diff --git a/docs/example_generation.jl b/docs/example_generation.jl
index 87562bbd..5dd9568d 100644
--- a/docs/example_generation.jl
+++ b/docs/example_generation.jl
@@ -31,70 +31,127 @@ end
 const examples = PlotExample[
   PlotExample("Lines",
               "A simple line plot of the columns.",
-              [:(plot(fakedata(50,5), w=3))]),
-  PlotExample("Functions",
-              "Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f, xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.",
-              [:(plot(0:0.01:4π, [sin,cos]))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(fakedata(50,5), w=3))
+              ]),
+  PlotExample("Functions, adding data, and animations",
+              "Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f, xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.  Set, get, and push/append to series data, and easily build animations.\n\nNote: ImageMagick's `convert` or `ffmpeg` must be runnable from pwd to generate the animation.",
+              [
+                :(p = plot([sin,cos], zeros(0))),
+                :(anim = Animation()),
+                :(for x in linspace(0, 10π, 200)
+                    push!(p, x, Float64[sin(x), cos(x)])
+                    frame(anim)
+                  end)
+              ]),
   PlotExample("",
               "Or make a parametric plot (i.e. plot: (fx(u), fy(u))) with plot(fx, fy, umin, umax).",
-              [:(plot(sin, x->sin(2x), 0, 2π, line=4, leg=false, fill=(0,:orange)))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(sin, x->sin(2x), 0, 2π, line=4, leg=false, fill=(0,:orange)))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Colors",
               "Access predefined palettes (or build your own with the `colorscheme` method).  Line/marker colors are auto-generated from the plot's palette, unless overridden.  Set the `z` argument to turn on series gradients.",
-              [:(y = rand(100)), :(plot(0:10:100,rand(11,4),lab="lines",w=3, palette=:grays, fill=(0.5,:auto))), :(scatter!(y, z=abs(y-.5), m=(10,:heat), lab="grad"))]),
+              [
+                :(y = rand(100)),
+                :(plot(0:10:100,rand(11,4),lab="lines",w=3, palette=:grays, fill=(0.5,:auto))),
+                :(scatter!(y, z=abs(y-.5), m=(10,:heat), lab="grad"))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Global",
               "Change the guides/background/limits/ticks.  Convenience args `xaxis` and `yaxis` allow you to pass a tuple or value which will be mapped to the relevant args automatically.  The `xaxis` below will be replaced with `xlabel` and `xlims` args automatically during the preprocessing step. You can also use shorthand functions: `title!`, `xaxis!`, `yaxis!`, `xlabel!`, `ylabel!`, `xlims!`, `ylims!`, `xticks!`, `yticks!`",
-              [:(plot(rand(20,3), title="TITLE", xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip), yaxis=("YLABEL",:log10), background_color = RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2), leg=false))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(rand(20,3), xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip), background_color = RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2), leg=false)),
+                :(title!("TITLE")),
+                :(yaxis!("YLABEL", :log10))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Two-axis",
               "Use the `axis` arguments.\n\nNote: Currently only supported with Qwt and PyPlot",
-              [:(plot(Vector[randn(100), randn(100)*100]; axis = [:l :r], ylabel="LEFT", yrightlabel="RIGHT"))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(Vector[randn(100), randn(100)*100], axis = [:l :r], ylabel="LEFT", yrightlabel="RIGHT"))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Arguments",
               "Plot multiple series with different numbers of points.  Mix arguments that apply to all series (marker/markersize) with arguments unique to each series (colors).  Special arguments `line`, `marker`, and `fill` will automatically figure out what arguments to set (for example, we are setting the `linestyle`, `linewidth`, and `color` arguments with `line`.)  Note that we pass a matrix of colors, and this applies the colors to each series.",
-              [:(plot(Vector[rand(10), rand(20)]; marker=(:ellipse,8), line=(:dot,3,[:black :orange])))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(Vector[rand(10), rand(20)], marker=(:ellipse,8), line=(:dot,3,[:black :orange])))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Build plot in pieces",
               "Start with a base plot...",
-              [:(plot(rand(100)/3, reg=true, fill=(0,:green)))]),
+              [
+                :(plot(rand(100)/3, reg=true, fill=(0,:green)))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("",
               "and add to it later.",
-              [:(scatter!(rand(100), markersize=6, c=:orange))]),
+              [
+                :(scatter!(rand(100), markersize=6, c=:orange))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Heatmaps",
               "",
-              [:(heatmap(randn(10000),randn(10000), nbins=100))]),
+              [
+                :(heatmap(randn(10000),randn(10000), nbins=100))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Line types",
               "",
-              [:(types = intersect(supportedTypes(), [:line, :path, :steppre, :steppost, :sticks, :scatter])'),
-                  :(n = length(types)),
-                  :(x = Vector[sort(rand(20)) for i in 1:n]),
-                  :(y = rand(20,n)),
-                  :(plot(x, y, line=(types,3), lab=map(string,types), ms=15))]),
+              [
+                :(types = intersect(supportedTypes(), [:line, :path, :steppre, :steppost, :sticks, :scatter])'),
+                :(n = length(types)),
+                :(x = Vector[sort(rand(20)) for i in 1:n]),
+                :(y = rand(20,n)),
+                :(plot(x, y, line=(types,3), lab=map(string,types), ms=15))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Line styles",
               "",
-              [:(styles = setdiff(supportedStyles(), [:auto])'), :(plot(cumsum(randn(20,length(styles)),1); style=:auto, label=map(string,styles), w=5))]),
+              [
+                :(styles = setdiff(supportedStyles(), [:auto])'),
+                :(plot(cumsum(randn(20,length(styles)),1), style=:auto, label=map(string,styles), w=5))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Marker types",
               "",
-              # [:(markers = setdiff(supportedMarkers(), [:none,:auto,Shape])'), :(n = length(markers)), :(scatter(0.5:9.5, [fill(i-0.5,10) for i=n:-1:1]; marker=(12,:auto), lab=map(string,markers), ms=12, ylim=(0,n), bg=RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2)))]),
-              [:(markers = setdiff(supportedMarkers(), [:none,:auto,Shape])'), :(n = length(markers)), :(x = linspace(0,10,n+2)[2:end-1]), :(y = repmat(reverse(x)', n, 1)), :(scatter(x, y, m=(12,:auto), lab=map(string,markers), bg=:linen))]),
+              [
+                :(markers = setdiff(supportedMarkers(), [:none,:auto,Shape])'),
+                :(n = length(markers)),
+                :(x = linspace(0,10,n+2)[2:end-1]),
+                :(y = repmat(reverse(x)', n, 1)),
+                :(scatter(x, y, m=(12,:auto), lab=map(string,markers), bg=:linen))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Bar",
               "x is the midpoint of the bar. (todo: allow passing of edges instead of midpoints)",
-              [:(bar(randn(999)))]),
+              [
+                :(bar(randn(999)))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Histogram",
               "",
-              [:(histogram(randn(1000), nbins=50))]),
+              [
+                :(histogram(randn(1000), nbins=50))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Subplots",
               """
                 subplot and subplot! are distinct commands which create many plots and add series to them in a circular fashion.
                 You can define the layout with keyword params... either set the number of plots `n` (and optionally number of rows `nr` or 
                 number of columns `nc`), or you can set the layout directly with `layout`.
               """,
-              [:(subplot(randn(100,5), layout=[1,1,3], t=[:line :hist :scatter :step :bar], nbins=10, leg=false))]),
+              [
+                :(subplot(randn(100,5), layout=[1,1,3], t=[:line :hist :scatter :step :bar], nbins=10, leg=false))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Adding to subplots",
               "Note here the automatic grid layout, as well as the order in which new series are added to the plots.",
-              [:(subplot(fakedata(100,10), n=4, palette=[:grays :blues :heat :lightrainbow], bg=[:orange :pink :darkblue :black]))]),
+              [
+                :(subplot(fakedata(100,10), n=4, palette=[:grays :blues :heat :lightrainbow], bg=[:orange :pink :darkblue :black]))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("",
               "",
-              [:(subplot!(fakedata(100,10)))]),
+              [
+                :(subplot!(fakedata(100,10)))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Open/High/Low/Close",
               "Create an OHLC chart.  Pass in a vector of OHLC objects as your `y` argument.  Adjust the tick width with arg `markersize`.",
-              [:(n=20), :(hgt=rand(n)+1), :(bot=randn(n)), :(openpct=rand(n)), :(closepct=rand(n)), :(y = [OHLC(openpct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i], bot[i]+hgt[i], bot[i], closepct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i]) for i in 1:n]), :(ohlc(y; markersize=8))]),
+              [
+                :(n=20),
+                :(hgt=rand(n)+1),
+                :(bot=randn(n)),
+                :(openpct=rand(n)),
+                :(closepct=rand(n)),
+                :(y = [OHLC(openpct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i], bot[i]+hgt[i], bot[i], closepct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i]) for i in 1:n]),
+                :(ohlc(y; markersize=8))
+              ]),
   PlotExample("Annotations",
               "Currently only text annotations are supported.  Pass in a tuple or vector-of-tuples: (x,y,text).  `annotate!(ann)` is shorthand for `plot!(; annotation=ann)`",
               [
@@ -147,11 +204,17 @@ function generate_markdown(pkgname::Symbol)
       # run the code
       map(eval, example.exprs)
 
-      # save the png
-      imgname = "$(pkgname)_example_$i.png"
+      # # save the png
+      # imgname = "$(pkgname)_example_$i.png"
 
       # NOTE: uncomment this to overwrite the images as well
-      png("$IMGDIR/$pkgname/$imgname")
+      if i == 2
+        imgname = "$(pkgname)_example_$i.gif"
+        gif(anim, "$IMGDIR/$pkgname/$imgname", fps=15)
+      else
+        imgname = "$(pkgname)_example_$i.png"
+        png("$IMGDIR/$pkgname/$imgname")
+      end
 
       # write out the header, description, code block, and image link
       write(md, "### $(example.header)\n\n")
@@ -297,7 +360,7 @@ function buildReadme()
   Plots.dumpSupportGraphs()
 end
 
-default(size=(600,400))
+default(size=(500,300))
 
 # run it!
 # note: generate separately so it's easy to comment out
diff --git a/docs/immerse_examples.md b/docs/immerse_examples.md
index 9cac3af7..5003fb79 100644
--- a/docs/immerse_examples.md
+++ b/docs/immerse_examples.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Examples for backend: immerse
 
-- Supported arguments: `annotation`, `background_color`, `color`, `color_palette`, `fillrange`, `fillcolor`, `foreground_color`, `group`, `label`, `layout`, `legend`, `linestyle`, `linetype`, `linewidth`, `markershape`, `markercolor`, `markersize`, `n`, `nbins`, `nc`, `nr`, `smooth`, `show`, `size`, `title`, `windowtitle`, `x`, `xlabel`, `xlims`, `xticks`, `y`, `ylabel`, `ylims`, `yticks`, `xscale`, `yscale`, `xflip`, `yflip`, `z`, `tickfont`, `guidefont`, `legendfont`
+- Supported arguments: `annotation`, `background_color`, `color`, `color_palette`, `fillrange`, `fillcolor`, `fillopacity`, `foreground_color`, `group`, `label`, `layout`, `legend`, `linestyle`, `linetype`, `linewidth`, `lineopacity`, `markershape`, `markercolor`, `markersize`, `markeropacity`, `n`, `nbins`, `nc`, `nr`, `smooth`, `show`, `size`, `title`, `windowtitle`, `x`, `xlabel`, `xlims`, `xticks`, `y`, `ylabel`, `ylims`, `yticks`, `xscale`, `yscale`, `xflip`, `yflip`, `z`, `tickfont`, `guidefont`, `legendfont`, `grid`
 - Supported values for axis: `:auto`, `:left`
 - Supported values for linetype: `:none`, `:line`, `:path`, `:steppre`, `:steppost`, `:sticks`, `:scatter`, `:heatmap`, `:hexbin`, `:hist`, `:bar`, `:hline`, `:vline`, `:ohlc`
 - Supported values for linestyle: `:auto`, `:solid`, `:dash`, `:dot`, `:dashdot`, `:dashdotdot`
@@ -24,22 +24,29 @@ plot(fakedata(50,5),w=3)
 
 ![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_1.png)
 
-### Functions
+### Functions, adding data, and animations
 
-Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f, xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.
+Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f, xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.  Set, get, and push/append to series data, and easily build animations.
+
+Note: ImageMagick's `convert` or `ffmpeg` must be runnable from pwd to generate the animation.
 
 ```julia
-plot(0:0.01:4π,[sin,cos])
+p = plot([sin,cos],zeros(0))
+anim = Animation()
+for x = linspace(0,10π,200) # /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/docs/example_generation.jl, line 43:
+    push!(p,x,Float64[sin(x),cos(x)]) # /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/docs/example_generation.jl, line 44:
+    frame(anim)
+end
 ```
 
-![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_2.png)
+![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_2.gif)
 
 ### 
 
 Or make a parametric plot (i.e. plot: (fx(u), fy(u))) with plot(fx, fy, umin, umax).
 
 ```julia
-plot(sin,(x->begin  # /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/docs/example_generation.jl, line 40:
+plot(sin,(x->begin  # /home/tom/.julia/v0.4/Plots/docs/example_generation.jl, line 50:
             sin(2x)
         end),0,2π,line=4,leg=false,fill=(0,:orange))
 ```
@@ -63,7 +70,9 @@ scatter!(y,z=abs(y - 0.5),m=(10,:heat),lab="grad")
 Change the guides/background/limits/ticks.  Convenience args `xaxis` and `yaxis` allow you to pass a tuple or value which will be mapped to the relevant args automatically.  The `xaxis` below will be replaced with `xlabel` and `xlims` args automatically during the preprocessing step. You can also use shorthand functions: `title!`, `xaxis!`, `yaxis!`, `xlabel!`, `ylabel!`, `xlims!`, `ylims!`, `xticks!`, `yticks!`
 
 ```julia
-plot(rand(20,3),title="TITLE",xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip),yaxis=("YLABEL",:log10),background_color=RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2),leg=false)
+plot(rand(20,3),xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip),background_color=RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2),leg=false)
+title!("TITLE")
+yaxis!("YLABEL",:log10)
 ```
 
 ![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_5.png)
@@ -75,7 +84,7 @@ Use the `axis` arguments.
 Note: Currently only supported with Qwt and PyPlot
 
 ```julia
-plot(Vector[randn(100),randn(100) * 100]; axis=[:l :r],ylabel="LEFT",yrightlabel="RIGHT")
+plot(Vector[randn(100),randn(100) * 100],axis=[:l :r],ylabel="LEFT",yrightlabel="RIGHT")
 ```
 
 ![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_6.png)
@@ -85,7 +94,7 @@ plot(Vector[randn(100),randn(100) * 100]; axis=[:l :r],ylabel="LEFT",yrightlabel
 Plot multiple series with different numbers of points.  Mix arguments that apply to all series (marker/markersize) with arguments unique to each series (colors).  Special arguments `line`, `marker`, and `fill` will automatically figure out what arguments to set (for example, we are setting the `linestyle`, `linewidth`, and `color` arguments with `line`.)  Note that we pass a matrix of colors, and this applies the colors to each series.
 
 ```julia
-plot(Vector[rand(10),rand(20)]; marker=(:ellipse,8),line=(:dot,3,[:black :orange]))
+plot(Vector[rand(10),rand(20)],marker=(:ellipse,8),line=(:dot,3,[:black :orange]))
 ```
 
 ![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_7.png)
@@ -140,7 +149,7 @@ plot(x,y,line=(types,3),lab=map(string,types),ms=15)
 
 ```julia
 styles = setdiff(supportedStyles(),[:auto])'
-plot(cumsum(randn(20,length(styles)),1); style=:auto,label=map(string,styles),w=5)
+plot(cumsum(randn(20,length(styles)),1),style=:auto,label=map(string,styles),w=5)
 ```
 
 ![](../img/immerse/immerse_example_12.png)
diff --git a/docs/readme_template.md b/docs/readme_template.md
index 1174cbf2..624c33e1 100644
--- a/docs/readme_template.md
+++ b/docs/readme_template.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Plots is a plotting interface and wrapper for several plotting packages.  My goa
 - **Smart**.  Defaults for the most common functionality, and high-level ways to override complex functionality.
 - **Flexible**.  Produce your favorite plots from your favorite package, but quicker and simpler.
 - **Consistent**.  Don't commit to one graphics package.  Use the same code and access the strengths of all backends.
+- **Lightweight**.  There are very few dependencies.  Backends are loaded and initialized dynamically.
 
 Use the preprocessing pipeline in Plots to fully describe your visualization before it calls the backend code.  This maintains modularity and allows for efficient separation of front end code, algorithms, and backend graphics.  New graphical backends can be added simply and with minimal required functionality.
 
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_1.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_1.png
index a06e42e9..10dcbdba 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_1.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_1.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_10.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_10.png
index e1d4550b..44da0bc8 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_10.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_10.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_11.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_11.png
index c0fa0be1..f8e7343f 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_11.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_11.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_12.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_12.png
index 539bce4a..744e02dd 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_12.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_12.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_13.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_13.png
index 9721d445..55a02314 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_13.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_13.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_14.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_14.png
index 7e3466c7..c4a22494 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_14.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_14.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_15.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_15.png
index 6b85a465..dbd2189d 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_15.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_15.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_16.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_16.png
index 57e27cb9..b3dfa4b2 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_16.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_16.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_17.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_17.png
index a94dd3f8..85f79662 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_17.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_17.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_18.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_18.png
index 8cd1397d..b6731b34 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_18.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_18.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_2.gif b/img/immerse/immerse_example_2.gif
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fd37cc1e
Binary files /dev/null and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_2.gif differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_20.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_20.png
index 42e2798b..c8e0841a 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_20.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_20.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_3.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_3.png
index ba25ea9d..7e89042e 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_3.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_3.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_4.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_4.png
index 925dc86f..cac6c222 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_4.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_4.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_5.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_5.png
index 2fa91efb..af4d7be4 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_5.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_5.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_6.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_6.png
index 7c5911b2..ef5bc874 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_6.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_6.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_7.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_7.png
index 9858dc70..fbf90579 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_7.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_7.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_8.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_8.png
index d5b3b292..acc5c5b8 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_8.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_8.png differ
diff --git a/img/immerse/immerse_example_9.png b/img/immerse/immerse_example_9.png
index 737f0a02..107e5f6e 100644
Binary files a/img/immerse/immerse_example_9.png and b/img/immerse/immerse_example_9.png differ