Maybe someone know how to create something like "*".
If someone uses Gentoo he must see this while emerge utility preparing an update.
I mean the symbol "/" spins.
this should work (just fill red parts)
typeset goto_x_y=...
typeset char='/|\-'
typeset -i tick=0
while [[ create your own condition ]] ;do
print -- "${goto_x_y}${char[${tick}]}"
tick=$tick+1
[[ $tick -gt 3 ]] && tick=0
done
Usually you should be able to use backspace instead of goto_x_y 
I have not tested this but it should work.
Very nice
All screen in lines
Also, did you mean printf?