The Creation Station
Written: Aug 06 '01
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The Bottom Line
With over 15,000 free animations and 100,000 members-only animations this site truly is an Animation Factory. The animations are brilliant, and best of all, free!
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INTRODUCTION
Recently I have gone from knowing little about the Internet and World Wide Web to personally owning and operating a few sites. I wanted some images to spruce up some pretty boring pages, and what I found at Animation Factory is amazing!
WHAT IT IS/HOW IT WORKS
The Animation Factory (www.animfactory.com)is an online service for animated images. All of the animation is created by the employees of Animation Factory and is free to the public, to play with on their computers, to send to friends, or place on a web page. Approximately 15,000 animations can be seen, edited, and downloaded free of charge at animfactory.com.
From the list on the left of the page you can click the category from which you want to pick an animated piece. I first clicked on "Children" and then "Toys." An image of a rotating ferris wheel and spinning top popped up, and underneath them, a list of other toys. I chose the slinky, which goes back and forth, just as a normal slinky would do. After the image is clicked on, in this case the slinky, an average of three different versions of it are displayed, ranging in colors and sizes. Once your image is selected, you can add text or change colors and contrasts with the free online editor that pops up when you click "edit image." I took the tiniest Russian doll from the "Russian Doll Bigger to Smaller" (can't spell the more technical name!) and edited it to say something as it emerges from the larger doll and turns its head toward the viewer.
Although the "Children" category is the one that I spent the most time with at first, there are many other categories, ranging from animals to war. There are also countless tools for the web page or web site designer, such as dividers and buttons. My favorite divider was a dog running back and forth (as opposed to a plain horizontal bar that is found at most web sites).
If you visit the site regularly, don't forget to click the "Animation of the Day" tab, as well as the scroll down on the home page to see the most recent animations. All of them are very creative, some are silly, and some are just plain weird. I would recommend this site for anyone who is just looking for something to send to a friend (using the postcard option provided) or anyone who is developing a web site and is looking for some animation to add to the site's appearance. Even if you are doing neither of these things, just check the site out. You will soon be grinning from ear to ear watching these little animations!
After you've searched around for a while, you may decide you want to download an animation. That is no problem and it is free. Just right-click the image you want, and click "save image as," if you are using Internet Explorer. (If you use Netscape it is a similar command, also after you right-click your mouse on the image.) The animation saves and loads just like a normal .jpg or .gif except it moves!
CONCLUSION/PREMIUM GOLD SITE? WORTH IT?
If you've visited the site you have probably noticed that the Animation Factory offers a premium membership for 39.95 (one-year membership). I am a member of the site and gladly paid that money; however, it would probably not be worth it to you if you are just a casual user of the site. I am trying to develop a few small web sites and am looking for animation, so not only must I pay for the membership, I wanted to experience the other four-fifths of their archive. I have not been disappointed. (Once you pay for the year membership you can use all of the animations commercially, royalty-free. If you stick to the free stuff, you are welcome to download the animations and use them for personal use.) The members-only site has many different categories, is ad-free, and has over 80,000 more animations than the free site. Therefore, if you are really into animations, or are looking into this as an option for your web sites, then you really should get this membership. In addition, each animation is available in approximately six different ways, ranging in colors and sizes, so they can appeal to all of your needs. Have fun with this site, even if you only stay on it for a few minutes. As for me, I don't think I will be able to click out of it for another hour or so ... so much to do, so much to do.
A Quick note about customer service: I have never had to email Animation Factory, but they take Suggestions. You can email them what you think they should animate, and they will probably do it (depending on what you ask!). My order was quickly processed and I received a friendly welcome email but that is the only communication I have had with them. There have been no problems.
Also, Animation Factory offers CDs full of the animations you can find online. These can be purchased on the site for $20.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 4 members
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