Adobe Animate (formerly Flash) will be discontinued on March 1st(helpx.adobe.com)
25 pointsby jsheard7 hours ago5 comments
  • Jare6 hours ago
    From their FAQ:

    > Starting March 1, 2026, the app will no longer be available for purchase.

    >> I have already downloaded Animate. Will the app still work? > Yes. Animate will continue to work.

    I wish they were more explicit in describing exactly for how long - being subscription-based, it's not really something you purchase and own to run for eternity regardless of Adobe. So, will new CC subscriptions have access to Animate? Will the Animate app even run after March 2027?

  • MrPowerGamerBR6 hours ago
    It is a bit vague, but I think that this means that you aren't going to be able to use Animate altogether after 01/03/2027.

    > Access to your Animate files and project data will end on the date that support ends. To ensure a smooth transition, we encourage you to export your Animate FLA and XFL files to other formats such as SWF, SVG, and MP4 before this date.

    • fredoralive6 hours ago
      The fact with Software-as-a-Scam subscription stuff discontinued software doesn’t just mean "it'll probably bitrot away over time" (probably a bit more aggressively with MacOS than Windows) to "it'll just be gone" is kinda mad. See also Microsoft Publisher. These are supposedly professional tools, surely they can still make it available with a "YMMV" disclaimer so they don't leave their own customers (and their work) in the lurch.
      • jsheard6 hours ago
        To add insult to injury, the obvious path is for studios to switch from Adobe to ToonBoom... which already copied Adobe's playbook by going subscription-only last year.
  • nirava4 hours ago
    Anyone know of good alternatives to this?

    I’ve used Adobe Flash since it was still Macromedia Flash, and this is the software my brain kind of defaults to when thinking of creating little graphics and animations. Just as hobby for random tiny projects.

    But what do people use that is not Animate for really quick animations and mock ups?

    • JBitsan hour ago
      Clip Studio Paint seems very popular for animation. You could also consider Aseprite for pixel art animation.
    • avtar2 hours ago
      While not a one-to-one situation, probably Blender and specifically Grease Pencil?
  • jsheard7 hours ago
    For context, although Flash Player died a long time ago, the editor lived on in "offline" 2D animation workflows where the end result is rendered out to video. Lots of kids shows are still made with it, and at least some anime studios use it (e.g. Science SARU).
  • millzlane5 hours ago
    My first journey into flash was creating a graphic of a spinning smiley face with a GSW for the game pimp-wars. I didn't know anything about it. But I knew I wanted to make that graphic for my "gang".