Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding image files

An apparatus and a method for encoding an image file are provided. The method includes generating at least one animation object according to a user input; generating animation data including the at least one animation object; generating image data that is reproducible independently from the animation data; generating an integrated image file, which includes the image data and the animation data, and has an extension of the image data; and storing the generated integrated image file in a memory.