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From your first video to your second I found a step back in artistic quality. You opted for easier to animate characters with flailing arms to make it look less boring. Look for a paper by John Lassiter of Pixar studios on computer graphics (http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?i d=37407). While this is outside the scope of most flash videos it teaches proper animation techniques that have barely changed since the start of Disney animation studios. It's a great starting ground for learning how to breath life into your "short" as opposed to using your flapping arms technique. Why did your models take a step back in artistic quality? The eyes in one are white circles or cliche' anime expressions. I understand that people eat this shit up, but I don't.

Second the writing is a wreck. Timing is key in any comedic performance. You seem to lack that sense and draw things out much longer than they should be. Also the content isn't funny either. You could get the timing down and you still lack jokes that make me laugh. You pool on anime references, video game references, and stupid catches. Find some better material instead of turning your work into a flash-based Family Guy. I almost cried tears of pain when you used Phoenix Wright music in one of your videos. The use of a logical solution to a subjective opinion is just wrong I tell you. WRONG!

Thirdly, you need to get some better audio equipment for your sound. A USB headset can be purchased from NewEgg for fifty bucks that sounds as good as anything on a podcast. It'll likely come with a foam cover to cut out some of the white noise that takes anyone who's viewing out of the scene. It lacks professionalism.

On a side note I read a long review (another zero) on one of your flash movies. The man (or woman?) had honest advice and you put him down saying his standards are too high. I understand that these are all fun little things you're doing for you and your friend's amusement. However, telling someone they set their bar too high is childish. If you didn't want anyone to criticize your material so harshly put it on a personal webpage and send your friends the link.

May 29, 2008

Author's Response:

I see that you are a back and white reviewer, perfect or it sucks, no middle ground whatsoever. I'll tackle each one of your points.

I chose the flapping arms/white eyes style because I like it. I like the overall simplicity, it's cute, and it's rather easy on the eyes. Will I improve on it? In tiny increments. Since I like to make Flash comics/Flash Graphic Novels (like Broken Saints) more than actual animations, this will be set on the back burner for a while.

The writing I cannot speak of much, but it's geared towards its fans. The Lucky Star segment as far I know is accurate in its timing. Humor? I see it as a light humor, so you won't find an extreme LOL experience here.

The audio here I downgraded to about a quarter to third from its original size so it can be downloadable in a reasonable time. This is Newgrounds, we like things quick. Also, you reviewing a collaboration, we have a mixture of people who have high quality $100 USB mics, and those who have reasonable sounding mics that are $20 at Best Buy. I have no control over that. That is for the VAs involved to decide on what they want and are comfortable with. We are mostly amateurs or professional amateurs (that is an actual term BTW). Not all of us can put the money in excellent mics.

As for the reviewer from my other video, s/he was looking for something that wasn't even there to being with, such as "enlightenment" and the "piazzas". The "F-U" storybook ending and the horrible drawings reflecting Rowa's mood is evident of it.

Newgrounds is a place that has a pool of talent, the good, the bad, the ugly, the amazing, and THE UNIQUE. If I cpould not handle the criticism in the first place, I would've left a long time ago. Yet I'm still here, producing videos, reviewing videos, and enjoying what the site has to offer.

Everything has its own audience. Even this video you reviewed. By the sound of it, you are not part of it. If you are not part of that audience, then don't watch it.

Oh yeah, it also seemed like you created a NG account just so you can bash my work, with all the reviews but this one deleted, not to mention your username; I find that quite childish on your part.

-Chester Kwan