diff --git a/gameview.py b/gameview.py
index 5de0703..710f753 100644
--- a/gameview.py
+++ b/gameview.py
@@ -293,15 +293,17 @@ class AOCharMovie(QtGui.QLabel):
 
     def findSprite(self, char, emote, prefix):
         bases = [
-            "{char}/{prefix}{emote}",
-            "{char}/{emote}",
-            "{char}/{prefix}/{emote}"
+            u"{char}/{prefix}{emote}",
+            u"{char}/{emote}",
+            u"{char}/{prefix}/{emote}"
         ]
-        exts = [".apng", ".png", ".gif", ".webp"]
+        exts = [u".apng", u".png", u".gif", u".webp"]
+        
+        base_path = unicode(BASE_PATH)
 
         for base in bases:
             for ext in exts:
-                path = BASE_PATH + "characters/" + base.format(char=char, prefix=prefix, emote=emote) + ext
+                path = base_path + u"characters/" + base.format(char=char, prefix=prefix, emote=emote) + ext
                 if exists(path):
                     return path, ext
         return None, None