GIF Cinema

Turn existing GIFs into a film. Inspect every cut.

A local workshop for Codex and Claude Code. No API key needed for the bundled quickstart.

Try it · Exact-frame master · Agent skill · 100-character grid · Workflows

Lantern Echo — 20.8 seconds, with sound. A traveler sends a light to a courier; it returns to her hands and lights the garden. New drawn actions, local RIFE inbetweens and authored effects. The looping preview is a silent 6.4-second excerpt.

Download the full film with sound (MP4) · Production & review · Still

Rebuild this film offline: after installing .[lossless] and FFmpeg, run python examples/lantern-echo/build.py --out output/lantern-echo. The source drawings, prepared motion atlases, effects and soundtrack are included; no new generations or model downloads are needed.

The native engine fragment recreates the catch, release and lantern payoff through sequence build, with performances, camera, effects and sound declared in JSON.

Make your first film

Three bundled GIFs → a 7.68-second MP4. No key, no paid requests.

You need Python 3.10+, Git, FFmpeg and ffprobe. Pillow installs with the package.

git clone https://github.com/antropos17/chatgpt-gif-cinema.git
cd chatgpt-gif-cinema
python -m venv .venv

Activate with source .venv/bin/activate on macOS/Linux, or .\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1 in Windows PowerShell. Then:

python -m pip install .
python -m gif_cinema doctor
python -m gif_cinema render examples/film.json --dry-run --max-api-calls 0
python -m gif_cinema render examples/film.json --execute --max-api-calls 0 --out output/my-first-film

Open output/my-first-film/film.mp4. The folder also includes a contact sheet, cut endpoints and a resumable manifest. Repeat the last command to verify reuse with zero new provider calls. What this example preserves.

Need exact decoded drawings and native GIF holds? Use the optional lossless film master. Ordinary MP4 export is a fixed-FPS, lossy viewing format.

Install the skill

Build the maintained 0.4.2 skill package from this checkout:

python tools/package_skill.py --out dist/gif-cinema.skill.zip

Extract its single gif-cinema folder into:

• Codex: ~/.codex/skills/gif-cinema
• Claude Code: ~/.claude/skills/gif-cinema

Follow the included installation check to install and verify its pinned Python runtime separately. The older skill-v0.1.1 GitHub Release is not this package.

Try this with your agent:

Use the gif-cinema skill to assemble the included astronaut story with zero API calls. Return the MP4, a small GIF, the editable project and a review of both cuts.

Anime pixel art

Already tried the film? Explore the full cast below, or browse methods and recipes. The full grid stays on this page by design; animated media across the README totals about 97 MB. On a slow connection, jump straight to setup or open a character’s Still link.

100 characters · 3 outfit studies · real GIF previews

Short 1.44–1.92 s character studies, not finished 15-second scenes. Click to watch; “Method & limits” explains the remaining drift.

001 · Fox knight shield salute · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	002 · Dragon chef offering basket · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	003 · Raccoon courier goggle salute · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
004 · Coral astronaut hand wave · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	005 · Violinist bow gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	006 · Blacksmith hammer inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
007 · Herbalist lavender offering · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	008 · Magician wand flourish · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	009 · Baker bread presentation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
010 · Lantern sailor lantern lift · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	011 · Botanist plant inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	012 · Dancer arm flourish · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
013 · Mechanic wrench inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	014 · Detective notebook idle · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	015 · Potter bowl inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
016 · Tea merchant presentation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	017 · Silver knight sword gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	018 · Cartographer map study · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
019 · Aviator goggles salute · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	020 · Polar traveler scarf adjustment · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	021 · Professor adjusts glasses · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
022 · Mountain climber strap gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	023 · Forest courier map gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	024 · Innkeeper welcome gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
025 · Astronomer glasses adjustment · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	026 · Fisherman net lift · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	027 · Trumpeter subtle performance idle · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
028 · Toolbox mechanic wrench lift · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	029 · Martial artist palm block · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	030 · Bicycle courier wave · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
031 · Conductor salute · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	032 · Gardener wave · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	033 · Pastry chef presentation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
034 · Armorer hand gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	035 · Archaeologist brush inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	036 · Rope sailor salute · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
037 · Moon wizard conjuring gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	038 · Falconer greeting · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	039 · Beekeeper honey presentation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
040 · Mushroom picker basket offering · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	041 · Ice sorceress spell gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	042 · Pirate compass gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
043 · Quilter showing quilt · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	044 · Drummer alternating hands · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	045 · Lute player strum gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
046 · Cellist bow stroke · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	047 · Stage technician lamp adjustment · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	048 · Flutist finger gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
049 · Calligrapher collar gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	050 · Cyclops robot claw articulation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	051 · Penguin admiral flipper wave · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
052 · Lobster boxer jab gestures · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	053 · Wolf detective lens inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	054 · Shark mechanic goggles adjustment · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
055 · Raven queen head tilt and blink · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	056 · Moth witch wing folding · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	057 · Axolotl alchemist flask tilt · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
058 · Jellyfish princess cap pulse · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	059 · Steampunk librarian reading and page flutter · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	060 · Rabbit samurai ceremonial bow · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
061 · Dragon aviator grounded wingbeats · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	062 · Slime bard singing expression and strum · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	063 · Horned gardener watering · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
064 · Moon knight shield guard · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	065 · Mushroom druid bell swing · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	066 · Cyber violinist bow gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
067 · Bat courier inspecting envelope · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	068 · Robot wolf head tilt and tail wag · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	069 · Owl cartographer looking around · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
070 · Red panda host cooling tea · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	071 · Crystal golem opening palm · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	072 · Polar bear smith yawn · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
073 · Chameleon rogue wary glance · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	074 · Bee honeykeeper admiring jar · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	075 · Turtle paladin sleepy nod · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
076 · Snail postwoman cherished letter · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	077 · Salamander firefighter nozzle drill · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	078 · Vampire librarian reading · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
079 · Phoenix drummer stick flourish · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	080 · Lightning mage palm spark · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	081 · Rose duelist flower scent · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
082 · Beetle knight shield guard · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	083 · Star witch wand sweep · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	084 · Whale conductor downbeat · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
085 · Ice elf archer collar adjustment · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	086 · Cactus cowboy hat tip · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	087 · Fox shrine maiden lantern lift · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
088 · Ghost gardener watering · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	089 · Roller postgirl letter presentation · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	090 · Clockwork ballerina plie · 1.44 s Method & limits · Still
091 · Lantern ranger lookout · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	092 · Painter palette glance · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	093 · Clockmaker watch inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
094 · Giraffe astronomer discovery gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	095 · Desert dancer wrist gesture · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	096 · Rabbit baker ear dip · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
097 · Octopus scientist blink · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	098 · Glassworker vase inspection · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	099 · Sun priestess bow · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still
100 · Solar priestess blink · 1.92 s Method & limits · Still	101 · Cream jacket Outfit study · 2.56 s Method & limits · Still	102 · Jade traveler Outfit study · 2.56 s Method & limits · Still
103 · Coral festival Outfit study · 2.56 s Method & limits · Still

100 characters: 99 previews have 16 frames / 1.92 s; the clockwork ballerina has 12 frames / 1.44 s. These are short generated-pose previews with residual face, outline and prop drift, not 15-second films. Per-character limitations · Detailed catalog

The full GIF grid loads about 79 MB. Recovery provenance and available sources.

Outfit studies: each has 32 frames · 2.56 s · transparent. Hair, face and sleeves still jump at 15 → 16 and 31 → 0, not seamless loops. Static concept sheets are not counted as animations.

New character sources & method · Measured GIF facts · Outfit frames · Draft festival film

Earlier shared-stage experiments

Three outfits in one garden and two heroes are earlier composition tests, each 16 frames / 1.92 seconds. Separate outfit sources are shown above.

Sculptural loops

FORM / 01
Porcelain, copper, six seconds. Rendered in Blender EEVEE.
Watch MP4 · Open the .blend · Import into GIF Cinema

Blender scene + Python source included. Import the rendered GIF into Cinema. No model call or JavaScript animation.

Selected work

Stories, lettering and graphic layers. Open any preview for its source and recipe.

A Reply from the Stars Three generated takes + local title · 9.70 s GIF Story recipe · Storyboard	Chrome Trefoil Archived Blender EEVEE study · 3.20 s loop Watch MP4 · Source & provenance
Draw, pause, finish Editable stroke paths · 4.00 s play-once GIF Draw-on workflow · Scene JSON	Action beside typography Existing GIF + local graphic layers · 3.20 s Composition workflow · Scene JSON

More examples & recipes · Original API take · Vertical motion · Review the source drawings

The astronaut cards reuse existing footage, with differences between takes. Graphics use the experimental layer renderer. Blender examples are standalone scenes, not a CLI rendering backend.

Choose a workflow

Make or inspect	Start here
Connected actions on one shared stage, with persistent props	Scene sequences
A short film with titles or illustrated story pages	Storytelling skill
Independent text, shapes, strokes and existing GIF layers	Layer renderer · GIF composition
Whole-image motion with editable timing	Motion recipes
Exact GIF palette control and integer pixel-art scaling	Pixel palettes
Explicit pose holds and continuity from accepted atlas drawings	Authored pose tracks
A sprite atlas from accepted drawings	Pack or slice sprites
Every frame, cut and loop seam	Review player & checklist
Frame-accurate cuts, subtitle sidecars and a soundtrack	Exact script montage
A portable collection with an offline gallery and ZIP	Offline GIF factory

The factory combines existing GIFs and local layer scenes. From the installed checkout, build and verify the bundled collection:

python -m gif_cinema factory build factory.example.json --out output/my-collection
python -m gif_cinema factory verify output/my-collection

Open output/my-collection/index.html, or share collection.zip when you have the rights to its contents. The gallery is static HTML with native GIF playback, no scripts.

Before making new footage

• Generation is optional. New model-generated takes need supported provider access, billing and an explicitly authorized request cap. The demo and local tools work without them. Generation guide.
• Review the actual motion. Matching prompts, high playback FPS and successful checks do not establish character continuity or a clean loop. Missing actions stay unrendered until suitable footage exists.
• Keep the edit reproducible. Preserve accepted source files, inspect neighboring cuts after a retake, and deliver the project with its receipts. Technical verification and artistic acceptance are separate.

Production guide · Script format · Verification status

Earlier films and finishing studies

The cat, dog and astronaut comparisons show native takes beside private local finishing, not included in the public CLI. The gallery previews loop a 2.24-second excerpt; linked films show the full action.

• A window, a jump, a nap: three takes, 7.68-second comparison.
• Follow the red ball: four takes, 10.24-second comparison.
• A signal, an answer: two takes, 5.12-second comparison.
• The complete cat short: 57.2 seconds, assembled and locally finished.

Chrome Trefoil above is one archived Blender EEVEE loop, not native API output. FORM / 01 review scope records the newer scene's technical checks and sampled visual review.

Rights and credits

Inspired by GIF Factory's visual catalog and separation of production methods. No upstream artwork, character assets or code are copied into this catalog. Attribution.

GIF Cinema is source-available, not an OSI open-source release. Personal non-commercial evaluation and research are permitted; commercial use, redistribution and hosting require permission. License · Support the workshop.