Adobe Animate to Shut Down Next Month
▼ Summary
– Adobe will stop selling its animation software, Adobe Animate, on March 1st, citing the emergence of new platforms that better serve user needs.
– Users have until March 2027 (or 2029 for enterprise) to access files, with the app remaining downloadable and supported until those deadlines.
– The software has a long history, originating in 1996 as FutureSplash Animator and later becoming Macromedia Flash before Adobe rebranded it.
– Adobe suggests Creative Cloud Pro customers use alternatives like After Effects or Adobe Express to replace some Animate functionality.
– Many professional creators and studios, including the teams behind “Chikn Nuggit” and “Salad Fingers,” have expressed frustration, stating the shutdown harms jobs and risks past creations.
Adobe has announced the discontinuation of its long-standing animation software, Adobe Animate, with sales ending next month. The company confirmed the decision in a recent FAQ, pointing to the rise of newer platforms that it believes more effectively meet animators’ needs. This move marks the end of an era for a tool with a legacy stretching back nearly three decades.
Current users have a defined window to manage their work. Access to download files from the service will be available until March 1st, 2027, with enterprise customers granted an extension until March 1st, 2029. The application itself will remain downloadable until those respective deadlines, and Adobe has committed to providing technical support throughout this transition period.
The software’s origins trace back to 1996 with FutureWave Software’s FutureSplash Animator. After an acquisition by Macromedia that same year, it became the iconic Flash, powering a generation of web animation and interactivity. Adobe’s purchase of Macromedia in 2005 led to the name Adobe Flash Professional. The final rebrand to Adobe Animate came in 2015, aligning with the industry-wide shift away from the Flash Player format on the web.
While Adobe suggests Creative Cloud Pro subscribers can utilize alternatives like Adobe After Effects or Adobe Express to replicate some functions, the announcement has sparked significant concern within the animation community. Many professional creators who rely on the software’s specific workflow feel stranded.
The team behind the popular animated series Chikn Nuggit expressed dismay on social media, stating they still use Animate for production. They warned the shutdown threatens industry jobs and risks turning past projects into inaccessible “lost media.” David Firth, creator of the cult classic Salad Fingers, also confirmed he continues to use the app for his work.
The sentiment is echoed across the industry. A technical artist for Jackbox Games noted that Adobe Animate remains integral to numerous high-budget television cartoons, film and animation studios, and game developers of all sizes, in addition to thousands of independent creators who depend on it daily. The impending closure forces these users to confront a costly and complex migration to new tools, disrupting established pipelines and creative processes.
(Source: The Verge)
