Video: The History of Animated GIFs

via, thewhoa

“GIFs are one of the oldest image formats used on the web. Throughout their history, they have served a huge variety of purposes, from functional to entertainment. Now, 25 years after the first GIF was created, they are experiencing an explosion of interest and innovation that is pushing them into the terrain of art.”

Here at Onomatopoeia we have shared some of our favorites over time, from the classic humor based gif to Rick Silva’s artistic compositions. There is no doubt the gif is a medium worthy of experimentation often producing fantastic results. In the six minute video below we get to see some of the folks out there who are pushing the barriers, particularly in the fashion industry.

Featuring:

Patrick Davison, MemeFactory
TopherChris, Tumblr
Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader, Reed+Rader
Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg, Cinemagraphs

Story Development: Mike Rugnetta, Internet Culture Researcher, MemeFactory