diff --git a/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.cpp b/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.cpp
index 83150512..a2ab456f 100644
--- a/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.cpp
+++ b/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.cpp
@@ -16,11 +16,7 @@ void AssetManager::update() {
 }
 
 void AssetManager::queueLoad(const std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> assets) {
-  std::merge(
-    this->assetsToLoad.begin(), this->assetsToLoad.end(),
-    assets.begin(), assets.end(),
-    this->assetsToLoad.begin()
-  );
+  assetsToLoad.insert(this->assetsToLoad.end(), assets.begin(), assets.end());
 }
 
 void AssetManager::queueLoad(const std::shared_ptr<Asset> &asset) {
@@ -33,11 +29,7 @@ void AssetManager::queueUnload(
   std::cout <<
     "Asset list was queued to unload, but is not yet implemented" <<
   std::endl;
-  std::merge(
-    this->assetsToUnload.begin(), this->assetsToUnload.end(),
-    assets.begin(), assets.end(),
-    this->assetsToUnload.begin()
-  );
+  assetsToUnload.insert(assetsToUnload.end(), assets.begin(), assets.end());
 }
 
 void AssetManager::queueUnload(const std::shared_ptr<Asset> &asset) {
@@ -51,17 +43,17 @@ void AssetManager::queueSwap(
   const std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> &newAssets,
   const std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> &oldAssets
 ) {
-  std::vector<Asset*> unload;
-  std::vector<Asset*> load;
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> unload;
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> load;
 
   // Determine assets to unload.
-  std::for_each(oldAssets.begin(), oldAssets.end(), [&](Asset *asset){
+  std::for_each(oldAssets.begin(), oldAssets.end(), [&](const auto &asset){
     auto it = std::find(newAssets.begin(), newAssets.end(), asset);
     if(it == newAssets.end()) unload.push_back(asset);
   });
 
   // Determine assets to load
-  std::for_each(newAssets.begin(), newAssets.end(), [&](Asset *asset){
+  std::for_each(newAssets.begin(), newAssets.end(), [&](const auto &asset){
     auto it = std::find(oldAssets.begin(), oldAssets.end(), asset);
     if(it == oldAssets.end()) load.push_back(asset);
   });
diff --git a/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.hpp b/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.hpp
index 0961cb51..14bc30f7 100644
--- a/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/asset/AssetManager.hpp
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ namespace Dawn {
         
         auto existing = this->assets.find(name);
         if(existing != this->assets.end()) {
-          return (T*)existing->second;
+          return dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(existing->second);
         }
-        auto asset = new T(name);
+        auto asset = std::make_shared<T>(name);
         this->assets[name] = asset;
         return asset;
       }
diff --git a/src/dawn/display/RenderPipeline.cpp b/src/dawn/display/RenderPipeline.cpp
index 7f33a1c2..8e32af96 100644
--- a/src/dawn/display/RenderPipeline.cpp
+++ b/src/dawn/display/RenderPipeline.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void RenderPipeline::renderSceneCamera(Scene *scene, Camera *camera) {
   auto renderables = scene->findComponents<IRenderable>();
   auto itRenderables = renderables.begin();
   while(itRenderables != renderables.end()) {
-    vectorAppend(&shaderPassItems, (*itRenderables)->getRenderPasses(context));
+    vectorAppend(shaderPassItems, (*itRenderables)->getRenderPasses(context));
     ++itRenderables; 
   }
 
diff --git a/src/dawn/locale/LocaleManager.hpp b/src/dawn/locale/LocaleManager.hpp
index 75a97f1c..a4b06014 100644
--- a/src/dawn/locale/LocaleManager.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/locale/LocaleManager.hpp
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ namespace Dawn {
       DawnGame *game;
       LanguageAsset *asset;
       struct Locale locale;
-      LanguageAsset *currentlyLoadedAsset = nullptr;
-      LanguageAsset *loadingAsset = nullptr;
+      std::shared_ptr<LanguageAsset> currentlyLoadedAsset;
+      std::shared_ptr<LanguageAsset> loadingAsset;
       std::function<void()> eventTeardownLanguageLoaded;
 
       /** Listens for when the pending language loads. */
diff --git a/src/dawn/prefab/Prefab.hpp b/src/dawn/prefab/Prefab.hpp
index 6c7d8c9a..d442fcf0 100644
--- a/src/dawn/prefab/Prefab.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/prefab/Prefab.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ namespace Dawn {
        * @param man Asset Manasger for getting required assets from.
        * @return List of required assets this prefab.
        */
-      static std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets(AssetManager *man) {
+      static std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>>
+        getRequiredAssets(AssetManager *man)
+      {
         return P::prefabAssets(man);
       }
 
diff --git a/src/dawn/prefabs/SimpleSpinningCubePrefab.hpp b/src/dawn/prefabs/SimpleSpinningCubePrefab.hpp
index cfb41cb3..4092eeb9 100644
--- a/src/dawn/prefabs/SimpleSpinningCubePrefab.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/prefabs/SimpleSpinningCubePrefab.hpp
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ namespace Dawn {
       public:
         SimpleTexturedMaterial *material;
 
-        static std::vector<Asset*> prefabAssets(AssetManager *man) {
-          return std::vector<Asset*>();
+        static std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> prefabAssets(AssetManager *man) {
+          return std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>>();
         }
 
         SimpleSpinningCubePrefab(Scene *s, sceneitemid_t i) :
diff --git a/src/dawn/scene/Scene.hpp b/src/dawn/scene/Scene.hpp
index 8e49c150..5f73a37a 100644
--- a/src/dawn/scene/Scene.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/scene/Scene.hpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
        * 
        * @return List of assets required by this scene.
        */
-      virtual std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() = 0;
+      virtual std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() = 0;
 
       /**
        * Method to begin the actual staging of the scene, typically called after
diff --git a/src/dawn/scene/SceneItem.hpp b/src/dawn/scene/SceneItem.hpp
index 0d07dc11..c3067661 100644
--- a/src/dawn/scene/SceneItem.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/scene/SceneItem.hpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
 
         while(transformsToCheck.size() > 0) {
           Transform *tras = *transformsToCheck.begin();
-          vectorAppend(&transformsToCheck, tras->children);
+          vectorAppend(transformsToCheck, tras->children);
           auto component = tras->item->getComponent<T>();
           if(component != nullptr) itemsFound.push_back(component);
           transformsToCheck.erase(transformsToCheck.begin());
diff --git a/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UILabel.hpp b/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UILabel.hpp
index ee09b619..aad652fc 100644
--- a/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UILabel.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UILabel.hpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
     flag_t style = 0;
     flag_t decorations = 0;
     uint32_t size = 16;
-    TrueTypeAsset *font = nullptr;
+    std::shared_ptr<TrueTypeAsset> font;
   };
 
   struct UILabelText {
diff --git a/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UISimpleLabel.hpp b/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UISimpleLabel.hpp
index e7ea18c6..5baed970 100644
--- a/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UISimpleLabel.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/scene/components/ui/text/UISimpleLabel.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
       // @optional
       StateProperty<std::string> text;
       // @optional
-      StateProperty<TrueTypeAsset*> font;
+      StateProperty<std::shared_ptr<TrueTypeAsset>> font;
       // @optional
       StateProperty<uint32_t> size;
       // @optional
diff --git a/src/dawn/scenes/TestScene.hpp b/src/dawn/scenes/TestScene.hpp
index adc552d0..6353f574 100644
--- a/src/dawn/scenes/TestScene.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/scenes/TestScene.hpp
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Dawn {
         cube = SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::prefabCreate(this);
       }
       
-      std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() override {
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() override {
         auto assMan = &this->game->assetManager;
-        std::vector<Asset*> assets;
-        vectorAppend(&assets, SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> assets;
+        vectorAppend(assets, SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
         return assets;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/dawn/util/array.hpp b/src/dawn/util/array.hpp
index 55b71f9e..1fa94ee0 100644
--- a/src/dawn/util/array.hpp
+++ b/src/dawn/util/array.hpp
@@ -15,31 +15,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
    * @param append Pointer to list that will be appended.
    */
   template<typename T>
-  void vectorAppend(std::vector<T> *list, std::vector<T> *append) {
-    assertNotNull(list, "vectorAppend: list cannot be null");
-    assertNotNull(append, "vectorAppend: append cannot be null");
-
-    auto it = append->begin();
-    while(it != append->end()) {
-      list->push_back(*it);
-      ++it;
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Append a list on to another list.
-   * 
-   * @param list Pointer to list that is being appended to.
-   * @param append List that will be appended.
-   */
-  template<typename T>
-  void vectorAppend(std::vector<T> *list, std::vector<T> append) {
-    assertNotNull(list, "vectorAppend: list cannot be null");
-
-    auto it = append.begin();
-    while(it != append.end()) {
-      list->push_back(*it);
-      ++it;
-    }
+  void vectorAppend(std::vector<T> &list, const std::vector<T> &append) {
+    list.insert(list.end(), append.begin(), append.end());
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/dawnhelloworld/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp b/src/dawnhelloworld/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
index 39f32189..1f2f68f1 100644
--- a/src/dawnhelloworld/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
+++ b/src/dawnhelloworld/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ namespace Dawn {
         canvas = UICanvas::create(this);
       }
       
-      std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() override {
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() override {
         auto assMan = &this->game->assetManager;
-        std::vector<Asset*> assets;
-        vectorAppend(&assets, SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> assets;
+        vectorAppend(assets, SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
         return assets;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/dawnliminal/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp b/src/dawnliminal/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
index 12797a3e..c288fe10 100644
--- a/src/dawnliminal/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
+++ b/src/dawnliminal/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ namespace Dawn {
         canvas->camera = camera;
       }
       
-      std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() override {
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() override {
         auto assMan = &this->game->assetManager;
-        std::vector<Asset*> assets;
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> assets;
         vectorAppend(&assets, SimpleSpinningCubePrefab::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
         return assets;
       }
diff --git a/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.cpp b/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.cpp
index c25df7ce..fa992638 100644
--- a/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.cpp
+++ b/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.cpp
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ void ScenePrologue8CustomEventForAfterCharacterFollowup::onStart() {
 ScenePrologue8::ScenePrologue8(DawnGame *game) : SceneMonologue(game) {
 }
 
-std::vector<Asset*> ScenePrologue8::getRequiredAssets() {
+std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> ScenePrologue8::getRequiredAssets() {
   auto man = &this->game->assetManager;
-  std::vector<Asset*> assets = SceneMonologue::getRequiredAssets();
+  auto assets = SceneMonologue::getRequiredAssets();
   return assets;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.hpp b/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.hpp
index b1d3cb9a..6c1cfc43 100644
--- a/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.hpp
+++ b/src/dawnliminal/vnscenes/ScenePrologue8.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ namespace Dawn {
 
       ScenePrologue8(DawnGame *game);
       
-      std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() override;
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() override;
       
       void stage() override;
   };
diff --git a/src/dawnrose/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp b/src/dawnrose/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
index fc4ae20f..068d05ac 100644
--- a/src/dawnrose/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
+++ b/src/dawnrose/scenes/HelloWorldScene.hpp
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ namespace Dawn {
         gameCamera->player = player->player;
       }
       
-      std::vector<Asset*> getRequiredAssets() override {
+      std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> getRequiredAssets() override {
         auto assMan = &this->game->assetManager;
-        std::vector<Asset*> assets;
-        vectorAppend(&assets, Urchin::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
-        vectorAppend(&assets, Player::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Asset>> assets;
+        vectorAppend(assets, Urchin::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
+        vectorAppend(assets, Player::getRequiredAssets(assMan));
         return assets;
       }