TextMesh Pro Why does TMP add "TMP_SpriteAnimator" Component?

Just noticed today, that *almost* every TMP_Text has this "TMP_SpriteAnimator" Component added.

* AFAIK, This just seems to be happening on prefab variants that derive from a base prefab containing TMP Text objects.

Just wondering why this is automatically being added? And if that's expected behaviour?

 

It should not unless you access the "spriteAnimator" property.

Having said that, I have seen this component added to objects but was never able to figure out how / why.

I wonder if the Prefab process somehow access this property resulting in this component being added.

Are you able to reproduce this behavior when creating a new prefab / variant?

 

Hmm, yeah I'm not accessing the spriteAnimator variable.

Actually, nevermind, found the issue.
Recently used this library: https://github.com/yasirkula/UnityAssetUsageDetector
Which I assume invokes fields/properties using reflection. I guess because it accessed that property, the spriteAnimator component was added!

My bad. Can close this