Actually, the best idea is to first make them as separate GIFs and then combine them into one animation.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Jun 14 2006, 11:20 AM) [snapback]236695[/snapback]</div>How? With what program? It's a good idea in theory, but then again "communism was a good idea 'in theory'" (-Homer J Simpson). The above post actually gave what program would do that job and how to do it. You could take that post right there and hand it to a newb, and they'd be producing animated gifs in no times.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(guesst @ Jun 13 2006, 06:52 PM) [snapback]236524[/snapback]</div>I did not know that. i don't use Gimp myself because I'm still using PSP. But for this thread I think this wins the award for "most useful reply."
[/b][/quote]

Yippeee!! :brain:
So, what I've won? :blink:

With GIMP. GIFMERGE also works, but GIMP is more versatile here.

I made mine using Photo shop image ready.

First of all open photo shop, not image ready.
Make all the frames you want to have in your avatar but in diffrent layers. The first layer should be the background of the avatar(if it's not apart of the other layers(frames))

If you don't have enough frames you can add a few 'transation layers'.(like I did in mine)
Copy the two frames you want to add a frame between them. The copy of the first should be placed right after the first one and the copy of the second frame should be before the second frame. Change the opacity of the second copy to something like 50%.(maybe lower, maybe bigger) Hide all other layers execpt the two you created right now. Merge all visible layers.(layer->merge visible)

When you have all the frames you want in diffrent layers, open image ready through photo shop.
Make the background visible all the time(unless it changes) and in each frame make a diffrent layer visible.
Once you are done enter file->save optimized.(gif) If you want to test before saving it you can test it through the image ready in the web.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quintopotere @ Jun 14 2006, 04:31 AM) [snapback]236519[/snapback]</div> I have to remember to try GIMP one day.

I downloaded GIMP and gave it a go...I really can't figure it out, for example, how to make each frame different from the last, how to create each new frame to join on from the last one, etc.

Alternitavley you could use GIF Movie Gear. Quite simple.

Ok, cool, that's great, but how do I create the frames? They all need to look slightly different in order for it to be a succesful animation, obviously. I don't have photoshop or anything like that. How do I do it?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chainsoar @ Jun 17 2006, 05:12 PM) [snapback]237346[/snapback]</div>Well... having GIMP, you just to start a new drawing (with dimensions around 100x100), drawing something (and all over internet there are many tutorials, you have just to google a bit searching the one which fits for you) to make the first frame.
Then you have to go to the "layer window", create a new layer and draw a second frame... than a third... and so on... when you've done all the frames/layers you need just to "save as" and choose the animated gif format!

And here you have your animated avatar :brain:

As I said, there are many very tutorials on the net, I've learned in that way and I can assure you that is not hard at all ;)