Bitstrips
 | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Founders | Jacob Blackstock |
| Parent | Snapchat (2016–present) |
Bitstrips is a web and mobile application that allows users to create a cartoon of themselves and their friends.
Users create animated avatars of themselves by adjusting multiple physical characteristics and accessories of a virtual figurine. They then proceed to position their avatar in one of over 10,000 different scenarios.[1] Bitstrips launched its Facebook application in December 2012, and its iPhone and Android applications in September 2013.[1] Horizon Ventures and Li Ka-shing then invested in the company in November 2013.[2]
The application has been downloaded more than 11 million times.[3] Bitstrips is based in Toronto, Canada and has 10 employees.[4]
In 2016, Bitstrips was acquired by Snapchat for $100 million.[5]
Site
Bitstrips.com once was the link to the comic making website. It now links users to a page about Bitmoji and the Facebook app. To access the original site, users must go to www.bitstrips.com/pageone where they can currently only create an account with Facebook. Users can create characters, make comics without restrictions and chat on the chat bar with added friends.
Spin-off
Bitstrips For Schools is an educational software used by teachers and students. It has the same concept as Bitstrips, except teachers give these "comic" assignments to their students and more than one panel can be used.[6]
As of May 2015, users can no longer edit or create Bitstrips characters for their friends. Prior to this, they could choose friends without avatars, create avatars for them, and proceed to create a Bitstrips cartoon starring those avatars. The strip could be edited and fine-tuned or deleted by the creator or avatar themselves. Now this option is no longer available; any previous avatars created by anyone other than the avatar themselves have disappeared. Reasons stated were Facebook changes in security.
References
- 1 2 Moss, Caroline. "Here's How You Can Create Those Personalized Comic Strips That Are Popping Up All Over Facebook". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ Steger, Isabella; Lee, Yvonne. "Bitstrips Gets High-Profile Backer". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ DeNinno, Nadine. "Bitstrips Reaches 11 Million But The Backlash Is Becoming Widespread, How To Block The Facebook Comic App". International Business Times. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ Koetsier, John. "Bitstrips bootstraps social comics on Facebook to 10M users and 50M unique cartoons". Venture Beat. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ↑ "Why Snapchat bought Toronto-based Bitstrips for $100M". CTV News. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ↑ Korducki, Kelli. "Kids Get Creative (and Hilarious) with Bitstrips for Schools". Torontoist. Retrieved 23 November 2013.