Bettering the Quality of a Shifting Image

I'm wanting some help regarding making a better quality shifting image. Below, I have an icon that switches between New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U. However, to make it switch between the two, I made it into an animated GIF with Easy GIF animator, but the quality suffered significantly as a result:

http://serenesforest.net/forums/uplo...?_r=1378530068

Here's the original source pictures used:

http://www.mariowiki.com/images/1/1f/NSMBU_MenuArt.jpg

http://www.mariowiki.com/images/b/b5..._Menu_Icon.png

I know that I'll need to find a way to make it animated while not being in GIF format, or stop it from losing its quality when converted to GIF format. The end product I'm hoping for is an good quality icon that'll switch between the two images every five seconds or so.

So does anyone have any suggestions, whether it be techniques or programs to use?

Anything that lets you customize the palette should do the trick, really. In this case I used CS6 because that's what I have, but I'm sure you can find free/cheaper ways to get the same result.

Attachment 47470

If you plan on using it on a custom site of yours, you could use jQuery (or javascript in general) to do the animation for you

So it's all in the program used, huh? I guess I'll need to find a better program than Easy GIF Animator that's free.

I forgot a lot about Java from university, and even if I didn't, I'm wanting to use it as an avatar, so Java won't be the way to go for me.

And thanks for animating it in better quality for me. Though it doesn't go back to Mario after it becomes Luigi. Can you make it continuously switch between the two every 5 or so seconds?

I forgot to tell it to loop >.>

Attachment 47568

Thanks!! =D

So what free GIF animators do you recommend? I'm wanting to know so my future animated GIFs will be of much better quality.

[Edit] It turns out it doesn't work well as an Eyes on Final Fantasy avatar. That's alright since I was mainly wanting to use it on another Forum for a Mario celebration of sorts.

Free, I'd probably try gimp (because it does more than just gifs), and there's a tutorial on their site to make animated gifs, but the site seems to be having issues at the moment.

On Windows for just animated gifs, you could try Instagiffer I suppose.

Instagiffer and gimp? Alright, good to know. I'll have to try those two programs out for the next animated GIF I make.

Turn on dithering; I usually don't max it out, but about 70%or so. Endless's second pic doesn't seem to be using any and looks a little worse for it