Processes objects that haven't been activated yet. Routes balloons to jp_operate_viewport_slots. For helicopters, the blade animation requires both renderers to alternate every tick: on odd ticks calls animate_object (rotor sprite), on even ticks falls through to render_ship_or_helicopter (body sprite). Active helicopters dispatch the opposite way (even → rotor, odd → body via operate_ship_or_helicopter), so the blade animation runs regardless of activation state.