Provided are techniques for providing animation in electronic communications. An image is generated by capturing multiple photographs from a camera or video camera. The first photograph is called the “key photo.” Using a graphics program, photos subsequent to the key photo are edited to cut an element common to the subsequent photos. The cut images are pasted into the key photo as layers. The modified key photo, including the layers, is stored as a web-enabled graphics file, which is then transmitted in conjunction with electronic communication. When the electronic communication is received, the key photo is displayed and each of the layers is displayed and removed in the order that each was taken with a short delay between photos. In this manner, a movie is generated with much smaller files than is currently possible.