Problem calling a function from another function

It doesn't compile, you have too many braces, and I don't get this bit:

void runAnimation() {
  //Start the fogger
  Serial.println("fire the fogger");
  registerWrite(bitToSet, HIGH); // This fails here - the serial shows that the bits are right, but nothing happens

bitToSet is not in scope at that point.

The Serial output shows the correct bits are set, but I cannot figure out why the digitalWrite or shiftOut fails.

Better post code that compiles if the complaint is about runtime behaviour.