Once Upon Us
A Valentine's Day video gift that isn't flowers
Flowers last a week. A film of your story lasts. Once Upon Us turns your photos together into a short animated Valentine's Day film, opened with your names and closed with a line you write for them.
Example frames in three of the six styles. Your film is drawn from your own photos.
Made from your own photos
Every scene is one of your photos, redrawn in the style you pick and brought to life, with your own words on screen where you want them.
Send it your way
Send the film as a private gift link whenever you like, or print a card with a QR code and hide it in a real envelope.
Short or long
12 photos make a 1-minute film. If you've been together for years, 36 or 60 photos make 3 or 5 minutes.
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 can I make for my partner on Valentine's Day?
A short animated film of your story, made from your photos, is personal, quick to put together and something they'll replay. Once Upon Us makes it from 3 to 60 photos.
Can I send it as a surprise?
Yes. Send the gift link whenever you like, or print a card with a QR code.
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