#comicon . . . it's approaching

[alexandersimpleton]

*high pitched screaming in the distance*

[angeltism]

oh btw I just remembered I have such an interesting life . so ok I guess I'm posting a lot again . yeah idk my brain is a mess it's the adhd anyways did you know in a little over a week I'm gonna be cosplaying Fischl and spending horrendous amounts of money merchandise/artist merch

[musette22]

Hiiii Musette!!! been dying since I saw this tiktok from the Liverpool Comicon, what's your intake on it?

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMhsyb8Fo/

Hi love!! Please, call me Minnie 😊

Ah yes, I answered a couple of asks about this earlier this week, here and here. In addition to what I've said there, particularly about how he's not the type to badmouth people he's worked with (or in this case, is still sort of working with), I personally think it's important to realise that Sebastian is coming at this from a different perspective than we are. Realising that made a big difference to me as to how I felt about him saying things about Stucky that I didn't like all that much.

Long reply under the cut!

Basically, we are shippers (or at least I am, and I'm just going to assume you are too for arguments' sake). We approach these movies and characters from a shipper's perspective, and that's not to say we're just making things up or we're seeing things that aren't there - the potential for Stucky is VERY much present in the movies, there's no denying that (and neither the makers nor the actors deny that either). But whether we like it or not, both interpretations (as in, romantic Stucky and platonic Stucky) are possible. Yes, we believe our interpretation is the one true interpretation (I personally do, in any case), but the biggest part of the people who have seen the movies came away from them thinking that Steve and Bucky were just really close friends, almost like brothers, and walked out of the theatre after seeing Endgame thinking 'Aww it's so nice that they just wanted the best for each other!' Because that's what the movies wanted people to think. I think it's bullshit, personally, but most people will have bought it at face value, and when I take a step back to get some perspective on it all, I get that.

So it makes total sense to me that Sebastian, as someone who comes at this mostly from a professional POV and whose opinion is solely informed by the movies, would be more inclined to that sort of a reading, too. While my Stucky spark was lit by the movies, it was fanned into a roaring fire by Tumblr and, even more importantly, fanfiction. Sebastian is aware of the concept of Stucky, and I'm sure he's given it some thought over the years, but he hasn't been bombarded with it on Tumblr for years on end or steeped himself in all the incredible fanfiction, like we have. He's said before that he doesn't personally view Stucky as romantic (but he is fine with that interpretation as well and can see where people are coming from), but that he does think Steve and Bucky's platonic, brotherly bond is very strong and significant (so for that reason alone, I don't think he was too happy with Endgame's ending, as he's also hinted at before).

I personally decided after Endgame that Bucky's canon story ended when he was reunited with Steve in Wakanda, and the rest of that movie simply didn't happen, and the same goes for TFATWS and now Thunderbolts. None of that is part of the narrative I envision for Bucky, so that way, it's pretty easy to dismiss Endgame's ending. Obviously, Sebastian has had no choice but to accept it as canon, as it would influence his subsequent portrayal of Bucky as a character. He was going to keep portraying Bucky in other things, so didn't have the option of dismissing it or being outright hostile towards it, because that would've made things impossible for him as he continued to play Bucky. So he's probably made his peace with Endgame's ending, to some extent, I think that's very understandable.

Do I think he'd have preferred a different ending to Endgame? Absolutely. And I personally think that's quite clear from the way he answers these types of questions. If you ask me, he's basically trying to make the best of a bad situation. Do I think he's as livid as we are and secretly hoped Steve and Bucky would get married at the end of Endgame? Not at all. That's our perspective, not his, and that's fine. Of course I'm a little disappointed when he says things that I don't personally agree with, I'd love for him to openly ship Stucky as hard as we do and shit on Marvel while he's at it. But that's not a realistic thing to expect from him, given the fact that he's coming at this from a completely different place than we are, and I personally don't blame him for having the opinions he has, even if I don't agree.

I don't think we need to agree with him. I don't think it matters all that much what he thinks, to be perfectly honest. It used to matter to me a lot more, in the past, but while it's still validating when he does say something that fits with what I believe, I've really learned to see his view and my own view as two separate things. For me, as a Stucky shipper, it ultimately doesn't matter what the actors think or say about it, particularly because the source material for me is only a sort of guideline, something I pick and choose elements from that I enjoy and that align with my view of these characters. While I enjoyed (parts of) the movies and Chris and Sebastian's performances, the canon is in no way the be all and end all of my shipping these characters. I enjoy all the movie meta I see here on Tumblr, and I obsess about the gif sets of Stucky scenes as much as the next person, but I'm also aware that there are also plenty of other bits and pieces in these movies that I'm just flat out ignoring because they don't fit my preferred narrative, and that, if you don't ignore those parts, and you accept the "official" narrative that the movies are selling you, that other interpretations are also possible (wrong ones, but still).

So what I'm trying to say here, in a really long-winded, roundabout sort of way (sorry, I'm sick and my head isn't working properly today), is that I don't believe Sebastian is completely fine with Endgame's ending, but I also don't think he hates it as much as we'd like him to hate it, and ultimately, that doesn't (or shouldn't) make a difference. Regardless of what Sebastian thinks or says, I still hate that ending and I still believe Steve and Bucky are romantic soulmates. Sebastian may not be a Stucky shipper himself (or hate EG as much as I do), but he has made it very clear that he's absolutely fine with that interpretation as well and he's hardly EG's biggest apologist ever, and that's enough for me!

[aspec-illustration]

Convention season is fast approaching and we've been hard at work on our new items for 2024. Here's a look at our new foil prints! We've got a classy greyscale print of Kiki's Delivery Service finished with red foil to add to our Ghibli line up, a print of Baiken also finished with red foil to add to our Guilty Gear line up, and a much requested print of Matrix also with red foil to add to our Reboot line up.

Also! We're trying something new this year and finally producing two original foil arts. These will be in a smaller format and we'll expanding the series if these sell well.

We'll be at Toronto Comicon in a couple of weeks (March 15-17 2024, table A1102) and Fanexpo in Toronto later in the year (August 22-25, Table TBA) - stay tuned for more details and any other convention announcements!

Prints will go in the online store between conventions; I'll announce that here as well.

[peplaaa72]

Srry for the offtop and sm yapping but I'm so excited (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

A bit of face reveal as well ig x) (only a bit)

Was at comicon yesterday w my irl friends, AND IT WAS SO FREAKING AMAZING LOL

Before actually goin to comicon I went to my friend's house (this one friend with which I tried to make a cosplay. Sadly enough, I didn't have enough time to finish it bcuz of college so we'll continue working on it on holidays xDDDD). There we suddenly decided to do some make-up AND DBJSNSNSHSKNSM I ASKED HER TO MAKE MY MAKE-UP LIKE BURNING SPICE'S TATTOOS---- (don't wanna put on Affo's make-up till my cosplay is finished, aaannddd I also feel kinda dysphoric last few weeks so yeah the less femininity in my looks the better). Listen, I kinda hate this guy, but his face tattoos are just 💥💥💥🙏🙏🙏. Also fun fact, when I tried to make pics of my make-up w/o showing my face she gave me her fan and said "this way there will also be a part of Affogato on your pics" SHE KNOWS ME WAY TOO WELL LOL. And yeah, my friend did both of us some make-up (SHE'S AMAZING RIGHT???? Only doing some sort of face reveal cuz wanna show u guys how talented my friend is LIKE FR!! 🙏🙏🙏) - BS's one 4 me and Japanese styled 4 her, and then we headed right to the festival

I was wondering if I meet at least one crk cosplayer AND GUESS WHAT DKAGSKNSKASJ. A FEW MINUTES AFTER WE ARRIVED I NOTICED GOLDEN CHEESE COSPLAYER!!! After a lil while I approached them and asked: "Excuse me, are you cosplaying Golden Cheese?" AND WJAHJSKAB THEY SAID: "Yeah! And you are *realization hits them* BURNING SPICE?! Please don't rip my wings off!" LMAO---- (We were joking bout this till the end of comicon lol). They also asked me to take a pic w them :3 (won't post it here at least because the cosplayer is a minor). We spent quite a lot of time together, even made matching pins - mine with BS's Soul Jam and theirs with GC's Soul Jam (it was their idea xD). Honestly I HATE markers cuz I don't have any idea how to draw with em w/o em spreading over the lineart and ruining the picture. Anyway, it was pretty fun to make my own pin like this :D (wanted to make Affo pin as well cuz there was literally no merch w my babygirl BUT I GOT SICK AND TIRED OF MARKERS TOO FAST EJKABAJGKGJKA)

Fun fact, while we were making pins I showed the cosplayer and their friend one of my art and said something like "drew it at college on a boring lecture" AND THEY BOTH WENT SILENT FOR A WHILE.... And then GC cosplayer asked: "College? How old are you?.." I said that I turn 19 the next week AND TJKEHEKE THEY SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT I'M 14 LMAO---- (and I thought that they're 14, but they said they both are 11--. Like. What--). That was a bit awkward ngl :D

I also bought some merch (unfortunately there was no merch w Affogato but tons with Pure Vanilla, so yeah, I'm still happy ah). Fun fact, I spent on it almost $40---. I THOUGHT I SPENT LIKE 2 TIMES LESSER THAN THAT LOL

Oh gosh this comicon was amazing! Also brings back memories how I celebrated my 16th (if I'm not mistaken?) Bday at comicon (the 19th one I'm celebrating at college lol 💀💥)

Btw me and my friend @milkamel are working on smth interesting so stay tuned ;)

[evil-mcytblrconfessions]

I was at Comicon and someone fucking recognized me as Squiddo but my dad didn’t tell me until after we left the con. I’m going back later today but if the person who recognized me is reading this I’m rapidly approaching your location and we will be discussing L!Squiddo and K!Squiddo for the next 3 hours.

.

[nylonesques]

nylon's favourite fics (part 1)

hi this is exactly what it sounds like. these are some of my favourite fics ive ever read on ao3, like, truly unforgettable reads-

and then there's there's Ziracona's 'In Living Memory' which seems to sit on a golden throne, yet to be usurped by reading experience alone. i don't think it can be. at more than a MILLION and A HALF words long, the journey it took me through its 70 chapters is just indescribable.

in short, in living memory is a story about resistance against things we, as human beings, will never be able to comprehend. eldritch forces pre-dating humanity, capable of creating hell, and taking human beings ('survivor' role and 'killer' role) into that realm of hell to harvest them, slowly, over time. the cast throughout in living memory try try and Try again to fight back against the oldest thing ever not-known, And their adversaries who very much enjoy the entity's realm, And themselves - because, how, when you have died thousands of times before, and will thousands of times again, without ever aging or changing - how do you manage to not give up? to keep trying? to resist when so many have failed before?

well, in living memory explores that, through its character relationships, and hopes, and humanity, and it weaves a story that will make you shake.

my gaming life at the moment summed up to, 'pre' and 'post' finishing in living memory. it's terrifying how i likely won't read any fanfic that has made me shake, scream, cry, and have emotional genuine physical reactions in the same way this fic has. like, when you experience peak, what do you do? where do you go? how do you feel? i felt everything. years later, i still think about it, and what it made me realise, and reflect on. is it insane to say a fic made me Grateful? it made me grateful to be alive, for what i have and will have, for everything i've lost. im being so serious

this fic recontextualised the way i even Experience the game this fic is based on, Dead by Daylight, and skyrocketed my enjoyment of it. it changed the way i approach relationships and made me feel hope in a time of repetitiveness in my life. it made me a better person somehow. don't know how just did

in living memory ghosts after me when i see a man walking a white staffy-dog, like my neighbours. in living memory has made me pause before writing a letter. in living memory has made my full body twitch when i rewatch Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978), because - how can i not think about in living memory? how can't i? it's even made me look twice at a fucking comicon convention, just to look at it. just to look, at what there is, and how beautiful it all is. how much there is, so much connection in the world, so much hope and fear but hope.

and the best thing is, above all of my dramatics: the fic is just fucking funny. its funny. it's witty in a way that isn't distracting because it's just So authentic. i have so many screenshots on my phone from years ago, when i first read in living memory, where i laughed out loud and thought to myself 'i need to keep this in my photo album' nevermind my phone storage. and i haven't deleted any of those fic moments, 4 years ahead. not one. i may even upload some in a small collage, the ones without spoilers, just to look at them. and to insist upon sharing them

in living memory is the whole package and more. it's funny, the characters are likeable, the arcs are incredible, it picks you up and drops you and picks you up again, and there's always light at the end of the tunnel. always. in living memory will convince you of that.

in short in living memory made me realise what fanfiction is capable of, and truly showed me that 'fanfiction' is, sometimes, just novels in disguise that deserve to be in glass cases to be preserved. if it were possible, i would buy in living memory as a physical book, and im not even joking. i would seriously do anything for this thing to be like a 2500 page novel, or a collection of four or six chunky books. i'd buy them all and dedicate a shelf to them.

there's so much im forgetting, because i finished last finished reading in 2021, (i will soon be re-reading: it's a worthy time commitment), and this is what i remember from how dear this fic is to me, god forbid i start combing through it again and jotting down every fine thing that just made me sit back and go, 'oh my god.'

i remember reaching a certain point in the fic, where the scene depicted just made me feel so much - i will not be mentioning the chapter - and i couldn't stop crying, because i felt so comforted, and aware of everything. the world around me, the relationships. just everything, how connected everything is. the things we lose, and gain, and gain because we lose and its just. god.

and the best thing, about in living memory? if you've never played dead by daylight before in your life, you can google the characters names, without spoilers relating to in living memory - there's no main storyline in dbd to follow. or maybe, you could already know some of the characters. ever heard of laurie strode, michael myers, quentin smith, amanda young? (Halloween, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street (2009 Remake, and Saw, respectively-)) well, they're in this. and many, many more. you may even read and fall in love with one of the dbd original cast, like jake park, claudette morel, dwight fairfield or meg thomas.

you can even google the basic foundation of dbd, or listen to me ramble about it now - they're in the entity's realm, taken by the entity, 4 survivors 1 killer per trial, 5 generators to finish to let them open the doors to escape, if they're hooked 3 times by the killer they die. and the best part: surviving the trial or not, they always end up back at the campfire, and the killers are always back in their own area of territory/map, (almost always) alone.

there's so much to this fic, seriously. i know it sounds like im dramatisising but I'm really not. i don't even know what to say. sometimes, things don't have words, and we try to give them words but really all we can do is (gestures vaguely, with tears streaming down my face)

i leave you with a link, and a promise that 'in living memory' is, to me, one of the best fanfictions put to paper (doc) in contemporary fanfiction history. i cannot recommend it more, seriously. to say it's a journey is an understatement.

and i leave you a song, that is not related to the fic at all. (holding back tears)

[ironedsleeper]

I don’t generally seek star wars fans because the fanbase is toxic sludge but I recently found out one of the old extended universe characters I like the most is considered a Gary Stu and literally the only thing approaching an actual reason for why is that some pissbabies felt like the character was trying to take Luke’s limelight or some shit

Fandom is so fucking stupid because I guarantee most of the people shit talking Corran Horn as a character are just regurgitating things they’ve heard from others without having read anything he’s in.

I also saw one guy say he’s an author self insert and that’s actually hilariously off the mark. I got to talk to the author who created the character at a comicon once and he shared a story about how for some of the trading cards coming out at the time they wanted him to be the model for Corran, it wasn’t his idea and he didn’t feel like he looked anything like the character but that’s what he was told to do. Yet people bring up that trading card like it was his idea.

Anyway Corran is a character who has in universe explications for the skills he has when we first meet him and he gets his ass kicked a lot when he tries learning something new and it comes off like some insecure fanboys in the 90s saw him as Luke competition somehow.

[cakeniron]

Gotta Knock A Little Harder...

This is a weird moment for me; a very weird one..It was a fateful summer at San Diego Comicon when a few folks approached me with two prosepects: Audiobooks and Fiverr, which was in its infancy at the time..I made the decision to quit project management life. A 10 year path in tech was not my goal when I moved to Los Angeles. How lovely was it that these seasoned, union actors delivered the…

[joesanimationblog]

Forefront Post 4

The Legend of PIPI

The Legend of PIPI is a short 2D animated fantasy/comedy film that was uploaded to YouTube on the 16th of July 2022. The film is absolutely stunning with really wonderful linework and art direction. 

Something that sets this film apart from other 2D animated films I have seen is its layout design. The character PIPI travels far and wide in the story and finds themself in many visually distinct locations. This journey feels convincing because we see the character PIPI always traveling from left to right, but also because we see PIPI at different scales and moving up and down in the frame. As PIPI is a small character, making them look smaller in the frame communicates how big the world around them truly is. 

It seems like you can split the shots in this film into two categories 

Physical comedy moving through the space

Social comedy interacting with characters in a single space

The shots in the single areas where there are interactions have very different palettes from one another and this is good because it makes the story feel like it's moving forward, and the viewer feels like time is passing. To allow these areas to be so visually distinct through colour there needs to be the glue to fix everything together and these journey shots and montages act as the visual glue where day turns to night. The film's palette starts out pretty green and yellow but by the end is pink and green.

2D animation rarely manages to be so expansive in such a short amount of time and despite the film showing such a vast journey across the land the run time is only 8:20. This is truly a testament to animation's ability to communicate and manipulate the audience's perception of space. 

Notes I made while watching the film

I like the line quality and background detail, the use of soft lighting for backgrounds but a more flat approach to shading on characters is really nice. I like the colours of the lines and how it softens everything by matching the fills. The background art is stunning. the audio gag with the bush is great, the way the audio stabs and effects match the comedy movements. the transition is very nice when PIPI stays still and the background moves. the comedy montage music being quite campy really helps the comedy hit. 

animal character acting - the main characters expression and manorisms are similair to the fox. beautiful art style and really effective comedy style + world building.

pinks and greens in the palette to signify danger and a new area is also really good, I must be more aware of how my palettes communicate ideas themes and possible implications and try to match this with my scenes intentions.

Referances

James, T.W. (2022) Adult animation revolution: ‘the legend of pipi’, COMICON. Available at: https://www.comicon.com/2022/07/22/adult-animation-revolution-the-legend-of-pipi/ (Accessed: 10 August 2023).

Light, J. and Staff, N. (2023) How these co-directors told an action-packed true story, No Film School. Available at: https://nofilmschool.com/dead-shot-thomas-charles-guard (Accessed: 14 August 2023).

THE LEGEND OF PIPI - ANIMATED SHORTFILM (2022). YouTube. 16 July. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5cFBi02O34 (Accessed: 14 August 2023).

[hightechinfluencer]

The Quest for Viral Content!

The statement, “I want you to make a viral video for us,” is one of the worst requests I get from clients. The truth is, creating a viral video is as unpredictable as winning the lottery. The very essence of a viral video lies in its ability to organically capture people’s attention and be shared beyond anyone’s control. However, while we can’t guarantee virality, there are strategies that can increase the chances of a video gaining significant traction.

Trend Hunting: One crucial aspect is keeping up with trends and timing. Social media moves at a rapid pace, but by staying aware of emerging trends and capitalizing on them, you can create video content that has the potential to soar. Platforms like Twitter provide valuable insights into widely used hashtags, which can be leveraged to generate content before the trend fades. 

Flagpole Content: Additionally, you can plan content around seasonal events such as Christmas, The Oscars, or Comicon, getting ahead of the curve and aligning your videos with topics that will soon be in the public eye.

Fandoms: Another powerful approach is tapping into cult followings or fandoms. People have a natural inclination to engage with content related to things they love. By creating comedy sketches or themed videos centered around popular topics, you can pique the interest of these devoted communities. I experienced significant success with a video where I recreated the first level of Super Mario as a 360 3D experience. With nearly 15 million views in just a year, the content’s connection to a widely adored subject played a significant role in its triumph.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that while these strategies can enhance your chances of achieving virality, there are no guarantees. The viral phenomenon is influenced by a combination of factors, including timing, luck, and the ever-evolving preferences of online audiences. By employing these techniques, however, you can optimize your video’s potential to gain attention and engagement.

Quality, It has to be good!: Quality is crucial when it comes to creating content. It’s disheartening to see that a significant portion of the content uploaded to platforms like YouTube falls short in terms of production value. Many videos suffer from poor audio, subpar filming, or lackluster storytelling, particularly when it comes to individuals attempting to gain fame as influencers. To truly succeed and captivate an audience, it’s crucial for content creators to take their craft seriously and invest in their content.

For those who are committed to producing high-quality content, I highly recommend allocating resources and time to improve various aspects of their videos. This can involve spending significant hours perfecting the thumbnail, which plays a crucial role in attracting viewers. Additionally, meticulous analysis of video analytics for each upload can provide valuable insights into what aspects worked well and what could be improved. Treating content creation as a business requires dedication and attention to detail, and this commitment ultimately shines through in the resulting content.

By prioritizing quality and investing in their craft, content creators can distinguish themselves from the sea of mediocre videos and establish a strong presence. Viewers appreciate well-produced content, and their engagement and loyalty are often won over by the effort put into delivering a polished and compelling experience. Ultimately, a serious approach to content creation pays off in terms of audience satisfaction, growth, and success in the ever-competitive digital landscape.

Just a side note, there is the style of purposely bad that it becomes good again. Companies like Adult Swim and Funny or Die do really well with this kind of content. 

E.V.S., which stands for Educational, Visually Stunning, and Storytelling, represents three essential elements that your content should possess to keep your audience engaged. Each of these components serves a distinct purpose in creating great content that resonates with viewers.

Educational content fulfills the needs of individuals seeking information or guidance. For example, when you’ve searched for a tutorial on fixing something on YouTube, you’ve witnessed the effectiveness of educational content. Providing valuable insights, tips, or knowledge in a clear and informative manner can greatly appeal to your audience’s desire for learning and problem-solving.

Storytelling is a powerful tool for captivating and entertaining your viewers. Even in something as seemingly straightforward as a music video, there is often a narrative component that draws audiences in. Humans have an inherent inclination for storytelling, and weaving narratives into your content can create emotional connections, spark curiosity, and make your content more memorable.

The visually stunning aspect requires technical skill and craftsmanship. As a designer, you understand the challenges of creating visually captivating pieces. Visual appeal can be achieved through artistic composition, cinematography, editing techniques, or visually striking graphics. It’s this element that can truly elevate your content, making it visually engaging and leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

A great example of a video that encompasses all three elements is the Super Kind series commissioned by the Los Angeles Metro. This series educates viewers about public transit etiquette while delivering visually stunning visuals and incorporating storytelling elements to engage and entertain the audience. It serves as a testament to how combining education, visual appeal, and storytelling can create exceptional content that resonates with viewers.

By incorporating at least one of these three elements into your content, you can ensure that it stands out, captures attention, and keeps your audience engaged. Whether you educate, tell a story, or create visually stunning visuals, these components can make your content compelling and memorable.

High-effort Content: H.E.C. has gained significant popularity in recent years. This type of content involves creating projects or videos that require a level of effort and dedication far beyond what the average person would typically undertake. This approach has been instrumental in the success of content creators like MrBeast, who has become one of the biggest YouTubers in the world.

High-effort content stands out because it goes above and beyond what viewers typically expect. It often involves ambitious challenges, complex projects, or extravagant concepts that captivate and engage audiences. These types of videos require meticulous planning, significant time investment, and often involve collaboration with others.

What sets high-effort content apart is its ability to capture viewers’ attention and leave a lasting impression. It demonstrates a level of commitment, creativity, and execution that goes beyond the ordinary. Viewers are often drawn to the novelty, excitement, and sense of awe that comes from witnessing these grand endeavors.

However, it’s important to note that high-effort content might not be feasible or suitable for every creator or every niche. It requires substantial resources, time, and expertise. As a content creator, it’s essential to assess your own capabilities, resources, and audience expectations to determine the level of effort you can reasonably invest in your content.

One of the best examples of high-effort content is Mr.Beast. 

Marketing: Not sharing your content after releasing it is like doing homework but not turning it in. Sharing and marketing your video is crucial to ensure it reaches a wider audience and achieves the visibility it deserves. It’s important to allocate significant time and effort to promote your content after investing time in its creation. Here are some strategies to consider:

Identify relevant blogs and reviewers in your niche or industry and reach out to them. Sending your video to these influencers can help generate exposure and potentially lead to reviews or features that introduce your content to their audience.

Make use of various platforms and channels to share your video. Consider uploading it to video-sharing platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or Dailymotion. Additionally, leverage social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share your video and engage with your target audience.

Utilize personal networks by sharing your video with family, friends, and colleagues. Encourage them to share it with their networks as well. Word-of-mouth can be a powerful tool in increasing the reach of your video.

Consider investing in advertising to boost the visibility of your content. Just as you invest in equipment and software for production quality, allocating a budget for targeted ads can help amplify the reach of your videos. By promoting your channel and content early on, you can attract a larger audience and potentially monetize your channel in the future.

Remember, the quality of your content should always be a priority. No amount of promotion can compensate for subpar content. Ensure your video is engaging, well-produced, and provides value to your target audience. By combining high-quality content with effective promotion strategies, you can maximize the chances of your video gaining traction and attracting a loyal audience.

Going viral is not guaranteed, and it’s important to acknowledge that it’s a combination of factors, including timing, luck, and the preferences of online audiences. Even if you believe your content is exceptional and on par with creators who garner millions of views, there’s no guarantee that it will receive the same level of attention.

It’s crucial to manage your expectations and understand that your audience may not love your content as much as you do. Everyone has different tastes and preferences, and reaching a broad audience can be a challenging task. However, by consistently applying the elements and strategies we’ve discussed, you can increase the chances of your content being seen and appreciated.

Persistence is key. Each video you create is an opportunity to refine your skills, engage with your audience, and improve your content’s visibility. Learn from each release, listen to feedback, and adapt your approach. Over time, as you continue to create and share content, you’ll gain insights into what resonates with your audience and refine your content accordingly.

Remember, success in content creation is not solely measured by achieving viral status. Building a dedicated and engaged community around your content can be just as valuable. Focus on creating meaningful connections with your audience, delivering value, and consistently improving your craft. With dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous growth, you can increase the visibility and impact of your content over time.

You can reach me at my website or on Twitter.

[dillen-danger]

@planetcomiconofficial Was soo incredible!!! Holy smokes what a show! The crowd and talent were mind blowing, so nice, so genuine, if you are in the area you need to go to #Planetcomicon in Kansas City, Mo at the Kansas City Convention Center. Here is what my setup looked like, want to upgrade my booth approach, open to suggestions. . . . . . #kansascity #commission #comicon #comiccon #kansas #artist #artistalley #vendor #comic #comicbook #streetwear #tshirtdesign #tishirt #prints #buttons #fashion #sketch #doodle #dillendanger #wizardfist #skull #monster #character #characterdesign #comicbookshop #retail #indie (at Kansas City Convention Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_2dMIsEfT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[not-the-blue]

to expand on @evilwickedme's point, our Big Two cons (icon and olamot), while comparable to comicon in scale and general topics, are very very different from any con i've been to anywhere else. worldwide comicons are often about the guests of honor, and signing opportunities, and panels with famous people in them. it's very very expensive to fly anyone internationally famous to israel, so while we do get about one guest of honor per year (brandon sanderson was our last one, in 2019. I almost got trampled), most of our events are community oriented, community made.

the musicals were mentioned in this post, but yall, you dont understand, these are full on fan made musicals FROM SCRATCH, sometimes based on something, sometimes completely original, put on for a max of three shows, and i've seen some of them become cult classics to the point where they make an event just out of showing a recording (pandora musical my beloved).

you've got lectures from people who have a phd in the subject and want to Educate you about plagues in sci fi and how plausible they are in reality, you've got kids still in high school putting on presentations that'll blow your mind about queer narratives in star trek. we've got a pilot system to ensure every event is as good as it can be. the standards are HIGH.

we've also got 100% hands down the most serious approach about sexual harassment i've seen in any con, anywhere. good vibes are enforced, heavily. every staff member (it's all voluntary, but we take our job seriously) goes through a detailed presentation made by professionals on how to offer help in case something happens. they also don't allow those anime sex hoodies inside the premises, which, again, is actually enforced, you can just call the number and they'll do something about that, it's wonderful.

also, because guests of honor are relatively rare, if we get one the whole community immediately starts reading all their books in preparation, so you get authors with a disproportionately big israeli fan base because they visited once in 2013

Hi. Can you share a cool fact about Israel? How's the fan culture over there? You guys got conventions? 👀

BOY DO WE

There are 4 big conventions in Israel, run by two organisations- the Israeli Society For Science Fiction and Fantasy(known shortly as "Ha'Aguda), and AMAI, the Israeli Manga and Anime Organization.

The Aguda's conventions are the biggest and most well-known. There's Icon during Sukkot and Olamot("worlds") during Passover, and both are always in Tel Aviv. Those are the comic-con of Israel- they have everything geeky and fanish, from every type of media. They last 2-3 days, and are free to enter but you have to pay to go into specific events. Those are my favorites!

AMAI's conventions are centered around Japanese media and culture. There are also two- Harucon at Purim(the closest con), and Animatsuri at the summer. Those cons costs money to enter, but once you're inside you can go anywhere as long as there are free seats. Those cons are in Jerusalem, and are very big. They also sometimes include a run of an Animusical(anime-inspired original musical production done by members of the community)

Other then those 4, we have lots of smaller cons done by different organizations and for different specific topics- there's Meorot which is a Harry Potter and LOTR con set during Hannukah, the Aguda also has Mitopia in the summer, that's centered specifically around books, and there's Draconicon for DND and RPG players! And a lot more! Last year I also had the chance to go to the first Sha'atnez, a con surrounding specifically Jewish Fantasy and Fantastic Judaism. It was fantastic and I REALLY hope it'll be an annual thing.

Interesting thing about fan culture here- the main two groups involved in it are queers, and religious orthodox jews. Both are in the fannish scene in much larger percantages then they make of the general population! I suspect the religious thing is because Shabbat-keepers have a lot of time when all they can do is read, and queers are already very dominant in such communities, but it's still very cool I think:)

Anyway fun fact, I've been in the artist alley for... 6-7 cons up untill now? My favorite to sell in was Noar Kore which sadly does not exist anymore but I REALLY like doing those booths.

[batangtamad]

The Best Smell (Manhwa)

Genres: School Life, Shounen Ai, Webtoons, Comedy

Status: Completed

Author: Lee Man-Se

Favorite Character: Oh Kamin

Favorite Chapter: Chapter 95: Tree (3)

Plot Synopsis:

Choi Kanggo was born with a sensitive nose that can smell through a person's feelings. But when a boy who likes him approaches..?!

The story is fluffy and hilarious. I love that the main couple’s relationship isn’t fast-faced. There are some angst in their relationship, and funny moments too.

The main characters were loveable. Oh Kamin is bright, cheerful, smartest in school, and athletic. Beneath all that, he deals with his insecurities and problems at home. He put boundaries as to why his classmates find it hard to get close to him. Choi Kanggo is able to smell emotions because of that; he slowly gets Kamin to open up about his worries and lessens the burden.

I also love how each character was introduced, especially the main characters' family. It shows how they were raised and how different their family are. The art is really cute, especially the colors.

After reading it, I wanted more. I want a season 2 where they become college students and start working. Their relationship is really so cute and wholesome.

SPOILER ALERT!!

Here are some of my favorite chapters:

Chapter 27: Understanding - Finally, Kanggo confessed to Kamin that he can smell people's emotions. Kamin was not scared of it, but a little shocked and embarrassed. Kanggo was so cute when he wants Kamin to tell him that Kamin will going to keep liking him. They're so adorable together.

Chapter 29: Bang! - Kanggo confessed that he likes Kamin. Kanggo really speaks whatever is on his mind and doesn't really care about others' opinions. He doesn't care if the customers in the cafe heard him. Also, he looks so cute and handsome when he smiles after confessing his feeling.

Chapter 31: Let's play - Kanggo and Kamin decided to watch a movie. Even though Kanggo is not good with enclosed spaces he still went to hang out with Kamin. He even kiss Kamin in the cheek.

Chapter 50: The Most Favorite(6) - Kamin went to the Comicon event with Kanggo to help Kanggo's sister in selling their artwork and comics. Kanggo was jealous of his sister's friend, Horang and Kamin being close. He can smell that Horang likes Kamin. Unfortunately, Kamin and Kanggo had a misunderstanding. Kamin realized it and let Kanggo smell him and said "This is because of you, okay?" And I love how it finally sinks in to Kanggo, what Kamin meant by this is because of you. He threw his face mask and smelled Kamin again.

Chapter 67: Go! - Kanggo went back to Seoul with his uncle to meet Kamin. Kamim open up about his family struggles. He finally asked Kanggo to date him. Of course, Kanggo said yes and they kissed! They are now dating. I'm so happy for them.

Chapter 95: Tree (3) - Kamin and his grandmother are now making progress in making their relationship work. The reason this is my favorite is because Kamin said that he thought he wanted to live on his own, but actually, when he becomes an adult, he wants to live with Kanggo. He even asked Kango if they could live together. It is like he is proposing to him. This is also why I want season 2 to see their college and work lives together. I really hope there is a season 2 or even side stories. I recommend this to all BL fans. It is a wholesome story.

[emilycollins00]

Who out of all troupes (you're dating) would agree to watch anime with you. My ex always said anime is stupid 😪 Also I saw the rules about the max amount but here I'm more or less just ask for like the most to less likely to watch it with you? Like just names. I hope it's fine <3

It’s more than fine, thank you for the question! 💕

Oh god good thing you put that ex- in front of him! Never approved of people who criticize others’ likes or hobbies.

Mankai watching Anime with S/O

Let’s see! Well, I genuinely think none of them would turn down you asking them to watch anime together but as you said, some of them strike me to have different approaches, hence, this classification:

First, you would have the ‘hard-core’ group. I feel like they would get really invested while watching almost any type of anime, having even posters and/or small toys of their favorite characters, so they would for sure watch it with you! Maybe even prepare a date-like marathon of some series you both liked or meeting to see the new ones that air. Add some chips, drinks and they are even more excited than you!

Here you would find:

Citron- No further questions needed, he loves it and needs more space for all the cute merchandising he has (where did he found the money for them, you don’t want to ask)

Taichi- He has the time of his life watching with you! You both are usually commenting on everything that happens in the episode. Sometimes even trying things to see how they would turn in real life.

Itaru- Okay, all the games that turn into anime? He’s seen some even BEFORE you. You got angry but he watched the together with you again.

Kazunari- Insert one hell of an amount of fanarts here. He sometimes asks if you even would want to go to the comicons together.

Homare- He would never say no to being exposed to anything art related (even more if you suggested it!) turns into big critic-review mode whenever you two end a series or specific episode.

Banri- Here comes the known-it-all. You end up bickering about which turn is too decided what to watch, however, that’s just because he loves teasing you. He’s usually fine with anything you put.

.

 Then follows the ‘Daily watchers’ group. I think they very enjoy watching it but even more if you asked them to do it together (more time to be with you!) They sometimes miss things so they are grateful you fill them in with information. Sometimes, they even suggest staying in the dorm to keep up with the new season of anime starting, usually having somewhat of a preference for genres but allowing you to educate them around others.

We would have the following:

Sakuya- He’s pretty chill with whatever you end up choosing to want, enjoying them all wholeheartedly. Whenever someone in class mentions a new anime he runs to talk to you about it excited of how you would react and starts planning when to watch it.

Misumi- He’s delighted whenever you tell him you found an anime he might like. Hugs you from behind and hums as you both watch that series. Also, competition to see how many triangles you find in an episode at least once per series.

Muku- You and Muku could be the expert couple regarding shojo anime. Gushing and enjoying time watching it allow you to relax each other’s company. Friendly discussion whenever you two don’t agree with the main pairing.

Hisoka- To your surprise, Hisoka gets engaged rather easily in whatever anime you decided to watch, leaning on your lap or shoulder.

Tenma- He was a bit skeptical first, but he’s starting to become closer to the ‘hardcore!’ group as time passes. Whenever he’s out working, he calls you and you both watch it in a conference call.

Tsumugi- His students usually give him tips when he mentions an anime you might like to watch. He comes home and you two discuss to watch after dinner

Yuki- He tends to look at how the character dresses but ends up getting absorbed in the dynamic of the episode even more than you “I thought you didn’t appreciate why the lied to their families” “Changed my mind, now shush”

Tsuzuru- In a huge family like his, he’s super familiar with many animes and references so he would gladly accept watching both old and new ones. They also help him a lot to get new ideas for the plays so it killing two birds with one stone

.

 Finally, we have the ‘Casual but curious!’ group. I would say they had never had much contact with anime but enjoy it with you because it means cuddling time and because seeing you simply happy watching or reacting makes them smile too. After some time they might even start asking you to put more different genres to watch together.

Here we would find:

Masumi- He accepts mostly because he loves how you rest in his arms as you two watch the TV. However, at some point he starts asking you to go with him to buy that CD from the last anime you watched together. He now has collection.

Azuma- Loves seeing your reactions change so fast as the episodes progress. He would usually prepare some drinks to have and relax watching your favourite series with you.

Omi- Even though his siblings and he himself watched anime when he was younger, he never really kept watching it as he grew up, however, he fully appreciates whenever you start explaining things to him he forgot. He usually prepares some snacks too.

Juza- He relishes any time he has with you, doesn’t matter what you two are doing. Most of the time you two usually get together and enjoy watching episodes after he finishes acting practices or if you both don’t have anything after school.

Tasuku- Not a problem if you ask for an inside-date bingeing anime. Sometimes he frowns at whatever is going on as he gets lost a lot though “Did that person start glowing up in the middle of the basket court?” “Yep”

Sakyo- Surprisingly ok although it wasn’t in his plans, he always follows the story of whatever anime you guys are watching with a rather critical eye and you find it hilarious. He blushes when he notices it.

________________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed it! 💕

[rosevanhelsing]

Wendigo

Ch. 14

Charlie continued with the kiss for a couple of minutes, by God he had wanted to do that so badly!, while Vic was preparing his free arm to hit him and shake it off, and yet she was surprised and ashamed that she did not feel disgusted by Charlie's kiss.  His lips tasted like chocolate and mint and the bastard knew how to kiss. Suddenly Charlie released her and pushed her away from him, looking at her with a mixture of stupefaction and fear as if Vic had bewitched him and forced him to kiss her, he ran out, got in the car and left without saying a word.

"You bastard!" Vic said to himself when he could react, she rubbed his lips with the sleeve of his jacket and looked at the ring to check that it was still on her finger.

While in the Wraith, Manx was cursing himself for being so weak.

- How did I come up with such an idea?! Now she will not want to continue collaborating...

"You've wanted her for a long time," the Wraith said in his mind. "You've always been impulsive."

- I do not owe. And less now. She has been promised to another man. I can not wish the wife of the other ... And it is that we are distant relatives! -He said giving a blow to the wheel

- Hey, don't pay with me!

 While Vic had returned home. She was exhausted but had the strength to tell Lou everything, even the kiss Manx had given her on the spur of the moment. Vic saw that Lou was feeling insecure and that he cursed Manx, so she reassured him and said that she would rather die than stay with Manx and changed the subject:

- What do you have in mind for Wayne's birthday? A ticket for the Comicon?

Lou said:

-  I would love it, but no. And he showed her  a newspaper ad, where it said: Saint Bernard Puppy Sale. Pure Pedrigree. Parents of excellent character. Very good price.

-It's not a bad idea. Wayne would love a puppy. But Lou, won't a Saint Bernard won’t  too big for Wayne?

-Easy, they are very docile. I've done research on breed.

- Well, do me a favor. Look at references on that breeder and prices. I'm going to lie down for a while to sleep. I'm exhausted.

- Ok. Rest well.

Vic went to sleep for a while, her head hurt horribly and her eye was bleeding, that was probably due to the fact that in the last few days she had used the Shortcut  too much. After a few minutes she saw herself driving her motorcycle down the Night Road, suddenly she found a dark and old building in which there was a light. Vic was surprised, that building sounded familiar to her, she would swear it was the library where she had met Maggie but she did not know  why that was there . Vic got off the bike and went to knock on the door, but it was open.

- Hello?

Since no one answered, she went up the stairs, looking from time to time through the windows of the stairs to make sure that her motorcycle was still there. She finally came to a landing, and knocked on the door. A few steps approached and the door opened.

- Hi, Brat. I was waiting for you

-Maggie ...