Ok so I inserted a new symbol, then inserted the gif, it is 9 frames long, animates correctly.
When I use that symbol in my Scene1, it does not animate like it should.

Also, if/when I can get it to animate, how can I make it continusly loop?

Im using Flash5.

You need to make sure you have chosen movieclip as the symbol type - a
graphic symbol needs the same number of frames in the main movie in order
for it to play all the frames inside itself. A movieclip on the otherhand is
independent of the main timeline - that is, it can play as many frames
inside itself as needed even if there was only one frame on the main
timeline.

As a movieclip, it will continously loop for you

WP

[quoted text, click to view]