One of the best uses of social TV is the art of animated GIF-making. The fun meme-able moveable image has allowed TV to get viewers excited about a show during big tentpoles, at events and more. With SXSW in full gear in Austin A&E brought the art of GIF-making to their party for Bates Motel (premieres Monday, March 18th) the network’s new Dexter meets Friday Night Lights drama, a prequel to “Psycho” about Norman Bates growing up.  To celebrate the show’s premiere the network premiered the pilot episode hosted a panel with Executive Producer Carlton Cuse, that was moderated by Guy Slattery, EVP of Marketing for A&E Network. At the party later that night they branded Buffalo Billards in downtown Austin as if it were Bates Motel and allowed partygoers to “kill” each other and turn it into a fun animated GIF and real-life flip book. Here’s the animated GIF: Here’s a Vine of the actual flip book they print (#meta):

Vining a real life flip book. #batesmotel. #meta vine.co/v/bwJbjUM1Z90 — Natan Edelsburg (@twatan) March 9, 2013

A great Vine showing off the decked out venue:

Best part of #SXSW is all the great hotels you can book last minute. This quaint place looks pretty good. vine.co/v/bwqE1a75xrO — Greg Galant (@gregory) March 9, 2013