Building a New Flash: Open-Source Animation Tool Aims to Revive Classic 2D Workflow

Developer Bill Premo has launched an ambitious open-source project to recreate Adobe Flash's 2D animation capabilities for 2026 and beyond. The new tool, built from scratch in C# using Avalonia and SkiaSharp, aims to deliver a complete authoring environment that works across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Unlike simple Flash players or converters, this is a full-fledged animation studio. The project supports timeline-based animation with keyframes, frame-by-frame drawing, onion skinning, and classic tweening. Drawing tools include brushes with pressure sensitivity, pencils, shapes, and a vector engine based on doubly-connected edge lists that replicates Flash's merge drawing modes.

A standout feature is native .fla file import - Premo claims this is the only open-source tool that can both import and edit Flash's native project format, not just play back content. The application includes a comprehensive symbol library supporting graphic symbols, movie clips, and buttons, plus a shape tweening engine with contour correspondence for smooth morphing.

For developers, the tool offers a dual-surface scripting system using Roslyn. This includes authoring-time scripts similar to JSFL and runtime frame scripts that can be written in C# or transpiled from ActionScript 3. The project also features an integrated sound editor with waveform rendering and frame-accurate audio synchronization.

The interface follows a professional workflow with docking panels, multi-document tabs, and a full suite of selection and transformation tools. Export options include SWF for legacy compatibility and HTML5/Canvas for modern web deployment.

Premo has launched a Patreon to fund development and potentially build a dedicated team. The project has generated significant excitement in the animation community, with users praising the .fla compatibility and cross-platform support as potential solutions to Adobe's controversial Creative Cloud restrictions.

Early feedback suggests strong interest from both former Flash users and new animators looking for a modern alternative to tools like Krita and Blender, which some find have confusing interfaces for 2D animation workflows.

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The project represents a significant effort to preserve and modernize a beloved animation tool while keeping it open and accessible across all major operating systems.