Proposed syntax:
_object animateSilently [animationName, phase]

When used animations with associated sounds, doors opening for example, wont make a sound effect. If no sound effect is associated with the animation, play animation as normal.

Reasoning: I am developing a mod titled the Action Button Mod. My current implementation of incremental door opening uses the animate command to move the target door slightly with every tick of the mouse wheel. This causes the open and close sound to play every time the door moves. This causes an obnoxious series of squeaking/slamming noises that a real door being slowly opened wouldn't make.