#i must learn to make animatics

[gaygirldoodles]

Thinking about making a "your stupid face" animatic for glassheart

[azumasoroshi]

the shizu-chan song

just discovered the shizu-chan song by none other than johnny yong bosch. help me

id transcribe if i didnt have a final in 10 hours. maybe when i get back

oh nvm someone already wrote them out

this has similar energy as the bro duet song but like. in reverse bgskjdghjkgsd the no homo is for real

plus an animatic version and amv version because holy hell this is old

[voidshrub]

New Year's resolution: Learn how to do EVERYTHING

[daisywords]

:(

[mashedpotatosinacup]

I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO ANIMATE RIGJT NOW

[the-meme-monarch]

Hello, very big fan of the work you do and the art you make. Given the release of the recent dandy's world animatic, I'm curious! What are your HC's for the handlers? All of their designs are unique and well thought out enough I figure they must have some information behind them. -Despairing because I wish I had the confidence to make an animatic that good, from StarSailor.

hm ! I don’t think I really have many, i kinda just saw their in-game models and thought ‘1 those uniforms are atrocious, 2 lets get you some ears” i did change austin(astro’s handler)’s hair to be A Little More Cool I Guess. it’s kind of a side shave :] other than that just kinda giving them a little more varied body types

but as for Actual Headcanons I’ve got:

shanon(shelly’s handler) is shelly’s hypeman honestly. would tell the kids on tours how cool and smart shelly is and Don’t You Want Her Autograph Or To See Her Themed Room? There’s Bones In There ! bc "everyone forgets about shelly" hurts my heart. not her handler Please

veronica(vee's handler) seems a bit nervous about getting attention, going off of her portrait, so inversely i like to think vee is Her hypeman :]

devan(dandy & pebble’s handler) does weightlifting :] he’s fat and also jacked. i think itd be funny he was allergic to dogs. good thing pebble is a toon rock that just Acts like a dog. wait actually would it be funnier if pebble Still set off his allergies

sam(sprout’s handler) acted about like how sprout acts Now. sprout is coping with the situation by acting like them, just kind of distant/aloof and maybe a little irritable. also this Isnt a headcanon but sam canonically uses they/them that makes me happy and i just wanted to mention

its a little funny i dint think i have anything for austin but from the sounds of it he's the creator's favorite Of the handlers. hopeful to learn more abt him and the rest of them !

their portraits in the animatic are Of Course redraws of their in-game ones, but they’re technically redraws of the redraws i did of them originally ⬇️! i thought it felt off that 3/5 of the handlers didn’t look happy to have their picture taken, and with them all being in the same place like it was Planned and Set Up and everything didn’t seem right. like this is your job these are gonna be big ass pictures put on the wall lighten up a little HDHDHDH so the redraws i made it more as "this was kinda just jumped on them" like someone came up with a camera while they were on duty and said "smile!" and they generally didnt have time to react properly. little did they realize these were going to be made into big ass pictures and put on the wall

as for Other Handlers that we Dont know about yet Assuming There Are More, my sibling and i are thinking that Not Every Toon Has A Designated Handler. like it’s more than just the five as seen here but (from here idk their thoughts and dont speak for them) but so like i figure the mains get their own but the rest there's maybe 1 handler for every 3-4 toons, and they dont look after anyone specifically. just Someone has to be watching them it doesn't matter who. but like with cosmo and sprout always hanging out together its probably Just Sam supervising. they always have to remind the two to turn off the oven

[pixiemage]

Every so often I remember that I met one specific fellow MCYTer at a convention. And after already having been complimenting their (non-MCYT) cosplay, and after having already been chatting about MCYT for a few minutes, and after already having gone off on MULTIPLE nerdy tangents about the 3rd Life series, I then learned that I was currently speaking with the person who made the "Bang!" animatic.

And then I proceeded to gush about their animatic to their face, and they were surprised that I was speaking so highly of it (and it reminded me of another friend who is always equally surprised when I tell her just how impactful her art really is on the community). And then as they were leaving another friend of mine (cosplaying Bdubs) walked up to me, and I told HIM who I'd just met, and we both started (affectionately) freaking out. And then the beloved artist we were fangirling over must have heard our excited babbling from a distance, because they turned back to give us a brilliant smile before they went on their way.

Sometimes I think of them. And sometimes I hope they realize just how much joy they bring to the MCYT community. And sometimes it reminds me that I'm just like them, that I'm creating something fun because I'm passionate about it, just like they are, just like my friends are, just like every creator in this fandom is. And sometimes it reminds me that there's somebody out there who gets just as excited over what I write as I got over meeting a fellow fandom member who created something amazing in a different medium. Sometimes it reminds me that it's the little things that are often capable of bringing the most joy.

Sometimes it's nice to remember that we're all excited about each other, even if we're often too nervous to say it aloud. Sometimes it's nice to remember that we all appreciate each other, whether we say it or not. And sometimes it's nice to feel like I'm making a difference...and sometimes I think I have to remind people like me, that you're making a difference too.

[lunette-png]

Waves of Ithaca

In which | Penelope recalls her first meeting with Odysseus to their children

artwork used: ximena natzel's animatics

The flickering glow of an oil lap dimly lit the bedroom, casting shadows along the walls of the palace. A cool night breeze swept through the open window, rustling the linen curtains. In the center of the room, the great bed sat unmoving, its wooden frame carved from the roots of the olive tree that grew just beyond the wall.

There, Penelope laid upon it, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the familiar grooves of the headboard. Beside her, Telemachus, who was barely past his fifth summer, lay curled against her side- his small hands fidgeting with the blanket. His older sister, who had long taken it upon herself to be his protector in their father’s absence, sat at the foot of the bed with legs tucked beneath her, her fingers pressed to the smooth wood as if she could feel its heartbeat.

“Mother,” Telemachus asked, his voice hushed in the stillness.

“Did you love Father before you married him?”

Penelope smiled softly, though there was something distant in her eyes. “A bold question, my little one.”

“But a fair one,” he added, tilting his head. “Tell us, Mama. How did you meet him?”

(Y/N) looked at her mother, she knew this story. She had heard it before- whispered between her parents when she was younger, half-asleep by their bedside. But Telemachus had not.

Penelope exhaled, her fingers still resting on the wood. “It started with this tree,” she murmured. “Long before it came to embody everything we hold dear, it was simply the place where we first met.”

Her daughter glanced between her mother and the carvings in the bedpost. She had long since learned that their mother’s stories carried weight beyond the words themselves.

Years Ago — Sparta

The hall was filled with men, each one vying for Helen’s hand. Princes, warriors, kings—they shouted, they boasted, they fought. Penelope stood at the edge of it all, watching with arms crossed.

“It must be nice,” she mused aloud, her voice barely carrying over the noise.

Helen turned to her, with her golden hair catching the firelight. “What must be nice?”

“To be fought for,” Penelope said dryly, watching as two men wrestled over something trivial.

Helen smirked. “It has its advantages.”

Penelope scoffed. “They’re savages. Beating each other senselessly.”

Helen’s smirk deepened. “Jealous, Penelope?”

“No.”

Helen only laughed. “Sooner or later, you’ll be in my shoes- you'll have to choose too.”

“Says who?” Penelope shot back. “These men don’t love you. They love power.”

Helen hummed, amused, but before she could reply, a voice cut through the noise.

“Excuse me, miss.”

Penelope turned, and for the first time, her eyes met Odysseus’s.

He was not like the others. His sharp eyes held mischief, his smile something both knowing and sincere. He bowed slightly, but there was nothing formal in the gesture- only playfulness.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Odysseus,” he said smoothly. “From overseas.”

He wasn’t here for Helen. He wasn’t even looking at her. He was looking at Penelope.

Odysseus stood before the suitors and Helen’s father, his words smooth as polished stone.

“These men will burn this hall down fighting over Helen,” he reasoned, “so why not make them swear an oath instead? An oath to protect the one she chooses. That way, everyone prospers.”

The king nodded. “A man of reason. I expect you’ll swear the oath as well?”

“For you, Your Highness?” Odysseus grinned. “Of course. Who knows what the future may tell?”

Helen, intrigued, turned to him. “You’re the one for me!” she declared.

Odysseus took a step back, chuckling. “Oh, but Helen, take my word for it—Menelaus is right for you. On top of that…” His gaze flicked toward Penelope. “You’re not the one I chose.”

Silence fell over the hall.

Penelope blinked. “He picked me?”

Odysseus grinned. “She picked me.”

Penelope sighed, her fingers trailing along the carved wood of the bed, allowing the memory to settle. Telemachus sat cross-legged beside her, his young face scrunched in thought while (Y/N) leaned against the headboard, her fingers tracing the familiar grooves in the olive wood. She had heard this story before. She knew how it ended.

Telemachus, however, was still frowning. “You met at Helen's wedding?”

His sister huffed, shaking her head. “That’s not the point.”

Penelope chuckled, reaching out to brush a stray curl from Telemachus’s forehead. “No, it’s not.”

Her son squinted up at her. “But what does this tree have to do with it?”

“It���s their tree,” (Y/N) murmured.

Penelope’s voice softened. “Years later, when we wed, your father carved our bed into this very tree. He built our home around it.”

Telemachus’s eyes widened. “This bed- it’s your tree?”

Penelope nodded. “A bed rooted in the earth. One that no man could move.”

Telemachus stared at the wood as if seeing it for the first time, his fingers brushing against its carved edges. His sister sighed and rested her head against the headboard, a wistful smile tugging at her lips.

Beyond the Ithaca Palace, the sea stretched out in the fading light, untouched by wind, still and waiting. Her daughter’s gaze lingered on the horizon from the window, as if searching for something.

“You’ve waited for him a long time,” she murmured.

Penelope exhaled, her grip on the wood loosening. Five years. Five years since Odysseus had sailed away, since the tides had carried him beyond her reach. And yet, here—beneath these branches, upon this bed—he had never truly left.

“I have,” she admitted.

Her daughter did not turn from the sea. “Do you think he’s still trying to come home?”

A soft smile tugged at Penelope’s lips. “I know he is.”

Telemachus pressed his small hands against the bedframe, as if testing its strength. He was still too young to understand what it meant to wait, to endure, but he would learn in time.

“This tree,” Penelope murmured, her palm gliding over the carved wood, “has stood through every season. It bends, but it does not break. And neither do we.”

At last, her daughter turned, her gaze drifting from the sea to the olive tree that had borne witness to it all. There was understanding in her eyes—too much for a child, but perhaps that was the way of those who loved sailors.

Telemachus only nodded, quiet but listening.

Penelope let out a breath, steady as the tide. The world beyond their walls had changed, but this tree still stood, its roots deep, its branches reaching ever upward. The sea outside remained still, as if waiting alongside them. And though the world may have tried to forget him, she knew—just as the olive tree endured storm after storm—so did Odysseus.

So did their love.

And they would keep waiting.

AN: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! ^^ Here's something short, my finals are approaching so everything has been hectic ㅠㅠ

Let's not question logic please- I know the lyrics in WYFILWMA are "Carved it into the olive tree where we first met" and in Pick Me they meet in Sparta. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE, OKAY? 😭 I just wanted to incorporate the cut song cus I live for young OdyPen, so let's all just keep hush hush for the sake of fluff

[cupcakeslushie]

I have a question and you might’ve been asked before, but animation, do you have any tips for beginners? Love your content btw 🥰

Even tho my degree is in animation I must be honest…😬 nowadays I very often don’t have the patience for anything more complicated than animatics. So I’m trying to stick to tried and true advice lol…

Probably the biggest tip would be that, yes the beginner exercises may be boring, and not look very cool, but they are essential to getting those skills you need down. The flour sack exercise, the wave principle—doing squash and stretch, and timing studies to really nail the way that movements should “flow” properly. These are absolutely necessary skills to master if you want to make fluid animations.

Planning is also another important, but sometimes overlooked aspect of animation. Some ppl (read:me) wanna just jump straight to animating. But planning in those first simplest stages really helps save you headaches in the later stages, when things are getting more complicated and all over the place. Storyboarding helps you plot your timing, choosing where key shots will go, camera angles, pacing ect.

And speaking of camera angles. STUDY STUDY STUDY cinematography! Something doesn’t have to be animated for it to be applied to animation. Perspective is a massive beast to tackle once you start storyboarding and unless you want boring shots and stagnant compositional framing, you need to learn all the ways you can frame a scene and your characters! Idk if you’re up for watching some horror movies, but those are a great source to pull from, as they tend to always frame, pace and even light their shots in really interesting and dynamic ways!

It’s also great to practice with free programs before you spend money on things like a subscription for photoshop or any other fancy software. Most interfaces are similar enough, that beginning with something free like Rough Animator or Blender can give you some good practice before you commit!

That’s all I can think of right now! And sorry if that wasn’t exactly what you were looking for…if you want me to try to give more specific advice on something just drop me another ask—I’m willing to keep rambling on!

Lastly, just few good videos I have saved!

Good traditional habits for digital animators <- basically Toniko Pantoja’s whole channel is a goldmine of knowledge!

Drawing figures in perspective

Every Frame A Painting is also a great channel for breaking down film/composition/writing—there’s a video for virtually every aspect of cinema

-Chuck Jones -the evolution of an artist

-Akira Kurosawa- composing movement

-Satoshi Kon- editing space and time

[sharptoothed-gaze]

After a whole night thinking about the end of Chayanne and Lullah’s canon stories, and also watching a ton of animatics for Philza’s s4 hardcore world, I’ve come to a conclusion.

If hardcore has taught me anything, it’s that all stories must come to an end eventually.

However, it will always be more worth it to engage with these grand stories than to never at all. They can’t last forever, but the memories and joy earned along the way are entirely worth it. They create something unforgettable to smile back on.

It’s something I’ve learned from watching Philza’s hc adventure and continuing to love Technoblade’s videos and character. I can’t help but smile and be filled with wonder every time I see a drawing or animation that ties all the small moments of past narratives together.

Especially with Philza’s journey through hardcore. Losing a world is fucking devastating, but it makes so many opportunities. Even though there is a genuine risk of losing his world every time he logs in, the cc still continues to create incredible structures and his character continues to explore.

Honestly, Lullah and Chay’s admins must understand this so much more than me for being able to let an adventure rest. The circumstances might not be the best, but I’m glad they were able to say goodbye. I’m so fucking glad that there were laughs and smiles and tears. The future is bright and there is so much room to build up from here because of the work they’ve done.

Yes, I might be a bit sad, but now I’m also filled with wonder about the future to come. The Death Family will always have a place in my heart, and I know that the fan content is only gonna pop off from here! A chapter closed but another opened.

So yeah, a thank you to two of the ultimate crows! Thanks for allowing the rest of us to tag along and enjoy something so wonderful <3

[barrenclan]

ok ONE more music ask bc i think this is the third one i’ve submitted for the new issue so far:

so i went back & read issue 37 while listening to “drunk walk home” by mitski (both the original and the live at palisades version), timing my reading with the listening so that certain panels & passages would line up with the right points in the song, and dear. fucking. LORD. i wanna make a rainhaze pmv with this so badly. the only question is which version of the song to use

so the best way i can explain it:

*drumbeat intro* - the title page

“i will retire to the salton sea/at the age of 23” - that comic panel at the beginning showing how much he changed

“for i’ve started to learn i may never be free/but though I may never be free/fuck you and your money/i’m tired of your money” - idk exactly how it’d line up with the issue but something something him being influenced by defiance & ranger, something something “you can love someone and still hate/hurt them”

*guitar picks up* - the canine realization and/or slug’s reaction to the murder reveal. some combination of the two.

“and i sit on the curb ‘cause it’s the prettiest night/with no one else in sight/don’t you know i wore this dress for you/these killer heels for you” - rain gets all defensive & tries to justify the murder with the sleep thing & the hypocrisy

“see the dark, it moves/with every breath of the breeze” (+ the buildup before the guitar solo) - “convince them…okay”

*guitar solo* - slug attacks him, big fight scene

and of course the screaming at the end correlates to him screaming as he’s gutted like a baked potato

Nice!! I always love how much thought you put into song choices.

As a Johnny Cash enjoyer I must say I do prefer his cover but of course I love Nine Inch Nails too. More dark and gritty does fit Rainhaze better.

I've never actually listened to or seen Repo, but it does seem like something that would be up my alley. It does fit him too, driving in what he's done and forcing him to remember killing Asphodelpaw.

I remember every dying whisper Every desperate murmur I remember when I gaze upon her She looks just like you I remember, I remember

I like this from Rainhaze's perspective, like he's constantly trying to guess what Ranger wants from him, how much he has to hurt himself to please Ranger.

The waves suck you in then you drown If like, you'd just stay down with me I'll swim down with you Is that what you want?

You hang the anchors over my neck (Saw your end) I liked it at first but the more you laughed The crazier I became

Haha aww, Pinepaw.

I lost some weight from anxious pacing talking on the telephone If I look cool I'm fooling you At any point you can assume My mind's computing every path that screws up what I wanna do

The things that I can't shoulder well I pass onto my older self And hope I learn to cope so I don't end up broke or overwhelmed 'Cause vocally, I'm not the best

Poinsettia is an interesting pull, but I can see it. I hate to say Rainhaze once again but yknow... kinda Rainhaze...

The feelings of regret And now I'm running to forget But know, the consequence of imagination's fear I met a man downtown the other day With ruby eyes that took my life away

Thе antidote we look so hard to find To purge yourself of fear, relax your mind But heaven only knows Where my mind leads, the feeling grows

Someone has actually recently made an incredible animatic set to Ptolemaea, actually! You can see it here.

That's alright, I usually do all the lyric quoting!

Pick up another cigarette Smoke it now and soon you'll forget If only your silver lining had better timing 'Cause there's no crown for one on the way down

Your dull blade and your dusty attire Can bring back all those burning desires So go back to the pit or roll over

I'd love to see the animation if you ever make it! It does have big synergy with "The Death of BarrenClan" event.

Heed the sirens, take shelter, my lover Flee the fire that devours But the sight held me fixed like a bayonet against my throat

It was a pale white horse With a crooked smile And I knew it was my time

Not a song in the world that doesn't make me think of Rainhaze... anyways, I always like a good Hoosiers song.

Everything you love turns to dust, You'd make more of it but you felt rushed By all that's periphery, You held tight, but on the contrary

Don't look your life passed you by, 'Cause you're too attached to it, Don't look your life passed you by, 'Cause you're too attached to it

[no-brain-just-akutagawa]

heya i'm getting into bsd again and realized that you're the only bsd blog i follow 😭 would it be possible for you to recommend some good blogs? i assume you'd know a few, but sorry if this comes off as pushy or weird

Hiii! Thank you for the ask, I’m genuinely sorry for taking like a million years to answer it. It’s a really awesome ask, so don’t worry, it wasn’t pushy or weird! I know it may have seem as though I didn’t like it since it took me good 2 months to get to it, but I really appreciate it and I was simply busy with real life stuff. Feel free to always ask me about cool blogs to follow, I’m more than happy to give my mutuals and other creators a shout out!

I listed some of my personal favourite blogs alphabetically to make it a bit more organized haha

For the tagged creators: I provided little descriptions for some of the creators listed here, but if I accidentally messed something up, just let me know and I’ll change it. Also don’t worry if you’re on the list without a description, it just means I didn’t know how to put my appreciation into words.

@akutagawah – edits

@awkwardbsd – general bsd posting

@bapplebeess – fanart

@bemysillygoose – fanart

@canetteto – fanart

@carrotkicks – fanart. Has an analog horror series and different storylines, so if you’re interested in exploring different stories through fanart, this is your person

@choccatto – fanart

@creantzy – fanart. The creator of a really cool fan comic called The Path to Freedom and the Bernadette 2023 animatic (as a member of the fyolai nation, I absolutely adore their content)

@credensjustitiam – fanart

@dailynakaharachuuya – fanart

@dazaistabletop – general bsd posting

@deadmitochondria – memes. The only inactive blog on this list, but it’s worth it

@death-in-a-handbasket – fanart

@destructive-delight – fanart. If you like angst and horror vibes, you’ll absolutely LOVE it here

@dsskkrt-jpeg – fanart. The creator of the Nowhere to Run animatic (and overall a fyolai icon)

@emilylovescookies – fanart

@featherphoenixart – fanart

@flower-of-darkness – THE analysis queen

@fyodors-fancy-teacup – fanart

@greendy2l – fanart

@hant-huyant – fanart (though not really active on tumblr I think)

@hoshiumiumi – fanart

@imsofrancey – fanart

@inkantigen – fanart

@itotypes – fanart and fics. The creator of Mors Omni Vincit on ao3 (the pirate!au)

@iwritenarrativesandstuff – analyses

@kaus-quietis – my jojo sis. She did an incredible analysis of Fedya that’s a must read!!! She used to post fanart, but is now focusing on her studies (let’s gooooo)

@koiblossom5 – hilarious incorrect quotes.

@kokoasci – fanart

@kyouka-supremacy – general bsd posting. The president of sskk nation (not officially, but c’mon she deserves this title)

@marshukitty – fanart

@miammey – fanart and fics on ao3. One of the only people I’ve seen who does art of the Hunting Dogs, so if you’re interested in THD, Miam is a must follow

@mochimochips – fanart. One of the only artists who consistently make fanarts of Verlaine and Rimbaud (and that’s very rare in the fandom!)

@mr-vanhellis – fanart

@nnakahara – moodboards. Our favourite historian ♡

@nixnephilii – fanart. The creator of Fyo!Atsushi au, which nevel fails to make me gasp, because it’s incredible

@originalartblog – fanart. The creator of Goosamu (who is Dazai as a goose and is VERY dear to my heart), and a few other AUs

@phonyrams – fanart

@platykool – fanart. Some of my absolute favourite fanarts of Sigma! (and doa and bsd overall, but I really wanted to highlight Sigma)

@pleucas – fanart

@pompompurin1028 – fics. Some of the best, most in-character fics I’ve ever read. If you like Dazai, you’ll ADORE her fics.

@popopretty – an absolute MVP of this fandom. Translations, summaries and trivia

@rampopurin – analysis and general bsd posting. The science side of bsd fandom (if you wanna learn about space and science through bsd go follow!)

@rinqueraa – fanart

@sandyy-boo – fanart

@sensitiveheartless – fanart and fics. So many awesome AUs and comics (they’re listed in Senhart’s pinned post, so they’re really easy to find)

@slothfail – fanart

@tatooou-art – fanart

@tecchous-thicc-buttocks – incorrect quotes

@tunamayuuu – fanarts. The creator of kny!au

uwu-m1lk – fanart

wrenkos – fanart

PS. if any of you guys want to add more creators to the list, feel free to do so in the reblogs!

[lazycrow12]

Alright, before I start I would like to preface this. I have not read the Odyssey. I don't plan to read the Odyssey. This post will be based on someone who has no connection to the Odyssey. I will say that I have heard somethings about it from people posting about it so I know about what Book!Calypso did to book!Oddeysus and I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the epic version so please keep that in mind when reading please and thank you. Now, onto the post

My Thoughts On Calypso And How She's Being Treated By The Fandom

TW: Mentions of 🍇, I'll warn you when it appears

Firstly, I love Calypso. I love her story and how tragic it is and how she handles it and how it has affected her. Her voice actor Barbara Wangui has an absolutely lovely voice. I love how light and airy it is while still conveying emotions and I love the way she makes Calypso sound in the songs. I also love Calypso herself, GiGi's design is very pretty and the animatics they did show her emotions very well. Love the frame in Love In Paradise where Calypso ask about Penelope and Odysseus saying she's his wife and Calypso just surprise Pikachu face before crying and moving on. Love it, hilarious. However her character is really compelling. She's someone that never had anyone and was left to her punishment of solitude and when she finally has another person around she has to watch as he chooses to leave and she's left all alone again. She spends the time trying to show Oddeysus the place and how it has all they could want or need and show him that he can stay here forever with her. We as the audience know that Oddeysus is a wife guy and wants to get home to her and his son but Calypso doesn't know that and probably doesn't fully get that someone would want to leave this perfect paradise and return to their original home. She spends the next 7 years trying to get him to stay and convince him this place is good, that she's good to stay with but we see how that affects him to the point he's willing to end himself if he can't go home. Then when he's given the opportunity he doesn't hesitate to leave to go home and leave Calypso on this island. I'm sure everyone can already see things from Oddeysus point of view but I'd like to frame it all in Calypso's to see where she's coming from and why she acts this way.

From Calypso's POV she's been stuck in this island alone for 100 years, no friends, no family, no visitors. No one can come or go, this island stays unknown. That includes her, she can't leave the island, if she wanted to I feel she would've at this point but she's been casted away so this is more than likely a punishment for her. She spends her life in this place, talking to herself and the critters on the island, accepting a long time ago that this will be her life forever when all of a sudden she sees it. A person. A real person for the first time in a century. Sure he's beaten, bruised, scared and barely breathing but he's alive and he's here. In Calypso's eyes this must be an answer to her prayers. Sure he's not receptive to her affection but that's fine, he's been through a lot so it's gonna take time to feel comfortable again. Sure he sits on the beach upset but that's fine, she more than likely did the same in her early days here. Sure he wants to go home but this is his home now, he can't leave the island (she's tried) but he'll learn to love it just like she had learn to. Sure he tried to jump off a cliff but who hasn't? She's sure she can help, she's sure her love will be enough for him. The years go by and nothing seems to work but she's not one to just give up like that. She'll get him to see that he loves it here, the island is perfect and with the 2 of them they won't be lonely. Then a god comes and takes him away. She goes to say goodbye to him and ends up letting out all her emotions and feelings out, of not understanding why nothing worked, of why the moments she believed they had weren't enough, of why he can't just love her like she loves him. And he's gone. And she's alone again. Heartbroken and alone.

Calypso has been on this island all her life, alone and isolated. Told from a young age just how much she wasn't wanted and left to spend the rest of eternity on her own. No one to talk to, help her, guide her, teach her anything she should know, the only people who can come and go are the gods and it seems they don't care to visit her. The one person that managed to get here, her paradise, doesn't choose to stay. Her trying her best unintentionally caused her to over step his boundaries and not listen when he spoke and hurt him. She didn't mean to hurt him but she did and because she never had anyone to teach or guid her she doesn't understand that and understand that thoes can drive a person away. It's sad and painful and I love her and I want her to get free and learn to respect boundaries and hear when people talk because she truly does not deserve the hell she's been put in. So it makes me all the more upset that the fandom has decided she's just an evil character and deserves what she's got happening to her

This next part is gonna be ranty but it is a rant so oh well

And TW: I'm gonna talk about the 🍇 ist stuff people are pushing onto her because I'm aware that the book version is different from the Epic version but some of y'all seem to think it's the same thing in Epic and I have issues for that and I will be using the actual word so I'm sorry in advance for anyone that upset.

The way the fandom treats Calypso is honestly disgusting. I've seen people talk about her book counter part and then attribute that one's actions to the Epic version. I've seen people take the singe line of "Soon Into Bed We'll Climb And Spend Our Time" as a way to say it implies that she rapes Oddeysus when it's never expanded upon or brought up again in the songs. I've seen people call her a pick me, selfish, manipulative, self centered, a bitch all for the crime of wanting to love Oddeysus and for him to love her back and not possessing the proper social skills and words to do get that she can't have that. I've seen people straight up say she's just a rapist because of her book counter part. I've seen so many post that are just about Calypso and so many comments talking shit about her, saying they could never make them like her, blaming her for her situation. So many people are so okay with just saying she's bad and no one wants to look at things from her POV. About what living the life she had does to a person, how it affects them, how it stunts their growth as a person, how it causes them to lack certain social skills you and I have, how once you finally meet people again you get clingy because holy shit people are here! You can say that you'd act differently but I guarantee you that if you spent your entire life from young age and into the 100s never interacting with individuals and isolated on an island just for some ramdo wash up on the shores of the beach still alive you'd fucking cling to to him to and do your best to get him to stay because that loneliness will absolutely be devastating again. Remind you, Calypso can't leave. She said it herself "No one can come or go, my island stays unknown", if no one can leave once there that means she's stuck there too. She can get Oddeysus off the island but that would leave her alone again. Alone after finally having someone not herself and not an animal. Who knows when the next washed up sailor will be if at all and the gods clearly don't care enough to go see her. If they care at all. Even in I'm Not Sorry For Loving You she expresses how upset she is. Angry, tired, restless and sad because she doesn't get what she did wrong and we can see things from her perspective but it's like the actions of her book self she can't escape them. And I know, I know that book Calypso is a rapist she literally has this man's kids but y'all are using the one line from Love In Paradise to claim she did the same here. But that one line is never expanded upon or brought up again. Jorge already warned us that there will be implications of rape in a song and we know which one, Hold Em Down, the one with Antinous. In the demon there are specific lyrics there that are "Hold her down while the gate is open. Hold her down while I get a taste. Hold her down while we share her spoils I will not let anything go to waste"

These are actually lyrics for the demon that we are warned about being implications of sexual assault. We were warned and these were intentional. It doesn't stop at the one line, it keeps going and it's brought up. One line out of a song that has a time skip does not equal rape and I would like it if those who have read the book and know of book!Calypso's behavior stop pushing it into Epic!Calypso. I would also like it if everyone stopped viewing her behavior on a surface level of what it appears when there's a mountain of reasons for it. I'm not saying Oddeysus has to know or care, the man's been through a lot and just wants to go home, but the US as the audience can benefit from looking past it all and seeing the reason why. Not just immediately jumping to a manipulative, gaslighty, selfish, entitled bitch just because her actions aren't favorable. I feel like people are either projecting or just don't look past Oddeysus POV to really care to see things from Calypso's

I also feel like there's another reason as reason people don't care to look at things from Calypso's POV and, y'all gonna be mad but I don't care, it's racism and misogyny. I know the knee jerk reaction is "I'm not racist/misogynist", "no one is being racist/misogynist", "you're reading to much into stuff ans seeing things where it isn't", hush please. You can still be either or both and not be aware of it and as a black female presenting person this is unfortunately something I notice. It's not surprising when people jump down the throat of female characters for one reason or another because they did something people don't like. Whether it be them being in the way of a gay ship, them being overly friendly and bubbly and people calling her fake bitch, blaming her for the actions of the male character, getting mad because she's a complex female character that doesn't fit perfectly into one box, I've seen it all before. Y'all did it with Demencia from Villainous until there was a female character to ship her with, y'all did it with Grace I from Infinity Train when Simon went off the deep end and got his ass killed, y'all did it with Mimzy when ahe showed up and stopped Hell's Greatest Dad from just being 2 old guys arguing, y'all are doing it with Calypso because she's not perfectly good and is flawed and is an optical to Oddeysus despite not being a bad person. Every time a female character is shown to be anything that isn't bland and unintrusive y'all hate on her. And when she is bland and unintrusive y'all still hate on her because now she isn't interesting. God forbid it's a black woman or black girl character y'all will loose your minds. My best example for black girl character is April O'Neil. Literally any depiction that doesn't show her as white but especially in the Mutant Mayhem version. There was no shortage of people calling her ugly because she was black and fat and saying she wasn't the true April O'Neil when the original April O'Neil was a biracial woman but because this one is black when there's been depictions of her that have made her white suddenly she's ugly and awful and all these racist slurs. With Black female voice actor it's worse. When MLP was getting it's new reboot after Gen 5 and rumors started going around that Apple Jack could be voiced by a black lady there was no shortage of people claiming that she was ruining a character and that she'd make Apple Jack sound ghetto as if she'd be doing a stereotypical black voice and, ya know, not voice acting which was literally her job. Y'all did the same when that anime with the tanned girl(idk the name I don't watch anime) came out in dubbed and was shown that voice actor for the main character was a black lady and the same shit that happened with Apple Jack happened here. Y'all aren't doing the same song and dance here but it sure is telling that Calypso, who is voiced by a black women, is getting shit and having her book counter part's actions shoved to her while everyone else gets a pass. Especially the other, fair skinned, voice actresses. Y'all may not know it or want to admit it but the way y'all treat Calypso is high key racist and misogynist.

Look, if you don't like Calypso, that's fine, I don't care. Hate all the characters you want, no one is gonna like em all. But for fuck sake I would just like to go down the Calypso tags and not see just a wall of hate for her to the point it's like mining for diamonds to find even one positive post about her. I hope I get to see more positive post and more people showing her love instead of all this hate. If we wanna hate someone, hate Zeus him and Poseidon caused all the problems here. Thank you and have a good whatever time of day it is for you.

[moosemann404]

Learned Unhelpfulness is one (1) year old today (+ contest announcement at the end)

And we have not made it out of the fuck ass mines, shit-

Wow! What a ride so far! I’ve decided to mark the occasion because fuck it! I do what I want! (I could have finished but school said no.)

Let’s look at some stats to see how far we’ve come!

Since starting I have gained:

2,508 hits

150 kudos (wow!)

222 comments (about half are my own replies shhh)

27 public bookmarks

And written over 100k words, 98.5k of which are published! Wowie!!

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Fanart shout out to:

@underhell69 who knocked my socks off with their short comic on chapter 4

@beanzabear for the little explosion of artwork they drew, and also this little boy kisser ass comic

@shr00mie-rat for a short animatic and beautiful thumbnails

@aerosolsprite for a wonderful little comic based on exile, vilify and a few doodles

And @sciencewife for this lovely fanart from Doug Rattmann appreciation day!

Big thank you to @byrdffv for leaving a bunch of mammoth comments that have inspired me to continue writing even when things got tough

Mega thank you to user starj3lly on ao3, not only the first person to comment and kudos, but also commenting on every chapter thus far! AND making lovely beautiful fanart you can look at here and here!

And the biggest most hugest most AMAZING WONDERFUL THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to @seven-gill. Not only have you been the best beta reader and friend a moose could dream of, but you’re also to blame for the crime of asking politely if we could play portal 2 co-op together. How dare you enable my nonsense, I love you. You are mostly the target audience (sorry everyone else)

What else? Oh yeah, that contest I mentioned up above.

I wanted to do something special, anniversary and all, and I figured since I seem to have so many artists reading, why not an art contest? The rules are simple:

- any scene or image or moment from the current 13 chapters you want to draw, go for it.

- it can be in color or black and white, digital or physical (as long as the picture quality is decent aka I can tell what I’m looking at), there’s NO limit to medium or style or what have you. Shit make it pointillism if you want, who am I to stop you? (I trust you all to be smart cookies and not use AI though)

- MUST be posted to tumblr. I do not have any other social media, and it’s important for the image to have a grabbible url for something later. Mention me in the post or use the tag #lu 1 year contest

- Submissions must be made before March 25th. Winner will be announced March 29th (that Saturday).

The winner will have their work featured in the fic and I’ll link your tumblr in the end authors note (if/when I figure out how, god I’m so old person using technology sometimes). Though I will absolutely reblog everyone’s work because damn you, I know it’s all going to be beautiful.

I’m so extremely nervous about doing this because I know I’m going to disintegrate if I get zero submissions. I will die of embarrassment. You’ll never see me agaaaiinn.

Thank you all for a wonderful year of this thing I created on a whim. It’s been a blast and I look forward to sharing the rest with you when I actually sit down and write the damn thing.

- Moose <3

[wolfasketch]

Y'all can ignore this, I just needed to get this out, maybe inspire someone to do it wither their own PPT OC.

So, was listening to Monster from Epic the Musical and thought 'what-if this was a Poppy Playtime animatic'.

Of course, with my thinking, the player would be my OC, Kristy, and it would take place after the end of Chapter 4 and Kristy has managed to escape Huggy for the time being and she's thinking back to what has happened as she walks the underground levels of the factory, bloodied and bruised from her journey through Playtime Co.

The most important parts I've thought of are these:

Is the cyclops struck with guilt when he kills? Is he up in the middle of the night? Or does he end my men to avenge his friend and then sleep knowing he has done him right? Would be Kristy talking about Doey.

When the witch turns men to pigs to protect her nymphs is she going insane? Or did she learn to be colder when she got older and now she saves them the pain? Would be Kristy referring to Mommy Longlegs.

When a God comes down and makes a fleet drown is he scared that he's doing somthing wrong? Or does he keep us in check so we must respect him and now no one dares to piss him off? Would be Kristy talking about CatNap.

Does a soilder use a wooden horse to kill sleeping Trojans cause he is vile? Or does he throw away his remorse and save more lives with guile? Would be kristy talking about how Poppy wanted to use the bombs to blow up the factory.

Skip to, If I became the monster to everyone but us and made sure we got home again, who would care if we're unjust? Would be Kristy talking about her still trying to save the orphans.

Again, skip to, I lost my best friend, I lost my mentor, my mom, five-hundred men gone, would be Kristy referring to Doey, Kissy, her mother, Angelica, and the toys who died in Safe Haven, while, I must get to see Penelope and Telemuchus, would be Kristy talking about getting home to her grandparents, who raised her.

Jumping to, And if I gotta drop another infant from a wall in and instand so we all don't die? Would be Kristy referencing the first time Huggy fell from the catwalks.

The parts between and after would just be Kristy wondering the underground and going ham about escaping.

[kittenscookie]

I have been aching for Luke & Hermes content so I have been asboutely 100% been loving the hell out of your ME and PJO posts!

I recently learnt about Epic the musical while scrolling through AO3 tags and I listened to the Monster song and it's such a bop (to me anyway lol).

First question: do you know where I can watch ME? Is there hope of there being a theatre production soon?

Second question: Are you planning on writing any fanfics for this crossover?? A series of oneshots maybe? Like I just want Luke to have some scrap of happiness! I need more doting Hermes in my life. I have read only one Epic & PJO fic with Hermes and Luke but it was only one chapter 😭😭😭. Any recs would be nice! Anything!

To the first question: As of right now there is no stage production for Epic—I'm pretty sure there are plans for a theater production though. We do have a fuck ton of talented artists making animatics. The first ones that come to mind are Gigi, Anniflamma (they're in their Bible Yaoi era right now), Duvetbox, Neal Illustrator, and Ximena Natzel. They're the ones that first come to mind but there are more and they are excellent, people are out here making shit with Renaissance Era Disney quality. Jay's also got all the songs, live streams, etc up on his YouTube channel which is right here!

To the second question: I will probably end up writing a few different one shots for the Modern Epic PJO Au. I just haven't gotten around to it because I've been more focused on writing a Seafam Crossover fic. Tldr: Percy meets his older sisters (Poseidon/Odysseus fankids) and learns what no contact is. He must then come to terms with the fact that Poseidon did some really messed up shit in the past, and even though his dad does feel guilty and Percy himself can look past it family dinner with his whole family is just a no go.