diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index 8b5c11bd4..66bd09957 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ default_partitions = tools/WLED_ESP32_4MB_1MB_FS.csv
 lib_deps =
   https://github.com/lorol/LITTLEFS.git
   https://github.com/pbolduc/AsyncTCP.git @ 1.2.0
+  bitbank2/AnimatedGIF@^1.4.7
+  pixelmatix/GifDecoder@^1.1.0
   ${env.lib_deps}
 # additional build flags for audioreactive
 AR_build_flags = -D USERMOD_AUDIOREACTIVE
diff --git a/wled00/FX.cpp b/wled00/FX.cpp
index 1f626bc9a..681f3d107 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX.cpp
@@ -4465,6 +4465,16 @@ uint16_t mode_washing_machine(void) {
 static const char _data_FX_MODE_WASHING_MACHINE[] PROGMEM = "Washing Machine@!,!;;!";
 
 
+/*
+  Image effect
+  Draws a .gif image from filesystem on the matrix/strip
+*/
+uint16_t mode_image(void) {
+  renderImageToSegment(SEGMENT);
+  return FRAMETIME;
+}
+static const char _data_FX_MODE_IMAGE[] PROGMEM = "Image@!,;;;12;sx=128";
+
 /*
   Blends random colors across palette
   Modified, originally by Mark Kriegsman https://gist.github.com/kriegsman/1f7ccbbfa492a73c015e
@@ -8025,6 +8035,8 @@ void WS2812FX::setupEffectData() {
   addEffect(FX_MODE_DANCING_SHADOWS, &mode_dancing_shadows, _data_FX_MODE_DANCING_SHADOWS);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_WASHING_MACHINE, &mode_washing_machine, _data_FX_MODE_WASHING_MACHINE);
 
+  addEffect(FX_MODE_IMAGE, &mode_image, _data_FX_MODE_IMAGE);
+
   addEffect(FX_MODE_BLENDS, &mode_blends, _data_FX_MODE_BLENDS);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_TV_SIMULATOR, &mode_tv_simulator, _data_FX_MODE_TV_SIMULATOR);
   addEffect(FX_MODE_DYNAMIC_SMOOTH, &mode_dynamic_smooth, _data_FX_MODE_DYNAMIC_SMOOTH);
diff --git a/wled00/FX.h b/wled00/FX.h
index 3aa19bc35..d72580935 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.h
+++ b/wled00/FX.h
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
 #define FX_MODE_TWO_DOTS                50
 #define FX_MODE_FAIRYTWINKLE            51  //was Two Areas prior to 0.13.0-b6 (use "Two Dots" with full intensity)
 #define FX_MODE_RUNNING_DUAL            52
-// #define FX_MODE_HALLOWEEN               53  // removed in 0.14!
+#define FX_MODE_IMAGE                   53  // was Halloween before 0.14
 #define FX_MODE_TRICOLOR_CHASE          54
 #define FX_MODE_TRICOLOR_WIPE           55
 #define FX_MODE_TRICOLOR_FADE           56
diff --git a/wled00/fcn_declare.h b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
index 7e0d6f480..59be67624 100644
--- a/wled00/fcn_declare.h
+++ b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
  * All globally accessible functions are declared here
  */
 
+#include "FX.h"
+
 //alexa.cpp
 #ifndef WLED_DISABLE_ALEXA
 void onAlexaChange(EspalexaDevice* dev);
@@ -125,6 +127,16 @@ void onHueConnect(void* arg, AsyncClient* client);
 void sendHuePoll();
 void onHueData(void* arg, AsyncClient* client, void *data, size_t len);
 
+//image_loader.cpp
+#ifndef WLED_DISABLE_GIF
+bool fileSeekCallback(unsigned long position);
+unsigned long filePositionCallback(void);
+int fileReadCallback(void);
+int fileReadBlockCallback(void * buffer, int numberOfBytes);
+int fileSizeCallback(void);
+byte renderImageToSegment(Segment &seg);
+#endif
+
 //improv.cpp
 enum ImprovRPCType {
   Command_Wifi = 0x01,
@@ -162,7 +174,6 @@ void handleIR();
 #include "ESPAsyncWebServer.h"
 #include "src/dependencies/json/ArduinoJson-v6.h"
 #include "src/dependencies/json/AsyncJson-v6.h"
-#include "FX.h"
 
 bool deserializeSegment(JsonObject elem, byte it, byte presetId = 0);
 bool deserializeState(JsonObject root, byte callMode = CALL_MODE_DIRECT_CHANGE, byte presetId = 0);
diff --git a/wled00/image_loader.cpp b/wled00/image_loader.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..500fbc2dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wled00/image_loader.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+#ifndef WLED_DISABLE_GIF
+
+#include "GifDecoder.h"
+#include "wled.h"
+
+File file;
+char lastFilename[34] = "/";
+GifDecoder<320,320,12,true>* decoder;
+bool gifDecodeFailed = false;
+long lastFrameDisplayTime = 0, currentFrameDelay = 0;
+
+bool fileSeekCallback(unsigned long position) {
+  return file.seek(position);
+}
+
+unsigned long filePositionCallback(void) {
+  return file.position();
+}
+
+int fileReadCallback(void) {
+  return file.read();
+}
+
+int fileReadBlockCallback(void * buffer, int numberOfBytes) {
+  return file.read((uint8_t*)buffer, numberOfBytes);
+}
+
+int fileSizeCallback(void) {
+  return file.size();
+}
+
+bool openGif(const char *filename) {
+  file = WLED_FS.open(filename, "r");
+
+  if (!file) return false;
+  return true;
+}
+
+Segment* activeSeg;
+uint16_t gifWidth, gifHeight;
+uint16_t fillPixX, fillPixY;
+
+void screenClearCallback(void) {
+  activeSeg->fill(0);
+}
+
+void updateScreenCallback(void) {}
+
+void drawPixelCallback(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue) {
+  // simple nearest-neighbor scaling 
+  int16_t outY = y * activeSeg->height() / gifHeight;
+  int16_t outX = x * activeSeg->width()  / gifWidth;
+  // set multiple pixels if upscaling
+  for (int16_t i = 0; i < (activeSeg->width()+(gifWidth-1)) / gifWidth; i++) {
+    for (int16_t j = 0; j < (activeSeg->height()+(gifHeight-1)) / gifHeight; j++) {
+      activeSeg->setPixelColorXY(outX + i, outY + j, gamma8(red), gamma8(green), gamma8(blue));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_NONE 0
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_NO_NAME 1
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_SEG_LIMIT 2
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FORMAT 3
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_FILE_MISSING 4
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_DECODER_ALLOC 5
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_GIF_DECODE 6
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_FRAME_DECODE 7
+#define IMAGE_ERROR_PREV 255
+
+// renders an image (.gif only; .bmp and .fseq to be added soon) from FS to a segment
+byte renderImageToSegment(Segment &seg) {
+  if (!seg.name) return IMAGE_ERROR_NO_NAME;
+  if (activeSeg && activeSeg != &seg) return IMAGE_ERROR_SEG_LIMIT; // only one segment at a time
+  activeSeg = &seg;
+
+  if (strncmp(lastFilename +1, seg.name, 32) != 0) { // segment name changed, load new image
+    strncpy(lastFilename +1, seg.name, 32);
+    gifDecodeFailed = false;
+    if (strcmp(lastFilename + strlen(lastFilename) - 4, ".gif") != 0) {
+      gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      return IMAGE_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FORMAT;
+    }
+    if (file) file.close();
+    openGif(lastFilename);
+    if (!file) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_FILE_MISSING; }
+    if (!decoder) decoder = new GifDecoder<320,320,12,true>();
+    if (!decoder) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_DECODER_ALLOC; }
+    decoder->setScreenClearCallback(screenClearCallback);
+    decoder->setUpdateScreenCallback(updateScreenCallback);
+    decoder->setDrawPixelCallback(drawPixelCallback);
+    decoder->setFileSeekCallback(fileSeekCallback);
+    decoder->setFilePositionCallback(filePositionCallback);
+    decoder->setFileReadCallback(fileReadCallback);
+    decoder->setFileReadBlockCallback(fileReadBlockCallback);
+    decoder->setFileSizeCallback(fileSizeCallback);
+    Serial.println("Starting decoding");
+    if(decoder->startDecoding() < 0) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_GIF_DECODE; }
+    Serial.println("Decoding started");
+  }
+
+  if (gifDecodeFailed) return IMAGE_ERROR_PREV;
+  if (!file) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_FILE_MISSING; }
+  if (!decoder) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_DECODER_ALLOC; }
+
+  // speed 0 = half speed, 128 = normal, 255 = full FX FPS
+  // TODO: 0 = 4x slow, 64 = 2x slow, 128 = normal, 192 = 2x fast, 255 = 4x fast
+  uint32_t wait = currentFrameDelay * 2 - seg.speed * currentFrameDelay / 128;
+
+  if((millis() - lastFrameDisplayTime) >= wait) {
+    decoder->getSize(&gifWidth, &gifHeight);
+    fillPixX = (seg.width()+(gifWidth-1)) / gifWidth;
+    fillPixY = (seg.height()+(gifHeight-1)) / gifHeight;
+    int result = decoder->decodeFrame(false);
+    if (result < 0) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_FRAME_DECODE; }
+    long lastFrameDelay = currentFrameDelay;
+    currentFrameDelay = decoder->getFrameDelay_ms();
+    long tooSlowBy = (millis() - lastFrameDisplayTime) - wait; // if last frame was longer than intended, compensate
+    currentFrameDelay -= tooSlowBy;
+    lastFrameDisplayTime = millis();
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+void endImagePlayback() {
+  if (file) file.close();
+  delete decoder;
+  gifDecodeFailed = false;
+  activeSeg = nullptr;
+  lastFilename[0] = '\0';
+}
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index eac4cbc4d..e22603df3 100755
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@
     #define WIFI_MODE_AP WIFI_AP
     #include <QuickEspNow.h>
   #endif
+  #undef  WLED_DISABLE_GIF
+  #define WLED_DISABLE_GIF
 #else // ESP32
   #include <HardwareSerial.h>  // ensure we have the correct "Serial" on new MCUs (depends on ARDUINO_USB_MODE and ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT)
   #include <WiFi.h>