#the generic “epic” trailer music.

[oh-no-its-bird]

Look all I'm saying is that if I were going to make a minecraft movie.

Well, first off I'd put down the first person to even reccomend we do it in cgi. Not just because it looks objectively terrible and half of the magic and nostalgia factor of minecraft is in its texture but holy shit budget much??? You are literally looking at a situation where the cheaper option is also objectively the better option. What the fuck are you doing

But I mean, after that.

Second off, all my writers must watch popular smps and minecraft roleplays/let's plays to understand the "magic" of the game. That's how we're studying for this, not the game books or whatever. Those guys are clearly doing smthn right, and as the executive/writer who knows very little about mineraft that I am in this hypothetical scenario, I need to do my best to make money. And that means learning what people like about the game and community.

Maybe even bring on some popular (non controversial please god) smp writers for consulting. They literally make minecraft movies as their fucking job, they are the expert u need to consult

Story wise, you NEED to choose if you wanna play this straight or silly. I'm so sick of movies trying to be all emotional and "ohh this world is so beautiful,, if u could only understand,, woaa" with their epic sound track and dramatic lighting, but then the dialogue being ripped out of a stupid marvel knockoff trying too hard to be witty

Anyways. Give me a generic "kid has a hard life and uses [thing] to escape it but then their parent trashes [thing] to teach them a "lesson"" movie.

The thing is minecraft and this kid is totally in love with letsplays and smps and has a server with their online friends (get a sponsorship from discord for that good good film sponsorship money, have them play while in call)

The mom or dad or maybe both trash the kids computer for some reason (bad grades maybe or one of those shitty "you need to talk to us more!!! That computer is killing ur brain!!! You don't love us as much as you should and it's that damn games fault!!!" But like it's actually just a kid being a normal fucking kid and having normal fucking kid hobbies things and the parents are dicks)

They delete the minecraft world rip

Them boom, kid somehow gets stuck in the game

Switch to NON CGI FILMING IN MINECRAFT. If you really need to add your stupid shitty fucking cgi then at least make it look like an ACTUAL MINECRAFT ANIMATION holy shit

It'll save us so much money too

So main plot is this kid, being trapped in minecraft, actually falling through different minecraft servers.

We can have different cameos from popular smps and youtubers, get some old youtubers and gameplay in here too. Get fucking dantdm and the diamond minecarts og series with the lab thing, it'll make the old fans lose their fucking MINDS.

The youtubers themselves don't even have to show up, just shove the kid into settings that are clear references to smps and letsplays. Have them wander through Aphmau's OG minecraft diaries sets or Sundee's lucky block series

The best part is that as backdrops, you don't even have to fully commit to "you'll only get this/find this interesting if you know these guys" bc if your writing is good enough you can still make people care by just. Introducing it correctly. Don't present it as "Aphmau's old minecraft diaries series world" go "oh wow look st this cool village,, woah I wonder who built this ,," And have them interact with NPCs organically

Meanwhile the parents go into the game after the kid to bring them back and we do this whole world hopping adventure where the parents learn that,, minecraft can be fun? Actually?

They find the kid and the kid is like "nooo I'm having too much fun the real world SUCKS!!!" but then we do that "it's cool to have fun and indulge but you still need to be present in the real world and do real people things too in order to have that fun responsibly" where somehow the kid realizes that moderation is good for u.

Maybe they almost die in game fr fr? Every world they enter has its difficulty upped a little bit till they enter *gasp* a hardcore world (oh no)

So like the kid learns that you can't just lock yourself in the room and wish the world goes away while you play minecraft for 12 hours straight, and the parents learn that minecraft is cool and fun and can be a good outlet and outlets are important for adults and children alike. And also that they totally pulled a dick move and they need to try to understand their kid instead of just demanding the kid understands them

Somewhere along the way, the kid ends up in their friends server and the friends help to pull them out of the game w the parents

We end the movie with the kid making an effort to be more present with the parents, and the parents also making an effort to interact with the kid in ways that they know the kid will enjoy and respond well to— shown a family dinner scene where the kid very eagerly eats their food while talking about school, then they all go to play minecraft together

The end <3

Oh right and if you seriously want Jack Black there so fucking bad then make him either the dad or like. School computer teacher who helps the kid use Minecraft EU to learn science (shows off that some schools use minecraft for education purposes) who also helps the kids friends pull them and the parents out of the game

Overall, lots of themes not just about how the game is cool and can let you do cool shit, but also about how the community is cool, and how it's provided so many kids and adults outlets to express themselves and have fun together

That's how you do a game movie

Anyways yeah, minecraft movie looks shit. Hire me instead next time

[giratina-and-the-skys-bouquet]

BANDLAB MOMENT!!!!! (I love remixes!!)

artwork by itself

[anotherbummer]

Good Omens Season 3 Confirmed (trailer)

jk jk but could you imagine if any of this happened

I told myself I wouldn't go crazy working on this and then I ended up with 5 spreadsheets of dialogue trying to piece together this puzzle. Also I will need everyone to cut me some slack because I made this entire video on my phone while I was manic.

On that note, this trailer is largely based on 2 of my favorite Good Omens fics: Demonology and the Tri-Phasic Model of Trauma: An Integrative Approach by @mouseonamoose and Factory Settings by Anonymous. I love the idea of Crowley and Aziraphale having a therapist and it always reminded me of the character Dr. Linda Martin who plays the devil's therapist in the series Lucifer (Based on characters created by Neil Gaiman!) Also I tried really hard to hint at different parts of the Factory Setting story through clips, especially with clips of Crowley grabbing his glasses (which in this case would be Raphael wearing Crowley's glasses, which is a pretty big plot point in the story).

Lots of the audio clips and dialogue comes from the show itself (and a few clips from Lucifer), but I did comb through some clips of other shows that the actors were in, like Michael Sheen in Passengers, and David Tennant in Inside Man, etc. However the longer audio clips of "god" speaking are direct quotes from the Factory Setting fic (although I am almost certain that Raphael says them when he gets the Book of Life, So technically speaking, these lines are used out of context). I just ran the lines through a text to voice generator and then added a "godly/celestial" effect to it, which worked a lot better than I though it was going to. I had LOTS of potential dialogue I could have used but it didn't all fit super well together in the sense that it didn't either sound like the character speaking, or it didn't flow like a normal conversation. Believe me I tried, my phone can only do so much.

The music choice was obviously chosen on purpose, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Epic Mix) by Mark Petrie, for the purpose of pacing, I slowed it down slightly. I really liked the idea of using this song since the Factory Setting story partially revolves around "the second coming" baby and since we are nearing the Christmas season, it just seemed like sense to work on this now. The lyrics get pretty repetitive but I do wish I could have thrown in the "Fear not then, said the Angel. Let nothing you affright" verse somewhere in there.

Don't ask me to explain the actual plot of this I really just mashed two fanfics together and called it a day. I thinks that's all the notes I had.

[tadc-harlequin-au]

HI, SORRY! - here’s the fixed list + some other songs I found while re-writing it all out!

- Pomni -

The Ballad of Jane Doe - Ride the Cyclone

Who are you really? - Mikky Ekko

Tounges & Teeth - The Crane Wives

My Alcoholic Friends - The Dresden Dolls

- General Vibe songs -

Le Monde (From Talk to Me) - Richardson Carter

Little Dark Age - MGMT

Vale of Tears - Jason Tai

Card Castles in the Sky - Jason Tai

Dance Macabre - The Oh Hellos

(Also bonus I just thought of:

The Dolls of New Albion: A Steampunk Opera Album is good too for general vibes maybe)

- Showtime -

Curses - Crane Wives

Never Love an Anchor - Crane Wives

Allies or Enemies - Crane Wives

Me & The Devil - Soap&Skin

The Garden - Crane Wives (if you can’t tell uhh, crane wives is a very good source for angsty love songs skdhjs)

Wasteland Baby - Hozier

I’m not in love - 10cc

Duvet - bôa

(Also *maybe* Too Sweet - Hozier too?)

Like I said before - sorry if some of these don’t fit + it’s a long list 😭

WOAHHH okay okay, let's rate it then

Pomni:

Ballad of Jane Doe: I can see why you think of this. It actually surprisingly fits, what do you know

Who are you really: This one, definitely. You're on a roll so far

Tounges & Teeth: I can see this as early Pomni in the AU, when she's still pretty much following a blind directive.

My Alcoholic Friends: I can't really see this one all too much, but I do get where you're coming from. Mostly because I already know how Pomni turns out in this AU compared to what I've revealed on the public so far.

General vibe:

Le Monde (From Talk to Me): Ooooooh! I agree! For some reason I'm imagining a badass ballroom scene with this-

Little Dark Age: Honestly I can see this working with pre-Pomni/Caine meeting, when Pomni was still wandering all over the lands to look for something to fight, and Caine is just spending most of his time being isolated in the mansion

Vale of Tears: OH MY GOD ALICE: MADNESS RETURNS IN HERE?!?! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! I can somehow see this with Boss!Ragatha-

Card Castles in the Sky: Mhm.... mhm.... yeah I can see this as the vibe of the entire city before current events of the AU, like... just an aerial view of the broken city before Pomni came.

Dance Macabre: Wow, I can see this as music for a pretty epic trailer lol, this is a vibe

I can't say anything about The Dolls of New Albion: A Steampunk Opera Album yet, because that's.... that's 25 songs- LMFAO

Showtime:

Curses: Okay, why is this so fucking upbeat yet so dark?? HELP?? I can kinda see it, but it's not fully convincing me... But at least I got a new song to listen to

Never Love an Anchor: This one.... I see it as early Pomni/Caine interactions, and somehow them both dueting.....

Allies or Enemies: Yeah.... Just- yeah..... LMFAO

Me & The Devil: This one I can't see :(

The Garden: POINTS??? THIS IS A CAINE SONG YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, SHAKING IN MY SEAT

Wasteland, Baby: Holy shit, Hozier? Damn I've heard of this guy from GoW Ragnarok, but ANWAYS. YOU. YOUUUUUUUUU. /POS... THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCURATE HARLEQUIN!SHOWTIME SONG IN THIS LIST YET..... WHAT THE HELL..... CAINE SINGING THIS.... UEUEUEUE.....

I’m not in love: LMFAOOOOOOOO the denial stage harlequin!showtime song HAHHAHAHAH

Duvet - bôa: This one I can't see either-

Too Sweet: I'M GOING TO CRY this felt sm like Pomni.....

Most of these are going in my playlist now thank you for the meal

[buttherainbowhasabeard]

Why Glicked Never Really Clicked

It was the mashup that Hollywood hoped would match the magic of Barbenheimer: a kooky combination of gladiators and good witches. But Glicked — the name given to the late November releases of 'Gladiator II' and ‘Wicked’ — was a tale of two cities (Rome and Oz) that felt forced to sit side-by-side in cinemas.

When ‘Barbie' and ‘Oppenheimer' debuted together in July 2023, they were an unlikely yet complementary pair. Even though one was a technicoloured exploration into the world of dolls and dreamhouses and the other was an IMAX-scale atomic biopic, they became a must-do double bill. They gave audiences an excuse to dress up and make going to the movies an “event”.

Glicked on the other hand, felt like an arranged marriage, and we the viewers – the children – took sides.

The first problem was the source material. 

The musical ‘Wicked: The Untold True Story of the Witches of Oz��� debuted on Broadway in 2003, and it was an instant classic. It spawned a stunning soundtrack of award-winning hits, including “What is This Feeling?”, “The Wizard And I”, “Popular” and “Defying Gravity”. It went on to be performed right around the world, including in Europe and Australia and continues to tour to this day.

This means that despite Jon M. Chu's movie adaptation coming 21 years after the first stage show (and 22 years once Part 2 is released in 2025), the fans hadn’t moved on or forgotten the Witches. If anything, the love and appreciation for the characters of Elphaba and Glinda (played by powerhouse performers Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the film) have only grown over the years, picking up new devotees with every new stage outing.

Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ came out even earlier, in the year 2000. Although it was a big hit (winning five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Russell Crowe, and Best Supporting Actor for Joaqiuin Phoenix), it wasn’t a movie that needed a sequel, and frankly, the ending didn’t really lend itself to one.

Now, 24 years on, spiritual successor ‘Gladiator II’ is here sans most of the original cast and it feels... unnecessary. The lineup is impressive (Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn to name a few) the visuals are epic and the CGI is fun (ugly baboon, I’m looking at you!) but the story is lacking somewhat. Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius is mentioned and mirrored constantly, meaning that overall, the film struggles to step out of the original’s successful shadow.

The second point of difference was appeal and accessibility.

Although musicals aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, the family-friendly rating of ‘Wicked’ meant it was going to be a go-to choice for families and big groups of all ages. Fans of Erivo and Grande were also going to be keen to see their favourite singers in action, even if they weren’t familiar with the play.

'Gladiator II’, on the other hand, was hindered by its R rating. An Ancient Rome saga of bloody battles and political betrayals wasn’t going to have mass appeal, and those who were drawn to it would need to be over 17 years of age.

The third reason was marketing. 

Barbenheimer had its own memes, merchandise, costumes and a communal sense of fun, as well as triggering that all-important feeling of FOMO to drive ticket sales. Glicked didn’t generate any of that kind of buzz.

The stars of ‘Wicked’ walked yellow brick road themed red carpets in colour-coordinated pink and green, and the movie account had an unmissable social media presence through regular collaborations, sing-a-longs, fan art shares, dance tutorials and announcements. 'Gladiator II’, however, followed the more traditional path of posting trailers, set photos, and interviews.

There didn’t seem to be much effort on the part of either film’s team to create a sense of “us”, so it instead became a feeling of “this” or “that”. Not “When are you going to see Wicked AND Gladiator II?” but "Are you going to see Wicked OR Gladiator II?"

And that brings me to my fourth and final point – which is probably the most important: Barbenheimer worked because it wasn’t planned. Glicked felt like a failed attempt to manufacture lightning in a bottle. But as the myth goes, lightning never strikes twice…

‘Wicked’ 4.5/5 stars. ‘Gladiator II’ 3/5 stars.

[ns2dstudios]

My EPIC Journey

Where do I even begin? I have dreamt of being an animator ever since I was a little girl, growing up with the Disney animation renaissance era as well as a non-stop barrage of anime, in particular Dragonball Z. I even wrote in my high school yearbook that I dreamed of one day working for the studio that worked on Dragonball Z just so I can animate for that very series. And I made sure everyone knew it LOL

The dream didn't materialize, but after decades of struggle, I got something far better than I could ever have imagined. I get to animate at the comfort of my own home. I get the career I've always wanted, and am able to generally work at my own time. I get to work with a wonderful team (drawmisu, Camalemsy, Novi, Nathan Kuan, Jenny) who are generous with their time and talents and are fun to work with. And I get to work with wonderful clients who have changed my life and afforded me and my family the comforts we are enjoying, from Mortius, to Casper Fox, but most of all to Jorge Rivera-Herrans, whom I fondly call simply as Jay.

Jay gave me the amazing opportunity to be part of the roster of talented (skillented according to Casper) animator for the official EPIC: The Musical animatics and animations. He entrusted me with his vision, is just an overall joy to work with, and as some of you may know during the Vengeance Saga, literally saved my life for the simple fact that he commissioned me two animations (Dangerous and 600 strike finale), which allowed me, who does not have health insurance, to afford expensive care for a bad case of pneumonia. Without Jay, I would not only have reached my dreams, but I would literally not be here typing this. (Don't worry, with the generosity of my clients, I am actually now shopping around for a good health insurance company....which I know is a hot button topic right now, but I don't live in the US and our private health care here is often times better than public).

But I digress.

With the premiere of the Ithaca Saga, comes the conclusion of the concept album of EPIC: The Musical. But as Jay mentioned, the journey is far from done. I have so many things planned: more commissioned animatics from clients whom I also consider dear friends, more EPIC fan animatics and animations, more musical animatics from other IPs, an animated short, an animated trailer for my upcoming animated pilot episode, and so much more in the future!

Everything I have, the happiness and contentment that I am experiencing right now would not be possible had my paths not crossed with Jay's and his wonderful EPIC the Musical project. Our paths would not have crossed where it not for the EPIC fans who relentlessly tagged him in my animated works, which made him take notice and reach out. And I would not have become a big fan of EPIC, where it not for my cousin Julia, who had been relentless in her goal to turn me into an EPIC fan ever since the TROY saga dropped (I will never stop thank you, pinsan! Love you so much!)

This is not goodbye. This is see you again soon.

REAL SOON.

Bye for now, you guys! This has been Gwendy from NS2D Studios saying, I will see you, when I see you.

[homeric-films]

Whiteboard iMovie Chaos

Hello and welcome to my latest method of procrastination. I am not a talented artist, and have never been a talented artist. but does that stop me? NOT ANYMORE! I have iMovie, a target whiteboard, four markers and a dream (perhaps delusions). I will be making iMovie trailers based on Greek myths, largely Iliad/Odyssey related. This blog was 100% inspired by the incredibly talented epic the musical animatics and artists in general. Yall put so much effort into everything you do and I fear I cannot match that.

Do not expect good art. Expect stick figures.

Achilles burrito

[demifiendrsa]

Sonic X Shadow Generations - Summer Game Fest Trailer

Sonic X Shadow Generations will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) on October 25, 2024 for $49.99.

Title logo

Key visual

Screenshots

Latest details

Editions

Sonic X Shadow Generations‘ Digital Deluxe Edition allows fans to play the game three days early and includes additional iconic music tracks from previous Sonic and Shadow games, a Terios skin based on Shadow’s original concept, behind-the-scenes art, an additional level and Shadow Skin, and more! Sonic fans can also pre-order the Digital Standard or Deluxe editions of Sonic X Shadow Generations ahead of launch to receive a legacy skin for Sonic, based on his look from Sonic Adventure! Players who pre-order the Physical Day One Edition will receive Gerald Robotnik’s Journal, a 28-page logbook chronicling Gerald’s innermost thoughts and drawings while he created Shadow the Hedgehog and the Ark Space Station, in addition to the legacy skin for Sonic.

Please see below for more details on each offering:

Digital Standard Edition ($49.99 USD)

Base game (digital)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin

Physical Day One Edition ($49.99 USD)

Base game (physical only)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin and Gerald Robotnik’s Journal (28 pages)

Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99 USD)

Base game (digital only)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin

Digital Deluxe Season Pass

Play the game three days early

An additional character skin and level for Shadow (releasing Holiday 2024)

Terios Skin

Extra BGM Pack

Digital Art Book + Soundtrack

Skill Points (Sonic Generations)

About

Play as Shadow in a brand-new story campaign featuring never-before-seen abilities that prove why he’s known as the Ultimate Life Form! Speed through iconic stages from Shadow’s history, discover hidden secrets in an expansive hub world, and unlock new powers to take on Black Doom and save the world.

Sonic X Shadow Generations also includes a complete remaster of the highly acclaimed Sonic Generations, a time-traveling adventure featuring a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D Sonic stages, now with upgraded visuals and new bonus content.

Key Features

The Return of Shadow – In this new standalone campaign, Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has reemerged and threatens to take over the world once again. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his painful memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.

Shadow Evolved – Harness Shadow’s new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!

A Journey Through Time and Dimensions – Relive signature levels from Shadow’s previous adventures and accelerate through mind-bending stages in both 3D and 2D, warped by Black Doom’s influence as Shadow works to piece together the timeline and thwart his evil plans.

Explore the New White Space – Stretch your legs in an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers™. As Shadow gains new powers, he can explore further and uncover the secrets hidden throughout!

The Best of Both Worlds, Remastered – Spin dash through a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D versions of iconic stages from past Sonic games, now with updated visuals and reworked cinematics.

New Collectibles, Bonus Content, and More! – Rescue Chao hiding in every level, rack up the highest pinball score in the Casino Nights Zone, and check out the museum for behind-the-scenes art, music, and more!

[adarkrainbow]

Lost media quest: H&G Epic Tales (part 1)

Some times ago I stumbled upon the trailer for an animated storybook adapting "Hansel and Gretel". I even made a quick post about it and then moved on my way. However, what I was not expecting was that my casual search would end up throwing me into a whole "lost media" investigation...

So I present to you the first report of my search for the lost media "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales".

"Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales" is the English title of an interactive, animated storybook originally created by a Dutch team - hence why it exists also under the Dutch name "Hans en Grietje - Epic Tales".

Its trailer (posted around 2012/2013) is still around the Internet - on both Youtube and Vimeo, in English. It showcases you all the effort put into the product as well as the quality of it all - because when you think "Interactive storybook" you think "Just some still pictures you flip over while a voice narrates in the background". But here, not at all: you have entire animated tableaux allowing for a true point-and-click kind of game, intercut with entire animated segments and sequences - making this interactive storybook quite close to a full cartoon or simplified video-game.

In fact, I am not the only one to say this: numerous reviews pointed out this application could be considered a full cartoon in itself. And if some comparisons are left a bit generic "A cartoon feeling", "It could be a Saturday morning cartoon" I have seen one review even going as far as to compare this traditional 2D animation to a Disney movie!

I especially love the art style here which is reminiscent of classic, old fairytale cartoons - and I will come back to this element later because I do believe the game has easter-eggs or nods to classics of the fairytale animation.

Not only that, but as the trailer indicates, this game was supposed to be the first of an entire line of animated, interactive storybooks, the "Epic Tales" line, each reinventing fairytales, all narrated by the same storytelling character you see in the trailer, Silvertongue the (elf? dwarf?) who beats up gnomes to bring books to life... To have such a big project coming from Dutch folks isn't so surprising given the strong Dutch love for fairytales (it is the land of the Efteling park, after all).

In fact, the Epic Tales line had not only its own website (that you can see in a different promo for the app, here) but also a Facebook page and a Twitter account to promote the release of the game.

The game was released on iOs format and distributed by Apple. You could get it on your iPad or iPhone by just buying it on the App Store or iTunes store. And it was met with very, very positive reviews. Everybody agreed on saying this game was awesome, the dub very good, the interactions fun, the music delightful - in a word, absolutely perfect. Here is a handful of positive reviews I could find in English ; coupled with another handful of articles in Dutch this time. Mind you, some people do complain about the story being a tad bit too "light" for their taste - as in everybody agrees it is a visual treat with splendid visuals and a goofy tone perfect for kids, but some do complain about a lack of "darkness" (one review even regretted the "psycho-drama" of the original story, absent from this light-hearted story). I personally think there's enough dark Hansel and Gretel retellings out there to allow us a nice light-hearted, goofy, innocent version, but oh well, that's just my opinion... I'll return to these changes in a later post.

These online articles are notably quite precious for bringing additional screenshots of this now unfortunately lost media...

Lost yes: for if you check the App stores and iTunes pages today, it seems Apple has removed the game from their offer. And given Apple was the only distributor... it seems you cannot get it anywhere else.

The Epic Tales website (epictales.com) has been brought down - though you can still find it back thanks to Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, which did preserve several versions of it. The Facebook page for Epic Tales is still here too, though inactive since the app's release. As for the Twitter account... it seems that after a few years of inactivy it was briefly taken over by a little girl who posted goofy pictures of her on it... Was it the account-owner's daughter, niece or little sister? I don't know but it seems clearly that this account is a dead-end too.

Now, outside of the trailer, official accounts and online reviews, the last remaining official bits of this animated project (because there is one un-official element I will go to later) are the Anikey Studios videos. Anikey Studio is one of the two big teams that worked on the "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales" project, alongside Cloud Castle Interactive, and while the Epic Tales line seems dead and gone, Anikey is still working a lot, regularly creating and publishing animated shorts. They have a Facebook, a LinkedIn, an Instagram - but more interestingly a Vimeo account on which they regularly post videos (itself doubled by a Youtube channel). And they post yearly Demoreels collecting bits and extracts from their animation projects. Including "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales".

Now, unfortunately they only use the scenes from the trailer of the interactive storybook, so nothing new - but still it worth checking out. The extracts most prominently appear within their Demoreels of the years 2016 and 2012 (I am using the Vimeo version, not the Youtube ones).

And so far, at first glance, this is it. If we do just a superficial search, it is a good-looking app that got removed by Apple ; a big hopeful project with a lot of effort put into it that everybody forgot about or did not notice ; a whole line of fairytale animations that got cancelled right after its first instalment. A first instalment seemingly disappeared into the limbo of "lost media"... But for me, it was only the start of the investigation - because if you know me, you'll know I can get incredibly frustrated when I see something cool I just happened to miss ; and as an enjoyer of both traditional hand-drawn animation and fairytale adaptations, this app seemed so wonderful...

As such, I am currently undergoing a sort of investigation to collect everything I can find and save about this animated storybook. Given I am not an expert "lost media hunter", I might find nothing at all - but at least it will be a fun ride playing the investigator for once! Plus something within the occult forces of the world seem to constantly condemn my blog to focus on "Hansel and Gretel"... I don't know why but every time it gets brought back to me one way or another. So who am I to oppose the mysterious flow of nature?

If any of you ever heard of this app before - if maybe you downloaded it some time ago, if you know someone who played it, or maybe if you still have it somewhere in your Apple product, please do contact me! Even the slightest memory can be of incredible use for such an investigation. Myself I am going to perform a breakdown of all the information I could find, and the following posts of this series are going to try to "reconstruct" what the app was about, and how the story unfold in this version - because here's the thing, it isn't just a regular, straightforward Hansel and Gretel retelling. They actually added and changed several elements in it... But that will be for another post.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. The application is somehow listed within the catalogues of several Dutch libraries. I don't really know much about how these libraries work, but if somehow there is a Dutch person who sees this post, could you eventually bring me some help? It would be very appreciated!

[satoshi-mochida]

Sonic X Shadow Generations launches October 25 - Gematsu

Sonic X Shadow Generations will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on October 25 for $49.99, SEGA announced.

Get the latest details below.

Editions

Sonic X Shadow Generations‘ Digital Deluxe Edition allows fans to play the game three days early and includes additional iconic music tracks from previous Sonic and Shadow games, a Terios skin based on Shadow’s original concept, behind-the-scenes art, an additional level and Shadow Skin, and more! Sonic fans can also pre-order the Digital Standard or Deluxe editions of Sonic X Shadow Generations ahead of launch to receive a legacy skin for Sonic, based on his look from Sonic Adventure! Players who pre-order the Physical Day One Edition will receive Gerald Robotnik’s Journal, a 28-page logbook chronicling Gerald’s innermost thoughts and drawings while he created Shadow the Hedgehog and the Ark Space Station, in addition to the legacy skin for Sonic.

Please see below for more details on each offering:

-Digital Standard Edition ($49.99 USD)

Base game (digital)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin

-Physical Day One Edition ($49.99 USD)

Base game (physical only)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin and Gerald Robotnik’s Journal (28 pages)

-Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99 USD)

Base game (digital only)

Bonus PlayStation exclusive: Extended Prologue animations with deleted scenes

Pre-order bonus: Sonic Adventure Skin

-Digital Deluxe Season Pass

Play the game three days early

An additional character skin and level for Shadow (releasing Holiday 2024)

Terios Skin

Extra BGM Pack

Digital Art Book + Soundtrack

Skill Points (Sonic Generations)

About

Play as Shadow in a brand-new story campaign featuring never-before-seen abilities that prove why he’s known as the Ultimate Life Form! Speed through iconic stages from Shadow’s history, discover hidden secrets in an expansive hub world, and unlock new powers to take on Black Doom and save the world. Sonic X Shadow Generations also includes a complete remaster of the highly acclaimed Sonic Generations, a time-traveling adventure featuring a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D Sonic stages, now with upgraded visuals and new bonus content.

Key Features

The Return of Shadow – In this new standalone campaign, Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has reemerged and threatens to take over the world once again. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his painful memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.

Shadow Evolved – Harness Shadow’s new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!

A Journey Through Time and Dimensions – Relive signature levels from Shadow’s previous adventures and accelerate through mind-bending stages in both 3D and 2D, warped by Black Doom’s influence as Shadow works to piece together the timeline and thwart his evil plans.

Explore the New White Space – Stretch your legs in an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers™. As Shadow gains new powers, he can explore further and uncover the secrets hidden throughout!

The Best of Both Worlds, Remastered – Spin dash through a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D versions of iconic stages from past Sonic games, now with updated visuals and reworked cinematics.

New Collectibles, Bonus Content, and More! – Rescue Chao hiding in every level, rack up the highest pinball score in the Casino Nights Zone, and check out the museum for behind-the-scenes art, music, and more!

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Release Date Trailer

English

[knickynoo]

Music to Write to Master List

I rely very heavily on music when I'm writing and have curated a handful of playlists over the years and discovered several albums that really help me get into Writing Mode and set the scene. I thought I'd put together a post sharing some of my favorite instrumentals. (These sources are also fantastic for wandering around aimlessly while intensely daydreaming, btw. I know this from personal experience)

Everything under a cut, since this will be long. All included links will redirect to Spotify, but I'll include titles and artists so they can be found elsewhere.

I AM CRAFTING AN ENTIRE CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE IN MY HEAD, AND I NEED THE SOUNDTRACK TO BE...

Full of beauty/emotion/hope

• The Musical Journey by Jonas B. Ingebretsen: cannot stress enough how much I love this one. It's the entire hero's journey in a single album. It is PERFECT for sending your little Mind Blorbos on a quest. Highly recommend listening to it in order and all the way through. His recent album, The Musical Journey Pt 2 is also great.

• Pinnacle by Steven Coltart and Marcus Warner: Some gorgeous music in here. In particular, "Stories of Hope" and "Earth" are two of my favorites.

• Coming Home by Soundcritters

• The First Five Years by Denny Schneidemesser

• Emotion by Keith Merrill

• Unfolding Beauty by Stephen Tait & Tom Tideway

• Letters From Earth by Colossal Trailer Music

Tinged with sadness and full of longing

• A Way Home and The Traveler by Omar Raafat

• Disaster is Restless by The Defiant Heart

• Better by Now and Somewhere Else by From Somewhere Quiet

• Drift Ten by The Echelon Effect

• The Stories We Forgot by Andreas Kubler

• Believe by James Paget

Jam-packed with action

• Epic Action: Fight to the Last Ship, Distorted: Rock and a Hard Place, Strength to Believe, and Blaze of Glory by Epic Score: these are just 4 of the over 40 albums they have, so seriously, check them out for all your action and adventure needs. The Rock and a Hard Place one is a top fave of mine.

• Grimoire by Soundcritters

• Time Traveller by Peter Roe

• Future Heroes III by Future Heroes

Rife with crimes/mysteries/secret missions

• Crimescene by Soundcritters

• The Truth Has Been Redacted and Conviction by Luke Richards

• Crime Thriller Score by Dylan Love

• Mission Tension 1 and Mission Tension 2 by Stephen Tait

• Mystery Solved: Film Noir Detective Jazz by Various Artists

Filled with pirates/generally take place on the water

• Drowning Abyss by Colossal Trailer Music

• Set Sail for the Golden Age by Anti Martikainen

• Oceans by Marcus Warner

Whimsical/weird

• Pizz and Pieces 2 and Pizz and Pieces 3 by Thomas Howe, Stephen Tait, and Tom Tideway: Please listen to these, please please they are so delightful and bouncy and perfect for characters Partaking in Shenanigans

• Awkward Comedy Beds also by Stephen Tait and Thomas Howe: I have no idea what that title means but the music is amazing and silly plz listen

• Pomp and Whimsy and Pomp and Whimsy 2 by Howe/Tait (from above) and Alexander Rudd: for when you want silly antics but like...more proper. "Mischief at the Manor" and "A Royal Kerfuffle" delight me.

• You know what? This whole list is from these same artists, so just check it all out. Special shout out to How Very British and Cheeky Beats

Yeehaw! Giddyup! and so on

• High Noon: Vintage Cowboy Music of the Old West by Various Artists

• Vagabond by Gary O'Slide

• Americana Blues and Rock by Thomas Howe and Stephen Tait

Back in Time Babeyyy

• Vintage Jazz Instrumental by Vintage Cafe

• 40s Instrumental Music by 40s Instrumental Music (lol)

• Instrumental Love Songs of the 50s by Various Artists

• 50s and 60s Wild Guitar Instrumentals by Various Artists

• 60s Instrumentals for Dances and Groovers by Various Artists

• 70s Instrumental Greatest Hits by Various Artists

• 80s Instrumental Greatest Hits by Various Artists

Sorry, no 90s because I didn't like any of the instrumental collections

BONUS!

• Music That Hurts by Me: a collection of some of my favorite instrumental pieces that make me feel like I've been punched in the gut and am being turned inside out. But you know. In a good way. Favorites include "Sometimes" by Goldmund, "Places I Remember" by Kristoffer Wallin, and "Stop Everything! It's Snowing" by Good Weather for an Airstrike (that last one in particular is good at making me sob for some reason)

• Writing by Me: This is my gigantic writing playlist that contains a huge mix of some of my favorite "mellow" instrumentals. Many of the above listed artists are on it, but it contains, um...a whole lot more. It's 102 hours long, and has assisted me through many a writing session over the years.

And there you go. I hope that other writers & daydreamers find some things they can take from here and add to their own playlists :)

[disney-rapunzel-merida-vanellope]

Random rambling thoughts on ✨WISH✨ before the movie comes out

- This movie is for the sleeping beauty girlies… or at least IT HAS TO BE. Any other vibe and I’m gonna be extremely disappointed. It’s already giving medieval European fairytale with gorgeous animation so they can’t fumble this bag. I’m not really sure yet what I expect from the plot but I just need a sleeping beauty energy to it idk idk. I don’t really know what I mean by it cause sleeping beauty is so contradictory in itself, it’s so epic but also so quiet and calm and simple… we’ll see

- This movie is gonna comment on astrology and the horoscope right right??? You cannot do a movie about wishes and stars and not give us a peak into the starry night the characters look upon to and study! If I don’t have a scene of asha discussing constellations then what’s the point 😒 but like even just the aesthetics in the background or something. I need it

- I know everyone knows this movie is set in Spain but the official sources say Iberian peninsula and u bet your ass that, as a portuguese gal, imma remind y’all about it cause we get so little representation while the Spanish get everything well now they’ll have to share 😭😭😭😭😭

- Asha having friends is so anti Disney princess of her 😭😭😭 those other girls only talk to animals. Tiana and Pocahontas are the only girls with a bff and that’s only 1, Asha has 7 😭😭😭 I’m not very impressed with their designs but I guess they can grow on me

- I’m guessing the movie is entirely in the kingdom and it’s nearby places like tangled and sleeping beauty, as opposed to movies like moana or frozen that force them out of their home in a long journey

- Do u guys think the Easter eggs will be subtle or Ralph breaks the internet kind of in your face? Cause disney is making a lot of promises, dozens of Easter eggs right? But I think the in your face crossover will be just for the once upon a studio short, and in the movie the cameos will be more Easter eggs and subtle. (Out of topic but have y’all seen that Lego trailer for the Disney princesses vs Gaston thing? I’m telling y’all rn, disney in gonna give up an official disney animation studios movie of the princesses all together in an adventure before 2040!! IM JUST SAYING!)

- I hope the musical numbers take notes from encanto in the dynamism of we don’t talk about Bruno and dreamlike sequences from surface pressure. I just don’t love when characters are forced to be stuck in reality, it feels very limited. Animation is supposed to break those restrictions. And like, not every musical number has to be like this, but I just want more than a character singing in point A, B and C u know? And I like how, for example, a character would start singing the song and then the 2nd half is a montage? Or like in when will my life begin where she starts singing, but then it’s all montage and she just sings again at the end. (Uncharted waters was a very good song with a very boring scene let’s be honest, and something like that is criminal but it would be even worse in animation)

- I’m really not sure what to expect from the plot and I haven’t really thought a]much about it but rn, if I had to guess, I’d say the movie is about a kingdom that parallels present day USA kkkk hear me out!!! The kingdom had low days of war but fought for independence and began from scratch. This family has magic and can grant people’s wishes and promises the people the equivalent of the American dream. But as generations pass, the king starts collecting more and more wishes without ever intending to grant them to the people or maybe the price of the wishes keeps getting higher. The "American" dream doesn’t exist anymore but people still believe in it cause they are powerless but hopefull. Basically the movie is gonna be about dethroning a tyrant and dismantling capitalism 😃 (look I’m not good with words or brain power but I think u understand what I mean). Maybe the king’s magic is fake, he just knows how to work with the stars own magic while no one else can. And in the end, Asha and her friends are gonna Robin Hood their way into granting the peoples wishes or just make then see that wishing only goes so far as you’re willing to work for your dream??… but like I’m serious, I really think this movie is gonna be a shade to America and is gonna go against everything bob iger represents

[astridhoff03]

I think one of the things I will criticize so far is how the music sounds in the trailer

It’s actually the same thing that Film Score and more said about the test drive version of the trailer. It sounds pretty generic and bland. It tries to recreate some epicness but it fails. I can’t believe John Powell recreated this Soundtrack.

Also I personally think that this remake looks like every other one. There’s nothing impressive or interesting about it, it’s like they wanted to recreate the look of the original movie, but failed in execution.

I know they probably want to deepen the story, which was already so much more deeper and emotional than most live action movies. Hel, httyd was revolutionary in this case and not only because of its realistic animation style. Also since someone said it, I can’t unsee it anymore. This looks like a fan film.

[ensuf]

Fortnite Teases NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Coming Soon: What Fans Can Expect

Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, has consistently made headlines with its pop culture crossovers, from blockbuster movies to collaborations with world-famous athletes. Adding to the game’s repertoire of superstar skins, Fortnite has now hinted at the arrival of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, or "Shaq," in the game’s character lineup. Known for his powerful presence on the court and charismatic personality off it, Shaq’s introduction to Fortnite promises an exciting mix of gameplay and entertainment.

In this article, we’ll explore what Shaq’s addition to Fortnite might look like, including his likely in-game appearances, potential skins, emotes, and back bling items. We'll also discuss the significance of this collaboration, how Fortnite uses these crossover events to create buzz, and why Shaq’s presence in the Fortnite universe is sure to be memorable.

Shaq's Legacy and His Place in Fortnite

Shaquille O’Neal’s career is legendary: a four-time NBA champion, MVP, and one of the most dominant forces in basketball history. But Shaq’s appeal goes far beyond sports; he’s a true pop culture icon, making appearances in film, music, and television. Known for his humor and personality, Shaq has a fan base that spans generations. Whether you’re a fan of his days with the Lakers, his appearances in movies, or his latest gig as a sports commentator, there's something universally appealing about Shaq.

By potentially bringing Shaq to Fortnite, Epic Games continues its tradition of tapping into mainstream personalities that have achieved cultural significance. Shaq’s inclusion aligns with previous NBA collaborations, like the skins for LeBron James and other basketball stars, offering fans a chance to experience their love for sports in Fortnite’s playful universe.

Fortnite’s Teasers: What Hints Have Been Dropped?

While Fortnite has yet to make an official announcement with specific details about Shaq’s in-game debut, some tantalizing teasers have appeared. Epic Games is known for cryptic hints, and they often reveal information subtly through social media posts, in-game clues, or trailers. Here are some of the key hints that have fans buzzing:

Social Media Teasers: Fortnite’s social media accounts recently posted a cryptic message featuring a basketball emoji paired with the number “34” — Shaq’s iconic jersey number. Such posts have previously hinted at upcoming collaborations, and the pairing of these symbols has fans excited that Shaq is next in line for a Fortnite crossover.

In-Game Basketball Court Changes: Players have noticed subtle updates to Fortnite’s existing basketball courts, including new textures and props. These locations may serve as focal points for Shaq-themed challenges, events, or easter eggs when he arrives in the game.

Community Leaks and Datamining: Fortnite’s dedicated community of dataminers has uncovered files that contain references to "Big Diesel," one of Shaq’s popular nicknames. Similar leaks have preceded the arrival of high-profile characters in the past, and fans are confident that these clues are pointing to Shaq.

NBA Event Speculation: Rumors suggest that Fortnite may host another NBA crossover event, featuring Shaq as the headliner. Epic Games has previously collaborated with the NBA, and a basketball-themed event featuring Shaq could bring new skins, challenges, and rewards to the game.

What Fans Can Expect from Shaq’s In-Game Appearance

The addition of Shaq to Fortnite isn’t just about the character skin; Epic Games typically goes all out with unique cosmetics, emotes, and sometimes even themed in-game events. Here’s a look at what Shaq’s potential Fortnite bundle might include:

1. Shaquille O’Neal Skins and Variants

Shaq’s physical appearance is iconic — his towering height, bald head, and powerful build make him instantly recognizable. Epic Games has several ways they could design Shaq’s skin to capture his unique look and larger-than-life personality. Here are a few ideas:

Classic Lakers Shaq: The default Shaq skin could show him in his iconic Los Angeles Lakers jersey, bringing to life his legacy on one of basketball's most storied teams. This look would resonate with NBA fans and basketball enthusiasts, making for a nostalgic yet powerful look.

Miami Heat Edition: As Shaq also played a significant role with the Miami Heat, an alternate skin could pay homage to his time with the Heat, featuring the black and red Miami jersey and updated team-themed accessories.

DJ Diesel Variant: Shaq’s love for music and his DJ persona, DJ Diesel, could provide inspiration for a more lighthearted, music-themed skin. This variant might feature Shaq in streetwear, with headphones and a DJ-inspired outfit that would stand out on the battlefield.

Shaq Fu Variant: Fans of retro gaming may remember Shaq’s 1994 fighting game, Shaq Fu. A Shaq Fu-themed skin could capture the character’s martial arts vibe, complete with a stylized martial arts outfit, evoking his ‘90s gamer appeal. This could include a callback to the original game’s design, re-imagined with Fortnite's signature style.

Each of these skins could include unique animations, facial expressions, and details that reflect Shaq’s personality, making his character even more engaging for players.

2. Emotes and Special Animations

Emotes are an essential part of Fortnite, allowing players to show off personality and celebrate in-game victories. Shaq is known for his charisma and humor, which would translate well into fun and memorable emotes. Here are some ideas for Shaq-inspired emotes:

“Shaq Slam” Emote: An emote that lets Shaq pull off one of his iconic dunks, with a dramatic leap and a slam dunk animation. To add a twist, Fortnite could even include a sound effect or visual effect, like a backboard shattering upon impact.

DJ Dance: Shaq’s alter ego, DJ Diesel, could come to life with a DJ-inspired dance emote. This emote could feature Shaq with headphones, spinning turntables, or even hyping up an imaginary crowd.

Shaq Laugh Emote: Shaq is known for his contagious laugh. This emote could be a playful animation showing Shaq in a fit of laughter, complete with audio clips of his hearty chuckle, perfect for taunting opponents.

Kung Fu Moves: Inspired by Shaq Fu, this emote could feature Shaq performing martial arts moves with dramatic flair. The reference to his old fighting game would be an amusing addition for nostalgic fans and younger players alike.

3. Back Bling and Accessories

Shaq’s bundle will likely include back bling items and accessories inspired by his NBA career and personality. Here are some potential back bling ideas:

Championship Trophy Back Bling: Shaq’s achievements in the NBA are legendary, so a championship trophy or a golden ring back bling would be a fitting tribute. This back bling could feature a golden glow and add a regal touch to Shaq’s appearance.

Miniature Basketball Hoop: A basketball hoop attached to Shaq’s back, complete with an animated basketball, would be a fun addition, capturing the spirit of his game.

Turntable or DJ Kit: As DJ Diesel, Shaq often performs with his DJ gear, and a mini turntable setup as back bling would be perfect for his character in Fortnite, adding a music-inspired element to his bundle.

4. Special Pickaxes and Harvesting Tools

Shaq’s pickaxe could be inspired by his powerful presence and his basketball legacy:

Basketball Dunk Pickaxe: A pickaxe resembling a hoop or basketball could be designed to resemble Shaq’s powerful slam dunking. It could even include special sound effects that mimic the sounds of a bouncing basketball when players harvest materials.

Shaq Fu Pickaxe: For a more martial arts-inspired twist, Shaq’s pickaxe could resemble a stylized weapon from his Shaq Fu days, like a staff or other martial arts-inspired tool with retro vibes.

5. Exclusive Limited-Time Modes (LTMs) and Events

Epic Games often includes special limited-time modes (LTMs) when introducing new celebrity crossovers, and a Shaq event could be basketball-inspired. Here are some potential event ideas:

Slam Dunk Challenge LTM: This game mode could take place on a basketball-themed map, where players score points by performing trick shots or engaging in team-based dunking challenges, with Shaq as the event’s primary character.

Shaq Boss Battle: Shaq could appear as an NPC boss in a designated area, with players competing to defeat him and earn unique loot. The boss battle could be basketball-themed, adding a fun twist to the traditional gameplay.

Basketball Tournament Event: If Fortnite hosts a limited-time basketball tournament event, Shaq could serve as a coach or competitor, with players teaming up to complete challenges for rewards inspired by Shaq’s legacy.

The Cultural Significance of Shaq’s Addition to Fortnite

The arrival of Shaquille O'Neal in Fortnite isn’t just a simple addition to the game. It represents a bridge between traditional sports, pop culture, and modern gaming, bringing fans of all three worlds together. Shaq’s skin and themed items could introduce a younger generation to his career, inspiring basketball fans to try out Fortnite while also giving long-time Fortnite players a new and engaging experience.

This crossover with Shaq also reflects Fortnite’s ongoing efforts to diversify its character roster and celebrate figures who have had an enduring impact across multiple spheres of entertainment. Epic Games has made Fortnite a platform where characters from sports, movies, and music can interact in unexpected ways, creating a space that is truly multi-dimensional.

Conclusion: Get Ready for Shaq in Fortnite

With teasers hinting at Shaquille O’Neal’s impending arrival in Fortnite, excitement is building among fans of both the game and the NBA legend. Shaq’s bundle will likely be packed with exclusive cosmetics, emotes, and back bling inspired by his legacy, adding new dimensions to the game’s offerings. As Fortnite prepares to welcome Shaq, players can look forward to engaging in Shaq-themed events, completing in-game challenges, and enjoying Shaq’s charisma in the Fortnite universe.

So get ready to add a towering presence to your character roster, because with Shaq’s skin, Fortnite fans will soon be able to bring one of basketball’s most iconic figures into the battle royale.

[echoesofwisdomcountup]

89 Days Until Tears of the Kingdom Release. The Trailer Breakdown is here. Sorry Tumblr killed the image quality. This is Part Two, Part One is HERE.

Same Warning Applies: This will be obscenely long. I have spent hours of my life on this and I even went around Hyrule in BOTW to double check things. I have also watched only one reaction/analysis video (Limcube) whose ideas I reference a few times but the rest is all me. Now, I know many of the oddities and differences could easily be explained by saying we time travel into the past but I’m going to approach this for the most part as if we are not time traveling because it's more fun this way. Also, the colors refer to the corresponding arrows/circles on the image above it.

General thoughts: Another picture of a cube man because you can bet your life savings that I’m gonna try and run up this thing's arm. I wanna climb on top of it and recreate some anime scenes. Can’t wait to scuttle up its arms like a particularly annoying mouse and stand on its shoulders going hehe can’t hit me now can you? Can y’all tell I’m hyped for this fucking game. Also, watching Link backflip frame by frame was super cool. Pink: What kind of rusty ass sword are you using Link? Unless it's just crudely made.

General thoughts: So I’ve seen people argue for Demise and others argue for Twilight Princess Ganondorf. Admittedly, that big hole in his chest reminds me of the way TP Link stabs Ganon in the chest at the end of the game. However, I’m of the opinion that this is probably Ganondorf but one that is far closer to being Demise. Ordering his servants to wipe everyone out is big Demise vibes.

General thoughts: The cracked Hyrule crest right in front of the malice consumed castle is kinda a dick move Nintendo. Great shot but a dick move. Hyrule is suffering.

General thoughts: Someone should edit this part with Ganondorf screaming. He’s doing a screech pose or maybe an evil laughter pose. Or maybe an ow my back pose. Whatever, everything is crumbling.

General thoughts: Jumpscare. Seriously, this part was still super creepy even going frame by frame. The eyes look the same as those Calamity eyes which you shot with arrows in BOTW. Maybe Ganondorf’s body is being possessed.

General thoughts: Wow we sure are high up. It’s like looking out an airplane window. Words: Zelda says “But Link, I’m not sure you’ll be able to stop him.”  This line really makes me think that we will be dealing with a Ganondorf that’s closer to Demise’s power level. I’m hoping for a tough and epic final fight then. Nintendo, you are basically promising us a harder game so I hope you deliver.

General thoughts: We are over death mountain and man what a view Blue: That cube is freaking taunting me. It’s in so many frames. I wonder if we can climb the outside of it. Red: This really long multi piece vertical island thing is even weirder than the cube. It’s the weirdest island by far in my opinion. Just had a thought about ragdoll physics and hitting every piece on the way down, ouch. Green: Neat that you can see the tower shine from way up here.

General thoughts: And the epic music hits here as Link free falls. The islands in the back sure have some interesting shapes (I literally cannot stop mentioning the islands. I really wanna explore.) Green: Taking the chance to mention these glowing green cylinders. I know we’ve seen them already but what the hell are they for? Also why are the bottom four empty and shorter than the top ones? Are we gonna have to collect eight things or are the top four like charges of power that replenish over time after we use them?  Pink: I can’t thank Nintendo enough for the cool hood with gold buttons. Stylish.

General thoughts: Closer look at Link makes me realize that this new outfit is very much a combination of the Champion’s Tunic and the Hylian Tunic. It looks really good.

Red: These threads? ropes? descending from islands. What the heck are they? Are they purely visual or can we climb them or do they serve some other purpose? Maybe they are tying the island to the ground so it doesn’t float away. In that case, can you imagine an island where if the wind blows the ground moves? I mean the Twilight Princess area in the sky had gusts of wind that tried to push you off so maybe Nintendo will re-use that.

Pink: I saw this area and got so excited on call with a friend, lol. I was like I KNOW THIS PLACE as if TOTK isn’t reusing parts of the BOTW map. Yeah, it’s the area near the road to Hateno but on the opposite side of the river, Cliffs of Quince.

Note: I climbed around the Pillars of Levia and Dueling Peaks to compare the area from far away. Then I walked around the Cliffs of Quince (and accidentally triggered a talus fight) and nearby just to do more comparisons.  Pink: Hateno Tower should be here but it is, like the others, missing. Green: The new tower thing is not in the same place which means we shouldn’t expect them to be one to one. Blue: This is probably a malice pool but it looks like it’s sinking into the ground. Limcube mentioned that it might be a hole in the ground which you would use to travel to an underground section which is an interesting idea. Would that mean you could enter Death Mountain and go to the center? Anyway, this is, as far as I can tell, on top of Meda Mountain. Yellow: You can just barely make out Dueling Peaks stable. Nice to see the stable system still up and running… probably Red: To me it looks as if the broken guardians in Hateno field are gone. Maybe Zelda and Link had them cleared away in the aftermath of BOTW which would be understandable considering he died there and it’s a potentially dangerous area for wandering travelers. Another option is that Ganon resurrected them to be fully functioning guardian stalkers or brand new guardian enemies but that’s a worse case scenario.

General thoughts: The symbols. Who put them there and what are they for? Every time I see them I’m seized with a burning desire to know. I’m suspecting Zonai involvement. At the very least, they do make for a pretty sight. Blue: Towers but they aren’t glowing. Does that mean these are already activated towers? Green: New enemy camp sitting in water. Looks like they stacked three skulls on top of each other which props to the monsters for that feat. Red: The cube continues to haunt me.

Blue: First thing I noticed was the glowing hand. Link’s new hand seems to only glow when he’s using his new powers. So is this new tracker arrow part of the new powers? I’m struggling to see how it fits together exactly. Do you need to use the new arrow type plus the hand’s power in conjunction? Can you use the hand’s power on other types of arrows? Red: Looks like a cave entrance. I mean it’s practically confirmed at this point that we get to explore both the skies and beneath the ground. Sadly, I think this might rule out exploring underwater but I can still hope. Yellow: Odd rocks again I think. They really seem to be scattered across most of Hyrule.

Note: I found this place in BOTW. Apple trees and all. It’s slightly North of Irch Plain on the map. I fought a Silver Lynel so it wouldn’t bother me while I was comparing. Red: It’s my old friend the cube. Green: The enemy camp is not there in BOTW.

Blue: FUUUUUCK YEAAAAH SHIELD SKATEBOARDING. This is beyond cool and amazing and I can’t wait to travel the rails like this. I wonder if it's going to be like the mine cart game in Skyward Sword and whether or not you’ll need to worry about balance. Pink: Also I’m pretty sure this is Death Mountain but with less death?? I mean the lava seems to be gone which I guess makes sense with the malice but it's still an odd sight.  Green: Different odd rock from the past ones. I wonder what this is for and if we can blow it up or break it open. Red: Why’s the man standing there like that? Idk it looks a little funny since I’m so used to bokoblins and lizalfos standing on the lookout platforms, not moblins.

Green: I’m pretty sure these are the pieces of that hovercraft we see later in the trailer. We are probably going to have to build that thing by collecting all the pieces. I wonder if we have to give them to someone to build it for us or will it just automatically assemble once we have all the parts.  Pink: Kinda rude that they put a box there. Let Link skateboard down the rails in peace.

Red: Storm tornado. This and the cube haunt me in this trailer way too much. It’s like Vah Medoh in the sky just begging you to check it out. Yellow: The red and blue directional arrows are very interesting and tell me that we can move this mechanism horizontally and vertically. It also looks like motion controls which ugh the motion control puzzles in BOTW were not my favorite. Another interesting thing is that we are using Link’s new arm instead of a Sheikha terminal and that this big green ring kinda reminds me of one of those terminals. The comparison makes sense since Link is moving the structure behind it by manipulating the currently glowing green ring.

General thoughts: Again we are so clearly underground. There’s even stalactites. Green: I’d bet ten bucks there is a Korok hiding under that rock. Red: What are these glowing spots? Pink: This is one hell of a luminous ore deposit. I wonder how much that spot is worth in rupees.

General thoughts: Now this weapon is truly insane. I will be acquiring one as soon as possible because it’s like an ancient Zonai missile launcher. There is also no way that the durability system is taken away because I know that Nintendo will not let us have this forever. There has to be some sorta drawback. Either it needs fuel or it takes a long time to recharge or something. Green: Note that Link’s hand is not glowing so he isn’t using the arm’s power for this weapon. Pink: It looks like a freaking black hole. I will feel so badass with this weapon.

Note: I went into BOTW and launched myself from high places/jumped from different heights just so I could hit the attack button while holding a Royal Claymore and compare the flip and slam down that Link does with this weapon. I broke that Claymore but it was for science. As far as I can tell it's the same animation as what's in the trailer. General thoughts: Since this is the second weapon we’ve seen with some kind of homing aspect (this thing aimed right for the talus’s weak spot) I wonder how that works. Is it related to the lock on function? I mean I know from messing around with instant flurry rushes that you can essentially set a target in BOTW so maybe it has something to do with that.

First thoughts: HYLIA!!?? Either her or some other deity because this shot just makes me think of divinity. Second thoughts: It could be Zelda but is it BOTW Zelda or some past Princess (I’ll explain in a bit.) Obviously, the clothes seem Zonai in nature so maybe it’s someone important in the Zonai tribe. 

General thoughts: Hmm, hand holding could mean many things. This could be similar to the Skyward Sword moment when SS Zelda and Link reunite or this could be Hylia lending her power to BOTW Link via the arm. Of course, this could be a memory that Link inherited from a past hero and this is that hero and his Zelda grasping hands and promising to work together to face Ganondorf.

General thoughts: Link looking at his hand while he makes a fist really makes me think he could be emerging from a memory. So that’s why I think the previous shot might be from whoever used to own the hand. Black: Looks like a little gear but with a glowing green button. I like this little detail. Blue: Idk why but this island reminds me of Cara Cara Bazaar. It’s got a funky shape. I love it.

General thoughts: Link’s arm is glowing with what looks like the spirit flames that are around the Champions in BOTW. Makes sense since the arm probably used to belong to someone long dead given that it was stuck holding Ganondorf down under the castle.

General thoughts: First the obvious, the car wheel. I mean it’s already neat that Link can seemingly levitate Zonai tech with his arm but then we are gonna get to use these pieces to build vehicles which is even more exciting. I’m pretty sure this is replacing Magnesis though. We can lift and manipulate Zonai tech instead of metal. Pink: Brand new looking chest. It looks a lot like the other Zonai tech. Blue: There’s usually a Korok here but not this time. Red: This is one of those weird rocks but it’s in a mud pit. They really are everywhere. Green: Again malice pools (same ones as in a previous plateau shot). I wonder just how many places are gonna have malice lying around.

General thoughts: Tractor car. This thing looks so goofy but also fun at the same time. It’s pretty obviously Zonai tech. Can’t wait to play Deja Vu and drift in Hyrule Field. Pink: This looks like the power source. I wonder if we’ll have to feed it items to fuel up like with the Sheikah motorcycle. Blue: Why is there a giant hole in this mountain structure? I tried to find anything that looked like this in BOTW but came up short.  Red: Them rocks again. Can’t wait to find out why they exist though.  Black: Another tower spotted but it isn’t glowing. I’m still of the opinion that they only glow with those spotlights before you unlock them.

General thoughts: Not gonna lie I never expected them to give us an air balloon. It makes sense though with the varied island heights and distances. Stamina and the paraglider can only do so much and I don’t think we will have bombs for wind bombs anymore. Blue: This green stuff that’s holding the balloon together is the same stuff that appears to be holding the car together. Maybe it’s Zonai glue or something. Red: So above this is what I’ve decided to call Jenga Tower island. This bit right here is probably connected to the rest of Jenga Tower island. It makes me think of a minigame where you have to fall down the middle perfectly to land at the bottom or the bottom piece has an air current that lets you travel upwards through the middle of Jenga Tower island.

General thoughts: There is a lot happening in this shot. First and most obvious, the glowing green hovercraft. If I didn’t think Nintendo would give us an air balloon I definitely did not expect a hovercraft. I can already tell this is gonna be my favorite vehicle even if it ends up motion controlled. Blue: The Zonai green glue is here too. Kinda reminds me of silly putty for some reason. Orange: These long rope things again. I really can’t think of a purpose for these at the moment besides what I mentioned earlier. Maybe they are just for aesthetics but that would be sorta boring. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could fireman slide down these? Pink: Goddess statue? Temple? It seems important for some reason. Red: The cube may be hiding but I see the darn thing.  Black: First the cube and now an orb. I can’t recall seeing this anywhere else in the trailer which really makes me curious about what it is. It’s pretty big.

General thoughts: A beautiful view of the many sky islands. I cannot stress how much seeing all the floating islands visually reminds me that we are getting a new game. Yeah its the same engine as BOTW but the possible changes and alterations are tantalizing. Blue: More malice pools. Although, I do have to say they look quite different from the ones in BOTW. I think these might be more energized. I wonder if they will eat at your hearts far faster than the malice we are used to.  Red: I wonder if this large cube structure is made up of the same material as the weird rocks lying around everywhere.

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[fraeuleintaka]

AAIC Checkmate Set Trailer

This is the 65th post in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Countdown: 16 days left until release!

Today's topic: the Checkmate Set Trailer for the Investigations Collection!

This time around Shi-Long graces us with his charismatic presence and discusses the Checkmate Set - the special edition of the Investigations Collection that I talked about in a previous countdown post and also pre-ordered myself already! - with his men. Or rather, shows it off because he's the best possible choice for this presentation in particular but we'll get to that. The scene takes place in the Theatrum Neutralis of the Cohdopian Embassy building from I1-5. There's no context for why they're all there for this exchange specifically but I assume it's done in order to be able to reuse the assets of Shi-Long's subordinates from a similar such scene that took place there in the game and not have to first put them all on a different background. And good thing too, because I don't think they would have fit in Miles' office or even the hallway of the prosecutors' building 😄

Miles is still there too though! He does nothing but stand at the side far behind Shi-Long and watch the scene unfold which is hilarious on its own. I guess he didn't want to interrupt their bonding time 😉

The scene starts with the subordinates counting off as usual and proceeds with Shi-Long offering one of them a gift (this time for one of them directly and not for their younger brother's wife's younger brother 😉), specifically an Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Checkmate Set. One of the officers lists what's included and the officer being given the gift to tentatively asks if the acrylic standees are just of Miles assuming that they are. Shi-Long objects, rather forcefully, and makes clear that of course there's one of him too. The officer inquires after his theme song doubting that'll be included too, to which Shi-Long quotes Lang Zi ("Hearing it once will open your eyes a hundred-fold.") and then, apparently with the pure force of his charisma, causes the arranged version of his theme song to start playing. The officer is moved to tears, Shi-Long graciously tells him to take his time and listen to the rest at home and the officers salute in confirmation.

Oh boy 😂 First of all, so nice of Shi-Long to gift his men an Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Checkmate Set just like that! What a generous gesture. (Can I get one too, Shi-Long? Pretty please? 🥺) This also means that we now have an evidence icon of the Checkmate Set and I love that fact. No idea where I'd possibly use it but who knows! I assume that since he's giving them out as gifts Shi-Long already has a Checkmate Set of his own and there we have the connection to my speculation from the last trailer video that the entire main cast of the Investigations games buys the collection in some form, with Shi-Long splashing out and getting the special edition even. He really wants those acrylic standees and the arranged music mini-album. Understandable.

Speaking of, I love how his men are only interested in the set as long as the standees include Shi-Long himself and the arranged music includes his theme song. (And how that one subordinate cries from just hearing his arranged theme song and plans to listen to more of it at home.) That's what I call devotion! Maybe a tad concerning as well... But mostly cute! Considering Shi-Long seems to have that good of a relationship with all of his 100 subordinates it's truly impressive. And how he shows off the new arrangement of his theme! Ah, it's so epic! I love it! Can't wait to hear the full version! And his amazingly confident quote before that, as if just hearing it would cause you an entire spiritual awakening. Well... maybe? I definitely feel more enlightened now, though that might just be me whenever Shi-Long's on screen 😉 Anyway, I love how this implies that the characters just somehow generate their own theme music around them wherever they go and Shi-Long switched his to the arranged version for demonstration purposes. He's just badass like that!

And the new HD chibi sprite animations we get to see of him! So adorable! (I'm normal about this character, I swear.) I guess he wanted to be a little extra with his impatient finger wagging because I have no idea why else he would do it like that but sure, Wolfy, you do you 😄

Definitely my favourite of these little videos so far! The world needs more Shi-Long content and I hope the collection's release will help in rectifying that. I also just love seeing Shi-Long interact with his subordinates, it's so ridiculous but also so wholesome!