Animoto

Many thanks to Teena Lauth and Rita Foran for their tutorial on Animoto, a tool used to make simple, embeddable videos using photographs and music.


Animoto is a Web 2.0 free tool that allows the user to create video slideshows with a “kick.” This media sharing application actually touts itself as, “the end of slideshows.” (Animoto Productions, 2008)
Users can upload photos to the site, from either their computer or a variety of online sources - flickr, facebook, SmugMug, picasa or photobucket. After putting the photos in the order they want, the creator can add music that the site provides for free or they can utilize their own music. Animoto warns against using music that is not created or owned by the user and reminds you to ask permission for songs that are not yours. Then the “magic” happens: the site utilizes technology that creates a video of your pictures incorporating the music you chose in a unique way. Different music displays different results and no two videos are alike. The resulting video can now be published, downloaded to a computer, e-mailed, posted to websites, sent to an iphone and/or remixed.

Web 2.0 technologies create a “more social and interactive web and gives everyone a chance to create, share, publish and collaborate.” (Berger, 2009) The publishing aspect of animoto helps determine its Web 2.0 status.

• Strengths
  • ease of use and fast learning curve
  • text can be added along with photos
  • pictures can be spotlighted
  • video can be saved, e-mailed, posted on YouTube, embedded onto other sites, and sent to an iPhone with no additional cost
  • can be remixed if results are unsatisfactory
  • unlimited number of free 30 second video

• Weaknesses
  • slow picture upload and slow creation time
  • program controls how the video is remixed with the music
  • free version limits users to only 30 second videos
  • free version does not allow user to download
  • limited amount of pictures can be used within free version

• Special features
  • different genres of music already available on the site for free
  • offers additional music and backgrounds for seasonal events, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.
  • can be posted or embedded into a variety of sites shown as direct links from Animoto
  • program will remix video for you

Comparison to similar Web 2.0 tools

• Windows Movie Maker
  • Animoto uses only photos to create its videos, whereas Movie Maker can use photos as well as digital videos. Movie Maker allows a greater degree of creativity by allowing the creator to control the length of time that the image is displayed as well as add special effects and transitions. Multiple audio tracks can be added. For example, narrative can be added with background music. These audio tracks can be adjusted for length as well as volume. Animoto only allows one song per video. Movie Maker allows more. Like animoto, videos can be saved to a computer, DVD, videohosting provider or sent by e-mail. Movie Maker can also be saved to a CD. Saved files can be changed and edited at a later date. The program is free to download from the windows site.

• SmashMash
  • With SmashMash, creators can not only create a video with sound and transitions, but also animation and self-drawn characters. It gives the creator “total control over all parameters.” (SparkPoint Software, 2008) Both photos and created characters can be given any of several motions or be made to “talk”. Special effects such as saturation of background colors or adding a shimmering effect can also be added. Audio can be imported from music files or can be extracted from videos that are used in the production.
  • As with Movie Maker and Animoto, SmashMash can be saved and shared in the same ways. It is also free to use right on the web with nothing to download. Like Movie Maker, files can be edited after the original creation.
  • Because SmashMash and Animoto are capable of producing energetic and eye catching productions, they probably would appeal to a younger audience.