Gifery: a HTML5 Webapp to Draw Animated Gifs

My brother Jan Lachauer and I just released the first version of a webapp that let's you draw and edit animated gifs on desktop or mobile devices. The app´s client side is based on HTML5 and JavaScript. The server side is programmed in Python (gif creation and upload to tumblr/imgur). We use localstorage to auto save the drawings on the client side, so you can continue whenever you come back to the app from the same device.


Animated gif created by animation wunderkind Jérémie Périn, done with gifery. More animated gifs in the gallery.


A video of an early version of the app. A description of all buttons and hotkeys can be found here.

The following features are implemented till now:
- draw in true color with transparency and variable brush size
- works on mobile devices (tested on iPad and iPhone)
- upload your gif to imgur and tumblr
- import existing gifs to edit or view frame by frame
- auto-save in case you want to continue editing later
- fill shapes
- pick colors
- undo
- onion skin (to see the frame before and after)
- copy and paste frames
- hotkeys

Christmas Movie: Room on the Broom

I am proud to announce that the great animation movie Room on the Broom, directed by Max Lang and and Jan Lachauer, my brother, will premiere tomorrow, on Christmas Day at 4:35pm on BBC1. Based on a book written by by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the movie tells the story of a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. The gang ultimately saves the witch from a fearsome dragon, and in gratitude she rewards them with a magnificent new broom which has room for everyone. The film is produced by Magic Light Pictures.


The Observer states that for those of you, who have been disapointed by Peter Jackson's Hobbit, Room on the Broom might be more satisfying, since it "largely eschews tricks that have made Peter Jackson's Hobbit film controversial".