GIF Construction Set is the mother of all applications for creating all sorts of things with GIF files. For instance, you can:
   Make slide shows with multiple pictures, including interesting transitions between them
   Make banners with text and have the text behave in interesting ways.
   Import "movies" and convert them into GIF files which do not require a special viewer.
   Along the way, set up transparent GIFs.
   What you see to the left is a GIF movie, sometimes called an animated GIF file. This complicated construction was really very easy to do with the individual frames of the movie. The image block sets the individual "frame" of the GIF while the control block gives the instruction of what to do with the image.
   Even after you have set up one of these animated GIF files, you can go back and edit them at any time. You can add text to the images.

And there are a whole raft of transition effects you can use.
   And, of course, you can preview whatever you are doing to be sue it is right as you go along.
   GIF Construction Set is most likely the most widely used application there is for creating animated GIF files and "slide shows." The documentation is very through and complete (in WordPad format) and, while the program looks a little daunting when it first comes up, you'll find it works like a charm and you get the hang of it very quickly.
   If you want animated GIF files and want to have complete control over every aspect of them, then GIF Construction Set is definitely for you.

   Link to the GIF Construction Set web site