Adobe has announced it will discontinue Adobe Animate, with sales ceasing on March 1st. The company explained in a FAQ on its website that the decision comes as new platforms have emerged that better cater to user needs.

Users will have access to their files until March 1st, 2027, while enterprise customers have until March 1st, 2029. After these dates, files will no longer be downloadable. Adobe will keep the app available until these deadlines and will continue to offer support during this period.

The history of Adobe Animate dates back to 1996, when it was launched by FutureWave Software as FutureSplash Animator for creating vector-based animations. After Macromedia acquired it later that year and renamed it Flash, Adobe took over in 2005, rebranding it as Adobe Flash Professional. The shift to Adobe Animate came in 2015 as the web began moving away from Flash.

While Adobe suggests alternatives within the Creative Cloud suite, such as Adobe After Effects and Adobe Express, to replace parts of Animate’s functionality, many users are unhappy about its shutdown. The creators of the animated series “Chikn Nuggit” expressed concern on X, highlighting that many jobs and past creations could be impacted. Similarly, David Firth, the mind behind the series Salad Fingers, confirmed he still relies on Animate.

Megacharlie, a technical artist at Jackbox Games, pointed out the widespread use of Animate in numerous high-budget TV cartoons, film and animation studios, gaming companies, and by thousands of indie creators who use it regularly.