Talk about pent-up demand. Twitter opened the animated GIF floodgate today and brands, publishers and, oh just about everyone with a Twitter account, wasted no time taking advantage of the new feature.
The first GIF tweets were basically all variations on a theme: finally, there’s great joy in the land!
There’s a danger of course that this new power will be abused, but today it’s all about the fun of discovery and novelty of a feature that before today had been mostly relegated to Reddit, Tumblr and Google+.
Marketers will no doubt appreciate the ability to bring more movement into their Twitter feeds and masters of sports GIFing like Deadspin and Bleacher Report should be able to take great advantage of the new feature.
Here are some of the best efforts so far (we’ll keep updating all day, so if you see any we missed, please let us know):
GIFs on @Twitter! http://t.co/acnifU4Dpz — The GRAMMYs (@TheGRAMMYs) June 18, 2014
GIFs on @Twitter? That's huge! http://t.co/rNpNvGxQ15 — The Office (@theofficenbc) June 18, 2014
Wait… you can upload gifs to Twitter?! http://t.co/Iz65lg515I — IGN (@IGN) June 18, 2014
Our reaction when we just found out @twitter now supports animated GIFs. http://t.co/Nfpl3zFDVJ — SOCCER.COM (@soccerdotcom) June 18, 2014
HEY, #LNSM FANS! GIFS ARE NOW ON TWITTER! http://t.co/e8IKZnVoJ9 — Late Night (@LateNightSeth) June 18, 2014
Our reaction to hearing that animated GIFs are now viewable on Twitter » http://t.co/DDfMymeHC7 — Golden St. Warriors (@warriors) June 18, 2014
Twitter now allows for animated gifs? That's a perfect excuse to post this one! http://t.co/YgavMP1vsL — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) June 18, 2014
I just found out you can put GIFs on Twitter http://t.co/TkuJWhn5Zg — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) June 18, 2014
We can post GIFs on twitter http://t.co/jSX089qyt1 — Typical Girl (@SoDamnTrue) June 18, 2014
BEST. NEWS. EVER. Starting today, you can share and view GIFs on http://t.co/FnhhsDxcvN! http://t.co/CfwwlaUnym — Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) June 18, 2014
In honor of GIFs coming to Twitter, we had to share the greatest one of all time #gifs @peterbdedman http://t.co/o2Ud4UxRfx — Hook & Loop (@hookandloopnyc) June 18, 2014
GIFs! http://t.co/HKQltiM6rH — YouTube (@YouTube) June 18, 2014
That's bananas. @YouTube GIFs! http://t.co/fDBTB3uQyk — Google Maps (@googlemaps) June 18, 2014
The @twitterfornews team, upon learning that GIFs launched on Twitter today. https://t.co/2tTsr4blAn http://t.co/ngwUJKpBMG — Twitter for News (@TwitterForNews) June 18, 2014
Please join us in celebrating Twitter's new support of GIFs, with the official Boing Boing GIF. (RT) http://t.co/4Yy4dHI5Si — Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) June 18, 2014
Is it True? Twitter Now Supports Animated GIFs? http://t.co/64Wt8AtRsS — WFMU (@WFMU) June 18, 2014
Heard the news? @Twitter is supporting GIFs. We are THIS excited: http://t.co/duUGBAie5g — Hootsuite (@hootsuite) June 18, 2014
GIFs work on Twitter, #Murica! Celebrate by watching all of last night's episode online: http://t.co/ukguthrYPC | http://t.co/1ZFT6KWotL — @midnight (@midnight) June 18, 2014
It's official! You can now view GIFs on Twitter http://t.co/ZonF90g5Ir http://t.co/0e6OMHJOPK — WIRED (@WIRED) June 18, 2014
Wait hold up … @Twitter supports GIFs now!? http://t.co/f7Mb14ijBX — MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2014
.@Twitter supports gifs now, so we bestow upon you the cutest #gif ever. #XiaoLiwuFTW http://t.co/iwJnqhkytD — San Diego Zoo (@sandiegozoo) June 18, 2014
FTW! GIFs are now on Twitter!Tweet us the greatest GIF of ALL TIME to help us crown the #KingOfGIFs! http://t.co/5J7x21JVwg — Mountain Dew® (@mtn_dew) June 18, 2014
What are we willing to fight for? GIFs on Twitter! Tweet YOUR favorite #Divergent GIF to celebrate! http://t.co/fk8apBr0Mi — Divergent (@Divergent) June 18, 2014
#GIFs: Helping Charmin keep Twitter cheeky. #tweetfromtheseat http://t.co/cDQF7IwsQe — Charmin (@Charmin) June 18, 2014
We see @Twitter now supports animated #GIF. Let's celebrate with a #PhantomOfTheOpera glass smash http://t.co/426CiU6FAC — Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) June 18, 2014
That feeling when Twitter became #giffable… #GIFs http://t.co/8o9xeKaEuu — Netflix US (@netflix) June 18, 2014
Just when you thought @Twitter couldn't get any better, now we can post a GIF of Curly Fries playing soccer. http://t.co/5XMK00sryk — Arby's (@Arbys) June 18, 2014
They say we can gif about it http://t.co/zVA8I1oKTD — [adult swim] (@adultswim) June 18, 2014
House of Cards was one of the first brands to use the new feature without celebrating it (we’ll be looking out for more of these):
#DontMessWithCashew http://t.co/i5gFaLrMVD — House of Cards (@HouseofCards) June 18, 2014
The Center for Investigative Reporting highlighted a GIF created for one of its investigations:
Twitter now supports GIFs! Here's one @GuardianUS made for our #ToxicTrail investigation: http://t.co/GUCch0xrsN http://t.co/FNhUO3It4z — CIR (@CIRonline) June 18, 2014
Vanity Fair chimed in with a GIF-news-you-can-use post:
The 10 GIFs you’ll need now that you can post GIFs on Twitter http://t.co/O7gJz4Hp1N http://t.co/IhLyQwxTfy — VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) June 18, 2014
NASA posted a computer-generated look at its Orion spacecraft:
Five things we’ll learn from @NASA_Orion’s first flight test later this year: http://t.co/7up8g2xkeh #OrionTest #GIFs http://t.co/VCs3o8VNt2 — NASA (@NASA) June 18, 2014
Fast food chain Wendy’s posted — and promoted — an animated advertisement:
Is there something on our cheek? http://t.co/MqyQYAFckr — Wendy's (@Wendys) June 18, 2014
Chrysler’s social media team seems to have caught on to the possibilities:
Experience #adventure in action. #GIF http://t.co/NW1XSDvrFy — Jeep (@Jeep) June 18, 2014
The power of your Ram Truck is always on the move. #GIF http://t.co/BR0gJPt4Gc — RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) June 18, 2014
Need help creating GIFs for your Twitter audience? Photobucket and Visually have you covered:
Twitter now supports animated GIFs! Create your own with the free Photobucket GIF Maker: http://t.co/DzilDwKji6 http://t.co/luNQhXv79e — Photobucket (@photobucket) June 18, 2014
The Power of Animated GIF Infographics http://t.co/bDKPcG69OJ #content http://t.co/uwN5j0Ojkt — Visually (@Visually) June 18, 2014
NPR showed some virtuosity:
Hey @nprmusic, up for a gif-off? http://t.co/qExLXYLMwb — NPR News (@nprnews) June 18, 2014
General Electric shows off one of its machines:
#BrilliantMachines: Now in #GIF form. http://t.co/ma58anRPP6 — General Electric (@generalelectric) June 18, 2014
Samsung Mobile cleverly posted a reminder about the Galaxy S5’s power saving mode:
You just HAVE to send one more GIF on Twitter before your phone dies? Switch to Ultra Power Saving Mode. #GALAXYS5 http://t.co/nvGXD5IE22 — Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) June 18, 2014
About.com offered a how to make bacon lesson (h/t to commenter, and About.com VP of social and community, Matthew Knell):
GIF: How to Make Perfect Bacon, courtesy of @daniloalfaro @aboutfood! (Full directions here: http://t.co/qm2M3GPCsv ) http://t.co/a7vsrtto5Q — About.com (@aboutdotcom) June 18, 2014
Denny’s got in the spirit with an image that’ll be hard to get out of your head:
nice http://t.co/baqcxHdOfc — Denny's (@DennysDiner) June 18, 2014
Fashion retailer Forever 21 suggested a few purchases:
Shop our new arrivals in a #GIF! #SummerForever http://t.co/O4Vfcxn1v1 http://t.co/ROKXWvuCji — Forever 21 (@Forever21) June 18, 2014
Social media marketing platform Spredfast went meta by creating a GIF of its favorite GIFs:
Brands are all over Twitter's new #GIF capability. Here are a few of our faves from @Wendys @TheGRAMMYs & More http://t.co/GWikRPuLWS — Spredfast (@Spredfast) June 18, 2014
Oreo Cookies joined in with an infinite loop of tastiness:
This new #GIF phase of Twitter is really putting a new perspective on things. http://t.co/4DlFG6J6CR — Oreo Cookie (@Oreo) June 19, 2014
Movie studio Lionsgate posted GIF trailers for its upcoming “Expendables” sequel:
Watch the #EX3 crew GIF out! Assemble all of the @Expendables3 GIFs to see the full trailer! http://t.co/6fRKpM2NVJ http://t.co/MZNVfWAy0y — LIONSGATE MOVIES (@lionsgatemovies) June 18, 2014
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