#the creators are spot on accurate with some of these designs

[phoenixkaptain]

My favourite part of Dislyte is the one person I saw question why there are so many furries in the game.

Like… do you know that most of the gods… most of the gods are Egyptian (gods commonly had animal heads), or Chinese (gods and figures commonly were animals or plants), or Greek (gods commonly turned into animals)

What did you expect? You thought Sobek, the Egyptian Crocodile God, wasn’t going to be a crocodile?

Honestly, I think the creators showed great restraint, all things considered

[dcafanzine]

We’ve been getting a lot of asks about what the application process will look like and what to do, so here are a few tips that should help you out! (This is not required reading if you’re looking to apply, but it might help!)

When you’re applying for a spot on the DCA fanzine, we will be asking to see examples of your existing work. You might be wondering what would be considered a good fit, and which of your existing pieces to choose to show off in your contributor application.

NOTE: PLEASE do NOT create pieces you are intending to submit to be included in the zine itself as part of your application! Zine pieces are to be created by contributors in the three month period following their being selected to be on the zine. We cannot guarantee you a spot, so please don’t burn yourself out trying! There will be other chances!

(Oh, and please ensure viewing permissions are on when you’re sharing any links in your application, so we can see your work!)

Now on to the fine details …

For all applicants:

This zine is a celebration of our beloved celestial jester(s), the daycare attendant(s) - you will need to submit at least one example piece in your application (preferably more) that features these characters, with depictions of them in a canon-adjacent* form being a huge bonus.

Pieces submitted in your application should ideally be safe for work, as this will be a safe for work zine. This zine isn’t playing to a specific mood or genre, so feel free to go wild with depictions of fluff, angst, horror, etc. so long as these fit broadly under the PG-13 rating. Shipping ideally shouldn’t be the focus of every example provided either as this zine will not be specifically focused around romantic ships but more on the character(s) of the daycare attendant(s) themselves.

A limited number of AU spots will be available but in order to accept AU works as final pieces in this zine we request that you must either be the creator of the AU, or have express permission from the AU’s creator.

*Canon-adjacent here doesn’t mean the depiction has to be biblically accurate, just that the design should not differ so substantially from what would typically be recognised as the DCA to essentially be a separate character. This fandom is intensely creative and we love and applaud the originality of the many different variants of the DCA, but this zine aims to focus primarily on canon-adjacent depictions, with a limited number of slots for AU content as well. Having canon-adjacent depictions of the DCA will massively help round out your application for this zine!

For some positions, you will be asked to give 1-3 idea pitches, with at least one idea pitch being required. Pitches should summarise what you might be thinking of creating for the zine, showcasing your creativity and helping you brainstorm ideas for what to make if selected. Your pitch will be especially useful if you are hoping to write or illustrate any AU content, to give us an idea of what sort of thing you expect to contribute. Your pitch may be on the longer or shorter side depending on what you prefer, just as long as it illustrates the idea(s) you are aiming for. If you are selected, you will not be required to create the idea(s) you mentioned in your pitch, and will be able to change your mind on what you wish to create for the zine at a later point.

For writers:

We are looking for around 5 writers to join this zine. Upon being selected to be contributors, writers will write a short self-contained story (around 1.5-2k words) which will be illustrated by the spot artist they pair up with.

What we’ll be looking for in a writer application is readability (how well the example writing submitted for the application flows and how easy to follow it is), pacing, vividness of characters (characterisation of Sun and Moon in this fandom tends to vary a lot, so we’ll be looking more at consistency and imaginativeness here!), and how engaging the example writing is, as well as the ability to wrap up a short story. For this reason, while excerpts reaching around the 2k mark will be happily accepted, at least one of the examples should be a self-contained story or scene that fits within (or close to!) the word limit listed on the application form!

For page artists:

We are looking for around 23 page artists to contribute to this zine. Once selected as contributors, page artists will create a full page illustration featuring the daycare attendant(s) for the zine. A page illustration should fill the space on the page nicely and play to your strengths. This could be a coloured illustration depicting one or multiple characters with a background, a neat photograph of a sculpture or traditional piece you’ve made, or even a nice neat one-page comic! So long as it fits nicely on the page without compromising its quality, it will likely make a great fit for the zine!

What we will be looking for in a page artist application is composition (how elements in the example pictures submitted for the application like the background, props, characters, etc. work together), atmosphere (how the example pictures build a mood), creativity (unique and quirky representations and ideas!), and the level of polish the example pieces have (so overall how neat and nicely finished they look). At least one example provided will need to have a full background (so something containing complex background elements or designs or scenery, like a room or a scene).

For spot artists:

We are aiming to have around 5 spot artists for this zine. Spot artists will be paired up with writers, illustrating smaller scenes written for the zine. The mood of these pieces might vary greatly, but should match the tone and content of the writing.

What we’ll be looking for in a spot artist application is how well their example pieces convey a particular mood and/or feeling, as well as how well they present a scene in a smaller space. The example pieces submitted might not need to be as detailed or polished as those required by full page artists, but should be just as expressive!

For merch artists:

We will be looking for around 2-3 merch artists for this zine. Merch artists will design merch to go with the zine when it potentially hits certain sales targets. Prior experience making merch is greatly preferred for applicants applying for this role.

What we’ll be looking for in a merch artist application is the ability to make neat, simple designs that translate well as physical and digital merchandise.

Hopefully that clears a few things up - and please don’t be too daunted by all the details or feel you have to play perfectly to all of the ideas given above, every single one of us is different and the most unconventional of application pieces might be just the thing we need! This is just to make the application process a little clearer for anyone who’s nervous about what to submit. If anything is still a little unclear, please feel free to send us an ask on our Tumblr or CuriousCat!

[genericpuff]

Have you heard of the Canvas Age Rating Self Assessment thing? What are your thoughts on it?

I think it'll at least be helpful to help discern which series are for which age groups, but it's not necessarily going to change WT's moderation policies (which I will say from experience, seem to vary purely on the basis of which moderator spots the offense, some are willing to look the other way, others sound the alarms over stuff as inane as a buttcrack lmao)

plus I don't think a lot of creators are aware that whatever rating they get will bar those who don't meet the qualifications of that rating. There are already people getting YA / M ratings over things that aren't necessarily that obscene and subsequently losing portions of their audience who can no longer access it.

All that's to say, I think it's a good system in theory, WT's has been in desperate need of proper ratings for a long time now, but it undoubtedly still needs tweaking.

That said, I'm also not the best person to ask for an opinion on this as I've stopped updating works on WT. The stuff I do have on there now have ratings (both rated M which is hilarious because it's barely any worse than Naruto or Bleach half the time), but I haven't updated anything since before the rating system and I have a very small readerbase so it's really not affecting any of my own experience, I don't think anyone's been explicitly banned from reading my work on there as a result of it (and I mirror it on other sites anyways).

So yeah, not much to say on it for now, it did seem to be kind of buggy in the beginning with what ratings it dished out over which specifications, but I believe that's been adjusted/fixed and it's more accurate now. It doesn't necessarily mean people can post ToS-breaking content - and it's not gonna stop the NSFW Patreon farmers from exploiting loopholes in the ToS - but it at least creates an extra barrier of plausible deniability both for the platform and its creators - meaning, it's not a perfect system that will stop underage readers from accessible explicit content (or bot accounts from spam-posting NSFW ads as comics) but as far as I can tell it works fine as a rudimentary "dead dove do not eat" filter which is pretty much all it's designed for.

Overall, no real complaints here, just a feature that will hopefully benefit creators going forward in properly labelling and advertising their series. What Webtoons really needs is a better filtering system so users can opt out or into specific age ratings / genres / tags / etc. But that's a whole other can of worms that WT's doesn't seem to be prioritizing and is easily in my top 5 reasons of why WT's is one of the most useless platforms out there in spite of how successful it became.

[tibby-art]

Hi Tibby! I haven't been able to draw mcyt stuff for months now because of how busy I've been with university. I've been having fun and working hard, but i haven't even been able to keep up with my favorite creators, which is a bummer!

That said, it makes me really happy that you're still making art, even though I can't. You are my favorite mcyt artist, I think. I've always admired your work! You choose such good moments to draw, and your designs are so spot on. I find that the way you draw moments and interactions is really accurate to the way I picture them in my head, you have a great sense for it, I think. And your animatics and animations are so funny! There's several which I've just watched over and over because they make me smile every time. Cub visits Scarland, the Scar Secret Life animatic, and Scar's Demise to name a few!

I'm able to continue keeping up with some of my favorite creators through your posts, which is really nice. So, thank you for that :) I love your work, and it's always a treat to see you on my dashboard. Hope you have a great evening! ^^

;v; thank you so much this is so kind! thats really cool that my silly stuff can make you smile :D and Favorite?? thats such an honor,, what the freak

i hope uni is going well and i hope you’re able to find the time to draw and stuff when you can, making art is super important for me at least!

[funhouse-mirror-barbie]

Rating Hazbin + Helluva Boss Characters based on if I could tell what animal/creature they’re supposed to be:

DISCLAIMER: This is not an attack on the creators or artists/designers for either show. I already went over the purpose of this on my first post here—I just like to review stuff.

Part 2!

SIR PENTIOUS—SNAKE—5/5

Yeah that’s a snake, man.

While I find some of Pent’s design elements cluttered, he’s actually one of the stronger designs in my opinion. I think the having his cobra hood act as his hair is fun and cleaver. It’s very easy to tell he’s a snake. Not sure why he has eyes on his tail/body? I think they could have just made them red spots but eh.

QUEEN BEE—FOX (?) WITH HONEY BEE ELEMENTS (?)—3.5/5

Bee’s a weird one for me b/c while her design is super super cluttered I can SEE how it could work, and I really do like fun cute fox and wolf girls. The ONLY reason that docked points is b/c she’s supposed to be a fox/bee hybrid (I believe?) but her “bee” elements are so minute that if I hadn’t seen her in a big beehive, I would have just assumed she was as a fox with fairy/insect elements—I wouldn’t have thought she was connected to a honey bee at all. It’s a weird case where she is VERY obviously a fox but it’s not obvious at all that she’s a bee/honey bee. I did want to give a little extra half-point tho b/c I do like her little antennae ears. They’re pretty much the only thing that screams “insect” to me.

STELLA GOETIA—SWAN (?)—3/5

I think I may be going a little easier on the Helluva cast b/c overall they’re easier to figure out what animals they are. I’ve heard that Stella is supposed to be a Swan but I’m not 100% sure. This one is def more on me, but I initially thought that she was either a secretary bird due to her long lashes and the way her hair is styled, or a peafowl (which would make sense b/c her brother is apparently a peacock?) at least I can tell that she is a bird and her colors are accurate for a swan’s. I think the reason I would never have thought of her as a swan is mostly due to her beak size and color. But yeah b/c I can at least confirm that she is in fact a bird I wanna give her a higher score.

I would rate Pilot Stella too, but I don’t think at that point she was meant to be a swan, just a vague bird demon lady. At least I hope not.

MAMMON—SPIDER (OR CENTIPEDE? MAYBE??) —0.5/5

So. Like Angel Dust. The only reason I know that Mammon is a spider is because he was shown sitting on a giant spider web.

I really didn’t think he was a spider/spider-ish looking at all and I still don’t. Even the extra eyes they add to him sometimes didn’t immediately make me think “Spider!” just that it was a demon thing. He really just looks like a jester with extra arms.

His full demon/mega form also doesn’t look very spider-ish tbh, and was what made me wonder if he was actually supposed to be a centipede? I was really disappointed by his “final form” because it’s pretty much the same as his regular form but with more eyes and what I assume is SUPPOSED to be a spider abdomen ?? But then he does kinda scuttle like a centipede at the end so maybe he is supposed to be???? But then why does he have a big spider web???

Also, and I’ll be honest, this is just me being needlessly nit-picky and it’s a small thing but it just irks me personally b/c I don’t understand the reasoning behind this but like. I HATE that his extra eyes DO NOT stay consistent.

The first time we see his extra eyes it gives him a total of 8 so I was like “oh okay yeah so maybe just his final form will be a spider/spider-like BUT THEN HIS EXTRA EYES KEEP OSCILLATING BETWEEN 3 and 4 EXTRA EYES?

These shots are only a few seconds apart like why did they give him MORE eyes when he got farther away? They’re so small that they barely seem distinct? Like if he IS supposed to be a spider you don’t have to keep giving him eyes!!! Stop, stop, he can already see!!! 😭

Maybe he IS a centipede tho? B/c he DOES seem to have the little centipede butt horns (which apparently are just their very hind legs in real life)

And he def seems to move like one in that form. Man idk. Why even HAVE him in a spider web then???

Being an arthropod lover and not being able to figure out what the fuck kinda guy that’s supposed to be is driving me wild tbh 😅

Honestly if Mammon was just supposed to be a clown/jester I would have given him 5/5 b/c yeah that was immediately obvious. But it’s him being a jester-spider-centipede-thing that muddles things for me.

I would put Loona in here but I ran out of pictures for this post talking about Mammons eyes. She gets 5/5 cause. Yeah that’s a classic wolf girl.

[druidshollow]

I'm so curious about Fires now, do you have any fun facts on that little malfunctioning thing?

( @bleedingtooth so u also get a ping lol)

looks like its time for a FIRE POOOOST

as per usual and since i havent shared much about him yet im gonna drop some fast facts real fast

(at the moment im having a bit of a crisis with the timeline so some dates are subject to change and shift around. originally fire was going to be older and i cant remember if id mentioned that yet or not but whats in this post is whats accurate cool thanks for understanding)

everlasting fire was the creation of flowers (as admin) and descent (as project lead). when they graduated from the school of solutions they were endorsed by a high councillor and allowed to develop their own iterator project. young and ambitious, the two were elated to have the honour and determined to do well with it. flowers in particular was intent on impressing his peers and superiors, and developed a new genetic code that would form the iterator's microbe structure much quicker, making the construction of fire move much faster than normal. his peers were quite impressed. top scientists of the iterator project overlooked the code, but none spotted its fatal error, and it was allowed to be used to construct fire.

the problem with this code is that the taboo buffers are built into the iterator's genetic structure, and in this rushed development, a few microbes didn't properly grab onto the taboo laws. it was a small error but was unfortunately enough for fire's emotional outburst and impulsivity to overcome the taboo laws built into him, even if just for a moment.

artist's rendition of everlasting fire's microbes

to understand WHY fire attacked descent we have to understand the kind of guy fire was!!!

like i stated earlier, fire was very young by iterator standards when we was shut down. he was immature, impulsive, and a bit quick-tempered by nature.

deep down he struggled with feelings of loneliness (running theme much) and envy. fire wanted to feel like a part of society but the iterators were so alienated from their colonies and creators. he grew embittered over time by his desire for freedom.

the attack was really a wrong place at the wrong time situation. it was the minor cycle after a large festival (always a hard time for fire), and descent had been alone with fire in his chamber, talking to him about the festivaal and what she'd done during. his emotions welled up, having never had a real outlet, and in combination with his poor impulse control and his malfunctioning taboo buffers it culminated in fire using his gravity powers to apply crushing force to descent.

i think it was a moment of blind rage, that fire wasn't even fully aware of what he was doing. he just snapped and lashed out at the closest thing, that unfortunately being descent.

flowers shut fire's power off right as fire started to come back to himself. later, before his shut-down, fire was briefly powered back up to be questioned. he expressed confusion, fear, and mortification at what he'd done, and couldn't comprehend how it had happened. he was beyond remorseful and terrified of himself.

fire was consequentially demolished. flowers helped design the creatures that were employed to carry out the demolition in return for keeping his position of power in the aftermath of his mistake

[zetto-protection-squad]

Fun conversation topic: What would be your peak SELF INDULGENT version of TOME?

I started thinking recently about how the RPG is a big outlier in the TOME franchise (is it accurate to call it a franchise?) because I feel to me personally that the "you die in the game you die in real life" elements were what really hooked me on to begin with. However, the RPG itself has some nice elements to it; the more in-depth game mechanics, RPG Flamegirl by herself, etc etc...

However, I'm never a "Fuck Canon" kind of fan; moreso a "I love this, but how would I make it better?" kind of fan.

Even so, I think it's important to understand the difference between if a piece of media does something poorly versus if a piece of media simply didn't do something you didn't enjoy. Such as, TTA Flamegirl is a poorly written female character, BUT me not enjoying RPG Alpha doesn't mean that he is inherently poorly written. Remember, there is inherently a huge difference between the creator's intention with their story, and what you as the audience PERSONALLY want from their story.

That being said, the questions stand:

What would be your peak SELF INDULGENT version of TOME? Which plotlines (TTA/2011/RPG) would you want to encapsulate the most? Which versions of each of the main 7 would you want to explore this plotline?

I've pitched this concept to my friends (Thank you for your support @d-buggers-org + @mechcity-skyline !), but some wanted to see this as a public prompt so here you go!

Remember, I'm writing all this from a place of love! I NEVER want to say "Fuck Canon"; I simply want to gush about my favorite elements from each TOME variant, and daydream about what will satiate my own self indulgence for a series that means a lot to me :]!

Under the cut would be my own personal "P.S.I." version of TOME (will refer to it as "my PSI-TOME for short throughout this essay); so get ready for TOME, [insert Mod Blue's real name] version!

Which plotlines (TTA/2011/RPG) would you want to encapsulate the most?

I'm going to immediately start out the gate with the controversies BUT...

TV TOME Adventures.

Like I said in my intro, it was TOME (2011 in particular)'s "you die in the game you die in real life" plotline that really hooked me onto the series!

However... something about the air of TTA alone is very different than 2011. I think it feels much darker, plotlines such as the forbidden season 4, Ericho's mind being trapped in the gang, Kirbopher1111's descent, Motherboard's corruption and the shadow clones??

Maybe it's because it's a longer series, or maybe, by my own account, "I am a dramatic bitch", I think I would love to see a lot of the TTA plotlines polished to be feasible for a more advanced series. They are the building blocks for the franchise, after all!

Overall I think it would be interesting to explore TTA by itself, and its full potential when working with its building blocks; cutting the fat where you could tell it was initially written by a random teenager and polishing the interesting concepts presented in TTA that aren't in 2011. I also think me wanting TTA's plotline in particular is an interesting conundrum when taking into account my other question...

Which versions of each of the main 7 would you want to explore this plotline?

Now, this one actually gets complicated!

I'm mostly going to yap about why I think they'd be a perfect pick for my PSI-TOME plotline, but @d-buggers-org actually brought up a great point about how you could choose between who you want for plotlines BUT steal another version's character design! So I'll mention whose design I'll steal in the midst of which plotline/character arc would be better as well.

So get ready for a ride...

ALPHA:

TTA Alpha.

While I do have a soft spot for 2011 for reasons I may get into later, I am and have always been ENAMOURED with TTA Alpha in particular. I'm not a huge fan of "shy character becomes more confident" plotlines (truthfully I don't even know if I can explain why), so TTA Alpha in particular sticks out better to me!

I think he comes across as a somewhat brash, almost arrogant person at the beginning of the series, but one who slowly gets worn down by the heaviness of the plot over time, until he presumably "gets his spark back" by season 4 (Chris mentioning one of season 4's final episodes being a fight between Alpha and the literal God Of The Internet to prove that Alpha is proof that the virtual world is protected by good hands). He comes across as cocky at certain moments, but in a fun way! He's also very captivating while angry, and even though Chris himself doesn't like the 3 hour infiltration mission... I rather enjoyed seeing Alpha in particular have to directly lead his friends into danger, him and Voltarius having a back and forth conflict of who has the upper hand over who.

I think overall, TTA Alpha feels like a real teenager to me. Maybe I feel like the shyer Alphas of 2011 and RPG come across as more trope-y to me than TTA? I may have even posted about how TTA Alpha reminds me of Sonic specifically in Sonic Frontiers, my favorite video game of all time... but either way, that's how I feel! TTA Alpha would be my pick for my PSI Alpha.

Also, I wouldn't be too mad at keeping TTA Alpha's designs as-is lol. Maybe just remove the lizard tail and also steal 2011 Alpha's season 1 outfit for him BUT keeping TTA Alpha's season 2 + 3 + 4 outfits :D

ALSO ALEJANDRO SAAB IN THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF TTA EPISODE 60 IS MY PERFECT VICTORY; I NEED ALEJANDRO SAAB IN MY PSI-TOME <3

FLAMEGIRL:

RPG Flamegirl. (SPOILERS FOR THE RPG INCOMING, FYI)

Now, I think I speak for a fair chunk of us will admit RPG Flamegirl is the best Flamegirl has been written. Heck, probably the first time Flamegirl didn't feel like "THE GIRL" of the group!

Now, I initially didn't like RPG Flamegirl in the demo; but with the context of her full character in the RPG? She singlehandedly fits SO PERFECTLY with the higher stakes I enjoy from each series... but I feel kind of bad she's stuck in the one TOME variant that doesn't have those sci-fi high stakes I fell in love with. She's one of those rare characters I see in media that I swear I'm gonna hate the entire time, only for their character arc to showcase the OPPOSITE. (FYI, those awards are also gifted to Ling Yao from FMA and Weiss Schnee from RWBY <3)

I love that she's still learning to be a leader of her guild. I love that she has blatant trust issues that make her friendships fall apart, and she learns to grow from it to make sure she's not in a constant cycle of platonic break-ups. I love her raw determination, and I love how she very much ISN'T perfect and struggles with that. (And also, she's Filipino and voiced by a Filipina actress! Filipino pride :D)

If I'm particularly stealing the elements of TTA, I think you can easily interweave RPG Flamegirl into that sort of plotline. Maybe her sister was impacted by the virus at some point? I think RPG Flamegirl in particular ABSOLUTELY has the will and strength to take down the hacker organizations; She obviously does the same even if the hackers aren't directly harming people physically through the game.

As for design?

...

To be honest, 2011 Flamegirl with RPG Flamey's personality would be god tier. I love the demon aesthetic she has, and it's a little less busy on the eyes than RPG Flamey's outfit.

NYLOCKE:

...

...I could go both ways! (Both 2011 and RPG Nylocke.)

Now, I would like to elaborate that I'm not the biggest Nylocke fan, so I'm very much not the person to ask when it comes to which Nylocke is better, or go onto rambles on each version of Nylockes' character arcs.

But I don't hate him! I've been in the fandom for 10 years at this point, and growing into adulthood I really appreciate who Nylocke is as a character. He is really the heart that holds the group together, and really makes everything feel okay when he's at his best. I'm not sure if you could argue he has this big massive character arc, but my point is that you don't NEED him to change so massively because he's everyone's rock in the face of adversary.

Truthfully, not being a Nylocke stan, I personally don't see much difference between 2011 and RPG Nylocke outside of the circumstances they're in; that's exactly why I could go with both of them in my PSI-TOME. I think, like I said, being a steady rock in the face of adversary would be EXACTLY what my PSI-TOME would need, being reminiscent of TTA's darker elements.

As for design however, RPG Nylocke 100%! I think his silhouette cements the "big support" character he needs to be, his palette is more pleasing to the eye, and his cape's back!

KIRB/ZETTO:

...I'd like to hope y'all remember what my blog is about because it is ABSOLUTELY going to be...

2011 Kirbopher/Zetto.

What else can I say? I love him. He's an integral part of my childhood, my adulthood, my writing, my personality, my interests??

I've mentioned before that TTA Zetto is sort of the "common ancestor" for what would evolve into two separate paths; 2011 Zetto, and RPG Zetto. I think where TTA Zetto falters is Chris attempting to have both cakes; the Vegeta redemption arc, and the ever-intimidating adversary. RPG Zetto is a perfected version of the latter; I'm scared of him, to be honest. He's an asshole with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I would say I'd punch RPG Zetto if I saw him in the streets, but he'd probably doxx me on his Reddit account.

2011 Zetto is a perfected version of Vegeta. PERIOD.

His dual identity made TOME (2011) SO SO captivating. He alone raises the stakes, directly links the main group into the main conflict (but even spicier, AGAINST HIS WILL!). I'm in love with all of his issues and he's personally the most relatable person in the entire cast.

EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM IS SO CAPTIVATING! My favorite episode of TOME (2011) is Episode 10, because it's the first time we see Zetto's mask crack and he starts showing emotional vulnerability!

His dual identity with Kirbopher also helps "declutter" the main cast a bit more, and gives Kirbopher himself a lot more meat to his character! TTA Kirbopher15 is fine, but kind of works like the Joey Wheeler to Alpha's Yugi; but more people remember Kaiba and Yugi than Joey and Yugi. RPG Kirbopher works well without the higher stakes of TTA as just Alpha's friend.

However, with my PSI-TOME having TTA plotlines specifically BECAUSE I love drama and darker plots...

It'd be a crime to say 2011 Kirb/Zetto WOULDN'T be my pick for my own PSI-TOME!

2011 Kirb/Zetto is just SO STELLAR of a character that he just HAS to be there for my PSI-TOME.

(Heck, he was my awakening for loving the SHIT out of characters with dual identity issues.... lots of my dual-identity faves come from obscure webcomics BUT I literally just finished reading Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde because it's THE "dual identity conflict" novella of all time so uh... yeah 2011 Zetto flows through my veins at this point)

As for design...

No, yeah. I'm keeping 2011 Zetto as-is; obviously TTA Zetto just has a sleeveless version of Vegeta's armor, and RPG Zetto captures the "big douchebag" energy so well that I don't think I'd want him NEAR 2011 Zetto. I'd jokingly say perhaps I'd steal RPG Zetto's hair, though... I've always struggled with drawing 2011 Zetto's hair 😭😭

RPG Zetto's scarf and tattoo is kinda cute tho. Something to consider, maybe.

Kirbopher himself is funnily enough a different story. Personally, 2011 season 2 Kirb is my favorite of all the Kirbs! But I also like RPG Kirb's design over 2011 season 1 Kirbopher too... Also something to consider!

NOW...

GAMECRAZED:

Truthfully? All of them, in one big mega-Gamecrazed.

Much like Nylocke I don't think I have MEGA huge opinions on GC as a character, but in terms of plotline? All of them could work in my PSI-TOME; I think there's elements behind each one of them that could work/could be fun exploring as one giant mega-GC!

I'll just get this out of the way that I could also go for either 3 of their designs; I'm not too strong on one over the other, since I think it's fair to say their silhouettes are generally the same (well I used a pic of TTA's Redemption but still)

That being said, onto plotline:

1.) I love TTA Gamecrazed starting off as just a normal teen coping with his parents' divorce with his little brother, only to be sort of "awoken" by virus power and singlehandedly being able to talk down Motherboard from her own corruption.

2.) I love 2011 Gamecrazed secretly being an AI built to stop hackers by the game's main AI, only to learn about what love is through befriending the main cast.

3.) Gamesoft is just a cutie pie... I love that the RPG was willing to tackle her being trans, and I love that the concept of GC with a little brother was brought back! Truthfully out of all "shy" characters, I definitely prefer her as a more introverted/softspoken person over 2011/RPG Alpha's shyness.

So here's what I've been thinking:

Maybe PSI-TOME GC starts off as a normal teen, perhaps also coping with their parents' divorce but overall having a generally normal human life with a little brother outside of the game

At some point PSI-TOME GC gets involved with the development of a hot new video game, but virus stuff happens and they're now somehow interwoven into the game, maybe their mind is trapped or they are now "transformed" by something within the game that makes them technically no longer human

Motherboard uses GC, whether they be a shell left behind by some fatal accident within the game/Motherboard fusing with GC's mind after a traumatic accident, as a shadow, and learns about love through her experiences as GC + their little brother

Somehow this is a trans allegory

Like, it is 4am. But also imagine...

Food for thought once again. I'm just daydreaming, at the end of the day! But I truthfully believe there is something to be done by using elements from ALL versions of GC to make one big mega-GC to be within my own PSI-TOME.

That being said, I do prefer Motherboard by design instead of SOFDTI (or the RPG's 'Prisoner', especially because Prisoner in particular leads nowhere without the context of an RPG DLC or sequel)

I think "2011 Motherboard" concept art is just gorgeous; especially that top right doodle showing exactly how GC is her shadow. I do prefer humanoid designs hence my neutrality towards SOFDTI's squishy fairy design, but also I am also very much a women enjoyer ♥🧡💛💚💙💜

RURI/KIZUNA/TIGERLILY:

...

Kizuna over Ruri, but I could go both ways perhaps...

No shade to Tigerlily stans! But hear me out...

I think overall for my PSI-TOME, Kizuna is the better choice. Obviously she's made MUCH more important to the plot and conflict in 2011 than Ruri is in TTA; and she's such a girlboss as well. I think her Riza Hawkeye dynamic with Zetto is beautifully done, especially with the A2Z movies giving her a much more hopeful ending and wrapping up their relationship in a neat little bow. She's such a professional in her hacking, and she is a formidable antagonist within TOME (2011); she also has my favorite voice of the franchise! Imogen Fox if you're out there... your performance as Kizuna has been a gay awakening to a LOT of people.

But, after seeing @artlasllm's "Ruri is a Twitch Streamer AU"... I think Ruri also has something to her character to explore as well. I think she's an interesting addition to TTA that would've been quite compelling if explored more; is she the "things IRL I should be taking care of" that TTA Zetto talks about in episode 60? If they've been dating long before Zetto's redemption arc, why hasn't Ruri seen Zetto in a while when they meet back up in-GAME in season 3? Zetto himself rarely talks about her in comparison to Ruri talking about him, she's such a ride-or-die gf that I'm wondering how far Zetto has really pushed that mentality within her. Maybe perhaps she is directly abandoned by Zetto; Zetto fading into obscurity as a prodigous teenage game developer, and Ruri becoming popular only for being a let's player.

I think both are very valid catgirls to explore more within my PSI-TOME; I think I prefer Kizuna for direct plot reasons, but I think I wouldn't be mad at exploring what could be done with Ruri as a character.

That being said, on a funnier note: I've been told you can probably have both of them, since they're so different from one another LMAOO. Some highlights from a brief conversation with @d-buggers-org about including both or maybe ALL of the catgirls include:

Ruri/Zetto/Kizuna polycule at Netking Software's development team (Zetto and Ruri as both beta testers, Kizuna still as head bug checker)

Throwing Tigerlily in the mix with Ruri, Kizuna, and Tigerlily within the plot as a former clique of high school friends, perhaps maybe quite Heathers-esque XD (FYI Kizuna would be Chandler, Tigerlily would be Duke, Ruri would be McNamara)

Kizuna could and would doxx Ruri, from a professional hacker to a simple streamer 😭😭 on the reverse side, Tigerlily would look Kizuna dead in the eye and take selfies with whatever creep shows up at her house after getting doxxed by her

So yeah. Kizuna is a little complicated of a topic for my PSI-TOME, because you could argue that the differences between all of them mean that you could probably have multiple of them within anyone's PSI-TOME as different characters!

I think for simplicity's sake I would say that I do prefer Kizuna to Ruri in regards to who I would choose for my PSI-TOME, but if I were able to juggle both Kizuna AND Ruri in my PSI-TOME, especially with Kizuna as a professional hacker and Ruri as successful gaming streamer? I think I would love to explore both of them.

MISC:

So what else could I say about MY PSI-TOME?

Well, first off, a lightning round of Netking Opinions:

I would choose (MOSTLY) all of the 2011 Netkings over them all, with a few changes and exceptions; I think at the very least, Webmaster, Bitshrum, and Kindarspirit are the best in 2011 continuity, with Rubirules in 2011 being my favorite Rubyrulz/Rubirules/Rulerruby design

I'm not sure whether Rubirules or EXE would work as the true Hacker Boss in my own PSI-TOME, because I was fine with either of them when comparing TTA and TOME (2011)! So simply, I could go both ways!

However, I love Queen Rulerruby... regardless of if I'd pick Rubirules to be my PSI-TOME hacker boss, I absolutely want him genderbended to be the lovely Linda Young-voiced gemstone queen that Queen Rulerruby in the RPG is. God, that'd give off such wonderful Yzma vibes 8) <3

Regardless of EXE/Execk being my PSI-TOME hacker boss, I think I'd at least choose TTA/RPG designs over 2011. I think he looks a little plain and normal in 2011, so I'd def try to pick TTA or RPG's EXE/Execks for a liiiittle more oomph :D

NOW, MORE RANDOM PLOT LINES!

Seeing RPG Flamegirl having to deal with the fallout of 2011 Kirb/Zetto's reveal... I think she would NOT hold back in regards to holding him accountable for his actions. Honestly with the context of them being in the TTA plotline, maybe there's more time to explore the fallout of Zetto's dual identity within my PSI-TOME's Purple Flame Arc

Yoinking the 2011 Design for the D-Bug Dragon, but TTA Kajet for the yellow streaks in his design

Not particularly sure if D-Bug Dragon is a virus like in TTA, or an antivirus like in TOME; the general concept of the flame going haywire and making someone comatose would be the same, however. I do definitely think that in my PSI-TOME, perhaps it was built by the hackers, or at the very least Kizuna unfortunately roped into working on it with Darkeyes...

Obviously 2011 Zetto doesn't have the same genuine bloodlust that motivated TTA Zetto to start the hacker organization; I truthfully believe he does the things he does out of paranoia of him but more importantly other people getting hurt by the virus, which I think would motivate Zetto into starting the hacker organization with Kizuna

Oooh, when Archy/Ericho get trapped in the game... I think it'd be spicy to keep 2011 Rockoon as part of my PSI-TOME, a former hacker now desperate to avenge his innocent friend, alongside the horror of the main cast finding out that he's trapped as an AI within the game...

Elaborating more on the "Ruri/Zetto/Kizuna polycule" pitch... I imagine that Ruri and Kizuna act as shoulder angels on Zetto's shoulders; Ruri representing a normal carefree life, but Zetto abandoning it to run the hacker organization with Kizuna... where Kizuna herself has issues surrounding the morality of the hacker organization that she has to deal with (AND I WANT THEM TO END HAPPILY <3)

There is the potential question of asking if Kirbopher still "dies" within my PSI-TOME, since Kirbopher's "death" is a huge symbolic metaphor for Kirb/Zetto as a character... 🤔

This entire PSI-TOME concept is under the assumption that season 4 would be a thing.......... because my PSI-TOME absolutely has Xirra and Darkeyes 🥺🙏

Heck even outside of my PSI-TOME concept, Kizuna and Darkeyes feel like they have parallels in regards to their shared hatred towards technology, their involvement in building the D-Bug Dragon... perhaps in my PSI-TOME, Darkeyes would be a dark reflection of what Kizuna almost becomes...

Would it be easier to say that this entire post is probably just fanfic fuel and I've accidentally written a fanfic the entire time I've written this section of my post, and I only now realize that at the end of this entire essay at 4 in the morning? Maybe. But I don't write fanfic so ig these are the best crumbs I'm gonna get 😭😭

Legit, if you've read this far, thank you so very much for indulging me in my little daydream! This entire post is open to more conversations about what YOUR personal PSI-TOME would be, and I'm hoping that my little yap-athon here is inspiration for you all to play around with! I would love to hear what your personal PSI-TOMEs would be!

[raeloganthesonic06fangirl]

Was trying to explain to Mom about how easy it is to come across AI on the internet and to be mindful of specific search results and to not trust Facebook with its photos and how to spot AI Generated photos by whipping up some examples with Bing Image Creator, and I'm actually scared as to how good some of these look at first glance. 😬

((I like to use the Bing Image Creator for laughs, but I only use non-human characters because using live action faces is creepy to me, and wrong. I just want funny ideas for my personal amusement to laugh with my family when I show the results))

For example, check under the Read More for some of my prompts:

"Godzilla drinking Boba Tea"

Aside from the extra finger and the misshapen people and questionable text, this looks like a phone wallpaper. Who's art did they steal from to get this style??

"Godzilla Build-A-Bear"

He doesn't look like a Build-A-Bear plush, but he definitely looks like a 80s-90s era plush doll of a generic dino. I hate that I want one of these fabricated creations.

"Godzilla at Walmart"

The other results as well kept giving him a Hawaiian shirt, lei, sunglasses and people crowding him like a celebrity. Not gonna lie, this would go hard as a Steam icon. I hate it in a fascinated way.

"Sonic the Hedgehog racing Godzilla on the Beach"

This is literally just a dream sequence. Why does it looks good at a glance, I had zoom in to show Mom why the details are the dead giveaway, and honestly, this could be posted as a compressed jpeg and hide among other pictures. As a Godzilla fan, the fact that this is not an actual Godzilla suit design tells me right away it's fake, but Sonic almost looks like a fan render with the exception of the right foot. This is scary how coherent most of it it. 😬

"Sonic the Hedgehog Convenience Store Security Footage"

... This would be a good avatar icon concept if it was redrawn more accurately. Sonic looks too good, I hate this so much because if I didn't prompt this, I would have been fooled if not for the unintelligible products on the shelves

"Jar Jar Binks Statue in the Middle of a Dark Forest with a Full Moon"

"WHY IS HE SHIRTLESS IN ALL OF THESE, I DIDN'T SAY TO DO ANY OF THESE, THESE ARE TERRIFYING, I HATE IT, EW EW!!!" Was mostly what I said about the results. I chose "Jar Jar Binks Statue" as the subject because my grandfather has a lifesized promo stature one of his step grandkids won it in a contest back during the Star Wars Prequel days, and it's a creepy thing that I get haunted vibes from. This image feels like a low budget horror movie that we'll get if Jar Jar ever gets into the public domain.

Mom decided to give me a prompt, and it's "Kermit the Frog Jumping Over the Moon"

Why do these look like actual photos you'd hang up in your kid's nursery room or something?? Aside from the occasional wonky eye, these look like legit Kermit art, and I am angry at how nice these look.

Conclusion:

AI is getting too powerful. 😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

[gauntletqueen]

Okay so! I saw Across The Spider-Verse. I wanna say some lil thoughts. First off, without spoilers:

I thought the first movie had prepared me for how visually captivating and groundbreaking this one would be and I was WRONG. They took it SO much further in this one and it is SPECTACULAR. The way they play much more with the art style depending on the spidey-person and the universe is incredibly fun to see and impressive to think about.

Now for a LOT of thoughts concerning spoilers:

I am SO glad that they used the fact that it's a two-parter to take the time with its story. Plenty of slower moments, room for talking, etc. I knew it was gonna be a To Be Continued, but was worried the movie would be at a break-neck speed to cram in as much story as possible like with the fuckin uuuh avengers movie with Purplo The Mean Man, and I am SO GLAD!!! That they didn't!!!

Next off I was never a fan of Peni's design in the first movie. It felt too much like that "trying to be anime" thing that western cartoons had going for a while, and I can now only imagine that the creators had planned from the start to have her grow into her comic book design between movies, which is VERY GOOD. (I had already assumed that SP//DR's design would be comic accurate in this movie after its destruction but it's nice to see :> )

On that topic, I do thing it's a bit of a shame that Peni, Noir and Ham didn't get to be in this movie, really. I understand why! Use this one to flesh out the new important characters (and they are very good especially Hobie) so it doesn't feel cluttered when you put them all together in the third one. But I was looking forward to seeing them...

Now let's have a little intermission. (it's relevant I promise) Please meet Carapace, my Spider-Sona, who I created after I had gone to see the first movie back in 2018:

I won't bore yall with the details, but basically she got her powers due to outside intervention causing a shift in her universe. Her getting these powers resulted in that universe's Peter Parker, the one who was supposed to be Spidey, to die. Carapace is characterized as sticking very closely to her own morals even if it might harm in the long run, even when people tell her and show her what she is doing is dangerous, and eventually this leads her actions, as well as her very existence to endanger the entire multiverse despite her best efforts.

So. you know. I thought that was interesting. Given. Yknow. The movie

Okay moving on. Spider-Gwen is the only spidey comic series I've actively read, so seeing her story and her artstyle explored more in this movie was a delight! It's also just really nice how she's more of a pivotal character this time around, given a lot more focus. I'm happy about that :> (also can't believe we now know why she has sneakers in fortnite wow)

The Spot! Was spoiled for me. But not like, in much detail? I had, after seeing fanart against my will, pieced together that he was the guy that got a bagel thrown at him in the first movie, and that he had something to do with "Canon". Now as someone who's read homestuck, and has consumed modern media in general, the use of the word Canon worried me. I was worried they'd break the fourth wall and get all annoyingly meta and stuff. BUT they didn't! They did get meta with it, talking about the canon events that make a spidey-person, but never broke the fourth wall. It was handled carefully and it works! Maybe that's why Ham isn't present in this movie... He'd definitely ruin that now that I think about it. As for The Spot, he's not the most compelling villain. He's funny! it's a funny concept for a villain origin. "Just take this one-off gag from the first movie and turn him into the main villain." But by doing that, by making him Funny and Pretty Dumb In Concept, and then turning him into an Actual Real Threat whose motive is that nobody takes him seriously, it WORKS. We the audience are PART OF THE PROBLEM kinda I dunno I thought it was neat.

Miguel is mean to Miles >:| Stoopid poopoo head >:| (but it's cool that he's like a parallel to Kingpin from the first movie)

As for the whole "different versions of the movie in different theaters" thing, that was spoiled for me, thoughI didn't know what was different heading in. Apparently it's like, Lyla doing some funny little bits? Whatever. I can only assume needing to re-animate perfectly good scenes for no reason other than "aah gotcha! Neat right??" is definitely something that contributed to the reported terrible working conditions and crunch during production. It's a fun reminder that even a film that is so strongly about art, about pushing back against conformity and those that want to control you, is still being made by a giant corporation, and according to that corporation, the workers don't matter, only the product's ability to money. I can only hope that the animators get enough time to work normally on Beyond the Spider-Verse, which I'm sure will be also a phenomenal movie despite the higher ups' demands, just like this one.

Also they said ASS and CRAP in it!! Wow!!!!

[natsubeatsrock]

Takeaways from Mashima Panel at NYCC '24

Much has been said about Mashima's third trip to NYCC. The stars have aligned for me to make it to the panel with him. I've been going to Comic-Con for years at the Big Apple. I wasn't able to make it to his second trip right after FT ended. Of course, it wasn't as if I missed anything special or potentially controversial.

However, I was already going to Comic-Con this year when Crunchyroll announced they would be hosting a creator panel with Mashima on the Main Stage. I made sure to register my spot for the panel the moment it was available to me.

So, how was it?

Overall, it was an interesting panel. The focus was heavily on Fairy Tail’s sequel. I get that Fairy Tail is easily Mashima's most popular work. He even admitted that it's his favorite for connecting him with people around the world. Still, it's weird to focus on only Fairy Tail. EZ just ended this year, he's been publishing Dead Rock, and he's designing the art for yet another game. Then again, Crunchyroll is streaming the sequel to the anime, so they've got reasons for this.

My biggest complaint would be the moderator. He is a fan of Rave, but his knowledge of Fairy Tail felt lacking. He had to be corrected by fans on the pronunciation of character names. This wouldn't be as big a deal if his company wasn't streaming the show. I don't know if it's a lack of professionalism, but I expected better from Crunchyroll.

Make no mistake, this was the highlight of my con experience. It felt like the whole event was building to this and it didn't disappoint. We got to sit closer to the front than other panels. The only rule was no video of the event. Hopefully, the Crunchyroll ninjas don't come after this post.

I wasn't expecting Mashima to be a big Ichiya fan. I get that you feel for different characters at different times. Given plenty of things, it wasn't the most shocking thing to hear he's Mashima's current favorite. Still, I wouldn't have thought he'd like Ichiya as much as he seemed to. He even said he'd try to get him on the cover of the next game.

I saw several people at the venue writing down the responses for every question asked for him. When I started making this post, I didn't intend to do that. It's not a matter of not caring about Mashima's input. I didn't need to write about every question. There were two questions about the ships. (Will the ships get more development and who should Cana end up with?) 

However, I would be remiss to not mention my favorite questions from the panel. Keep in mind, the answers and questions aren't exactly what was said. However, I've tried to keep everything as accurate as possible.

First, the question that has been getting the most buzz.

What inspired friendship as a major theme in Fairy Tail?

It came from my loneliness. I have no friends.

Yeah. I don't blame anyone for getting this out before other questions.

Some people have noted that Mashima has talked about his friends in creating Fairy Tail. I happen to believe one of two things are at work. For one, it's possible this is more exaggeration than not. He has colleagues and some of his former assistants have become successful mangaka. To that point, he's mentioned how motion sickness was inspired by a friend of his. While he might not be extremely close with people, he might have more people around him than he's led on.

The second opinion is slightly more tragic. It's possible that, in creating so many series, he's been further isolated from the friends he's had. He's been a mangaka for close to 25 years. For perspective, SpongeBob also turns 25 this year. (I went to their panel before the Mashima Panel.) I don't think it's impossible to be lost in his work. Even with his famed work schedule and light-hearted mood with assistants, it wouldn't shock me to find out his social life has suffered.

Either way, this puts the emphasis on friendship in a new light. Since Fairy Tail ended, I've noted that the series is about the relationships inside the guild and how valuable they are. No wonder Mashima writes this as both an incredible motivating force and near-infinite power source. If you don't have that in your life as much as you want, you might feel better writing in your work. Writers have written their wishes and desires in their works forever. Mashima's far from the first, and he definitely won't be the last.

Now, let's get to my question. 

That's right. I got to ask a question. If you went to the panel, I was the second question in the Silk cosplay. I made sure to emphasize my love for Natsu and Lucy's friendship. (Ironically, this was right before the questions about ships.) Of course , I also thanked him for his work. I can't say that my life would be better without his works, despite my complaints.

Are there any characters you wish you could have done more with across your works?

Master Zero (Brain from Oracion Seis) in Fairy Tail 

I tried to lead Mashima towards taking about Lisanna or the Black Airs from Monster Soul, but this isn't a bad alternative. Funny how the anime gave him the connection to Ultear, which I noted years back. However, we didn't see much of him after losing to Jellal in Tartarus. There's no real telling what he might be up to now. 

Does that mean he might show up during the sequel? I doubt it. I'm not quite caught up, but the Strongest Team is in a spot where I doubt he can be a factor. I say that and God Serena came back into the picture. Who knows?

Do you have advice for artists?

Grow in empathy for the world around you.

Creator panels at conventions are always good sources for encouragement for budding creatives. This is no exception. 

This reminds me of Mashima's position not to truly resurrect characters. Questionable applications aside, that's an easy way to show value of life. Once a life is truly lost, they don't just come back. {Insert FMA spoilers here}

There's plenty of things to be inspired by. Mashima has mentioned inspiration for Fairy Tail coming from anywhere. He could be going about his day and an idea would come for Fairy Tail. Personally, my favorite creative ideas come from the hearing or seeing something and adding my own spin to it.

It's helpful to go outside and engage the world around you. 

Gray has resorted to using Iced Shell multiple times throughout the series. When will the poor boy stop?

Eventually.

To Gray's credit, he's been better about wanting to die since the main series ended. It pains me to admit that Gruvia is an important source for this. Still, if he's not going to try some new kind of Iced Shell, Gruvia might not be the worst outcome possible.

Now, if Mashima writes the ship differently…

Will Romeo get more development?

If he's popular with fans.

This is similar to what I've said about minor characters over the years. That said, I believe you know what to do if you're a Romeo fan.

Is there anything you find hard to draw consistently?

One of Erza's armor, which he forgets every time.

This is another question Mashima has answered in the past. It's not like I blame him for this one. It's worth mentioning that he's never had issues with the Fairy Tail anime. Speaking of which…

Will we ever see the Rave Master anime return?

Mashima is more interested in animating his newer works, but maybe in the future.

It's sad to hear, but it makes sense. Right now, EZ’s third season is in development, along with the sequel. Dead Rock will probably get animated eventually. I get not pushing for another shot at Rave.

Then again, you never know. There are always surprising announcements for old and new anime. Maybe some producer and director are hellbent on revisiting Rave as an anime and we’ll find out about it. Perhaps Crunchyroll or Netflix will be willing to bankroll the production of an updated Rave Master. Time will tell.

Why Western influence for Lucy's magic instead of more Eastern spirits?

Mashima is a fan of Saint Seiya. In that show, there are powers based on the Zodiac signs. He was disappointed to see how his sign Taurus was treated in the show. He wanted to make weaker signs from there strong in my series.

Mashima really emphasized his love for Dragon Ball, but this was a cooler revelation. Saint Seiya has a legendary status among older anime. Seeing that it influenced one of the coolest forms of magic is interesting to hear. Maybe I'll have to get into Saint Seiya to compare the spirits.

By the way, the last question came from a Lucy cosplayer who wanted to know if the spirits were based on personal interpretations of the signs. She was disappointed by Cancer, and Mashima joked that it specifically was intentional. At least I hope it was a joke.

As a Capricorn, I love the spirit and wish it was used more. I still wish the Star Dress was a pantsuit.

One more question.

When did you get the idea to make the sequel?

It wasn't my original plan, but I was convinced to do it.

To the surprise of no one paying attention, Mashima didn't originally plan to write the sequel. It seemed obvious to me that Mashima wasn't planning to continue Fairy Tail after it ended. All indications were that he wanted to end the series and work on what would be EZ. The Century Quest didn't seem like something we needed clarification on. If you read the posts I made between the series ending and the sequel being announced, I figured we were done with more Fairy Tail. Dragon Cry would come out and we'd get the last season of the anime. Then, we'd be done with the series.

However, I couldn't have imagined what the sequel has become. It's outlasted EZ and might even outlast Dead Rock. The scope of even the first couple arcs blew the series more open than expected going into the sequel.

For all the hate it gets, Fairy Tail is objectively a successful franchise. It's one of the most well-recognized anime in the world and has sold millions of copies worldwide. Considering Fairy Tail's success as a franchise, it makes sense that the Kodansha suits would want more of the series.

That said, having more of Fairy Tail isn't the worst thing ever. It cleared up much of the loose ends left by the main series. Much of what we've seen is satisfying fan service. (The good kind of fan service.) Jellal’s close to joining Fairy Tail. The Gajevy twins are on the way. The return to Edolas was worth the wait. Even Irene’s happy ending was nicer than I expected. There are plenty of other things I don't like, but other fans have enjoyed. People like seeing the Edolas kids and Gruvia development. 

At the very least, Nalu still isn't canon.

In Conclusion:

When is Mashima coming back to the Big Apple?

[lildoodlecat]

i was digging through my files for something or other and got distracted bc I found a folder with everything from my first laptop i had when i was around 10? 11?? anyway, in that folder was a separate folder labeled "Warrior Cats" and I. I found the jpg where I'd compiled THIRTY-SEVEN OC's I'd created using a dress-up game on dolldivine and I-- there's lore?? going on in here???? it's all vague as hell but I created a whole like. key for it. lemme just show you

shoutout to me for adding the url (even tho i actually still remembered the website since I used it. so much alskdfjklsdj) also look at that "therefore" lol. nice vocab lil guy

Here's an example of that key in action:

I think Mossfur was my self-insert?? Or maybe I was just obsessed with the idea of her design. The cat creator also had an option for the shoulder paint that meant a bunch of different stuff like what their rank was, whether they had apprentices or kits, and I think also if their kits had died or smth. this might've been for the artist's made up clan but idk.

I also tried to make my own cats that my family had at the time:

based on the key, they're both elder male kittypets of the same litter (accurate, as they were indoor cats, brothers, and already getting old for cats) but idk how close the likeness actually is laksjf. close enough ig?? Calvin WAS a grey tabby with a white belly, muzzle, and paws and Sam WAS a tuxedo cat. so.

Anyway, there's obviously way more cats in there—including Scourge who I paired with some random OC I made on the spot and gave them a kit. bc of course I did.

There's also some ✨drama✨ as not all the families are of the same clan/loyalties. such intrigue!

it's also. kinda poorly organized:

look at all that. I was clearly having the time of my life making these and sticking them in mspaint. good for tiny me

[dcafanzine]

☀️ Application Tips 🌙

Applying to a fanzine can be a pretty nerve-wracking experience, especially if this could potentially be your first zine! This set of tips has been made in the hopes of easing any potential anxiety and making the application process smoother for everyone!

Please read on to find out more and see some cute little puppets!

Read the FAQ and guidelines carefully

The FAQ and guidelines explain the theme of the zine as well as what we’re looking for when it comes to contributor applications. Reading these will help strengthen your application when you come to apply!

Make sure the zine schedule matches your availability

Please verify you’ll be able to keep up with the zine’s schedule if you’re selected to contribute a piece for the zine! For this zine, once selected, you’ll have about three months to complete your piece, with check-ins every month. Life happens, and unexpected things can make us all busy at the last moment (and our mods will try our very best to work with you to get things sorted!), but please be mindful when applying to check that your availability matches with the schedule.

Step one: Follow the guidelines carefully when submitting your application(s).

Please pay careful attention when reading and answering the application questions to ensure that your application follows the guidelines and answers everything as clearly as it can. Applications will stay open for a month - there’s no rush if you need time to complete your application in detail! If there is a maximum number of samples, a word count range, or a specific theme requested on the application form, please make sure your application adheres to these so we can properly evaluate your application. If you’re unsure about anything, please feel free to ask, as our mod team is only too happy to help!

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Once contributor applications open, we’ll be asking to see existing samples of your work so we can see if you’re a good fit for the zine! Please be sure to link specific examples of your work that you think fit the zine’s theming as well as the style and quality level you’re hoping to meet when contributing to the zine. Bear in mind the mod team are likely going to be looking at a lot of entries, so if you link to a gallery that has a huge number of examples, we might not be able to give a fair amount of time looking at the pieces that best showcase your work! These don’t have to be posted publicly on social media, but please ensure we can see them for the duration of the application period (e.g., the links work, the links aren’t set to private or followers only, and the links don’t expire before the application period ends).

Step three: Make sure your application samples fit the theme of the zine.

In this case, we’re looking for examples of your work featuring the DCA. The zine will primarily focus on canon-adjacent depictions of the DCA, with some slots available for AU content made by the AU’s own creator or with express given permission from the creator of that AU. Your application should ideally provide one or more samples depicting the DCA, with at least one of those preferably depicting the DCA in a canon-adjacent form or setting.**Canon-adjacent here doesn’t mean the depiction has to be biblically accurate, just that the design should not differ so substantially from what would typically be recognised as the DCA to essentially be a separate character. This fandom is intensely creative and we love and applaud the originality of the many different variants of the DCA, but this zine aims to focus primarily on canon-adjacent depictions, with a limited number of slots for AU content as well. Having canon-adjacent depictions of the DCA will massively help round out your application for this zine!

Step four: This one’s for the merch artists - please don’t apply with the same samples you’d use for a page/spot artist application!

Including actual merch designs for your samples helps a lot, as prior experience making merch is a massive advantage for a merch artist application!

Bear in mind, you don’t strictly need to follow all of these steps to a tee when completing your application - the mod team will try to accommodate where we can. However, it will really help your application to take these things into consideration!

And most importantly …

Step five: If you get rejected this time, please don’t let it discourage you!

Zines often get a huge number of applications vs contributor spots, and a lot of tough decisions (often taking hours or even days) will likely have to be made between several really good applicants.

Being rejected from a zine in no way means you’re bad at what you do, or in any way less worthy or skilled than anyone else. You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else does, and there are people who adore what you do, so keep doing it! In some cases, certain applications might fit the theme of the zine better, particular applicants explained themselves more clearly in their application, or it was just all in all an extremely close call with one lucky winner. So please don’t ever let a rejection email discourage you from trying, and bear in mind rejection happens to the best of us at some point!

We appreciate every single application we get, so good luck out there!

[delivermytuneo6]

The Best Monitor Speakers for Music Sets: Price, Quality, and Sound

When you’re putting together a music set price that suits your budget, one of the most critical components to consider is the quality of your monitor speakers. Monitor speakers are essential for ensuring the sound you create and record is accurately represented. Whether you’re a musician or content creator, understanding the best monitor speakers on the market and how they affect your music set price is vital for making an informed decision.

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of monitor speakers, focusing on their importance within your overall music set price, how to balance quality with cost, and where to find the best deals. Additionally, we will touch on related gear like instruments similar to guitar and the best mic for recording YouTube, as these elements often complement your setup.

Understanding the Impact of Monitor Speakers on Your Music Set

Monitor speakers are not just any ordinary speakers; they are designed specifically for audio professionals, musicians, and producers to ensure that the sound you hear is as accurate as possible. Unlike consumer-grade speakers, which might add extra bass or treble to make the sound more pleasant, monitor speakers are neutral, giving you a true representation of your music or recording.

When building your music set price, it’s essential to factor in monitor speakers because they will determine how your music sounds during the creation process. If you’re working with a limited budget, you may be tempted to go with cheaper options, but this could affect the quality of your sound. While some lower-cost monitor speakers still provide impressive sound, others might introduce distortion or poor sound quality, which can harm the final output of your music or YouTube recordings.

Balancing Music Set Price with Sound Quality

Finding the right balance between music set price and quality is crucial for both beginners and experienced musicians. The good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to get high-quality monitor speakers. There are a wide variety of options at different price points that deliver accurate sound. For example, you can find entry-level monitor speakers that offer a clear, balanced sound for as little as $100 to $200 a pair, which is ideal if you’re just starting out or on a tight budget.

However, if you are a professional musician or recording artist looking for the best performance, you may need to increase your music set price for higher-end monitor speakers that offer exceptional sound accuracy and longevity. The sweet spot often falls in the mid-range of $300 to $600, where you can find monitor speakers with incredible detail and performance. High-end brands like Yamaha, KRK, and Adam Audio provide options with incredible precision, perfect for mixing, mastering, and producing content that demands the best sound.

Finding Affordable Monitor Speakers Without Compromising on Sound

For those working with a tight budget, it’s essential to know where to find the best deals without sacrificing the accuracy and detail that monitor speakers offer. Many online marketplaces, such as Amazon and Sweetwater, offer regular discounts, bundles, and deals that can help you get the most for your money. Additionally, many manufacturers offer refurbished monitor speakers at a lower price point, which can still deliver impressive sound quality.

One strategy to reduce your music set price without compromising sound is to prioritize the features you need. For example, if you don’t need built-in subwoofers or advanced connectivity options, you can save money by opting for monitor speakers that focus on the basics: flat frequency response, durability, and accurate sound reproduction. As a result, you can allocate the saved budget to other essential components in your music set, such as the best mic for recording YouTube.

The Role of the Best Mic for Recording YouTube in Your Music Set

When it comes to YouTube or other online video platforms, the best mic for recording YouTube is as important as your monitor speakers. If you plan to produce videos where sound quality matters — whether it’s music covers, tutorials, or voiceovers — having a professional microphone is key. Look for microphones that offer clear, crisp sound with minimal background noise, such as condenser mics or dynamic mics.

While you might think the best mic for recording YouTube would be the most expensive option available, there are many mid-range mics that offer fantastic performance at a reasonable price. Brands like Audio-Technica, Shure, and Rode offer great options that fit into your overall music set price without breaking the bank. By investing in a microphone that complements your monitor speakers, you can create high-quality content that is sure to resonate with your audience.

Exploring Instruments Similar to Guitar for Your Music Set

If you’re building a music set price for a specific genre or project, exploring instruments similar to guitar can be a great way to expand your sound without overspending. Instruments like the ukulele, bass guitar, banjo, or even the electric violin can bring a unique flavor to your music. Many of these instruments are priced similarly to guitars, so they can fit nicely into your music set price while still offering a diverse range of sounds to work with.

When considering instruments similar to guitar, it’s important to evaluate the kind of sound you want to achieve. For example, a bass guitar is an excellent addition to any band setting, while a ukulele can add a light, melodic touch to folk or acoustic music. The cost of these instruments varies, but with proper research, you can find an instrument that suits both your artistic needs and budget.

Using UPC Lookup to Find the Best Deals

In today’s digital age, UPC lookup is a valuable tool for anyone building a music set price on a budget. UPC lookup allows you to search for products by their universal product code, which helps you compare prices across different retailers and find the best deal. Using this tool can save you time and money by allowing you to quickly determine which online store offers the best prices for monitor speakers, instruments, and microphones. This way, you can avoid impulse buying and ensure you’re getting the best value for your music set price.

Whether you’re shopping for monitor speakers, instruments similar to guitar, or microphones, UPC lookup is a tool that can help you make the most informed purchasing decisions. By comparing prices, reading reviews, and looking for special offers, you can ensure that your overall music set price is as affordable as possible without sacrificing quality.

Conclusion

When building your music set price, you must carefully consider the role of each piece of equipment, including monitor speakers, instruments like guitars or alternatives such as ukuleles, and microphones for recording YouTube videos. By balancing your budget with quality choices, you can create a music set that delivers exceptional sound and performance. Don’t forget to utilize tools like UPC lookup to find the best prices and deals on all the equipment you need.

With the right monitor speakers and the best mic for recording YouTube, you’ll be able to take your music production or online content creation to the next level. And by understanding the significance of these components, you can confidently invest in a music set price that gives you the best value for your needs.

[superectojazzmage]

As a Star Wars fan I am SIGNIFICANTLY more dismissive of George Lucas than most (but than, I am of the breed that is more a fan of the Expanded Universe than the Skywalker Saga movies themselves) and I disagree with the suggestion his absence is a significant hindrance to any Star Wars story (when it’s usually the opposite; key word being USUALLY). I respect Lucas as one of the principal creators of the basic concepts and a brilliant visual director/worldbuilder, but nearly everything great about Star Wars was made by other people (often people working WITH Lucas for that very result) and my criticisms and disagreements with him are legion.

That’s all to say that this is all very accurate. The Original Trilogy was a group project. Lucas wasn’t the sole mastermind, he was one creator in a gigantic team of great creators. He had brilliant editors, writers, co-directors, actors, choreographers, set/costume designers, and all other sorts working alongside him to flesh out his work and refine it into something not just watchable but legitimately good. The reason for the Prequel Trilogy’s poor quality was other people not understanding this and increasingly putting Lucas on a pedestal as some kind of renaissance man supergenius.

Before production on Phantom Menace, Lucas spent a long time shopping around for collaborators, because he remembered what a group effort the OT was and wanted that help again. In particular, he wanted Robert Zemeckis to direct at least one of the movies. But Zemeckis and others were too caught up in the legend of George Lucas as some sort of auteur and told him he should do it all himself, that he could do it all himself. And than it turned out, no, he couldn’t. Without people helping him and forced into an environment that fed into his insecure ego but gave him nothing in the way of constructive criticism, Lucas was incapable of producing something on the same level as the Original Trilogy and developed/worsened his notoriously inconsistent and egoistic view of Star Wars where it was basically whatever he wanted it to be at the current moment, where he could just ignore everything other people or even he himself did before because the current project was king, and he didn’t have to notice or acknowledge any “bad implications” that his ideas could carry. Something that would carry over into other projects he had more direct involvement with (like Force Unleashed and the CGI Clone Wars) beyond providing notes/loose supervising like he did with most projects.

His mechanical, visual-focused, big-picture-focused directing and writing style coupled with his planet-sized blind spots applied to not just part of a film’s production but to every layer of the film’s production resulted in a trinity of films that were visually spectacular and had many good ideas, but were bogged down by clunky dialogue, lifeless direction, terrible acting from most of his star-studded cast, awful pacing, clumsily-handled themes, unintentionally unlikable characters, poor exposition for his wonderful worldbuilding, and a generally boring atmosphere outside of the highlights.

George Lucas is a skilled collaborator and artist, but not a juggernaut deity of filmmaking. One shouldn’t treat him as the be-all-end-all objective supreme authority of Star Wars, but proper credit should be given to the man for the many things he did do right.

The Sequels are bad for reasons entirely unrelated to George and his absence, unless one considers the fact that they only happened at all because George was a terrible businessman and sold Lucasfilm to Disney after a bad real estate endeavor.

I can’t stop laughing at Carrie being told “NO” by Mark. Also, Harrison Always Knows Best.

This is from a documentary called “From Star Wars to Jedi” released in 1983. Thanks @wookieekisses because I found that bit thanks to your post!

[aaryan-mwa-blogs]

The Impact of Acoustic Treatment on Sound Quality

When it comes to achieving top-notch sound quality, many people focus solely on the equipment they purchase, whether it's high-end speakers, microphones, or recording gear. However, one crucial element often overlooked is the acoustic treatment of the space in which this equipment is used. Acoustic treatment is the process of improving the sound characteristics of a room by managing how sound waves interact with the room's surfaces. This typically involves using materials like foam panels, bass traps, diffusers, and acoustic panels to control reflections, reduce echoes, and absorb excess sound.

Acoustic treatment is essential because, without it, even the best equipment can fall short. Sound waves bounce off walls, ceilings, and floors, creating reflections that can distort and muddy the audio. By absorbing these excessive reflections, acoustic treatment helps you hear the true sound of your audio. This is crucial whether you're mixing tracks or simply enjoying your favorite music. Additionally, bass frequencies tend to build up in corners and along walls, leading to boomy or uneven bass. Bass traps can help control these frequencies for a tighter, more accurate bass response. Moreover, echoes and reverb can make it difficult to hear details in your audio, but acoustic panels and diffusers can reduce these issues, making your sound cleaner and more defined.

For musicians and content creators, a treated room means better recordings. Your microphone will pick up less room noise and more of your intended sound. Setting up acoustic treatment doesn't require turning your room into a professional studio overnight. Start by identifying problem areas; clap your hands and listen for echoes, which can help you find spots where sound is reflecting the most. Bass traps in the corners are a great first step to control low frequencies. Place acoustic panels on walls where sound reflects directly from your speakers to your ears, usually at the first reflection points. Sometimes, moving panels around can make a big difference, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the best spots.

Acoustic treatment doesn't have to compromise the aesthetics of your room. Many acoustic panels come in various colors and designs, allowing them to blend seamlessly with your decor. Some companies even offer custom prints, enabling you to turn your acoustic panels into pieces of art.

Investing in acoustic treatment is like giving your room a makeover that not only looks good but sounds amazing. It's the secret ingredient to unlocking the full potential of your audio equipment. Whether you're a musician, podcaster, or just an audiophile, proper acoustic treatment can elevate your sound quality to new heights.

If you're ready to take your listening or recording experience to the next level, consider adding some acoustic treatment to your space. You can try out some trending shops like VIP PRO AUDIO to check out yourself & your ears will thank you! Feel free to drop your questions or share your own experiences with acoustic treatment in the comments below. Let’s make our spaces sound as good as they look.

[nookflex]

Best Microphone for Gaming in 2024

BEST MICROPHONE FOR GAMING IN 2024: FROM STREAMING TO PODCAST MICS, THESE ARE MY TOP PICKS

The Best Microphone for Gaming, Streaming, and Podcasting

As a modern gamer, having the best microphone for gaming, streaming, and podcasting is essential. Whether you're streaming your gameplay, engaging in intense conversations on Discord, or recording a podcast, having top-tier microphones can greatly enhance your audio quality.

The Top Pick: Shure MV7

At our company, NookFlex, we understand the importance of quality audio equipment in the digital age. That's why we recommend the Shure MV7 as the best overall microphone for gaming, streaming, and podcasting in 2024. This hybrid USB and XLR microphone combines convenience and quality, making it a top choice for veteran podcasters and streamers. If you're looking to take your audio to the next level, the Shure MV7 is worth the investment.

The Best Budget Microphone: Razer Seiren Mini

For those on a budget, the Razer Seiren Mini is our top pick for the best budget microphone in 2024. Despite its affordable price tag, this microphone doesn't compromise on sound quality. It may lack some advanced features, but it more than makes up for it with its excellent sound reproduction. Whether you're just starting out or looking for a backup microphone, the Razer Seiren Mini is an excellent choice.

The Best Mid-Range Microphone: Audio-Technica AT2020USB+

If you're willing to spend a bit more for higher audio fidelity, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ is our top choice for the best mid-range microphone in 2024. With crisp and clear audio reproduction, this microphone delivers studio-quality sound at an affordable price. While the desk stand may be a bit flimsy, the audio quality more than makes up for it.

The Best USB Bundle: Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set

For those looking for a complete podcasting starter kit, the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set is the best USB bundle in 2024. This kit includes a well-built microphone and a sturdy boom arm, which allows for easy adjustment and positioning. While it may lack a desktop stand and a single polar pattern, the overall quality and value of the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set make it an excellent choice for aspiring podcasters.

The Best Looking Microphone: HyperX Quadcast S

If aesthetics are important to you, the HyperX Quadcast S is the best-looking microphone in 2024. With its RGB lighting, this microphone adds a touch of style to your streaming or podcasting setup. But don't let its looks fool you, the HyperX Quadcast S also delivers excellent audio quality, making it a well-rounded choice for content creators who value both form and function.

The Best Microphone for Streaming: SteelSeries Alias Pro

For streamers, having a microphone that can capture your voice clearly and accurately is crucial. That's why we recommend the SteelSeries Alias Pro as the best microphone for streaming in 2024. Featuring a powerful interface and exceptional sound quality, the SteelSeries Alias Pro ensures that your voice comes through loud and clear. However, for optimal performance, we recommend investing in a separate boom arm to maximize its potential.

How to Spot the Best Deal

When searching for the best microphone for your gaming, streaming, or podcasting needs, it's essential to consider a few key factors. Look for microphones that offer a balance between convenience and quality, ensuring that they meet your specific requirements. Consider your budget, desired features, and overall audio performance. Reading reviews and comparing prices can also help you make an informed decision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the best microphone for gaming in 2024?

A: The best microphone for gaming in 2024 is the Shure MV7, thanks to its hybrid USB/XLR design and exceptional audio quality.

Q: Can I get a good microphone on a budget?

A: Yes, the Razer Seiren Mini is the best budget microphone for gaming in 2024, offering excellent sound quality at an affordable price.

Q: Are there any complete microphone bundles available?

A: Yes, the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set is the best USB bundle in 2024, providing a microphone and boom arm for a complete podcasting setup.

Q: Can I find a stylish microphone for streaming?

A: Absolutely, the HyperX Quadcast S is the best-looking microphone in 2024, with RGB lighting and excellent audio capabilities.

Q: What microphone is recommended for streaming?

A: The SteelSeries Alias Pro is the best microphone for streaming in 2024, offering a powerful interface and clear sound reproduction.

About NookFlex

At NookFlex, we specialize in innovative technology, particularly in the field of electronics. Our main goal is to fuel digital growth by providing cutting-edge solutions for gamers, streamers, and content creators. We understand the importance of high-quality audio equipment and its impact on the overall gaming and streaming experience. With our range of products, including microphones, headsets, and other gaming peripherals, we strive to enhance your digital journey.

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, having the best microphone for gaming, streaming, and podcasting is crucial for content creators in 2024. The Shure MV7, Razer Seiren Mini, Audio-Technica AT2020USB+, Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set, HyperX Quadcast S, and SteelSeries Alias Pro are all excellent choices, offering different features and price points to suit your individual needs. With the right microphone, you can take your gaming, streaming, and podcasting endeavors to new heights.

Now, it's time for you to take the next step. What kind of content do you aspire to create? How will the right microphone enhance your digital journey? Let us know in the comments below and join the conversation!

Sponsored by NookFlex

NookFlex is an innovative technology company specializing in electronics. Our main goal is to fuel digital growth by providing cutting-edge solutions for gamers and content creators. Visit our website at https://nookflex.firmx.co to explore our range of products and take your digital journey to the next level.