Privacy & how it works

EffectsForge on the web is built the same way as our iOS apps: private by design.

Everything stays on this device

Your progress — best scores and XP — is stored only in this browser (on-device storage). It is never sent anywhere. Clear your browser data and it's gone; nobody else can see it.

No camera, no microphone, no accounts

The web version does not use your camera or microphone. On a real film set you would shoot photos and record sound — here you practice the thinking behind each effect, so there is no sign-up, no login, no ads, and no third-party trackers.

How it works

The Effects Labs turn five real film techniques into short thinking puzzles: light a scene for the right mood, match an everyday object to an on-screen sound (that's Foley), place things near or far so they look giant or tiny (forced perspective), time frames so stop-motion looks smooth, and put a creature-makeup recipe in order. The Shot Sequencer is the editing room — pick the right shot for the story and catch continuity errors. Or run a Concepts kit: a short round of questions. A hint appears only after a first try, so you think it through first — and mistakes are treated as part of learning.

Movie magic, never scary

EffectsForge is about illusion and craft — sculpture, chemistry, light, and sound. The Prosthetics Lab makes friendly creatures and characters (think fantasy and fun), framed as art and science, never as realistic injury. Every effect is presented as a clever trick you could figure out yourself.

Built for ages 9–14

The 400 Concepts questions come straight from the EffectsForge iOS app and are aligned to national media-arts and science standards (NCAS Media Arts + NGSS Engineering Design). Everything works with the sound off and can be played entirely by keyboard. Meet the cast and read their stories at the cast page.

Spark & Anvil is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Apps stay free forever. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

Full parent guide Site privacy policy