Bitstrips

Bitstrips
Founded2007
FounderJacob Blackstock
David Kennedy
Shahan Panth
Dorian Baldwin
Jesse Brown
DefunctJuly 8, 2016 (2016-07-08) (7 years ago)
FateAcquired by Snapchat Inc.
Headquarters
Toronto
,
Canada

Bitstrips was a media and technology company based in Toronto, Canada, and founded in 2007 by Jacob Blackstock, David Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Baldwin, and Jesse Brown.[1][2] The company's web application, Bitstrips.com, allowed users to create comic strips using personalized avatars, and preset templates and poses.[3] Brown and Blackstock explained that the service was meant to enable self-expression without the need to have artistic skills. Bitstrips was first presented in 2008 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and the service later piloted and launched a version designed for use as educational software. The service achieved increasing prominence following the launch of versions for Facebook and mobile platforms.

In 2014, Bitstrips launched a spin-off app known as Bitmoji, which allows users to create personalized stickers for use in messaging apps. In July 2016, Snap, Inc. announced that it had acquired the company; the Bitstrips comic service was shut down, but Bitmoji remains operational, and has subsequently been given greater prominence within Snapchat's overall platform.

History

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Bitstrips was co-developed by Toronto-based comic artist Jacob Blackstock and his high school friend, journalist Jesse Brown.[4] The service was originally envisioned as a means to allow anyone to create their own comic strip without needing artistic skills. Brown explained that "it's so difficult and time-consuming to tell a story in comic book form, drawing the same characters again and again in these tiny little panels, and just the amount of craftsmanship required. And even if you can do it well, which I never could, it takes years to make a story."[5] Brown stated that the service would be "groundwork for a whole new way to communicate", and went as far as describing the service as being a "YouTube for comics".[4] Blackstock explained that the concept of Bitstrips was influenced by his own use of comics as a form of socialization; a student, Blackstock and his friends drew comics featuring each other and shared them during classes. He felt that Bitstrips was a "medium for self-expression", stating that "It's not just about you making the comics, but since you and your friends star in these comics, it's like you're the medium. The visual nature of comics just speaks so much louder than text."[6]

The service was publicly unveiled at South by Southwest in 2008.[4] In 2009, the service introduced a version oriented towards the educational market, Bitstrips for Schools, which was initially piloted at a number of schools in Ontario. The service was praised by educators for being engaging to students, especially within language classes. Brown noted that students were using the service to create comics outside of class as well, stating that it was "so gratifying and shocking what people do with your tool to make their own stories in ways that you never would have anticipated. Some of them are just brilliant."[5]

In December 2012, Bitstrips launched a version for Facebook;[3] by July 2013, Bitstrips had 10 million unique users on Facebook, having created over 50 million comics.[7] In October 2013, Bitstrips launched a mobile app; in two months, Bitstrips became a top-downloaded app in 40 countries, and over 30 million avatars had been created with it. In November 2013, Bitstrips secured a round of funding from Horizons Ventures and Li Ka-shing.[8][6]

In October 2014, Bitstrips launched Bitmoji, a spin-off app that allows users to create stickers featuring Bitstrips characters in various templates.[9][10]

In July 2016, following unconfirmed reports earlier in the year,[11] Snap, Inc. announced that it had acquired Bitstrips. The company's staff continue to operate out of Toronto, but the original Bitstrips comic service was shut down in favour of focusing exclusively on Bitmoji.[12][13][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bholla, Cheyenne (10 May 2022). "UW grad is co-founder and engineer of Snapchat's Bitmoji". The Record. Metroland Media Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ^ O'Kane, Josh (30 January 2020). "Toronto-based Bitmoji launches Snapchat TV show to expand reach of cartoon portraits". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b Moss, Caroline. "Here's How You Can Create Those Personalized Comic Strips That Are Popping Up All Over Facebook". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Wortham, Jenna. "SXSW: Cartooning Made Easy with Bitstrips". Wired. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  5. ^ a b Korducki, Kelli (3 March 2010). "Kids Get Creative (and Hilarious) with Bitstrips for Schools". Torontoist. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Bitstrips dominating app charts as users create over 30M avatars". Adweek. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017. (Archived Link added 20 July 2024)
  7. ^ Koetsier, John (16 July 2013). "Bitstrips bootstraps social comics on Facebook to 10M users and 50M unique cartoons". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  8. ^ Steger, Isabella; Lee, Yvonne (5 November 2013). "Bitstrips Gets High-Profile Backer". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013. (Archived Link added 20 July 2024)
  9. ^ Parker, Ashley (2 October 2015). "My Bitmoji, My Better Self". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Bitstrips Launches Bitmoji Personalized Emoji App on iOS". Adweek. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017. (Archived Link added 20 July 2024)
  11. ^ "Exclusive: Snapchat Buys Bitmoji Maker". Fortune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  12. ^ Dingman, Shane (19 July 2016). "Snapchat builds Bitmojis into app, confirms acquisition of Toronto startup". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Here's How You Can Use Bitmoji Inside Snapchat". Fortune. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Why Snapchat bought Toronto-based Bitstrips for $100M". CTV News. 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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