Show HN: I made a free animator. Think Adobe Illustrator but for animation

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A new free, browser-based vector animation tool called Trangram is drawing praise for its intuitive, Flash-like timeline interface, low barrier to entry, and potential as an educational and creative platform, especially for kids and beginners. Commenters highlight standout features such as shape morphing, motion paths and parent linking, while also noting gaps like missing SVG/Lottie export, scripting, reusable component libraries, and the lack of open-source licensing. The project raises broader questions about long‑term reliance on proprietary web apps, data lock‑in, and how to sustainably replace the creative ecosystem once enabled by tools like Macromedia Flash.

Overall reception

  • Many commenters are very enthusiastic. They praise the simplicity, low learning curve, and “it just works” feel, especially compared to heavier pro tools.
  • Several say they made a simple animation in seconds, even on mobile or with no prior animation experience.
  • A recurring theme is its potential as an educational tool and a modern “toy” for kids and beginners.

Comparisons to Flash and other tools

  • Strong nostalgia: many say it feels like Macromedia Flash/Director, or “Flash is back.”
  • Some note Adobe Animate (ex-Flash) now behaves like “Illustrator for animation,” mostly for video or limited HTML5 export.
  • Other tools mentioned as references/alternatives: Rive, Lottie-based tools, Wick Editor, SVGator, Boxy SVG, Synfig, Tumult Hype, etc.
  • Several stress that Flash’s killer feature was its authoring environment, library/components, and scripting (Lingo/ActionScript). Trangram is seen as visual-only, not a full Flash replacement.

Current features highlighted

  • Basic transforms: position, scale, rotation, color, keyframes.
  • Shape morphing, motion paths, and parent-child linking are presented as major features.
  • SVG is the internal model; basic SVG import works, and shapes’ path data can be edited.
  • Keyboard shortcuts exist for common operations (copy/paste, select all, zoom).

Missing features & user requests

  • Major asks: SVG and Lottie export, vector/animated standard formats, reusable libraries/components, scripting, freehand drawing, grid/snap, lock objects, clearer keyframe insertion, library of examples that open directly in the editor, tutorials, and improved keyboard shortcut coverage.
  • Some want pan/zoom with middle mouse, unit settings, higher frame rates, and audio support (which is currently not on the roadmap).
  • Multiple requests for export to formats like GIF (exists), SVG (planned, not yet), Lottie, JPEG-XL, etc.

UX, performance, and technical notes

  • UI is widely described as intuitive and uncluttered; minor bugs and typos are reported.
  • Some browser issues: high CPU for certain animations, incompatibility with older Firefox/Angular devtools, need for modern APIs (Streams, Crypto).
  • Not open source; ToS allows future changes. Several commenters worry about lock-in, lack of standard exports, and the ephemerality of web apps vs. installable software.

Broader reflections

  • Significant side discussion on why Flash died (Apple’s iOS stance, security, web standards, business decisions) and how its loss reduced casual creative experimentation on the web.
  • Commenters see Trangram as helping to fill that creative gap, especially for newcomers and educators.