This article was taken from the June 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
The graphics interchange format was developed in 1987 by CompuServe, but now those little bitmap animations are a primary means of succinctly expressing opinions and social commentary online. Want to capture your oh-no-they-didn't disgust? There's a GIF for that (likely featuring Beyoncé). Want to sum up the raid that killed bin Laden? There's a GIF for that too. Here's a taxonomy of the GIFaverse's more prominent species.
Cat GIF
Before felines took over the form, there was Nyan. The animated cat with the body of a Pop Tart is best known for a YouTube video with almost 100 million views. But first, the frosted kitty was a GIF.
Reaction GIF
The images -- often from films, TV programmes or footage of live events -- capture a response (like Citizen Kane's slow clap) that convey feeling more eloquently than words.
You Are Not the Father GIF
Maury Povich has told countless guests on his show they're not the father, but one well-choreographed reaction became internet gold and spawned far too many GIFs of irresponsibility.
Cinemagraph
The cinemagraph generally looks like a still picture, with just a bit of additional subtle motion. Real pros are able to take the GIF form and push it into the realm of high art.
Pixel Art and Glitch GIFs
Pixel GIFs celebrate the 8-bit aesthetic -- imagine pixelated Mario doing a speeded-up jumping jack. Glitch GIFs look like a malfunctioning videogame or jammed VHS tape.
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
