Adobe Animate Reversal: Company Apologises After Shocking Shutdown Confusion

Yesterday, news that Adobe Animate was shutting down shocked the creative community, swiftly inciting uproar. Now, barely 24 hours later, Adobe has retracted this decision.

In a recently updated FAQs page, Adobe announced it has backtracked on its decision to shut down one of its most celebrated creative tools, Adobe Animate. This announcement came after widespread backlash from the creative community - illustrators, animators and digital artists alike. Adobe Animate, a pillar for 2D animation, was initially set for shutdown effective 1 March 2026.

In the announcement, Adobe said Animate 'has served its purpose well for creating, nurturing, and developing the animation ecosystem.'

Backlash Ensued

The creative community wasn't subtle in expressing their disappointment with the announced 'killing' of the software. The community took to social media and public forums to express their frustration, with many highlighting broader implications for the industry.

David Firth, for instance, who is behind Salad Fingers, took to X to share an email he received from Adobe about the shutdown of Animate, which, he said in the post, he uses to make the web series with.

Online content creator Animated Antic posted on X (formerly Twitter) to protest Adobe's decision to shut down Animate, 'Adobe shutting down Adobe Animate is such a harmful and devastating move to numerous animators and studios who still use the software and I can imagine how much damage they'll create if they stick to it. Adobe should be ashamed and I am firmly protesting this decision.'

As a response, Mike Chambers, Adobe's Creative Cloud Senior Director for Design Marketing & Community, posted an update on popular public forum site Reddit, retracting their initial decision to discontinue Animate.

He said in the post, 'Yesterday, Adobe shared an email with Adobe Animate customers on the future of Animate. What we shared did not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst within the community. On behalf of Adobe, I want to apologise.'

Adobe's official X account also commented on a post made by Cartoon Base about Animate being discontinued, saying it was used to animate Teen Titans Go!, Smiling Friends, My Little Pony, El Tigre and more.

The reply said, 'What we initially shared is not accurate. Adobe Animate is in maintenance mode, which means we will continue to provide security and bug fixes, but are no longer adding new features. Animate will continue to be available to both current and new customers. We are committed to ensuring you have access to your content.'

'Maintenance Mode'

As noted on Adobe's FAQs page, and as announced by Chambers, Adobe Animate is now in 'Maintenance Mode.' Chambers reiterated, 'This is a change from what we communicated in the email yesterday for the status of Adobe Animate, its time-frame, and availability. To be clear, we are not discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate and it will continue to be available to both existing and new customers.'

Chambers also addressed the frustration the earlier news had brought to the creatives, saying, 'On a personal note, as someone who started their career with Macromedia Flash 3 and Macromedia Generator, Adobe Animate has a special place in my heart.'

He added, 'I know how frustrating and stressful this has been, and we clearly could have handled and communicated this better. I might not have answers to everything, but I will try to answer any questions you might have.'

The community seems to have polarised opinions on the company reversing its decision, and it's looking like the backlash continues despite Adobe taking back the shutdown of Animate. While one user was grateful for still being able to use the software as his career depended on it, some users were furious, saying Adobe meant their first email, while for others, it's a sign to 'jump ship while there's enough time,' suggesting it's time to learn a different software altogether.

Originally published on IBTimes UK