Gifs have been around for a while, since 1987, where multiple frames were encoded into a single image file spec for the first time. It has to be the “under construction” gif that gave the gif wings.
Now, thanks to Gifs Out Loud, there’s a gif keyboard for your mobile device that creates personal gifs with sound. Basically, you can create your own flickering image, add music or a personal recording and share it with your contacts.
A great defensive effort by the Predators
Gifs can be inspirational when they’re in a selected context. And repetition allows for a closer look at a moment that otherwise might pass by. I think SB Nation does a great job at integrating gifs into their NHL coverage and PBS did a piece on gifs a few years back, worth a peek.