Once Upon Us
A birthday video for the one you love
Give them their year, or all of them. Once Upon Us turns your photos together into a short animated birthday film that opens with their name and plays back the moments you've shared.
Example frames in three of the six styles. Your film is drawn from your own photos.
Their year in 12 scenes
Twelve photos from the past year make a 1-minute birthday film, one for every month.
Or the whole story
36 or 60 photos tell the whole story so far in 3 or 5 minutes.
A line just for them
End on your own words: happy birthday, and whatever comes after.
How it works
Add your photos
Add 3 to 60 photos of the two of you, from the first date to today. Once Upon Us reads the date each photo was taken and puts your memories in order.
Pick a style and your characters
3D animated, hand-drawn, anime, cartoon, claymation or comic book. We draw the two of you in that style three ways; you pick the pair that looks most like you, and we draw your first scene with them free, before you pay. They star in every scene of your film.
Make it yours
Your names open the film in the look you pick. Add words on screen, choose one of four songs and write your closing line. Then look over your storyboard, pick your film's length and pay once.
Pay once, by length
One-time payment, no subscription. Every scene can be redrawn 3 times.
Made with you, scene by scene. Add your photos, pick your characters and see your first scene free before you pay, then check each scene before it comes to life.
Start our filmQuestions
What's a meaningful birthday gift for a partner?
Something made just for them. A film of your photos together, in order, with their name in the opening, is personal and quick to make.
Can I make it for my husband or wife?
Yes, for any partner: boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife.
How does Once Upon Us work?
Add 3 to 60 photos of the two of you and pick a style. We draw the two of you as characters in that style, redraw each photo with them and bring it to life as a 5-second moving scene, put in order by date, with an opening that carries your names, words on screen where you want them, the music you pick and your closing line.
What styles can I pick?
3D animated, hand-drawn, anime, cartoon, claymation and comic book. The whole film is drawn in the style you pick.
Will it look like us?
After you pick a style, we draw the two of you as characters three ways and you choose the one that looks most like you. That pair stars in every scene, so you look the same from start to finish. You check every scene before it comes to life, and if one misses, you redraw it for free.
More ideas
Gift guides
Styles
Updated November 6, 2026