The coloration absorption band in lithium-coloured WO3 anodic films with different coloration rates has been determined by computations from reflectance data. The electrochromic characteristics directly deduced from multichannel optical analysis which, in addition to the spectral data, also give access to the coloration kinetics, are used as well. Different electrochromism theories are examined with regard to these results. The availability of anodic films as materials for practical devices is briefly described, with the focus on endurance tests during long cycling processes.