The otter in Humble Video
Meet Otis.
He's an otter. He loves your photos almost as much as you do. And he'd very much like to help you turn them into something lovely.
Otis lives in Humble Video's little patch of water. He waves when you arrive, runs the projector while your slideshow is made, and beams when it's done.
His big job
The projectionist.
While your slideshow is being made, Otis sits at a little film projector, feeding your photos in one print at a time. The reel turns. The crank turns. He concentrates very hard.
Between you and us, the app is doing the real work: placing every photo, easing in the slow zoom, fading the music out right on time. But someone has to look after the projector, and he takes it very seriously.
A day in the life
Where you'll find him.
He turns up at the quiet moments, never in the way.
When you open the app
No slideshows yet? Otis pops up in the water and waves. He's been waiting, a bit too keenly.
When you tap Export
He holds up a little screen so you can admire your choices one more time. Good choices, he thinks.
When your video is ready
Up goes the finished video, over his head, with a very small, very proud smile.
If you look at Plus
He shows you his favorite shiny pebble. He'd like you to have one too, but he'll never nag about it.
At the bottom of Settings
Asleep, wrapped in kelp so he doesn't drift away. Otters really do this. Please don't wake him.
On his day off
Floating.
On his back, eyes closed, holding a few favorite photos. Bobbing. That's it. That's the plan.
Six things about Otis.
- He's drawn entirely in code.
- No image files: every whisker is a line the app draws. The same drawing makes the app icon, the little head in the free version's corner mark, and every Otis on this page.
- He has no eyebrows. On purpose.
- Eyebrows that tilt inward look cross, and Otis is never cross. Even when an export fails he's only puzzled, and keen to try again.
- He never says a word.
- Otis is there for company, not instructions. The words on screen do the explaining; he does the waving.
- He doesn't make your video.
- That's the app's job, done right on your phone. Otis keeps you company while it works and cheers when it's done. Nothing is uploaded, not even to Otis.
- He stays out of your video.
- Your slideshow is yours. The only trace of him is a tiny head in the free version's corner mark, and Plus takes even that away.
- He's an otter for a reason.
- Sea otters float on their backs holding the things they treasure, and some keep a favorite stone tucked away. Holding on to what matters is the whole idea.
Go say hi.
He's waiting in the water with a wave. Bring a few photos; he'll take it from there.
See what Humble Video makes