Internet Archive Revamps GifCities for Easier 90s GIF Searches

The Internet Archive has made significant improvements to its GifCities platform, allowing users to easily search for GIFs from the 1990s. This updated resource contains millions of animations that capture the essence of a decade characterized by flannel shirts and iconic pop culture moments. The GIFs featured on GifCities were sourced from old GeoCities webpages, many of which ceased to exist after Yahoo shut down the service in 2009.

Enhanced Search Capabilities

The new version of GifCities introduces a more user-friendly search functionality. Users can now perform semantic searches based on the content of the animations, making it easier to find specific topics or scenes by describing them. This is a notable upgrade from the previous version, where searches were limited to file names. For those who prefer the old method, a “Special search” tab is still available, albeit with a more cumbersome experience.

Improved Browsing Experience

Another significant enhancement in the updated GifCities is the implementation of pagination. This change addresses the issues associated with the old version’s infinite scrolling feature, which often resulted in slow browsing speeds. Users can now navigate through search results more efficiently, making the experience more enjoyable.

Creating and Sharing GifGrams

The updated platform also allows users to create and share “GifGrams,” which are custom e-greetings made from the extensive collection of vintage GIFs. This feature adds a personal touch to the nostalgic experience, enabling users to share their favorite animations with friends and family.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Internet Archive

The Internet Archive has launched these enhancements to GifCities as part of its 20th-anniversary celebration. For those unfamiliar with GeoCities, it was a pioneering web-hosting service that played a crucial role in the early days of the internet. It was known for its eclectic mix of personal websites, fan pages, and the ubiquitous “Under construction” GIFs. Yahoo’s decision to shut down most of GeoCities in 2009 marked the end of an era for many internet users. (It is worth noting that Yahoo is the parent company of Engadget.) However, the Japanese version of GeoCities continues to exist, preserving a piece of internet history.

Nostalgia and Internet Humor

For those who grew up during the 90s, exploring GifCities can be a delightful trip down memory lane. Users can rediscover the humor and creativity that defined early internet culture. However, it is important to note that some of the search results may not be suitable for work (NSFW). A casual search for terms like “Mr. T” may yield unexpected results, so users are advised to proceed with caution.

For more information and to explore the revamped GifCities, visit GifCities.

To learn more about the Internet Archive and its mission, check out launched GifCities in 2016.

For those interested in the history of GeoCities, additional details can be found at survived for another decade.

For a deeper dive into the nostalgia of 90s GIFs, you can enjoy the experience at browsing the archive.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at Engadget.