Sprites

• To make a sprite--an image that "does something"--we need a series of images
  • The rotating skull uses 24 separate images
  • The more images, the smoother the motion
    
    
• There are two ways to animate an individual image:
  • Use an animated GIF
    • This is a single data structure containing many images
    • Advantage: Only need to load the one image
    • Disadvantage: Your program can't control the speed of the animation; it's built right into the GIF
      
      
  • Use a series of GIFs or JPGs
    • Load them all into an array and index into the array to choose the one you want
    • Advantage: You have full control
    • Disadvantage: You have lots of separate files and images