
-  notcurses-static PROPERTIES
-  OUTPUT_NAME notcurses
+  notcurses-core-static PROPERTIES
+  OUTPUT_NAME notcurses-core
 )
-
-feature_summary(WHAT ALL FATAL_ON_MISSING_REQUIRED_PACKAGES)
-
-set_target_properties(notcurses PROPERTIES
+set_target_properties(notcurses-core PROPERTIES
   VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION}
   SOVERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR}
 )
-set_target_properties(notcurses-static PROPERTIES
+set_target_properties(notcurses-core-static PROPERTIES
   VERSION ${PROJECT_VERSION}
 )
-target_include_directories(notcurses
+target_include_directories(notcurses-core
   PRIVATE
     include
     src
@@ -147,7 +152,7 @@ target_include_directories(notcurses
     "${TERMINFO_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${READLINE_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
 )
-target_include_directories(notcurses-static
+target_include_directories(notcurses-core-static
   PRIVATE
     include
     src
@@ -155,7 +160,7 @@ target_include_directories(notcurses-static
     "${TERMINFO_STATIC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${READLINE_STATIC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
 )
-target_link_libraries(notcurses
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-core
   PRIVATE
     "${TERMINFO_LIBRARIES}"
     "${READLINE_LIBRARIES}"
@@ -164,7 +169,7 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses
   PUBLIC
     Threads::Threads
 )
-target_link_libraries(notcurses-static
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-core-static
   PRIVATE
     "${TERMINFO_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
     "${READLINE_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
@@ -173,32 +178,81 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-static
   PUBLIC
     Threads::Threads
 )
-target_link_directories(notcurses
+target_link_directories(notcurses-core
   PRIVATE
     "${TERMINFO_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${READLINE_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
 )
-target_link_directories(notcurses-static
+target_link_directories(notcurses-core-static
   PRIVATE
     "${TERMINFO_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${READLINE_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
 )
-
+# don't want these on freebsd/dragonfly/osx
+if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "Linux")
+target_compile_definitions(notcurses-core
+  PUBLIC
+   _XOPEN_SOURCE=700 # wcwidth(3) requires _XOPEN_SOURCE, and is in our headers
+  PRIVATE
+   _GNU_SOURCE _DEFAULT_SOURCE
+)
+target_compile_definitions(notcurses-core-static
+  PUBLIC
+   _XOPEN_SOURCE=700 # wcwidth(3) requires _XOPEN_SOURCE, and is in our headers
+  PRIVATE
+   _GNU_SOURCE _DEFAULT_SOURCE
+)
+endif()
 if(${USE_QRCODEGEN})
-target_link_libraries(notcurses PRIVATE qrcodegen)
-target_link_libraries(notcurses-static PRIVATE qrcodegen)
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-core PRIVATE qrcodegen)
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-core-static PRIVATE qrcodegen)
 endif()
 
-if(${USE_FFMPEG})
+############################################################################
+# libnotcurses (multimedia shared library+static library)
+file(GLOB NCSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/media/*.c src/media/*.cpp)
+add_library(notcurses SHARED ${NCSRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
+if(${USE_STATIC})
+add_library(notcurses-static STATIC ${NCSRCS})
+else()
+add_library(notcurses-static STATIC EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL ${NCSRCS})
+endif()
+set_target_properties(
+  notcurses-static PROPERTIES
+  OUTPUT_NAME notcurses
+)
 target_include_directories(notcurses
+  PRIVATE
+    include
+    src
+    src/lib
+    "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
+)
+target_include_directories(notcurses-static
+  PRIVATE
+    include
+    src
+    src/lib
+    "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
+)
+target_link_libraries(notcurses
+  PUBLIC
+    notcurses-core
+)
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-static
   PUBLIC
+    notcurses-core-static
+)
+if(${USE_FFMPEG})
+target_include_directories(notcurses
+  PRIVATE
     "${AVCODEC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${AVFORMAT_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${AVUTIL_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${SWSCALE_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
 )
 target_include_directories(notcurses-static
-  PUBLIC
+  PRIVATE
     "${AVCODEC_STATIC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${AVFORMAT_STATIC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
     "${AVUTIL_STATIC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
@@ -209,7 +263,6 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses
     "${AVCODEC_LIBRARIES}"
     "${AVFORMAT_LIBRARIES}"
     "${SWSCALE_LIBRARIES}"
-  PUBLIC
     "${AVUTIL_LIBRARIES}"
 )
 target_link_libraries(notcurses-static
@@ -217,7 +270,6 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-static
     "${AVCODEC_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
     "${AVFORMAT_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
     "${SWSCALE_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
-  PUBLIC
     "${AVUTIL_STATIC_LIBRARIES}"
 )
 target_link_directories(notcurses
@@ -225,7 +277,6 @@ target_link_directories(notcurses
     "${AVCODEC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${AVFORMAT_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${SWSCALE_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-  PUBLIC
     "${AVUTIL_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
 )
 target_link_directories(notcurses-static
@@ -233,7 +284,6 @@ target_link_directories(notcurses-static
     "${AVCODEC_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${AVFORMAT_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
     "${SWSCALE_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-  PUBLIC
     "${AVUTIL_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
 )
 elseif(${USE_OIIO})
@@ -245,28 +295,8 @@ target_link_directories(notcurses PRIVATE ${OIIO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
 target_link_directories(notcurses-static PRIVATE ${OIIO_STATIC_LIBRARY_DIRS})
 endif()
 
-# don't want these on freebsd
-if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "Linux")
-target_compile_definitions(notcurses
-  PUBLIC
-   _XOPEN_SOURCE=700 # wcwidth(3) requires _XOPEN_SOURCE, and is in our headers
-  PRIVATE
-   _GNU_SOURCE _DEFAULT_SOURCE
-)
-target_compile_definitions(notcurses-static
-  PUBLIC
-   _XOPEN_SOURCE=700 # wcwidth(3) requires _XOPEN_SOURCE, and is in our headers
-  PRIVATE
-   _GNU_SOURCE _DEFAULT_SOURCE
-)
-set(PKGCONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/pkgconfig")
-elseif(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "FreeBSD")
-set(PKGCONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/libdata/pkgconfig")
-elseif(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "DragonFly")
-set(PKGCONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/libdata/pkgconfig")
-endif()
-
-# libnotcurses++
+############################################################################
+# libnotcurses++ (C++ wrappers)
 set(NCPP_SOURCES
   src/libcpp/FDPlane.cc
   src/libcpp/Menu.cc
@@ -375,31 +405,6 @@ install(FILES ${NOTCURSES_HEADERS} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/notcu
 install(FILES ${NCPP_HEADERS} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/ncpp)
 install(FILES ${NCPP_INTERNAL_HEADERS} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/ncpp/internal)
 
-# notcurses-demo
-file(GLOB DEMOSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/demo/*.c)
-add_executable(notcurses-demo ${DEMOSRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
-target_compile_definitions(notcurses-demo
-  PRIVATE
-    _GNU_SOURCE
-)
-target_include_directories(notcurses-demo
-  PRIVATE
-    include
-    src
-    "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
-  PUBLIC
-    "${AVCODEC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-    "${AVFORMAT_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-    "${AVUTIL_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-    "${SWSCALE_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-)
-target_link_libraries(notcurses-demo
-  PRIVATE
-    notcurses
-    unistring
-    ${MATH_LIBRARIES}
-)
-
 # tiny proofs of concept, one binary per source file
 if(USE_POC)
 file(GLOB POCSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/poc/*.c src/poc/*.cpp)
@@ -496,19 +501,35 @@ if(USE_DOXYGEN)
   endif()
 endif()
 
-# ncneofetch
-file(GLOB FETCHSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/fetch/*.c)
-add_executable(ncneofetch ${FETCHSRCS})
-target_include_directories(ncneofetch
+############################################################################
+# notcurses-demo
+file(GLOB DEMOSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/demo/*.c)
+add_executable(notcurses-demo ${DEMOSRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
+target_compile_definitions(notcurses-demo
+  PRIVATE
+    _GNU_SOURCE
+)
+target_include_directories(notcurses-demo
   PRIVATE
     include
+    src
     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
+  PUBLIC
+    "${AVCODEC_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
+    "${AVFORMAT_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
+    "${AVUTIL_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
+    "${SWSCALE_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
 )
-target_link_libraries(ncneofetch
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-demo
   PRIVATE
     notcurses
+    unistring
+    ${MATH_LIBRARIES}
+  PUBLIC
+    Threads::Threads
 )
 
+############################################################################
 # notcurses-input
 file(GLOB INPUTSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/input/input.cpp)
 add_executable(notcurses-input ${INPUTSRCS})
@@ -522,34 +543,53 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-input
     notcurses++
 )
 
-# ncls
-file(GLOB LSSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/ls/*.cpp)
-add_executable(ncls ${LSSRC})
-target_include_directories(ncls
+############################################################################
+# notcurses-tetris
+file(GLOB TETRISSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/tetris/*.cpp)
+add_executable(notcurses-tetris ${TETRISSRC})
+target_include_directories(notcurses-tetris
   PRIVATE
     include
     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
 )
-target_link_libraries(ncls
+target_link_libraries(notcurses-tetris
   PRIVATE
     notcurses++
 )
 
-# notcurses-tetris
-file(GLOB TETRISSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/tetris/*.cpp)
-add_executable(notcurses-tetris ${TETRISSRC})
-target_include_directories(notcurses-tetris
+# all further binaries require multimedia support
+if(NOT ${USE_MULTIMEDIA} STREQUAL "none")
+############################################################################
+# ncneofetch
+file(GLOB FETCHSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/fetch/*.c)
+add_executable(ncneofetch ${FETCHSRCS})
+target_include_directories(ncneofetch
   PRIVATE
     include
     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
 )
-target_link_libraries(notcurses-tetris
+target_link_libraries(ncneofetch
+  PRIVATE
+    notcurses
+)
+
+############################################################################
+# ncls
+file(GLOB LSSRC CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/ls/*.cpp)
+add_executable(ncls ${LSSRC})
+target_include_directories(ncls
+  PRIVATE
+    include
+    "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/include"
+)
+target_link_libraries(ncls
   PRIVATE
     notcurses++
 )
 
+############################################################################
 # notcurses-view
-if(${USE_FFMPEG} OR ${USE_OIIO})
+if(NOT ${USE_MULTIMEDIA} STREQUAL "none")
 file(GLOB VIEWSRCS CONFIGURE_DEPENDS src/view/*.cpp)
 add_executable(notcurses-view ${VIEWSRCS} ${COMPATSRC})
 target_include_directories(notcurses-view
@@ -563,8 +603,10 @@ target_link_libraries(notcurses-view
     notcurses++
 )
 endif()
+endif()
 
-# Testing
+############################################################################
+# testing
 if(${BUILD_TESTING})
 #set(CMAKE_CTEST_ARGUMENTS "-V")
 if(${USE_DOCTEST})
@@ -579,8 +621,8 @@ target_include_directories(notcurses-tester
 )
 target_link_libraries(notcurses-tester
   PRIVATE
-    unistring
     notcurses++
+    unistring
     "${TERMINFO_LIBRARIES}"
 )
 add_test(
@@ -629,11 +671,14 @@ add_custom_target(demo
 )
 
 # pkg-config support
+configure_file(tools/notcurses-core.pc.in
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/notcurses-core.pc
+  @ONLY
+)
 configure_file(tools/notcurses.pc.in
   ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/notcurses.pc
   @ONLY
 )
-
 configure_file(tools/notcurses++.pc.in
   ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/notcurses++.pc
   @ONLY
@@ -686,7 +731,7 @@ install(FILES
   DESTINATION ${PKGCONFIG_DIR}
   )
 
-if(${USE_FFMPEG} OR ${USE_OIIO})
+if(NOT ${USE_MULTIMEDIA} STREQUAL "none")
 file(GLOB TESTDATA CONFIGURE_DEPENDS data/*)
 # Don't install source materia for self-originated multimedia
 list(FILTER TESTDATA EXCLUDE REGEX ".*xcf$")
@@ -701,14 +746,14 @@ install(FILES ${MARKDOWN} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_DOCDIR})
 
 install(TARGETS notcurses-demo DESTINATION bin)
 install(TARGETS notcurses-input DESTINATION bin)
-install(TARGETS ncls DESTINATION bin)
-install(TARGETS ncneofetch DESTINATION bin)
 install(TARGETS notcurses-tetris DESTINATION bin)
-if(${USE_FFMPEG} OR ${USE_OIIO})
+if(NOT ${USE_MULTIMEDIA} STREQUAL "none")
+install(TARGETS ncneofetch DESTINATION bin)
+install(TARGETS ncls DESTINATION bin)
 install(TARGETS notcurses-view DESTINATION bin)
 endif()
 
-install(TARGETS notcurses notcurses++
+install(TARGETS notcurses-core notcurses notcurses++
   LIBRARY
     DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
     COMPONENT Libraries
@@ -716,7 +761,7 @@ install(TARGETS notcurses notcurses++
 )
 if(${USE_STATIC})
 install(
-  TARGETS notcurses-static notcurses++-static
+  TARGETS notcurses-core-static notcurses-static notcurses++-static
   LIBRARY
     DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}
     COMPONENT Libraries
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 64e1cfe64..7aa1b2da9 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ On an APT-based distribution, run:
 
 `apt-get install build-essential cmake doctest-dev libavformat-dev libavutil-dev libncurses-dev libreadline-dev libqrcodegen-dev libswscale-dev libunistring-dev pandoc pkg-config`
 
+If you only intend to build core Notcurses (without multimedia support), run:
+
+`apt-get install build-essential cmake libncurses-dev libreadline-dev libqrcodegen-dev pandoc pkg-config`
+
+If you only intend to build core Notcurses (without multimedia support), run:
+
+`apt-get install build-essential cmake libncurses-dev libreadline-dev libqrcodegen-dev pandoc pkg-config`
+
 If you want to build the Python wrappers, you'll also need:
 
 `apt-get install python3-cffi python3-dev python3-pypandoc python3-setuptools`
@@ -28,8 +36,11 @@ If you want to build the Rust wrappers, you'll also need:
 
 ## Building
 
-* Create a subdirectory, traditionally `build`. Enter the directory.
-* `cmake ..`. You might want to set e.g. `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE`.
+* Create a subdirectory, traditionally `build` (this is not strictly necessary,
+  but it keeps your source tree clean). Enter the directory.
+* `cmake ..`
+** You might want to set e.g. `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE`. Use `-DVAR=val`.
+** To build without multimedia support, use `-DUSE_MULTIMEDIA=none`.
 * `make`
 * `make test`
 * `make install`
@@ -89,4 +100,3 @@ but must be `Debug` for use of `USE_COVERAGE`.
 * `USE_POC`: build small, uninstalled proof-of-concept binaries
 * `USE_QRCODEGEN`: build qrcode support via libqrcodegen
 * `USE_STATIC`: build static libraries (in addition to shared ones)
-
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index cf0cf5868..6bacf6c40 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 This document attempts to list user-visible changes and any major internal
 rearrangements of Notcurses.
 
+* 2.1.6 (not yet released):
+  * Notcurses has been split into two libraries, `notcurses-core` and
+    `notcurses`. The latter contains the heavyweight multimedia code,
+    so that applications which don't need this functionality can link against
+    only the former. `pkg-config` support is present for both.
+
 * 2.1.5 (2021-01-15):
   * Notcurses **now depends on GNU Readline at build and runtime**, entirely
     for the benefit of direct mode, which now prepares GNU Readline for safe
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9288f3c0d..c0a2522c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ Why use this non-standard library?
   * The library object exports a minimal set of symbols. Where reasonable,
     `static inline` header-only code is used. This facilitates compiler
     optimizations, and reduces loader time.
+  * Notcurses can be built without its multimedia functionality, requiring a
+    significantly lesser set of dependencies.
 
 * All APIs natively support the Universal Character Set (Unicode). The `cell`
   API is based around Unicode's [Extended Grapheme Cluster](https://unicode.org/reports/tr29/) concept.
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index 75699adf0..91c0ee4be 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Usage
 
-As of version 2.0.0, Notcurses honors Semantic Versioning, the API is stable,
-and the project is committed to backwards compatibility.
+As of version 2.0.0, the Notcurses API is stable, and the project is committed
+to backwards compatibility.
 
 * [Direct Mode](#direct-mode)
 * [Alignment](#alignment)
@@ -15,16 +15,17 @@ and the project is committed to backwards compatibility.
 * [Stats](#stats)
 * [C++](#c++)
 
-A full API reference [is available](https://nick-black.com/notcurses/). Manual
-pages ought have been installed along with Notcurses. This document is a
+A full API reference [is available](https://nick-black.com/notcurses/) in the
+form of manual pages; these ought have been installed along with Notcurses. This document is a
 secondary reference, and should not be considered authoritative. For a more
 unified commentary, consider the [paperback](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PNVNC9)
-(also available as a free PDF from https://nick-black.com).
+(also available as a [free PDF](https://nick-black.com/dankwiki/index.php?title=Hacking_The_Planet!_with_Notcurses).
 
 A program wishing to use Notcurses will need to link it, ideally using the
 output of `pkg-config --libs notcurses`. It is advised to compile with the
-output of `pkg-config --cflags notcurses`. If using CMake, a support file is
-provided, and can be accessed as `Notcurses`.
+output of `pkg-config --cflags notcurses`. To use the minimal core Notcurses,
+without multimedia support, use `pkg-config --libs notcurses-core` etc. If
+using CMake, a support file is provided, and can be accessed as `Notcurses`.
 
 Before calling into Notcurses—and usually as one of the first calls of the
 program—be sure to call `setlocale(3)` with an appropriate UTF-8 locale. It is
diff --git a/data/tetris-background.jpg b/data/tetris-background.jpg
index 82d3382cb..91ceeb8a3 100644
Binary files a/data/tetris-background.jpg and b/data/tetris-background.jpg differ
diff --git a/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md b/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
index 472a0dd54..983b3dfc2 100644
--- a/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
+++ b/doc/man/man3/notcurses.3.md
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ notcurses - TUI library for modern terminal emulators
 
 # SYNOPSIS
 
-**#include <notcurses/notcurses.h>**
+**#include <notcurses/notcurses.h>** or
+**#include <notcurses/notcurses-core.h>**
 
-**-lnotcurses**
+**-lnotcurses** or **-lnotcurses-core**
 
 # DESCRIPTION
 
@@ -23,7 +24,8 @@ A program wishing to use Notcurses will need to link it, ideally using the
 output of **pkg-config --libs notcurses** (see **pkg-config(1)**). It is
 advised to compile with the output of **pkg-config --cflags notcurses**. If
 using CMake, a support file is provided, and can be accessed as **Notcurses**
-(see **cmake(1)**).
+(see **cmake(1)**). If multimedia capabilities are not needed, it is possible
+to link against a minimal Notcurses using **pkg-config --libs notcurses-core**.
 
 **notcurses_init(3)** can then be used to initialize a Notcurses instance for a
 given **FILE** (usually **stdout**, usually attached to a terminal).
diff --git a/src/demo/dragon.c b/src/demo/dragon.c
index 42b9ee965..ca3071bd8 100644
--- a/src/demo/dragon.c
+++ b/src/demo/dragon.c
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ int dragon_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
     }
     DEMO_RENDER(nc);
     demo_nanosleep(nc, &scaled);
-    ncplane_erase(n);
   }while(lasttotal != r);
   ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   return 0;
diff --git a/src/lib/blit.c b/src/lib/blit.c
index b206b3f66..c3629428c 100644
--- a/src/lib/blit.c
+++ b/src/lib/blit.c
@@ -878,13 +878,6 @@ int ncblit_rgba(const void* data, int linesize, const struct ncvisual_options* v
                     leny, lenx, blend);
 }
 
-int rgba_blit_dispatch(ncplane* nc, const struct blitset* bset, int placey,
-                       int placex, int linesize, const void* data, int begy,
-                       int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors){
-  return bset->blit(nc, placey, placex, linesize, data, begy, begx,
-                    leny, lenx, blendcolors);
-}
-
 ncblitter_e ncvisual_media_defblitter(const notcurses* nc, ncscale_e scale){
   return rgba_blitter_default(nc->utf8, scale, nc->tcache.sextants);
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/ffmpeg.h b/src/lib/ffmpeg.h
deleted file mode 100644
index f02b87782..000000000
--- a/src/lib/ffmpeg.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef NOTCURSES_FFMPEG
-#define NOTCURSES_FFMPEG
-
-#include "version.h"
-#ifdef USE_FFMPEG
-
-extern "C" {
-
-#include <libavutil/error.h>
-#include <libavutil/frame.h>
-#include <libavutil/pixdesc.h>
-#include <libavutil/version.h>
-#include <libavutil/imgutils.h>
-#include <libavutil/rational.h>
-#include <libswscale/swscale.h>
-#include <libswscale/version.h>
-#include <libavformat/version.h>
-#include <libavformat/avformat.h>
-
-} // extern "C"
-
-struct AVFormatContext;
-struct AVCodecContext;
-struct AVFrame;
-struct AVCodec;
-struct AVCodecParameters;
-struct AVPacket;
-
-typedef struct ncvisual_details {
-  int packet_outstanding;
-  struct AVFormatContext* fmtctx;
-  struct AVCodecContext* codecctx;     // video codec context
-  struct AVCodecContext* subtcodecctx; // subtitle codec context
-  struct AVFrame* frame;               // frame as read
-  struct AVFrame* oframe;              // RGBA frame
-  struct AVCodec* codec;
-  struct AVCodecParameters* cparams;
-  struct AVCodec* subtcodec;
-  struct AVPacket* packet;
-  struct SwsContext* swsctx;
-  AVSubtitle subtitle;
-  int stream_index;        // match against this following av_read_frame()
-  int sub_stream_index;    // subtitle stream index, can be < 0 if no subtitles
-} ncvisual_details;
-
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_details_init(ncvisual_details* deets) -> int {
-  memset(deets, 0, sizeof(*deets));
-  deets->stream_index = -1;
-  deets->sub_stream_index = -1;
-  if((deets->frame = av_frame_alloc()) == nullptr){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_details_destroy(ncvisual_details* deets) -> void {
-  avcodec_close(deets->codecctx);
-  avcodec_free_context(&deets->codecctx);
-  av_frame_free(&deets->frame);
-  av_freep(&deets->oframe);
-  //avcodec_parameters_free(&ncv->cparams);
-  sws_freeContext(deets->swsctx);
-  av_packet_free(&deets->packet);
-  avformat_close_input(&deets->fmtctx);
-  avsubtitle_free(&deets->subtitle);
-}
-
-#endif
-
-#endif
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 351c3cbfc..48035ea81 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -681,9 +681,13 @@ memdup(const void* src, size_t len){
 
 void* bgra_to_rgba(const void* data, int rows, int rowstride, int cols);
 
-int rgba_blit_dispatch(ncplane* nc, const struct blitset* bset, int placey,
-                       int placex, int linesize, const void* data, int begy,
-                       int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors);
+static inline int
+rgba_blit_dispatch(ncplane* nc, const struct blitset* bset, int placey,
+                   int placex, int linesize, const void* data, int begy,
+                   int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors){
+  return bset->blit(nc, placey, placex, linesize, data, begy, begx,
+                    leny, lenx, blendcolors);
+}
 
 // find the "center" cell of two lengths. in the case of even rows/columns, we
 // place the center on the top/left. in such a case there will be one more
@@ -1068,6 +1072,8 @@ int setup_signals(void* nc, bool no_quit_sigs, bool no_winch_sig,
                   int(*handler)(void*));
 int drop_signals(void* nc);
 
+void ncvisual_printbanner(const notcurses* nc);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index b6483cd53..2a769596c 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -802,19 +802,7 @@ init_banner(const notcurses* nc){
 #error "No __BYTE_ORDER__ definition"
 #endif
            , curses_version());
-#ifdef USE_FFMPEG
-    printf("  avformat %u.%u.%u avutil %u.%u.%u swscale %u.%u.%u\n",
-          LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MINOR, LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MICRO,
-          LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MINOR, LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MICRO,
-          LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MINOR, LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MICRO);
-#else
-#ifdef USE_OIIO
-    printf("  openimageio %s\n", oiio_version());
-#else
-    term_fg_palindex(nc, stderr, nc->tcache.colors <= 88 ? 1 % nc->tcache.colors : 0xcb);
-    fprintf(stderr, "\n Warning! Notcurses was built without multimedia support.\n");
-#endif
-#endif
+    ncvisual_printbanner(nc);
     fflush(stdout);
     term_fg_palindex(nc, stderr, nc->tcache.colors <= 88 ? 1 % nc->tcache.colors : 0xcb);
     if(!nc->tcache.RGBflag){ // FIXME
diff --git a/src/lib/oiio.h b/src/lib/oiio.h
deleted file mode 100644
index a7e983ca0..000000000
--- a/src/lib/oiio.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef NOTCURSES_OIIO
-#define NOTCURSES_OIIO
-
-// OpenImageIO implementation of ncvisual_details
-#include "version.h"
-#ifdef USE_OIIO
-#include <OpenImageIO/filter.h>
-#include <OpenImageIO/version.h>
-#include <OpenImageIO/imageio.h>
-#include <OpenImageIO/imagebuf.h>
-#include <OpenImageIO/imagebufalgo.h>
-
-typedef struct ncvisual_details {
-  std::unique_ptr<OIIO::ImageInput> image;  // must be close()d
-  std::unique_ptr<uint32_t[]> frame;
-  std::unique_ptr<OIIO::ImageBuf> ibuf;
-  uint64_t framenum;
-} ncvisual_details;
-
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_details_init(ncvisual_details *deets) -> int {
-  deets->image = nullptr;
-  deets->frame = nullptr;
-  deets->ibuf = nullptr;
-  deets->framenum = 0;
-  return 0;
-}
-
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_details_destroy(ncvisual_details* deets) -> void {
-  if(deets->image){
-    deets->image->close();
-  }
-}
-
-#endif
-
-#endif
diff --git a/src/lib/visual-details.h b/src/lib/visual-details.h
index a22493fa3..f2d9a2916 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual-details.h
+++ b/src/lib/visual-details.h
@@ -4,48 +4,40 @@
 #include "builddef.h"
 #include "notcurses/notcurses.h"
 
-#ifdef USE_FFMPEG
-#include "ffmpeg.h"
-#else
-#ifdef USE_OIIO
-#include "oiio.h"
-#else
-
-typedef struct ncvisual_details {
-} ncvisual_details;
-
-static inline auto ncvisual_details_init(ncvisual_details* deets) -> int {
-  (void)deets;
-  return 0;
-}
-
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_details_destroy(ncvisual_details* deets) -> void {
-  (void)deets;
-}
-#endif
-#endif
-
 struct ncplane;
+struct ncvisual_details;
 
 typedef struct ncvisual {
+  struct ncvisual_details* details;// implementation-specific details
+  uint32_t* data; // (scaled) RGBA image data, rowstride bytes per row
   int cols, rows;
   // lines are sometimes padded. this many true bytes per row in data.
   int rowstride;
-  ncvisual_details details;// implementation-specific details
-  uint32_t* data; // (scaled) RGBA image data, rowstride bytes per row
   bool owndata; // we own data iff owndata == true
 } ncvisual;
 
-static inline auto
-ncvisual_create(void) -> ncvisual* {
-  auto ret = new ncvisual{};
-  if(ret == nullptr){
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-  ncvisual_details_init(&ret->details);
-  return ret;
-}
+typedef struct ncvisual_implementation {
+  int (*ncvisual_init)(int loglevel);
+  int (*ncvisual_decode)(ncvisual*);
+  int (*ncvisual_blit)(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
+                       const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
+                       int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
+                       bool blendcolors);
+  ncvisual* (*ncvisual_create)(void);
+  ncvisual* (*ncvisual_from_file)(const char* s);
+  void (*ncvisual_printbanner)(const struct notcurses* nc);
+  // ncv constructors other than ncvisual_from_file() need to set up the
+  // AVFrame* 'frame' according to their own data, which is assumed to
+  // have been prepared already in 'ncv'.
+  void (*ncvisual_details_seed)(ncvisual* ncv);
+  void (*ncvisual_details_destroy)(struct ncvisual_details* deets);
+  bool canopen_images;
+  bool canopen_videos;
+} ncvisual_implementation;
+
+// ugh! need export this for pluggable multimedia modules without dlopen()
+__attribute__((visibility("default")))
+int notcurses_set_ncvisual_implementation(const ncvisual_implementation* imp);
 
 static inline auto
 ncvisual_set_data(ncvisual* ncv, uint32_t* data, bool owned) -> void {
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.cpp b/src/lib/visual.cpp
index 6738ed879..070880131 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/visual.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,111 @@
 #include "visual-details.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 
-// ncv constructors other than ncvisual_from_file() need to set up the
-// AVFrame* 'frame' according to their own data, which is assumed to
-// have been prepared already in 'ncv'.
-auto ncvisual_details_seed(struct ncvisual* ncv) -> void;
+// FIXME make this a weak symbol instead so we work with static linking
+static const ncvisual_implementation* impl;
+static pthread_rwlock_t impllock = PTHREAD_RWLOCK_INITIALIZER;
+
+int notcurses_set_ncvisual_implementation(const ncvisual_implementation* imp){
+  int ret = -1;
+  if(pthread_rwlock_wrlock(&impllock)){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if(impl == nullptr){
+    impl = imp;
+  }
+  ret |= pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) -> int {
+  int ret = -1;
+  if(pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock)){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if(impl){
+    ret = impl->ncvisual_decode(nc);
+  }
+  ret |= pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
+                   const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
+                   int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
+                   bool blendcolors) -> int {
+  int ret = -1;
+  if(pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock)){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if(impl){
+    if(impl->ncvisual_blit(ncv, rows, cols, n, bset, placey, placex,
+                           begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
+      ret = 0;
+    }
+  }else{
+    if(rgba_blit_dispatch(n, bset, placey, placex, ncv->rowstride, ncv->data,
+                          begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) >= 0){
+      ret = 0;
+    }
+  }
+  ret |= pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_details_seed(struct ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
+  pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock);
+  if(impl){
+    impl->ncvisual_details_seed(ncv);
+  }
+  pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_init(int loglevel) -> int {
+  int ret = 0; // default to success here
+  if(pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock)){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if(impl){
+    ret = impl->ncvisual_init(loglevel);
+  }
+  ret |= pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_from_file(const char* filename) -> ncvisual* {
+  ncvisual* ret = nullptr;
+  if(pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock) == 0){
+    if(impl){
+      ret = impl->ncvisual_from_file(filename);
+    }
+    pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_create(void) -> ncvisual* {
+  ncvisual* ret = nullptr;
+  if(pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock) == 0){
+    if(impl){
+      ret = impl->ncvisual_create();
+    }else{
+      ret = new ncvisual{};
+    }
+    pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+auto ncvisual_printbanner(const notcurses* nc) -> void {
+  pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock);
+  if(impl){
+    impl->ncvisual_printbanner(nc);
+  }else{
+    term_fg_palindex(nc, stderr, nc->tcache.colors <= 88 ? 1 % nc->tcache.colors : 0xcb);
+    fprintf(stderr, "\n Warning! Notcurses was built without multimedia support.\n");
+  }
+  pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
+}
 
 auto ncvisual_geom(const notcurses* nc, const ncvisual* n,
                    const struct ncvisual_options* vopts,
@@ -484,11 +585,15 @@ auto ncvisual_from_plane(const ncplane* n, ncblitter_e blit, int begy, int begx,
 
 auto ncvisual_destroy(ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
   if(ncv){
-    ncvisual_details_destroy(&ncv->details);
+    pthread_rwlock_rdlock(&impllock);
+    if(impl){
+      impl->ncvisual_details_destroy(ncv->details);
+    }
     if(ncv->owndata){
       free(ncv->data);
     }
     delete ncv;
+    pthread_rwlock_unlock(&impllock);
   }
 }
 
@@ -567,24 +672,18 @@ auto ncvisual_polyfill_yx(ncvisual* n, int y, int x, uint32_t rgba) -> int {
   return ncvisual_polyfill_recurse(n, y, x, rgba, *pixel);
 }
 
-#ifndef USE_OIIO // built without ffmpeg or oiio
-#ifndef USE_FFMPEG
-auto ncvisual_from_file(const char* filename) -> ncvisual* {
-  (void)filename;
-  return nullptr;
-}
-
 auto notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) -> bool {
-  return false;
+  if(!impl){
+    return false;
+  }
+  return impl->canopen_images;
 }
 
 auto notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) -> bool {
-  return false;
-}
-
-auto ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) -> int {
-  (void)nc;
-  return -1;
+  if(!impl){
+    return false;
+  }
+  return impl->canopen_videos;
 }
 
 auto ncvisual_decode_loop(ncvisual* nc) -> int {
@@ -609,28 +708,6 @@ auto ncvisual_subtitle(const ncvisual* ncv) -> char* {
   return nullptr;
 }
 
-auto ncvisual_init(int loglevel) -> int {
-  (void)loglevel;
-  return 0; // allow success here
-}
-
-auto ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
-                   const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
-                   int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
-                   bool blendcolors) -> int {
-  (void)rows;
-  (void)cols;
-  if(rgba_blit_dispatch(n, bset, placey, placex, ncv->rowstride, ncv->data,
-                        begy, begx, leny, lenx, blendcolors) < 0){
-    return -1;
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-auto ncvisual_details_seed(struct ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
-  (void)ncv;
-}
-
 auto ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) -> int {
   // we'd need to verify that it's RGBA as well, except that if we've got no
   // multimedia engine, we've only got memory-assembled ncvisuals, which are
@@ -640,6 +717,3 @@ auto ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) -> int {
   }
   return -1;
 }
-
-#endif
-#endif
diff --git a/src/lib/ffmpeg.cpp b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
similarity index 63%
rename from src/lib/ffmpeg.cpp
rename to src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
index df6412afc..1bba247d2 100644
--- a/src/lib/ffmpeg.cpp
+++ b/src/media/ffmpeg.cpp
@@ -1,18 +1,47 @@
 #include "builddef.h"
 #ifdef USE_FFMPEG
-#include "ffmpeg.h"
+extern "C" {
+#include <libavutil/error.h>
+#include <libavutil/frame.h>
+#include <libavutil/pixdesc.h>
+#include <libavutil/version.h>
+#include <libavutil/imgutils.h>
+#include <libavutil/rational.h>
+#include <libswscale/swscale.h>
+#include <libswscale/version.h>
+#include <libavformat/version.h>
+#include <libavformat/avformat.h>
+}
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "visual-details.h"
 
-#define IMGALLOCALIGN 32
+struct AVFormatContext;
+struct AVCodecContext;
+struct AVFrame;
+struct AVCodec;
+struct AVCodecParameters;
+struct AVPacket;
 
-bool notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) {
-  return true;
-}
+typedef struct ncvisual_details {
+  int packet_outstanding;
+  struct AVFormatContext* fmtctx;
+  struct AVCodecContext* codecctx;     // video codec context
+  struct AVCodecContext* subtcodecctx; // subtitle codec context
+  struct AVFrame* frame;               // frame as read
+  struct AVFrame* oframe;              // RGBA frame
+  struct AVCodec* codec;
+  struct AVCodecParameters* cparams;
+  struct AVCodec* subtcodec;
+  struct AVPacket* packet;
+  struct SwsContext* swsctx;
+  AVSubtitle subtitle;
+  int stream_index;        // match against this following av_read_frame()
+  int sub_stream_index;    // subtitle stream index, can be < 0 if no subtitles
+} ncvisual_details;
 
-bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) {
-  return true;
-}
+#define IMGALLOCALIGN 32
+
+static void inject_implementation(void) __attribute__ ((constructor));
 
 /*static void
 print_frame_summary(const AVCodecContext* cctx, const AVFrame* f) {
@@ -86,8 +115,8 @@ deass(const char* ass) {
 }
 
 auto ncvisual_subtitle(const ncvisual* ncv) -> char* {
-  for(unsigned i = 0 ; i < ncv->details.subtitle.num_rects ; ++i){
-    const AVSubtitleRect* rect = ncv->details.subtitle.rects[i];
+  for(unsigned i = 0 ; i < ncv->details->subtitle.num_rects ; ++i){
+    const AVSubtitleRect* rect = ncv->details->subtitle.rects[i];
     if(rect->type == SUBTITLE_ASS){
       return deass(rect->ass);
     }else if(rect->type == SUBTITLE_TEXT) {;
@@ -107,49 +136,50 @@ averr2ncerr(int averr){
   return -1;
 }
 
-int ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc){
-  if(nc->details.fmtctx == nullptr){ // not a file-backed ncvisual
+static int
+ffmpeg_decode(ncvisual* nc){
+  if(nc->details->fmtctx == nullptr){ // not a file-backed ncvisual
     return -1;
   }
   bool have_frame = false;
   bool unref = false;
   // FIXME what if this was set up with e.g. ncvisual_from_rgba()?
-  if(nc->details.oframe){
-    av_freep(&nc->details.oframe->data[0]);
+  if(nc->details->oframe){
+    av_freep(&nc->details->oframe->data[0]);
   }
   do{
     do{
-      if(nc->details.packet_outstanding){
+      if(nc->details->packet_outstanding){
         break;
       }
       if(unref){
-        av_packet_unref(nc->details.packet);
+        av_packet_unref(nc->details->packet);
       }
       int averr;
-      if((averr = av_read_frame(nc->details.fmtctx, nc->details.packet)) < 0){
+      if((averr = av_read_frame(nc->details->fmtctx, nc->details->packet)) < 0){
         /*if(averr != AVERROR_EOF){
           fprintf(stderr, "Error reading frame info (%s)\n", av_err2str(averr));
         }*/
         return averr2ncerr(averr);
       }
       unref = true;
-      if(nc->details.packet->stream_index == nc->details.sub_stream_index){
+      if(nc->details->packet->stream_index == nc->details->sub_stream_index){
         int result = 0, ret;
-        ret = avcodec_decode_subtitle2(nc->details.subtcodecctx, &nc->details.subtitle, &result, nc->details.packet);
+        ret = avcodec_decode_subtitle2(nc->details->subtcodecctx, &nc->details->subtitle, &result, nc->details->packet);
         if(ret >= 0 && result){
           // FIXME?
         }
       }
-    }while(nc->details.packet->stream_index != nc->details.stream_index);
-    ++nc->details.packet_outstanding;
-    int averr = avcodec_send_packet(nc->details.codecctx, nc->details.packet);
+    }while(nc->details->packet->stream_index != nc->details->stream_index);
+    ++nc->details->packet_outstanding;
+    int averr = avcodec_send_packet(nc->details->codecctx, nc->details->packet);
     if(averr < 0){
 //fprintf(stderr, "Error processing AVPacket\n");
       return averr2ncerr(averr);
     }
-    --nc->details.packet_outstanding;
-    av_packet_unref(nc->details.packet);
-    averr = avcodec_receive_frame(nc->details.codecctx, nc->details.frame);
+    --nc->details->packet_outstanding;
+    av_packet_unref(nc->details->packet);
+    averr = avcodec_receive_frame(nc->details->codecctx, nc->details->frame);
     if(averr >= 0){
       have_frame = true;
     }else if(averr == AVERROR(EAGAIN) || averr == AVERROR_EOF){
@@ -159,12 +189,12 @@ int ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc){
       return averr2ncerr(averr);
     }
   }while(!have_frame);
-//print_frame_summary(nc->details.codecctx, nc->details.frame);
-  const AVFrame* f = nc->details.frame;
+//print_frame_summary(nc->details->codecctx, nc->details->frame);
+  const AVFrame* f = nc->details->frame;
   nc->rowstride = f->linesize[0];
-  nc->cols = nc->details.frame->width;
-  nc->rows = nc->details.frame->height;
-//fprintf(stderr, "good decode! %d/%d %d %p\n", nc->details.frame->height, nc->details.frame->width, nc->rowstride, f->data);
+  nc->cols = nc->details->frame->width;
+  nc->rows = nc->details->frame->height;
+//fprintf(stderr, "good decode! %d/%d %d %p\n", nc->details->frame->height, nc->details->frame->width, nc->rowstride, f->data);
   ncvisual_set_data(nc, reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(f->data[0]), false);
   return 0;
 }
@@ -172,7 +202,7 @@ int ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc){
 // resize frame to oframe, converting to RGBA (if necessary) along the way
 int ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
   const int targformat = AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA;
-  AVFrame* inf = nc->details.oframe ? nc->details.oframe : nc->details.frame;
+  AVFrame* inf = nc->details->oframe ? nc->details->oframe : nc->details->frame;
 //fprintf(stderr, "got format: %d (%d/%d) want format: %d (%d/%d)\n", inf->format, nc->rows, nc->cols, targformat, rows, cols);
   if(inf->format == targformat && nc->rows == rows && nc->cols == cols){
     return 0;
@@ -231,72 +261,92 @@ int ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
   nc->rows = rows;
   nc->cols = cols;
   ncvisual_set_data(nc, reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(sframe->data[0]), true);
-  if(nc->details.oframe){
-    //av_freep(nc->details.oframe->data);
-    av_freep(&nc->details.oframe);
+  if(nc->details->oframe){
+    //av_freep(nc->details->oframe->data);
+    av_freep(&nc->details->oframe);
   }
-  nc->details.oframe = sframe;
+  nc->details->oframe = sframe;
 
-//fprintf(stderr, "SIZE SCALED: %d %d (%u)\n", nc->details.oframe->height, nc->details.oframe->width, nc->details.oframe->linesize[0]);
+//fprintf(stderr, "SIZE SCALED: %d %d (%u)\n", nc->details->oframe->height, nc->details->oframe->width, nc->details->oframe->linesize[0]);
   return 0;
 }
 
-ncvisual* ncvisual_from_file(const char* filename) {
+auto ffmpeg_details_init(void) -> ncvisual_details* {
+  auto deets = new ncvisual_details{};
+  deets->stream_index = -1;
+  deets->sub_stream_index = -1;
+  if((deets->frame = av_frame_alloc()) == nullptr){
+    delete deets;
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return deets;
+}
+
+auto ffmpeg_create() -> ncvisual* {
+  auto nc = new ncvisual{};
+  if((nc->details = ffmpeg_details_init()) == nullptr){
+    delete nc;
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return nc;
+}
+
+ncvisual* ffmpeg_from_file(const char* filename) {
   AVStream* st;
-  ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_create();
+  ncvisual* ncv = ffmpeg_create();
   if(ncv == nullptr){
     // fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't create %s (%s)\n", filename, strerror(errno));
     return nullptr;
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details.frame);
-  int averr = avformat_open_input(&ncv->details.fmtctx, filename, nullptr, nullptr);
+//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details->frame);
+  int averr = avformat_open_input(&ncv->details->fmtctx, filename, nullptr, nullptr);
   if(averr < 0){
 //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't open %s (%d)\n", filename, averr);
     goto err;
   }
-  averr = avformat_find_stream_info(ncv->details.fmtctx, nullptr);
+  averr = avformat_find_stream_info(ncv->details->fmtctx, nullptr);
   if(averr < 0){
 //fprintf(stderr, "Error extracting stream info from %s (%d)\n", filename, averr);
     goto err;
   }
-//av_dump_format(ncv->details.fmtctx, 0, filename, false);
-  if((averr = av_find_best_stream(ncv->details.fmtctx, AVMEDIA_TYPE_SUBTITLE, -1, -1, &ncv->details.subtcodec, 0)) >= 0){
-    ncv->details.sub_stream_index = averr;
-    if((ncv->details.subtcodecctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(ncv->details.subtcodec)) == nullptr){
+//av_dump_format(ncv->details->fmtctx, 0, filename, false);
+  if((averr = av_find_best_stream(ncv->details->fmtctx, AVMEDIA_TYPE_SUBTITLE, -1, -1, &ncv->details->subtcodec, 0)) >= 0){
+    ncv->details->sub_stream_index = averr;
+    if((ncv->details->subtcodecctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(ncv->details->subtcodec)) == nullptr){
       //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't allocate decoder for %s\n", filename);
       goto err;
     }
     // FIXME do we need avcodec_parameters_to_context() here?
-    if(avcodec_open2(ncv->details.subtcodecctx, ncv->details.subtcodec, nullptr) < 0){
+    if(avcodec_open2(ncv->details->subtcodecctx, ncv->details->subtcodec, nullptr) < 0){
       //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't open codec for %s (%s)\n", filename, av_err2str(*averr));
       goto err;
     }
   }else{
-    ncv->details.sub_stream_index = -1;
+    ncv->details->sub_stream_index = -1;
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details.frame);
-  if((ncv->details.packet = av_packet_alloc()) == nullptr){
+//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details->frame);
+  if((ncv->details->packet = av_packet_alloc()) == nullptr){
     // fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't allocate packet for %s\n", filename);
     goto err;
   }
-  if((averr = av_find_best_stream(ncv->details.fmtctx, AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO, -1, -1, &ncv->details.codec, 0)) < 0){
+  if((averr = av_find_best_stream(ncv->details->fmtctx, AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO, -1, -1, &ncv->details->codec, 0)) < 0){
     // fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't find visuals in %s (%s)\n", filename, av_err2str(*averr));
     goto err;
   }
-  ncv->details.stream_index = averr;
-  if(ncv->details.codec == nullptr){
+  ncv->details->stream_index = averr;
+  if(ncv->details->codec == nullptr){
     //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't find decoder for %s\n", filename);
     goto err;
   }
-  st = ncv->details.fmtctx->streams[ncv->details.stream_index];
-  if((ncv->details.codecctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(ncv->details.codec)) == nullptr){
+  st = ncv->details->fmtctx->streams[ncv->details->stream_index];
+  if((ncv->details->codecctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(ncv->details->codec)) == nullptr){
     //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't allocate decoder for %s\n", filename);
     goto err;
   }
-  if(avcodec_parameters_to_context(ncv->details.codecctx, st->codecpar) < 0){
+  if(avcodec_parameters_to_context(ncv->details->codecctx, st->codecpar) < 0){
     goto err;
   }
-  if(avcodec_open2(ncv->details.codecctx, ncv->details.codec, nullptr) < 0){
+  if(avcodec_open2(ncv->details->codecctx, ncv->details->codec, nullptr) < 0){
     //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't open codec for %s (%s)\n", filename, av_err2str(*averr));
     goto err;
   }
@@ -304,11 +354,11 @@ ncvisual* ncvisual_from_file(const char* filename) {
     //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't allocate codec params for %s\n", filename);
     goto err;
   }
-  if((*averr = avcodec_parameters_from_context(ncv->cparams, ncv->details.codecctx)) < 0){
+  if((*averr = avcodec_parameters_from_context(ncv->cparams, ncv->details->codecctx)) < 0){
     //fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't get codec params for %s (%s)\n", filename, av_err2str(*averr));
     goto err;
   }*/
-//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details.frame);
+//fprintf(stderr, "FRAME FRAME: %p\n", ncv->details->frame);
   // frame is set up in prep_details(), so that format can be set there, as
   // is necessary when it is prepared from inputs other than files. oframe
   // is set up whenever we convert to RGBA.
@@ -344,8 +394,8 @@ int ncvisual_stream(notcurses* nc, ncvisual* ncv, float timescale,
   do{
     // codecctx seems to be off by a factor of 2 regularly. instead, go with
     // the time_base from the avformatctx.
-    double tbase = av_q2d(ncv->details.fmtctx->streams[ncv->details.stream_index]->time_base);
-    int64_t ts = ncv->details.frame->best_effort_timestamp;
+    double tbase = av_q2d(ncv->details->fmtctx->streams[ncv->details->stream_index]->time_base);
+    int64_t ts = ncv->details->frame->best_effort_timestamp;
     if(frame == 1 && ts){
       usets = true;
     }
@@ -362,8 +412,8 @@ int ncvisual_stream(notcurses* nc, ncvisual* ncv, float timescale,
       activevopts.n = newn;
     }
     ++frame;
-    uint64_t duration = ncv->details.frame->pkt_duration * tbase * NANOSECS_IN_SEC;
-//fprintf(stderr, "use: %u dur: %ju ts: %ju cctx: %f fctx: %f\n", usets, duration, ts, av_q2d(ncv->details.codecctx->time_base), av_q2d(ncv->details.fmtctx->streams[ncv->stream_index]->time_base));
+    uint64_t duration = ncv->details->frame->pkt_duration * tbase * NANOSECS_IN_SEC;
+//fprintf(stderr, "use: %u dur: %ju ts: %ju cctx: %f fctx: %f\n", usets, duration, ts, av_q2d(ncv->details->codecctx->time_base), av_q2d(ncv->details->fmtctx->streams[ncv->stream_index]->time_base));
     double schedns = nsbegin;
     if(usets){
       if(tbase == 0){
@@ -401,7 +451,7 @@ int ncvisual_stream(notcurses* nc, ncvisual* ncv, float timescale,
 int ncvisual_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
   int r = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
   if(r == 1){
-    if(av_seek_frame(ncv->details.fmtctx, ncv->details.stream_index, 0, AVSEEK_FLAG_FRAME) < 0){
+    if(av_seek_frame(ncv->details->fmtctx, ncv->details->stream_index, 0, AVSEEK_FLAG_FRAME) < 0){
       // FIXME log error
       return -1;
     }
@@ -412,12 +462,11 @@ int ncvisual_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
   return r;
 }
 
-int ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
-                  const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
-                  int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx,
-                  bool blendcolors) {
-  const AVFrame* inframe = ncv->details.oframe ? ncv->details.oframe : ncv->details.frame;
-//fprintf(stderr, "inframe: %p oframe: %p frame: %p\n", inframe, ncv->details.oframe, ncv->details.frame);
+int ffmpeg_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
+                const struct blitset* bset, int placey, int placex,
+                int begy, int begx, int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) {
+  const AVFrame* inframe = ncv->details->oframe ? ncv->details->oframe : ncv->details->frame;
+//fprintf(stderr, "inframe: %p oframe: %p frame: %p\n", inframe, ncv->details->oframe, ncv->details->frame);
   void* data = nullptr;
   int stride = 0;
   AVFrame* sframe = nullptr;
@@ -431,14 +480,14 @@ int ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
       return -1;
     }
     //fprintf(stderr, "WHN NCV: %d/%d\n", inframe->width, inframe->height);
-    ncv->details.swsctx = sws_getCachedContext(ncv->details.swsctx,
+    ncv->details->swsctx = sws_getCachedContext(ncv->details->swsctx,
                                                ncv->cols, ncv->rows,
                                                static_cast<AVPixelFormat>(inframe->format),
                                                cols, rows,
                                                static_cast<AVPixelFormat>(targformat),
                                                SWS_LANCZOS, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr);
-    if(ncv->details.swsctx == nullptr){
-//fprintf(stderr, "Error retrieving details.swsctx\n");
+    if(ncv->details->swsctx == nullptr){
+//fprintf(stderr, "Error retrieving details->swsctx\n");
       return -1;
     }
     memcpy(sframe, inframe, sizeof(*inframe));
@@ -453,7 +502,7 @@ int ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
 //fprintf(stderr, "Error allocating visual data (%d X %d)\n", sframe->height, sframe->width);
       return -1;
     }
-    int height = sws_scale(ncv->details.swsctx, (const uint8_t* const*)inframe->data,
+    int height = sws_scale(ncv->details->swsctx, (const uint8_t* const*)inframe->data,
                            inframe->linesize, 0, inframe->height, sframe->data,
                            sframe->linesize);
     if(height < 0){
@@ -484,20 +533,58 @@ int ncvisual_blit(ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols, ncplane* n,
   return 0;
 }
 
-auto ncvisual_details_seed(ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
-  assert(nullptr == ncv->details.oframe);
-  ncv->details.frame->data[0] = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(ncv->data);
-  ncv->details.frame->data[1] = nullptr;
-  ncv->details.frame->linesize[0] = ncv->rowstride;
-  ncv->details.frame->linesize[1] = 0;
-  ncv->details.frame->width = ncv->cols;
-  ncv->details.frame->height = ncv->rows;
-  ncv->details.frame->format = AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA;
+auto ffmpeg_details_seed(ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
+  assert(nullptr == ncv->details->oframe);
+  ncv->details->frame->data[0] = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(ncv->data);
+  ncv->details->frame->data[1] = nullptr;
+  ncv->details->frame->linesize[0] = ncv->rowstride;
+  ncv->details->frame->linesize[1] = 0;
+  ncv->details->frame->width = ncv->cols;
+  ncv->details->frame->height = ncv->rows;
+  ncv->details->frame->format = AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA;
 }
 
-int ncvisual_init(int loglevel) {
+auto ffmpeg_init(int loglevel) -> int {
   av_log_set_level(loglevel);
   // FIXME could also use av_log_set_callback() and capture the message...
   return 0;
 }
+
+void ffmpeg_printbanner(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  printf("  avformat %u.%u.%u avutil %u.%u.%u swscale %u.%u.%u\n",
+        LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MINOR, LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MICRO,
+        LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MINOR, LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MICRO,
+        LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MAJOR, LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MINOR, LIBSWSCALE_VERSION_MICRO);
+}
+
+auto ffmpeg_details_destroy(ncvisual_details* deets) -> void {
+  avcodec_close(deets->codecctx);
+  avcodec_free_context(&deets->codecctx);
+  av_frame_free(&deets->frame);
+  av_freep(&deets->oframe);
+  //avcodec_parameters_free(&ncv->cparams);
+  sws_freeContext(deets->swsctx);
+  av_packet_free(&deets->packet);
+  avformat_close_input(&deets->fmtctx);
+  avsubtitle_free(&deets->subtitle);
+  delete deets;
+}
+
+const static ncvisual_implementation ffmpeg_impl = {
+  .ncvisual_init = ffmpeg_init,
+  .ncvisual_decode = ffmpeg_decode,
+  .ncvisual_blit = ffmpeg_blit,
+  .ncvisual_create = ffmpeg_create,
+  .ncvisual_from_file = ffmpeg_from_file,
+  .ncvisual_printbanner = ffmpeg_printbanner,
+  .ncvisual_details_seed = ffmpeg_details_seed,
+  .ncvisual_details_destroy = ffmpeg_details_destroy,
+  .canopen_images = true,
+  .canopen_videos = true,
+};
+
+static void inject_implementation(void){
+  notcurses_set_ncvisual_implementation(&ffmpeg_impl);
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/lib/oiio.cpp b/src/media/oiio.cpp
similarity index 55%
rename from src/lib/oiio.cpp
rename to src/media/oiio.cpp
index 938662e25..b2f98d7b2 100644
--- a/src/lib/oiio.cpp
+++ b/src/media/oiio.cpp
@@ -1,29 +1,63 @@
 #include "builddef.h"
 #ifdef USE_OIIO
-#include "oiio.h"
+#include <OpenImageIO/filter.h>
+#include <OpenImageIO/version.h>
+#include <OpenImageIO/imageio.h>
+#include <OpenImageIO/imagebuf.h>
+#include <OpenImageIO/imagebufalgo.h>
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "visual-details.h"
 
-bool notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) {
-  return true;
+static void inject_implementation(void) __attribute__ ((constructor));
+
+typedef struct ncvisual_details {
+  std::unique_ptr<OIIO::ImageInput> image;  // must be close()d
+  std::unique_ptr<uint32_t[]> frame;
+  std::unique_ptr<OIIO::ImageBuf> ibuf;
+  uint64_t framenum;
+} ncvisual_details;
+
+static inline auto
+oiio_details_init(void) -> ncvisual_details* {
+  auto deets = new ncvisual_details{};
+  if(deets){
+    deets->image = nullptr;
+    deets->frame = nullptr;
+    deets->ibuf = nullptr;
+    deets->framenum = 0;
+  }
+  return deets;
 }
 
-bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))) {
-  return false; // too slow for reliable use at the moment
+static inline auto
+oiio_details_destroy(ncvisual_details* deets) -> void {
+  if(deets->image){
+    deets->image->close();
+  }
+  delete deets;
 }
 
-ncvisual* ncvisual_from_file(const char* filename) {
-  ncvisual* ncv = ncvisual_create();
+auto oiio_create() -> ncvisual* {
+  auto nc = new ncvisual{};
+  if((nc->details = oiio_details_init()) == nullptr){
+    delete nc;
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return nc;
+}
+
+ncvisual* oiio_from_file(const char* filename) {
+  ncvisual* ncv = oiio_create();
   if(ncv == nullptr){
     return nullptr;
   }
-  ncv->details.image = OIIO::ImageInput::open(filename);
-  if(!ncv->details.image){
+  ncv->details->image = OIIO::ImageInput::open(filename);
+  if(!ncv->details->image){
     // fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't create %s (%s)\n", filename, strerror(errno));
     ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
     return nullptr;
   }
-/*const auto &spec = ncv->details.image->spec_dimensions(0);
+/*const auto &spec = ncv->details->image->spec_dimensions(0);
 std::cout << "Opened " << filename << ": " << spec.height << "x" <<
 spec.width << "@" << spec.nchannels << " (" << spec.format << ")" << std::endl;*/
   if(ncvisual_decode(ncv)){
@@ -33,38 +67,38 @@ spec.width << "@" << spec.nchannels << " (" << spec.format << ")" << std::endl;*
   return ncv;
 }
 
-int ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) {
-//fprintf(stderr, "current subimage: %d frame: %p\n", nc->details.image->current_subimage(), nc->details.frame.get());
-  const auto &spec = nc->details.image->spec_dimensions(nc->details.framenum);
-  if(nc->details.frame){
-//fprintf(stderr, "seeking subimage: %d\n", nc->details.image->current_subimage() + 1);
+int oiio_decode(ncvisual* nc) {
+//fprintf(stderr, "current subimage: %d frame: %p\n", nc->details->image->current_subimage(), nc->details->frame.get());
+  const auto &spec = nc->details->image->spec_dimensions(nc->details->framenum);
+  if(nc->details->frame){
+//fprintf(stderr, "seeking subimage: %d\n", nc->details->image->current_subimage() + 1);
     OIIO::ImageSpec newspec;
-    if(!nc->details.image->seek_subimage(nc->details.image->current_subimage() + 1, 0, newspec)){
+    if(!nc->details->image->seek_subimage(nc->details->image->current_subimage() + 1, 0, newspec)){
        return 1;
     }
     // FIXME check newspec vis-a-vis image->spec()?
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "SUBIMAGE: %d\n", nc->details.image->current_subimage());
+//fprintf(stderr, "SUBIMAGE: %d\n", nc->details->image->current_subimage());
   auto pixels = spec.width * spec.height;// * spec.nchannels;
   if(spec.nchannels < 3 || spec.nchannels > 4){
     return -1; // FIXME get some to test with
   }
-  nc->details.frame = std::make_unique<uint32_t[]>(pixels);
+  nc->details->frame = std::make_unique<uint32_t[]>(pixels);
   if(spec.nchannels == 3){ // FIXME replace with channel shuffle
-    std::fill(nc->details.frame.get(), nc->details.frame.get() + pixels, 0xfffffffful);
+    std::fill(nc->details->frame.get(), nc->details->frame.get() + pixels, 0xfffffffful);
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "READING: %d %ju\n", nc->details.image->current_subimage(), nc->details.framenum);
-  if(!nc->details.image->read_image(nc->details.framenum++, 0, 0, spec.nchannels, OIIO::TypeDesc(OIIO::TypeDesc::UINT8, 4), nc->details.frame.get(), 4)){
+//fprintf(stderr, "READING: %d %ju\n", nc->details->image->current_subimage(), nc->details->framenum);
+  if(!nc->details->image->read_image(nc->details->framenum++, 0, 0, spec.nchannels, OIIO::TypeDesc(OIIO::TypeDesc::UINT8, 4), nc->details->frame.get(), 4)){
     return -1;
   }
-//fprintf(stderr, "READ: %d %ju\n", nc->details.image->current_subimage(), nc->details.framenum);
+//fprintf(stderr, "READ: %d %ju\n", nc->details->image->current_subimage(), nc->details->framenum);
 /*for(int i = 0 ; i < pixels ; ++i){
   //fprintf(stderr, "%06d %02x %02x %02x %02x\n", i,
   fprintf(stderr, "%06d %d %d %d %d\n", i,
-      (nc->details.frame[i]) & 0xff,
-      (nc->details.frame[i] >> 8) & 0xff,
-      (nc->details.frame[i] >> 16) & 0xff,
-      nc->details.frame[i] >> 24
+      (nc->details->frame[i]) & 0xff,
+      (nc->details->frame[i] >> 8) & 0xff,
+      (nc->details->frame[i] >> 16) & 0xff,
+      nc->details->frame[i] >> 24
       );
 }*/
   nc->cols = spec.width;
@@ -72,10 +106,10 @@ int ncvisual_decode(ncvisual* nc) {
   nc->rowstride = nc->cols * 4;
   OIIO::ImageSpec rgbaspec = spec;
   rgbaspec.nchannels = 4;
-  nc->details.ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>(rgbaspec, nc->details.frame.get());
-//fprintf(stderr, "SUBS: %d\n", nc->details.ibuf->nsubimages());
-  ncvisual_set_data(nc, static_cast<uint32_t*>(nc->details.ibuf->localpixels()), false);
-//fprintf(stderr, "POST-DECODE DATA: %d %d %p %p\n", nc->rows, nc->cols, nc->data, nc->details.ibuf->localpixels());
+  nc->details->ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>(rgbaspec, nc->details->frame.get());
+//fprintf(stderr, "SUBS: %d\n", nc->details->ibuf->nsubimages());
+  ncvisual_set_data(nc, static_cast<uint32_t*>(nc->details->ibuf->localpixels()), false);
+//fprintf(stderr, "POST-DECODE DATA: %d %d %p %p\n", nc->rows, nc->cols, nc->data, nc->details->ibuf->localpixels());
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -83,10 +117,10 @@ int ncvisual_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
   int r = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
   if(r == 1){
     OIIO::ImageSpec newspec;
-    if(ncv->details.image->seek_subimage(0, 0, newspec)){
+    if(ncv->details->image->seek_subimage(0, 0, newspec)){
       return -1;
     }
-    ncv->details.framenum = 0;
+    ncv->details->framenum = 0;
     if(ncvisual_decode(ncv) < 0){
       return -1;
     }
@@ -98,13 +132,13 @@ int ncvisual_decode_loop(ncvisual* ncv){
 int ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
 //fprintf(stderr, "%d/%d -> %d/%d on the resize\n", ncv->rows, ncv->cols, rows, cols);
   auto ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>();
-  if(nc->details.ibuf && (nc->cols != cols || nc->rows != rows)){ // scale it
+  if(nc->details->ibuf && (nc->cols != cols || nc->rows != rows)){ // scale it
     OIIO::ImageSpec sp{};
     sp.width = cols;
     sp.height = rows;
     ibuf->reset(sp, OIIO::InitializePixels::Yes);
     OIIO::ROI roi(0, cols, 0, rows, 0, 1, 0, 4);
-    if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::resize(*ibuf, *nc->details.ibuf, "", 0, roi)){
+    if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::resize(*ibuf, *nc->details->ibuf, "", 0, roi)){
       return -1;
     }
     nc->cols = cols;
@@ -112,12 +146,12 @@ int ncvisual_resize(ncvisual* nc, int rows, int cols) {
     nc->rowstride = cols * 4;
     ncvisual_set_data(nc, static_cast<uint32_t*>(ibuf->localpixels()), false);
 //fprintf(stderr, "HAVE SOME NEW DATA: %p\n", ibuf->localpixels());
-    nc->details.ibuf = std::move(ibuf);
+    nc->details->ibuf = std::move(ibuf);
   }
   return 0;
 }
 
-int ncvisual_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
+int oiio_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
                   ncplane* n, const struct blitset* bset,
                   int placey, int placex, int begy, int begx,
                   int leny, int lenx, bool blendcolors) {
@@ -125,13 +159,13 @@ int ncvisual_blit(struct ncvisual* ncv, int rows, int cols,
   void* data = nullptr;
   int stride = 0;
   auto ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>();
-  if(ncv->details.ibuf && (ncv->cols != cols || ncv->rows != rows)){ // scale it
+  if(ncv->details->ibuf && (ncv->cols != cols || ncv->rows != rows)){ // scale it
     OIIO::ImageSpec sp{};
     sp.width = cols;
     sp.height = rows;
     ibuf->reset(sp, OIIO::InitializePixels::Yes);
     OIIO::ROI roi(0, cols, 0, rows, 0, 1, 0, 4);
-    if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::resize(*ibuf, *ncv->details.ibuf, "", 0, roi)){
+    if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::resize(*ibuf, *ncv->details->ibuf, "", 0, roi)){
       return -1;
     }
     stride = cols * 4;
@@ -205,37 +239,53 @@ char* ncvisual_subtitle(const ncvisual* ncv) { // no support in OIIO
 /*
 auto ncvisual_rotate(ncvisual* ncv, double rads) -> int {
   OIIO::ROI roi(0, ncv->cols, 0, ncv->rows, 0, 1, 0, 4);
-  auto tmpibuf = std::move(*ncv->details.ibuf);
-  ncv->details.ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>();
+  auto tmpibuf = std::move(*ncv->details->ibuf);
+  ncv->details->ibuf = std::make_unique<OIIO::ImageBuf>();
   OIIO::ImageSpec sp{};
   sp.set_format(OIIO::TypeDesc(OIIO::TypeDesc::UINT8, 4));
   sp.nchannels = 4;
-  ncv->details.ibuf->reset();
-  if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::rotate(*ncv->details.ibuf, tmpibuf, rads, "", 0, true, roi)){
+  ncv->details->ibuf->reset();
+  if(!OIIO::ImageBufAlgo::rotate(*ncv->details->ibuf, tmpibuf, rads, "", 0, true, roi)){
     return NCERR_DECODE; // FIXME need we do anything further?
   }
   ncv->rowstride = ncv->cols * 4;
-  ncvisual_set_data(ncv, static_cast<uint32_t*>(ncv->details.ibuf->localpixels()), false);
+  ncvisual_set_data(ncv, static_cast<uint32_t*>(ncv->details->ibuf->localpixels()), false);
   return NCERR_SUCCESS;
 }
 */
 
-auto ncvisual_details_seed(ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
+auto oiio_details_seed(ncvisual* ncv) -> void {
   (void)ncv;
   // FIXME?
 }
 
-int ncvisual_init(int loglevel) {
+int oiio_init(int loglevel) {
   // FIXME set OIIO global attribute "debug" based on loglevel
   (void)loglevel;
   // FIXME check OIIO_VERSION_STRING components against linked openimageio_version()
   return 0; // allow success here
 }
 
-extern "C" {
 // FIXME would be nice to have OIIO::attributes("libraries") in here
-const char* oiio_version(void){
-  return OIIO_VERSION_STRING;
+void oiio_printbanner(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  printf("  openimageio %s\n", OIIO_VERSION_STRING);
 }
+
+const static ncvisual_implementation oiio_impl = {
+  .ncvisual_init = oiio_init,
+  .ncvisual_decode = oiio_decode,
+  .ncvisual_blit = oiio_blit,
+  .ncvisual_create = oiio_create,
+  .ncvisual_from_file = oiio_from_file,
+  .ncvisual_printbanner = oiio_printbanner,
+  .ncvisual_details_seed = oiio_details_seed,
+  .ncvisual_details_destroy = oiio_details_destroy,
+  .canopen_images = true,
+  .canopen_videos = false,
+};
+
+static void inject_implementation(void){
+  notcurses_set_ncvisual_implementation(&oiio_impl);
 }
+
 #endif
diff --git a/tools/notcurses++.pc.in b/tools/notcurses++.pc.in
index 42fa811ea..8b88c33cf 100644
--- a/tools/notcurses++.pc.in
+++ b/tools/notcurses++.pc.in
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ Description: C++ bindings for notcurses
 Version: @PROJECT_VERSION@
 
 Requires: notcurses >= @PROJECT_VERSION@
-Libs: -L${libdir} -lnotcurses++
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lnotcurses -lnotcurses++
 Cflags: -I${includedir}
diff --git a/tools/notcurses-core.pc.in b/tools/notcurses-core.pc.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6bfe4f76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/notcurses-core.pc.in
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+prefix=@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@
+exec_prefix=@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@
+libdir=${prefix}/@CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR@
+includedir=${prefix}/@CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR@
+
+Name: @PROJECT_NAME@
+Description: TUI library for modern terminal emulators
+Version: @PROJECT_VERSION@
+
+Requires:
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lnotcurses-core
+Cflags: -I${includedir}
diff --git a/tools/notcurses.pc.in b/tools/notcurses.pc.in
index 367523693..e6652d358 100644
--- a/tools/notcurses.pc.in
+++ b/tools/notcurses.pc.in
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ Description: TUI library for modern terminal emulators
 Version: @PROJECT_VERSION@
 
 Requires:
-Libs: -L${libdir} -lnotcurses
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lnotcurses-core -lnotcurses
 Cflags: -I${includedir}