Adobe Keeps Animate After Users Fight for 30-Year-Old App

Adobe listened when thousands of animators raised their voices, and now a beloved animation tool gets to live on.

The tech giant shocked users Monday by announcing it would discontinue Animate, its 2D animation software used for nearly three decades to create everything from indie projects to hit shows like Star Trek: Lower Decks. The plan would have cut off access to user files by 2027.

By Tuesday night, Adobe completely reversed course. The company now says Animate will remain available indefinitely for current and new customers, with full access to content, technical support, and security fixes.

Mike Chambers, an Adobe community director, confirmed the change on Reddit. He promised that if the company ever revisits discontinuation, it will work closely with users to ensure long-term access to their work.

The software has an impressive history. It started as FutureSplash Animator in 1996, became the famous Macromedia Flash after a 1997 acquisition, and eventually joined Adobe's lineup in 2005. For professionals and educators alike, it holds decades of irreplaceable projects and memories.

The backlash came fast and fierce. Users flooded Adobe's forums expressing frustration, especially given the company's recent push into AI tools and higher subscription prices. Many saw the timing as tone-deaf, with one user asking Adobe to make the software open-source if they wouldn't support it themselves.

Adobe admitted its original announcement "did not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst." The company maintained that newer platforms exist, but users clearly disagree that Animate is obsolete at its $23 monthly price point.

The Ripple Effect

This victory shows that customer voices still matter in an era of corporate consolidation. When users unite around tools they depend on, companies take notice. Adobe's reversal sends a message to the entire tech industry that legacy software serving active communities deserves respect, not arbitrary end dates.

Still, some damage lingers. Animation studios and independent creators spent 24 hours in panic mode, already researching alternatives. Rebuilding that trust will take time, as Chambers acknowledged, saying trust must be earned through consistent action, not promises.

The animation community just proved that fighting for the tools you love can work.