#because ummm consistent art style more like. no

[partyswirl]

messy cake doodle. saw a bgug

#doodle #cake bfdi #bfdi #bfb #tpot #ummm sure ill main tag this why not #if anyone reads these tags please request object show chars for me to draw idk what to drawww 💔💔💔 #it probably wont b in this exact style unless u ask for it specifically though #because ummm consistent art style more like. no

[writings-ofthe-heart]

JUST FINISHED BES, GOING CRAZY JUMPING ON THE WALLS‼️‼️‼️‼️

I'll post my thoughts on it here ummm its gonna be very long sorr🤦🏽‍♀️

HUGE BES SPOILERS YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

Ok first of all can we talk about the ART???? THE STYLE?????? OH MY GOODNESS ITS SO BEAUTIFUL IT REALLY REMINDS ME OF THE OLD JAPANESE ART AND COMIC BOOK STYLE TOGETHER?!! i love the uprising of stylized animation its so nice and good

ok second, THE CHARACTERS?? I love how they really kept everything consistent, taigena character development is 🥰🤌 mwah beautiful, akemi i lub her badass attitude honestly its rlly good at showing every part of japan in the edo period the brutal honesty of how women lived back then is amazing, omg speaking about akemi, madame kaji and her girls‼️‼️ so lovely i hope we see them in season 2 omg the purple girl when she got fucking killed i was so sad omfg my poor girl dude honestly and pf course imma make one big paragraph abit Mizu

ok mizu i think omfg omfg let me just say SHE'S LITERALLY THE MAN LIKE MIZU THE WOMAN YOU ARE😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 i could not get enough of her, her voice??? her face??? her personality??? flawless😍🥰 the character development is precious omfg the way she was such a cold stone killer in the first episode and you could see her heart thawing while still keeping that revenge and anger alive??? AMAZING omfg props to the writers because they did so well. i really cant wait to see more about her backstory, ESPECIALLY ALL THE PLOT TWISTS IN THE LAST EPISODE???? WDYM HER MOM ISNT HER MOM???????? also im so curious about Violet? cuz she killed him but... honestly.... i saw someone theorize that it was her mom that was white and not her dad because in my head it makes sense i dont think the white father would be so hateful for mizu?? if the white parent was the mom then it makes sense for the dad to be ashamed of her,,,,,,, maybe its just me and violet is a man not a woman, idk i cant wait to see what happens in that storyline

the animation is so smooth its so satisfying and the colors??? the backgrounds of each frame is so detailed and wonderful???? oh mt goodness if i could pause it every frame juat to admire the art (and mizu) i would 100% god omfg

I just cant wait for season 2

ALSO THE LAST SCENE WHERE MIZU JUST WENT??? TO LONDON?? NOW EVERYONE THINKS SHE'S DEAD😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 she looked soooooo good tho so I'm not complaining....

also there's def gonna be a triangle between taigen , takoyashi and akemi bro, like theres no way there wont be

tbh.... im kinda #teamtako because he's a cutie... maybe ill write for him.... idk Hes so cutie patootie like his little stammer is 🤌 u dont see it often and he's royaalty? great character designs

ringo i love you my favorite boy i hope he will be well

ok thats all

#bes mizu #mizu blue eye samurai #nelly--speaks #writers on tumblr #blue eye samurai #ringo blue eye samurai #bes ringo #taigen #taigen bes #akemi blue eye samurai #akemi bes

[calpalsworld]

Reading through the OREGON ULTIMATUM tags is quite interesting especially the characters the way some of the art looks reminds me of David feiss (the guy who made cow and chicken) and i could see it animated in that style. Do you have any voice claims for any of the characters? idk why but i hear dr. window having a midwest accent.

I've never watched Cow and Chicken but thank you *takes notes*

Dr. Windows lives in Ultimatum, Oregon, and attended PCS (Portland College of Science). (These are not real locations and are not meant to parody any real locations.) BUT... Where she lived beforehand is ambiguous... so she could've grown up in the midwest!!!

(and im midwestern so tbh they probably all have midwestern accents when in my head)

MORE BELOW

If I was actually to cast them, it may be difficult to find the right voice actors, because Dr. Windows and Dr. Treetop both have speech disorders/impediments. Dr. Windows has mildly slurred speech and a prominent lisp, and Dr. Treetop has disorganized/stuttery speech.

I usually put Windows' dialogue in italics. Its meant to indicate her speech disorder. Their speech is consistently slurred and they struggle most with "s" sounds.

As for Treetop, I've been thinking a lot about how I should type out his struggles with continuity. I want it to be in a way that is accessible for readers and seems accurate to real life. Unlike Windows, his speech disorder isn't consistent, and it affects the things he says, so it is something that has to be typed out. If anyone has any good examples on how to handle stutters in writing/comics I'd eat the suggestion up.

ANYWAY, for voice claims....

Hellmann - I'm unsure... They are emotional so definitely a voice that can sound neurotic and get mad.

The Hivemind - Limbic system from disco elysium but with a layering effect. Perceiving its "voice" physically feels warm.

Windows - Ummm gay and androgynous, metaphorically warm, soft but not quiet. (In my head, I sometimes imagine something similar to Raine Whispers from the Owl House ngl)

Treetop - Hissed, intense, particular with his words, usually monotone. Since he's supposed to come off as intimidating, I originally imagined him with a deep, rumbly voice, but ehhh I'm not a fan of that anymore. His voice definitely wouldn't be intimidating, he would sound like a pathetic edgelord. (In my head I imagine him sounding similar to Razer from GLTAS...??? but i can also picture something less aggressive, like patho 2 bachelor).

Sutthi - nasally and deep (Honest to god I think I've been imagining Squidward Spongebob in my head.)

Cuautle - I have this distinct voice in my head for some reason. Normal and old but very androgynous for no particular reason. Over the phone people probably think they are a woman.

Anthill - Sounds Scared. Been watching dungeon meshi and yeah, she would probably sound like english dub Marcille.

But yeah I dont mind if people imagine them differently and have their own headcanons :)

#oregon ultimatum

[pbeltarts]

Do you have any advice as to how to make a bigger following to announce upcoming content such as a comic? I know you're working on a comic and you're excited to get it going cause you share your art here and on insta. I guess the more direct question is how did you get your followers? Was it from your fanart or from your ocs? I personally followed because I saw your art style and ocs.

Ummm my following has been built up over a number of years? And I guess it depends on the platform as to where they likely came from.

On all platforms, a good chunk of followers probably came from fanart, likely my VLD days if I were to guess. However, my first like, wave of followers on Instagram actually came from when I did resin charms and crafting.

But yeah, most of my following I'd say came for the fanart, hopefully stayed for all my content. And despite knowing how algorithms and people on social media kinda work, there isn't really a quick way to gain a following. At least, not a consistent one.

You can post fanart and jump on trends and tags and stuff, and that'll definitely help boost your following a bit as its something other people can quickly relate to and latch onto. Its a lot harder to get people to follow for just original content unless you're hitting a niche or market with that original content that people are still interested in.

Consistent posting, across all platforms, is still a good standard to keep if you're wanting to build a somewhat dependable following, just know that it will take time.

As far as promoting upcoming projects and getting people interested in them, I'm not like 100% sure if there's a perfect method to that. For me, I wanna be able to talk and get excited over my stories bc my ADHD brain chases serotonin like its a good meal and therefore if I'm not excited, I don't do them LOL. But I also like seeing others get excited for the content too. So without giving away everything, I try to be fairly transparent about my work and my stories and stuff. I really love interacting with followers and getting to talk and expand on ideas, like through asks, because I don't usually have a lot of time to get to develop stories linearly. There's so much I wanna do but I can't just do it right there and then (partially cus of time, partially because of motivation, partially cus of performance anxiety) so getting to sprinkle through my stories and plans is fun and also helps me think about aspects of them I may not have originally.

Also even though I post 90% sketches, TYPICALLY i think cleaner work performs better on Tumblr??? but that's kind of a vague theory, my sketches always do better but if its what I usually post and what people expect, then of course that's what will do better anyway. Plus they're usually somewhat sequential, like mini-comics.

Social media, especially art posting, is a big gambit with only some mostly tried and true methods of operating. My best advice is just to take it gradually, don't get discouraged by numbers, and don't depend on numbers to validate your interest in your art or your stories.

#not art #asks #art advice

[jovalencia]

we all knew this was coming and I’m a sentimental bitch. I just wanted to write all my mutuals some little messages about how much I love you. you guys have changed my life and I am so grateful for each and every one of you!!!💕💞💓💗💖💘 anygays have fun searching for yourself in this mess and I’m sorry for any typos, I’m illiterate (and if i forgot you it’s because i lost my brain in 1912)

@cr1spyy fernanda, my first ever mutual. who would have thought that your 5th wave posts would have brought one of the most amazing people in my life to me. your posts always make me laugh and your dedication to the good morning asks is admirable (fr I could never have that much consistency) you’re so kind to everybody and you’re absolutely beautiful and incredible and I fucking love you so much. I honestly don’t even want to think about what my life would be like if I had never met you, MWAH💕🤍

@sundaymorninghangover I remember you being my first ever note!! you liked this post I made that was a reblog of a “uquiz” that was actually a rickroll lmao. you didn’t even follow me back then but whatever. Then I remember waking up one day to see that you had tagged me in a bingo ask game and I was like “ummm tf is an ask game” but I do still have a bingo card for it that I never used ekenksjs. anygays, you have good opinions on everything and you’re absolutely fucking hilarious. If you told me back in may that I would be friends with you I wouldn’t believe it bc you intimidated me but regardless I’m glad to be an arson gang member with you. your memes are god tier and so is your music taste. I love you whore!!!!!🖤💜

@sound-and-colors ma’am you’re so nice and for what??? the aesthetic stuff that you reblog is *chef’s kiss* and nobody else is out there doing it like you. we’ve never talked but I just know that you are absolutely incredible mwah❤️💛

@embeddedinmybrain tasfia you are the nicest person on his hellsite and you know it (I hope). It was so much fun being your secret admirer anon while it lasted, like fr I loved it. Your art is beautiful just like your heart and i honestly don’t know what I did to deserve such a kind soul like you in my life. You’re always there to hype me up and ily (also just cut your own hair already I believe in you)🤍💙

@gumptin you hooked me with your suus icon and reeled me in by being the coolest and funniest person ever. your posts are consistently hilarious, accurate, or relatable and I admire that. I mean it when I say you’re one of the coolest people on here. idk what I did to have you think I’m cool but I’m honored nonetheless. also you have really awesome style and hair jdnjdjdjd mwah💚💛

@nori-in-pink first and foremost, your blog always has a very nice aesthetic and I feel like I need to acknowledge that. anyway, you are so kind and supportive and you don’t take any bullshit and that is absolutely amazing. you are absolutely iconic and always reblog the best stuff so I know I can count on your blog to be fantastic. you used to scare me (idk why don’t ask) but now I know that you’re just a big teddy bear ily💗💜

@matteohnora my slurpee queen and my mememate!! you always send me the funniest shit and it doesn’t go unappreciated. You’re always there for me with a silly meme or emotional support and I don’t think I’ve ever told you how grateful I am for that. whenever you stalk my blog it makes my heart go whooosh and I feel so special. Ily and I am so glad to have met you💜❤️

@lieverobbe ah yes, the girl with the impeccable music taste. that’s what I know you as, oh well. you are more talented and kind than you could ever believe and your edits are amazing!!! whenever I see you on my dash I get all happy bc I’m like “em’s here!!!” I love all your lil posts and I am so glad that you are my mutual ilyyyyy💙🤍

@ironymane you’ve watched limitless which automatically makes you amazing. you’re an absolutely incredible and amazing person and even tho you aren’t on here as much anymore, I still love youre lil posts. And one time you kept me entertained on a 6hr car ride so you deserve some kind of award for that. ly🧡💛

@kingarthurpendragons okay the obvious thing to talk about here is your incredible talent when it comes to gif making. Like how in the hell- but you are also so kind and loving and it doesn’t go unnoticed. You don’t have to send nice asks but you do and ily for it mwah!!❤️💗

@engelkeijsers the skam nl stan that we all deserve to have in our lives. you are so fucking hilarious and relatable and all around amazing and for what? your posts always put a smile on my face and it is so much fun to clown with you. ilyyyy💚💛

@happiness-isin-you let’s ignore the fact that it took me forever to realize that this was your main lmao. your art is some of the most beautiful shit I’ve ever seen. like your style is so cool????  I could literally go on about this for hours don’t test me. the cute animal pictures are the absolute best and you’re always there for emotional support. Ilyyyyyyy💛❤️

@isakyaqi fiz you are so kind and talented and cool and I really do mean all that. You reblog always the best of content so I know I can trust it. you always put nice tags in the things you reblog things and it’s fun to read what you write because it’s almost always you hyping up the creator or the thing itself. you are awesome jdjdjdndjjd mwah🖤🤎

@cash-queens sam oh sam. Idek where to start with how much ily. You’re my famous mutual which is very iconic of you and you put up with my cat pictures and my silly antics and my riverdale posts. You’re so kind to me and everybody and whenever I make a post when I’m having a mental breakdown you’re always there to make sure that I’m doing okay. That def doesn’t go unappreciated. You’re legitimately one of the kindest and most amazing people I’ve ever known and I love you so much, more than you could ever know💛🤍

@welcometo-saturn çağrı you’re so cool. end of statement. that’s all I have to say about it. your gifs are so beautiful and you don’t take shit from anybody. you’re so down to earth that it makes it seem like you’re somebody who I’ve just always known (even tho we’ve never talked sjdjdjdjdj) so yeah anyway, you’re are a really awesome person with really good opinions and I am so glad that we are mutuals🧡❤️

@amifeelingokay it’s difficult not to start with your url bc it’s amazing and I love it. your skam posts are always so nice and cute and positive (just like you!!) and I love them. the content you reblog is always aesthetic or a nice text post and I just love your blog okay. ily💜🖤

@isthatelpome you’re so nice that I’m willing to overlook your opinion on salt and vinegar chips (they’re not good I’ll fight you on that) your dani icon is beautiful just as you are, mwahhhh🧡❤️

@earthling-isa babe you are so cute with your lil edits and your clowning. the near constant black and white aesthetic is very iconic and i love it. you’re a suus stan so I have no choice but to love you for it. i absolutely adore your gifs, especially the ones with the lil squares in the middle fygzbgut. you are absolutely beautiful and incredible and kind and I love you MWAHHHH🖤💙

@grey-mist-exist okay we’ve never talked but you seem like such a rad person. not cool but like rad (there are are subtle differences) your art is beautiful even tho idk the quotes (go off smarty pants) and overall you are just really rad, idk how else to say it mwah!!!🤍🖤<pretend it’s a grey heart

@fatoudixon hey look it’s one of the most talented people here!!! You’ve always been so kind and supportive of me and I really really do appreciate it. you have good opinions on everything and did I mention that you’re talented?? cause you are, very. Your reaction videos are amazing and not to mention iconic, just like your hair. anyway, ily and I am so glad that I have somebody as amazing as you as my mutual💙💛

@sander-klaas you are so kind and and you have so much passion. I can always trust you reblog only the best of wtfock and sobbe content which I am very grateful for. you literally just started making gifs and they are so beautiful (okay it was like months ago but whatever dkdjdjjdjdj) anyway, thank you so much for being my mutual mwah❤️💛

@jusdekiwi okay we’ve never talked but you genuinely seem like such a sweet person??? I love the stuff you reblog, it’s always the best gif sets. idk I can just tell you have good taste. I hope to get to know you better in the future, but for now I am very grateful to have you💚💙

@kritiquer my twin!!! you and I have a lot in common so ofc I love you. I’m joking obviously.... anygays you are always so supportive of everybody and you are so sweet. I love all of your personal posts, it always makes me really happy to see what you’re up to and how you’re feeling. I also like the aesthetic stuff you reblog, I have bad taste in all that, clearly you don’t. I am so glad that we started talking and I hope that we continue! ily kit!!!!💜🤍

@bleachblondebitches you aren’t on here that much, but whenever you are I get so happy! Your gifs are beautiful and I think about your sobbe and booksmart parallels gifset every day. you have amazing taste in movies and I love you!💜💙

@lesbeanfatou clara!!! bitch!!!! You already know how much I love you but I guess I’ll reiterate. I honestly don’t know what I did before I knew you. I always remember looking at the no idea blog with the Nora icons like “who is this?” Little did I know back then that you would be one of my closest friends. your support of me means the world and I am so grateful for you. I’m so glad that I have somebody in my life like you to talk to and be friends with. you are one of the funniest people in and I just love you so much I could burst mwah❤️🧡

@gucciboner okay hiii ypu are literally so fucking kind and funny, i admire your sense of humor sm. your art is so beautiful and you are so goddamn talented, it never ceases to amaze me. I also love all the little funny posts you make and reblog!! ily💙💗

@helmtaryn even though you put supernatural on my dash, I am willing to forgive you bc I love you so much. your gifs are so beautiful like ma’am didn’t you just start?? icon shit. your hate for photoshop is iconic and you are awesome. you’re always sending me asks and responding to my posts and you’re so nice and it makes my heart go whooosh. anygays you’re cool and ily💙🧡

@starmansander nina when I tell you that you give off the best vibes- okay sorry I had to start with that. I love how you are so nice and supportive of me, it really means a lot. I really like the stuff you reblog like,,, cool art? pretty women? those hopeful little posts? iconic. also youre a noor stan which is a sign of good taste. love you🤎❤️

@ijzermanora daniiiiiii madam you are so epic and iconic and I really could go on about that forever. you are so kind and you’re following all my joke sideblogs (even the ch*cken l*ttle hate blog??? why???) which is very brave of you. I love reading all of your lil wholesome posts and hearing about school and how much you hate chemistry (even tho you like sushi???) anygays we were already sending memes 10 hours into our mutualship so I think we were soulmates from the very beginning. I love you so much and I have no idea what I did before i knew you💜💗

@alwaysin-myhead okay, you give off cool person vibes and I had to acknowledge that. your art is so beautiful and you are so incredibly talented!!! I hope to get to know you in the future🧡💛

@alexiaugustin here she is!!! the queen of good opinions!!! you are such a smart cookie and you use that power to make long paragraph posts that I can actually read without falling asleep. which is impressive honestly. never has a person been so kind and funny and genius in such a well rounded way (that makes no sense) I’m so happy that I have you in my life ilyyy💚💗

@ijntba hihi you’re such a sweet person and I literally love your skam blog sm. I am so honored that you’re using one of my icons you have no idea. even though I’m confused when you post about anime, I still appreciate your passion lmao. mwah💛🧡

@hidden-joy liz!! you are such a kind soul and I absolutely love looking at the things you reblog and reading all the nice things that you put in the tags, it’s always so sweet and supportive!!! we’re relatively new mutuals, but I do hope to get to know you better in the future!!!💚💛

okay sorry to group y’all together but @fudgetunblr and @alexiswoke I like just became mutuals with y’all but I do love you and I’m glad you’re here and I hope 2021 treats you well and that i get to know you better!!❤️❤️

aaand one last final message for max and sarah, i know yall wont see this but ily🧡 💜

okay yeah I know I already said this but I really do love each and every one of you so much and I am so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life💕💕💓💕💖💖💕💘💕💗💞💓💕💖💖💘💕💓

#MWAH💕 #my mutuals are pretty fuckin rad #also don’t tell anyone but the hearts at the end are the colors I associate you with #or they’re as close as I could get #*makes this post* #*goes back to sleep*

[lethendralis-paints]

Artist Meme

Was tagged to answer this set of interesting questions by @kourvo​

(original post is here: https://kourvo.tumblr.com/post/621355098110640128/artist-meme

Thank you so much for that!

Let’s see....

1) What is the character you've drawn the most (Can be original or fanart)

This precious boy. I can never get enough of him. One of the most compelling characters I have ever come across. Love everything about Fenris and can relate to him on so many levels!

2. What colour do you often use? 

Gray and brown are my faves. And all other colours have the same chance of appearing in my artwork :D

3. Any colour you are bad at using?

I don’t think so...I love them all, even the pinks and yellows people usually find hard to incorporate into a colour palette. Tell me in the comments if I’m wrong :)

4. When drawing people, where do you start? 

Funnily enough - either with the front of the hairline or with the left eyebrow. Don’t ask me, why - I don’t know myself.

5. What is a character only your eraser will love?

Hmmmm...any sort of villainous character. I can’t draw evil people convincingly. I’m a huge softy at heart.

6. Which of your works took the longest time? 

Big scale commission I did for @pikapeppa​, featuring all the Inquisition companions, along with Fenris, Rynne and Carver Hawke. That one took almost 3 weeks, due to its sheer scope and my relative lack of experience in such large works. Pika was extremely patient with me though, for that I am eternally thankful!

7. What techniques do you use when you want to improve in drawing? 

Classical art studies. Varying my technique, themes I choose and software I use. I try to experiment and go outside my comfort zone often.

8. What do you think of the art of the person who gave you this ask meme? 

I adore Lillymon’s technical skill, refined style and limited colours! She is a huge inspiration for me!

9. What art tools/media are you good with? 

DrawPile, Photoshop, graphite pencils and liners. That’s about it :)

10. Art tools/media you are bad at? 

Traditional paints. I have no formal artistic education and my lack of knowledge comes to the forefront whenever I have to paint on a real canvas. It’s so much trial and error, you can’t even imagine....

11. What do you think about your own art? 

Lately it’s one of the last few things that were bringing me joy. I hope I won’t lose the passion for it. Because at this point I’m not sure I’ll be able to find some occupation I will be genuinely interested in and good at it. I don’t know if me gravitating towards moody fantasy art speaks about my fear of facing reality. If so, idk what to do with that. I do hope to develop my skills and being able to support myself financially as an artist.

12. Do you consult references for your drawings? 

Yes. A lot of them. Anatomical atlases, schemes for both academic and manga art, photographs found online and taken on my own, copying colour palettes from classical art - anything goes. I think it’s essential to develop your technical skill.

13. What do you like about your art? 

Lately - consistency, both in terms of produced results and in sticking to the timelines I set to myself. I hope this lasts. I would also like to branch out to other themes and not confine myself to quirky fantasy characters, so I’m working on developing my own story behind the scenes (spoilers) :P

14. What habits do you have while drawing?

Only the bad ones, lol. Hunching forward in front of the screen, forgetting to eat, drink and letting my eyes rest. Tilting my head to the side instead of rotating the canvas....I’m an idiot XD

15. Are you good at drawing faces facing right? 

I think that’s the thing I’m good at!

16. How frequently do you draw? 

For the last 1,5 years - almost every day without fail, for good or ill.

17. What do you do when you have artist's block? 

Change occupation and work myself into a depressed state. I changed work places in the last few years a lot, working as an interior designer, draftsman, textile designer, a cook, a bartender to name a few.

18. What must you have when you draw? 

No commotion around me and a cup of some hot beverage.

19. Do you have a lot of stray lines (messy lineart)? 

In the starting stage of my work process - yes, like you wouldn’t believe! If it’s a personal doodle, I sometimes just leave in as am under layer and draw clean lines on top of that mess. It looks cool in a way.

20. What is drawing to you?

An essential part of what helped me to retain my sanity in the last year and a half. Hopefully a lasting profession that will help me pay bills and survive on my own, if my life falls apart entirely later.

21. Your art goal from now on? 

Broaden the themes I depict, improve my technical skill, work on personal creative project and not only fan arts. And most of all - not giving up on it this time.

22. Artists you've had influence from? 

To name a few: @kallielef​ @kourvo​ @shayafury​ @fairsparrow​ who I met here on Tumblr, and many others who I follow and zealously study their works for clues on how to improve my own work.

23. Artists you like? 

I am following them all either here or on Instagram, I also do my best to share their works on my side blog!

24. Which is easier to draw, humans or animals? 

It was animals earlier. But now that I started to diligently study human anatomy, I would say it evened out! I’m quite confident drawing humans/humanoids now!

25. Show us an old drawing 

My first digital drawing from 2010 when I first bought my tablet!

26. What is the charm-point of your art?

I ummm....I don’t really get the question? Is that like the the strongest suit of me as an artist? Intense expressions maybe? Idk. Let me know in the comments :D

27. What is the first thing you would draw if we're talking about fantasy? 

Broody warriors, he-he

28. Please draw your most beloved character:

Here’s a sneak-peek of me drawing him right now! :D

29. When thinking of characters is it mostly female? male? or androgynous/no sex? 

I usually gravitate towards depicting strong-willed, caring, passionate, brave, honest men and women.

30. What did you draw yesterday? 

Started cleaning up that sketch from the last question, actually!

31. What is the funnest part to draw? 

A circle. Mostly because you’d die laughing seeing my struggle to draw a believable one XD

32. What part of other people's drawings do you notice first? 

colours, mood, eyes, hands.

33. Regarding backgrounds, what is your method of making it easier to draw? 

pick your favourite textured brush, find a good reference for mood and colour scheme, zoom out, squint your eyes and start slapping colours like mad. You’d be amazed at how much you’ll be able to achieve in 30 minutes with this approach. Bare white background is the enemy - destroy it! >:)

34. What colour coordinations do you like? 

Gray or brown as a main colour and then deep, earthy, saturated colours to complement the main one. Pink and orange is the combination I strangely enjoy using lately too.

35. What character did you last draw? Fenris and Eris :)

36. Does your style change easily? 

I don’t think so. More like it’s evolving slowly into something more serious and deliberate.

37. What part of drawing do you pay most attention to? 

Facial expression, body movement, mood and light effects. Not so much the composition and framing, he he.

38. How do you feel about drawing adult art? 

Tbh, I don’t consider straight up porn to be ‘adult’ exactly. To me adult art means aiming towards serious topics, exploring complex emotions and ideas, being honest with your viewer. I did doodle a few more steamy sketches of my OTP just to see if I could, but it was definitely a tongue-in-cheek kind of a artwork that I don’t take seriously.

39. Do you like criticism from others? 

If it’s friendly and in done in private - I welcome it always.

40. How many people do you normally draw per artwork? 

1 or 2. Rarely more. Crowded battle scenes are definitely not my thing :D

This was fun! Tagging forward to @shayafury​ @schoute​ @stella-minerva​ @nug-juggler​ @kallielef​ and anyone else wishing to go through such a long questionnaire!

#artist meme #art questions #art style #lethendralis rambles #my art

[whatiwillsay]

DA1

DA1: me, sir

boston

detroit

allergic

paris

swiftly falling

happy birthday

#dateme, #fuckme (#youfuckedmeover)

red lips

the oil lamp

a very merry unbirthday

—

The title of this album (me, sir) is based on the name of Dianna’s secret tumblr and Instagram (whosirmesir). It is a lyric of “swiftly falling.”

“boston” is a song reminiscing about the good days of Achele. Sonically, it is reminiscent of “gold rush” and “Green Light” by Lorde. (Fun fact! Both of those songs actually change into the mixolydian mode during the chorus, tricking us into thinking it’s a key change. “boston” does the same thing for its bride, which is more specifically about how Dianna felt like Lea was slipping through her fingers like sand when it came to Monchele.) The title is based off the trip Achele took to Boston together.

“detroit” is a “Wonderland”-esq and “I Know Places”-esq song about Shirtgate. It’s an angry pop song about Dianna’s frustrations with closeting. The title is based off the fact that Dianna had to skip the Detroit show of the Glee Tour after Shirtgate.

“allergic” is the song that I originally titled “allergic (to cats, and girls).” I changed the title to make it sound more mature and Dianna-y. The song is kind of jazzy, like that one live performance that you said is your favorite Dianna performance ever (I forget what it was though). The song opens with a jazzy piano riff that is largely the descending chromatic scale. The hook of the song is “I’m allergic to cats, and girls” and it sounds obviously playful and almost a bit mocking. This is a very queer coded song, as the entire time it sounds like Dianna is allergic to girls because they’re so beautiful that she falls hard and they end up breaking her heart. I chose this as a song title because they claimed that Dianna moved out of Lea’s apartment because she was allergic to the cat.

“paris” is a Rivergron song; the title is based on their trip to Paris together. It is slow and melancholic because it reflects on how much she loved Naya (primarily platonically) and how much she treasured her friendship with Naya. The song includes a lot of humming. Sonically, it sounds like if “The Best Day” was zero country and more so very emotionally mature jazzy/indie piece.

“swiftly falling” is what I previously titled “swiftly falling (down the rabbit hole).” The song is sonically reminiscent of “Style” and “Haunted.” In it, she addresses Taylor as a pronoun-less lover. It’s sort of like “Cruel Summer” in that it sounds like a happy song on the surface, but it’s actually secretly sad. The song has many references to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the bridge of this song, Dianna she sings “Who, sir? Me, sir!” in a cynically comical way. The context for that line is that it’s about Haylor: she’s sort of posing the rhetorical question “Who loves you, Taylor? I love you, Taylor; it’s not Harry who loves you!” Even though she knows that Taylor loves her and not Harry, that bridge conveys her insecurity because Taylor is spending so much time with him, and everybody on earth thinks that she loves him more than Dianna. (It’s sort of how Shawn said on that one episode that there’s a lot of polyamory in Hollywood because even if the relationship is just bearding, it still feels real because you spend so much time with that person.” The title also kind of mocks Haylor—since Taylor named a Dianna song “Style” (close to Harry’s last name), Dianna is including the word “swiftly” in the title of this song (close to Taylor’s last name).

“happy birthday” is the track I originally titled “shirley maclaine.” This song feels very cottagecore and sappy, like if “Love Story” met “seven.” The song is about the Shirley MacLaine’s Birthday event in which Dianna, Taylor, and a few of their friends at one point held up signs saying “Happy Birthday Shirley MacLaine.” I personally headcanon that this event was some sort of promise ceremony between them, so this song reflects on how in love they were back then. The lyrics at times are reminiscent of “New Year’s Day” because they talk about the strength of their love and how it offered them a sort of serenity. Unlike “swiftly falling,” this song is not secretly sad—maybe a little, but mostly it’s just a reflection on how in love she was back then. She’s sort of admiring how her past self let itself get lost in that youthful utopia of queer love. I chose to make the title “happy birthday” so as to play off of the title of the final track, and go along better with the cover art.

“#dateme, #fuckme (#youfuckedmeover)” is sonically reminiscent of “Better Than Revenge.” It’s petty, angry, and feels like something that Punk!Quinn with her pink hair (I think this happened in season 3 of Glee?) would’ve sung. It’s a fun song, the type that the audience loves to scream and jam out to at live concerts. Lyrically, it’s a bit similar to that unreleased Liz Huett song (I forget the title, but it’s the one you said you inquired about purchasing the rights to on that podcast ep about Tayliz). It’s about Taylor, but it does have traces of Lea. The title is based off the #DATEME tweet.

“red lips” is the track I originally titled “red lips (i miss).” It’s lyrically similar to “Style” in that it’s reflecting on how this relationship was almost like a movie pairing—it was that iconic. It’s about Taylor. The song is from a post-breakup perspective, where she’s gotten over the initial heartbreak but still has some lingering thoughts of What if… (similar to how Taylor said the person she wrote “Style” about could crash her wedding one day).  

“the oil lamp” is the “cowboy like me” response track. The title is based off the Moroccan oil lamp in the CLM lyric video. In it, Dianna sort of acknowledges that she’s a bit of a gold digger, but then she comes right back out at Taylor. Like hey, you’re out here calling me out for marrying rich men like Winston, but you’re out there profiting off songs like YNTCD while still closeted. It’s more respectful than “#dateme, #fuckme (#youfuckedmeover)” because the heartbreak is not raw, but the song’s tone is very frank. There are a few lyrics about how their love used to be like Eden (which is a parallel to the “gardens of Babylon” lyric). Sonically, the song has the vibe of a more acoustic and more casual “Talk” by Hozier. In order to get back at Taylor for using background vocals from Marcus Mumford, this song uses background vocals from Aaron Dresner.

“a very merry unbirthday” is the track I initially called “a happy unbirthday” (I changed the title so it is more consistent with the real lines of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland). The song is sonically and tonally reminiscent of “London Boy”—it’s a fluff piece for Filippo. What’s interesting is that the album is released on Filippo’s birthday. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, your unbirthday is any date that is not your birthday. So, Dianna should have released this album on literally any other day of the year if she wanted to give this song to Filippo as an unbirthday gift. So of course her lesbian fan base begins to speculate that the song is about a secret girlfriend, and within a week of the album’s release, we’ve narrowed down the list of possibilities to ummm……every woman not born on the album’s release day! :)

submission⬆️⬆️⬆️

these are all up on the bonus pod! now!

amazing job you won the contest!

#da1 #submission

[retvenkos]

Congratulations! Can i please have a 🔥 for Enola Holmes , the Maze runner and Percy Jackson/ Heroes of Olympus ship? Im a girl (17 years old) , bisexual , ENFP and a Gryffindor .I absolutely adore baking/cooking, skateboarding , photography and all kinds of art ( painting, theatre , music etc.).Im also into astrology and love reading about conspiracy theories and urban legends.🍪

I’m an extrovert with a pretty loud laugh , I love going to parties and telling jokes.Im also really protective of my friends and a loyal person ( the mom friend). I always stand by what i believe is right and defend anyone who needs it. Some of the things i dislike are coca cola , chihuahuas and close minded people. Hope thats enough , thank you in advance!🍪

Enola Holmes:

I ship you with Enola Holmes!

first of all, enfp’s are very independent, so you definitely need someone who will give you room to do your own thing while also being supportive and if that isn’t enola, then what is?

she 100% believes in autonomy while also being fairly practical - something that is needed if the two of you are going to be together.

i feel like you have so many interests and are pulled in so many directions, you need someone who can keep up with you as well as catch your eye - and enola holmes has so much going on at all times, it will always be a romp, hanging out with her.

furthermore, enola has probably dabbled in the majority of your interests, so she will either do them with you, try them out, or just watch you (because let’s be real here - enola on a skateboard in a modern au? a disaster waiting to happen). 

i believe wholeheartedly that enola loves your conspiracy theories and urban legends, and who knows? maybe the two of you will set out to prove some of them. sherlock will say the two of you are wasting your time because he doesn’t believe in stuff like that, and while enola may not believe in all of them, she would still listen to you ramble.

enola loves the fire in you - the way you stand up for what you believe in and your utter enthusiasm for life. she’s constantly surrounded by her brothers who are pretty jaded, and she often needs someone to remind her that the future is up to her - that this world can be whatever she makes of it.

enola definitely appreciates your art - she’s probably terrible at it herself, seeing as she doesn’t have much patience - but she loves to look at yours and listen to you ramble about it

and while you both lack a some practicality when it comes to daily struggles like upkeep or what have you, you both work on it together, and it’s something the both of you will remind the other in passing

enola has taken to writing on sticky notes to remember to do things, and you give each other arbitrary rewards for having done those basic tasks.

or, maybe you will do some baking if enola consistently does the dishes and she will buy you film for your camera if you manage to get all the laundry done for the week.

you both are very passionate people, so i imagine there’s always a bit of chaos, but you are both very extroverted, fun-loving people, so it’s never obnoxious (to the two of you, anyway)

i imagine the two of you end up doing a lot of active things - like going on walks or going to strip malls and window shopping. you just like to do things that keep you in forward motion or do things that seem new and exciting.

TMR:

I ship you with Minho!

first of all, both of you are energetic, passionate people. both of you are constantly doing something, searching for a way out of the maze or a way to live just a bit better. the two of you would never give up on finding a way out, and no doubt that means the two of you end up convincing others not to give up, too.

and you both are willing to stand up for what you know is right, or for those people you believe in! you probably both end up advocating for the same person on occasion, and maybe that’s what first makes you both notice the other.

and at the little parties that the gladers have, you and minho are always in the thick of things, laughing and making jokes. it’s a way that the two of you are able to destress and pretend like things are normal.

on a few nights when you can’t sleep, you go out to look at the sky and think about what all of this means - the maze, the grievers, and everything else. you’re mind can go into overdrive, considering all of the different possibilities, but it feels good to have answers, even if they are fabricated.

one night, minho can’t sleep either, and he finds you. the two of you talk late into the night, about everything and everything, and the two of you swap conspiracies and talk about the few memories you have and what they could mean. mostly, both of you just remember fear.

and when you get emotional and your mind starts to race, minho is able to bring you back from the edge. he has a steadiness to him that isn’t found in many other places, and it’s comforting.

and in a modern au, minho would love to skateboard. he’s still a runner, mostly, but he’d go to skateparks with you and you would both be terrible at patching up scrapes and bruises, but you’d both have lots of fun

minho also probably has the best taste in music - he’s especially fond of the kind of music that just embodies teen angst - so the two of you would swap music all the time

ngl, minho probably dislikes chihuahua’s too... yappy dogs aren’t his style.

getting minho into the arts would be a laugh - he’d probably be most keen to photography - but he’d listen to you while you ramble about your art. he wouldn’t understand it, but he’d love that you love it.

i feel like your relationship would be high energy all the time, but you’d get deep talks in between your shenanigans - minho probably isn’t into opening up, so it’s a process.

PJO/HOO:

I ship you with Percy Jackson!

admittedly, i don’t remember much about pjo, so this might be a little rough.

i think percy needs someone with energy - someone who can keep up with him and his killer quests and manage to have fun of them

and we all know that percy is a skater boi so....

when percy learns that you bake and cook! he’s going to make some good food with you, teaching you the art that is blue food. it’s very sweet and the two of you are definitely messy bakers, but it’s more about the experience than the actual food, right?

i also feel like percy would appreciate your painting and photography! i feel like percy has these really emo moments™ that will hit him out of nowhere, and he’d probably experience a lot of those when looking at art. he just has time to look within himself, y’know?

he’d get all the feels from your work and would assure you that even though he’s crying, it’s really good! 

and something i think is important to your relationship is that you can get percy to relax. this man deserves a break, so the fact that you are able to get him to take some quiet, calm moments means everything. furthermore, you’re so observant! you can tell when the weight of the world is resting on his shoulders, and you are able to swoop in and give him a well deserved break.

you’re just like “let. percy. REST.” or that meme where it’s like *person a gets a papercut* person b: gods, hasn’t he been through enough?

and both of you are so loyal, i can just see your relationship working really well. percy deserves a protective significant other, and i 100% believe you could fill those shoes.

also, the fact that camp half-blood is probably the biggest conspiracy theory the world could ever fathom makes your interest in conspiracies all the more funny - you and percy both are trying to constantly prove theories because if chb exists, imagine how many others are real! and annabeth is sobbing because she just wants one (1) day without your shenanigans. 

also, ummm, percy is a slytherin and a slytherin x gryffindor relationship has so much potential for teasing and prank wars don’t @ me

take part in my 2.5k celebration

#2.5k celebration! #celebration #lxncelotships

[popwasabi]

Lockdown Lookback: Catching up on the past months’ Pop Culture

Aaaaannnd we’re back!

It’s amazing what a little pandemic can do to shake you out of your creative cobwebs but if we’re all going to die, I want to make sure all my pop cultural hot takes are up to date at least.

Many of us are already on lockdown and many major movies including “007,” “Black Widow” and ummm I guess “Mulan” are all getting pushed to the backburner as no one is leaving their God damn homes unless they’re told to!

(Didn’t realize the thing I wish I had more of in the apocalypse would be sweatpants...)

But there’s still plenty to talk about from the previous months and other hot topics I have been meaning to write about but just hadn’t found the time or energy for. Life has been hard I think for just about all of us these days thanks in no small part to this pandemic. For me personally, I’ve had two different vacations canceled because of the virus and currently working understaffed at my job which is considered essential. Not to mention my therapist is on call only at this time and both my martial arts schools have been suspended, so I can neither talk nor punch my feelings out of my system.

So, I might be just a LITTLE on edge at the moment.

(My internal monologue for most of these past few weeks, more broadly years...)

Anyways, I digress, you come here because you like to read my highly unprofessional takes on pop culture and genuinely to those who have cheered me on from the beginning thanks, you guys are my prime motivators. But anyways let’s talk about all the shit I was supposed to write about these last two and a half months.

 “Birds of Prey” was a hot, but needed, mess

Earlier last month I got to see the sort of sequel to the much-maligned “Suicide Squad” in “Birds of Prey and the…waaaay too long of a title for me write here.” I had cautious optimism for it because it looked strange and off the beaten path of most comic book movies and seemed to promise at the very least a fun time at the theater but it’s still also a DCEU movie so the floor was pretty low on its possible quality as well.

In the end, the movie is kind of bit of everything; the best and worst parts of the DCEU. 

In terms of the good, it’s definitely outside the box, a sort of fem Deadpool first person story as told frenetically by Harley herself. Margot Robbie is, of course, still quite great at this role and you can tell she’s having a blast as this character. The humor is mostly good and visually the bright colors and cinematography pops on each screen and on that front there isn’t much to complain about.

But as a DCEU movie it does suffer from some narrative imbalance partially due to it’s psycho storyteller but mostly, and more than likely, due to corporate editing that probably axed an entire dance number that I was honestly looking forward to from the trailers.

(Seriously, I actually wanted to see the full unedited version of whatever hell this ended up being.)

It’s definitely in the “could’ve been better” camp of comic book movies but you know what? I’m still glad it exists. You know why? Because comic book movies dominate our blockbuster culture right now and if the genre wants to survive, at least artistically, it needs some outside the box films like this. I HATED “Joker” but I appreciate that it opened the door for stranger, more unique takes on a genre that is getting increasingly more stale. This movie falls into that unique category too.

(Also, to all the faux-intellectuals and alt-right nerds making a culture war out of “Sonic” vs “Birds of Prey” *kindly* reevaluate your lives please...)

We’re at the point now where comic book movies should be getting weirder, not more formulaic, and that means swinging for the fences even if a couple don’t quite make it out of the ballpark. If it takes a few not so stellar takes on the genre for Hollywood to greenlight a truly fantastic one I’m all for it.

In any case “Birds of Prey” doesn’t quite end nor continue the DCEU’s recent hot streak but it is enjoyable enough to where I would be more than open to a sequel. It’s worth a watch.

 The Mandalorian and The Witcher: Two shows about violent mercenaries and fatherhood

Both these shows are old news at this point, but I did want to talk a little about both for a bit if you would have me.

First, “The Mandalorian” which was Disney+’s flagship production to begin its streaming chapter late last year is definitely a more than welcome addition to the galaxy far, far away. It’s pretty easy to feel fairly jaded about Star Wars these days given how flat the new trilogy ended but for what it’s worth “The Mandalorian” was a good mix of nostalgia bait and something new and interesting for fans to chew on. Its production value is obviously top-notch, no doubt because of all the Disney money pumped into it, it’s well-acted and thrilling and fun from start to finish. It plays heavily on the genres that influenced the series, primarily westerns and old samurai flicks, and fans of those will certainly enjoy the homages to them all.

The series was something of a coming out party for Deborah Chow who directed two of the season 1’s best episodes. Her steady hand, eye for details and tributes to Asian cinema throughout really gave the series an extra kick at times and showed how Star Wars can evolve still. Chow is set to helm the upcoming “Kenobi” series and one can only hope that she *really* leans into the samurai genre for that show.

(Hopefully, there are some “Yojimbo” vibes in there somewhere...)

The Mandalorian’s best and worst parts though are its semi episodic nature making each episode easy to digest as a one-off but also lacking some narrative tension between each. It plays kind of like a Saturday Morning cartoon to both its benefit and detriment with bite-size easy to digest plots and dialogue for the viewers but not offering a ton of depth beyond that.

The Mandalorian himself is also kind of a Gary Stu. His armor is basically impenetrable and far and away the best killer onscreen typically, making more than a few action scenes lack real stakes and tension. Baby Yoda certainly helps at times to make him more vulnerable and puts him in precarious positions plenty of times but outside a few moments (mainly episode 2 and to a lesser extend the final episode) he’s just a little too overpowered to be a more interesting character.

But this show and frankly the Star Wars series as a whole is meant for kids, no matter what the neckbeards try to tell you (violence =/= adult), and that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. Plenty of kids productions can be both great and even sophisticated and while I wouldn’t say “The Mandalorian” is either of those it’s a good and fun kids show for the fans.

(And yes I’m aware that the books, some comics, and games have touched on more adult stuff, you weirdos. But how would you describe the overall tone and presumptive audience of the movies and TV series as a whole, guys??)

As far as “The Witcher” goes it also has a bit of an episodic style to it as well with an overarching, albeit, convoluted story that runs parallel to it. The first 3-4ish episodes can be classified as a quasi “Game of Thrones” clone leaning perhaps a little too heavily into the tropes of that series. Once the series finally starts leaning into its real identity, a dry-witted hack and slash fantasy, the series is much more consistent both tonally and narratively.

Henry Cavil is solid as Geralt of Rivia and the supporting cast of Joey Batey as Jaskier, Freya Allen as Ciri and even more so Anya Chalotra as Yennefer are all great in their respective roles delivering some great moments throughout the season.

(And lest you forget this earworm...)

“The Witcher’s” early season struggles keep it from being as tonally or narratively consistent as “The Mandalorian” but where the monster slayer beats the bounty hunter is that it has overall more compelling drama and has more to say, leaning much more heavily into the thematic greys of the plot. There are tons of problems with “The Witcher” on a story-telling level but you can definitely say it cares more about adding some depth in between the more pulpy aspects of the story which is something you can’t say as much for in “The Mandalorian.”

Of course, I’m partially overselling “The Witcher” a bit here, it’s not anywhere near “Game of Thrones” best (yet at least), and on the flipside one could argue that “The Mandalorian’s” more subtle sense of story-telling does its themes better. But when it comes down to these two shows you get somewhat similar story-telling ideas, mostly involving both characters and their smaller counterparts, in two very different genres with equally diverging conclusions to their respective seasons. 

(🎵 Toss an “Oof” to your Witcher...🎵)

All in all, they’re both good and worth a watch and I think they deserve a chance to evolve and hopefully showcase more of what they have to offer moving forward.

“Parasite” wins Best Picture! Many people have some hot takes, including the president...

Last month one of my favorite films of 2019 “Parasite” won Best Picture at the Oscars. It’s a movie that is becoming increasingly relevant as elites and celebrities alike are getting front of the line testing despite being asymptomatic in the middle of pandemic and think they can assuage our concerns and dread by poorly singing “Imagine” together within the comfort of their McMansions.

It’s about as a good time as any to revisit this movie, I mean where else are you going to go during this timeline, and at a later date I’ll write something more extensive about it eventually (hopefully) but first here’s a helpful video on one particular thing that came out after director Bong Joon Ho took home the night’s top honors:

 “Cats” is still a fever dream of madness

Back in late December, I watched “Cats” for science, as I had AMC A-List and a friend crazy enough to join me. I figured it would be bonkers and unlike anything I had seen before in the worst way but even then, I don’t think I was truly prepared for what I ended up seeing that fateful night.

I remember quite vividly going to the bar inside the theater and ordering a stiff drink beforehand to numb the pain and the bartender asking “So what are y’all watching tonight?” and beginning to laugh manically like an insane asylum patient at the innocuousness of the question. Walking into the theater was like that feeling you get before getting on a particularly scary-looking rollercoaster at Six Flags but instead of the pre-ride jitters eventually subsiding to the eventual fun and joy of the ride, only a deep sense of existential dread built up and sustained itself through what felt like six hours of the most baffling thing put to screen in front of my eyes ever.

(The music that played in my head as I exited the theater...)

Have any of you watched the Stanley Kubrick movie “Eyes Wide Shut” before? You know the scene when Tom Cruise is walking around in his mask observing the strange occult sex orgy going on around him at the mansion? That’s kind of what “Cats” felt like except way more terrifying, somehow MORE sexual, and definitely crazier.

(Is...this some type of...intepretative dance to summon an eldritch horror??)

There’s a voyeuristic terror that comes from sitting in that theater room as you watch bipedal humanoid looking felines dance to confusing songs about “Jelicle” cats (whatever the fuck that means) and all other manner of things that should NOT take human form throughout it’s near-endless runtime. A lot was made about Rebel Wilson and the disgusting roach people she consumes but NO ONE warned me about the frankly HORRIFYING mice children in the same scene!

(I am not perusing the internet to find that image again for y’all. I have enough nightmares each night...)

The saddest thing about the whole movie is everyone, save for Ian Mckellen who seemed to be acting as if a gun was pointing at him offscreen and Judi Dench who looked 100 percent like a geriatric in her digi fur, was giving the movie their fullest effort in what can only be described as a Titanic-sized level of hubris by all parties involved. This movie really needed a “Chaostician” involved in evaluating the production for studio heads and shareholders because there were definitely NOT enough people on this project wondering whether or not this film SHOULD exist...

(Dr. Ian Malcolm coming to Universal Pictures to access the film.)

What has “Cats” wrought upon this world? The universe has been clearly out of balance since this movie came out and while I’m not saying it’s director Tom Hooper’s fault, I’m not saying it isn’t either.

“Cats” is one of those things, much like The Matrix that cannot be simply described but must be seen to believe. It’s one of the worst things I have ever seen onscreen but with the right group of people and a few stiff drinks it’s certainly an experience you won’t forget. Consider it for your next Google Hangout during this apocalypse.

  Anyways, that about wraps up my thoughts on the last few months. Going to try to be more consistent going forward especially given how much more time I have now to write, for better and worse. But more importantly, just want to say stay safe y’all. It’s going to be a process to get through this and while things are more likely to get worse before they get better there will be a day when this all ends and some normalcy may yet return to our life but in order for us to get there we need to remain vigilant. 

So stay at home, wash your hands, and if you want to watch movies just order it online for now and we’ll just wait until aaaallll this blows over…hopefully.

Don’t panic...

#Coronavirus #covid-19 #Covid #Shaun of the Dead #Birds of Prey #Margot Robbie #sonic #dcu #dceu #DC comics #Comic books #comics #comic book movies #Marvel MCU #mcu films #MCU #witcher #the witcher #the mandalorian #henry cavill #Cats #cats mov #Cats film #pop culture #movie #film #review #jurassic park #Parasite #bong joon ho

[recentanimenews]

Why Akira Toriyama's Designs Were So Crucial To Chrono Trigger's Success

  If you're a fan of manga, anime, or video games, it's hard to avoid to the legacy of Akira Toriyama's work. Open any issue of Weekly Shonen Jump and you'll find countless examples of series being indebted to Toriyama's ground-breaking Dragon Ball. Catch any glimpse of anime on TV and you'll be reminded of the impact that Dragon Ball Z had in helping to expand anime's reach in the West. Look at any number of RPGs and you're likely to see attempts to recreate the style that Toriyama helped to establish in Dragon Quest, one of the most popular and influential video game series of all time. 

  Remember any level of Chrono Trigger, a game that is often praised as the best ever, and you'll recall Toriyama's iconic design work in his creatures and heroes. Chrono Trigger owes a ton of its success to Toriyama's creativity, and today, on the 25th anniversary of its release, I'm gonna explore that.

    But before we jump into the specifics of Chrono Trigger, it's important to ask this: What makes Akira Toriyama's designs so consistently iconic? Personally, I believe it's because Toriyama lets his art do the talking—you don't need to hear a character speak to immediately understand aspects of their personality. Goku's rounder muscles and shaggy black hair indicate a kind of goofy approachability, traits that are immediately shifted to unwavering intensity when those two aspects are flexed and straightened up, respectively. Meanwhile, Vegeta's unmistakable forehead and constant crossed expression show a being that's unable (or unwilling) to relax, a man that will take any opportunity to prove himself a warrior.

  All of Freeza's forms, from the grumpy little warlord sitting in his space chair, to the sleek tyrant with the long tail, display something alien and unsympathetic, someone unwilling to empathize with the humanity in others. Cell, with his broad shoulders and "crowned" head, suggests a need for dominance. It also doesn't hurt that all of these creations look great when moving—they were made for action, made to punch and kick and shoot lasers while shouting. But you don't need to confound yourself in trying to decipher why or what a Toriyama character is all about. The designs give plenty of hints.

    This all goes for the main cast of Chrono Trigger, a beloved assortment that is often the first thing I think of when I hear "classic RPG team." Take a look at Robo, whose rounded torso and bright eyes give a sense of curiosity that belies his metal makings. Or Frog, a swordsman who could easily be a simple joke character but is instead imbued with a kind of unique, funny stoicism. Or Ayla, whose long hair translates into a wild nature. All six of the main characters have these kinds of design attributes which make them identifiable. Decades after you play the game, you remember who they were and what they looked like. This is a far cry from the RPG characters that I often play as, which I usually recall as "ummm, thin guy with a sword" and "thin guy with a, ummm, larger sword."

  All of these playable characters fit in nicely amidst the backdrop of creatures, villains, and side characters. Magus feels like a traditional Toriyama antagonist/anti-hero. Belthasar, Melchior and Gaspar are great examples of Toriyama's underrated skill in drawing old dudes. Dalton is a perfect, simple jerk with his cape and eye patch. Ozzie feels straight out of King Piccolo's posse in the original Dragon Ball. Then there's my favorite, Azala, which continues Toriyama's penchant for being really good at drawing dinosaur-esque creatures.

    I think Toriyama's style is not only identifiable, but also a great glue that makes the time travel plot of the game more cohesive. There's a shared, likable sensibility among the characters, one that makes the game feel more whole even as the team travels to different eras. It's a familiarity that keeps the game from ever feeling overwhelming, and keeps the player focused. When the characters are together, you know you're at home.

  All of these designs give Chrono Trigger a confidence that is usually missing from games like it. It looks like a world where the rough edges and unwieldy options have been sanded off. The characters look like beings that you've loved for a long time, even if you're just meeting them. It feels classic and rustic and totally worth visiting in both 1995 and 2020. Chrono Trigger is a game that will be fun forever, not because it's somehow remarkably ahead of its time, but because it's got a flavor that's all its own. It doesn't need to compete with modern games, because there's still nothing else like it.

    And a lot of that is due to the guy who made Goku.

  What is your favorite design in Chrono Trigger? What is your favorite work of Akira Toriyama? Let me know in the comments!

  ---------------

  Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

  By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

[let-me-make-you-proud]

Tangled: The series Q&A with Chris and Ricky.

This is a recapitulation from today’s (July 1st, 2018) Questions and Answers sessions with Chris and Ricky on the Tangled Discord Server.

They did their Q&A sessions separately, so the first part of this post are from Chris session, while the second part is from Ricky’s session.

Chris’ session.

Q: Was any form of martial arts used as reference to Adira’s fighting style? A: Tt’s tough to keep her style consistent because our board teams rotate and so do the animators... you’ll see the style change a bit.

Q: I noticed that Rapunzel's new outfit is really reminiscent of Belle's blue-white dress in Beauty and the Beast, only more geared for the wear and tears of adventure and long distance traveling. Was that an intentional nod by any chance? A: Not intentional. We just wanted her to be a little more... flexible. Adventurous. We worked very hard on it.

Q: Where did the inspiration come from for Adira's outfit? A: Adria’s was very much Ben’s creation. I believe it’s very influenced by Korean costumes.

Q: How did you design her personality? A: Well, we wanted her to be intimidating, yet funny and quirky. We all have friends like that! She needed to have this feeling that.... You don’t know whether to trust her or not!!!

Q:  Does the caravan have an actual name? A: Ya know? It doesn’t! We just called it the caravan! 

Q: How do you decide on the perfect names for the characters you introduce?  A: I tend to spend a lot of time on names. They mean a lot to me. I pick some and the writers pick some. I can’t really discuss how we come up with them.

Q: Is it confirmed that Cassandra is 23 years old? A: No age’s are confirmed. Only Rapunzel.

Q: Who is one of your favorite characters to work on? A: Well, everyone knows I love Cass. She has my heart!!! Isn’t she just the coolest? I’d want her as a best friend!!

Ricky

Q: Who is Ricky? A: I am a writer on the show so I help come up with what happens in each episode/the overall series and write the scripts...so essentially what the characters say, do, etc.

Q: Is there a particular episode that's already aired that stands out as a favorite of yours? A: Fav episodes of mine are: Pascal's Story, Quest for Varian (I wrote those so I'm partial) and I have a lot of love for Return of Strongbow, Rapunzel's Enemy and In Like Flynn.

Q: My friend was wondering how to write for animation, it's one of the forms they can't wrap their mind around. Like how to go about it and little tips to remember. A: For one, writing for animation isn't all that different than writing for live action. We format our scripts in the same fashion (well, tangled scripts have their own style, but overall it's the same). There is a particular focus, at least for me, on writing visually compelling action lines/descriptions so that my work and intention is clear for the story artists. Live action may have a little less emphasis there. But overall it's the same concept.

Q: Are there any particular shows you cite as influence when writing for Tangled? A: Ummm... different things influence the different writers/Chris/Ben, etc. I am sure that many of the visual artists/designers/board artists are influenced by different shows like that.

Q: I remembering reading something that said that the story for Tangled The Series was all figured out, that even before the show started airing the idea for the ending was already figured out. A: Well... It is and it isn't. Meaning, there is are... We'll call them "goal posts" along the way that were established very early on and the challenge of the show is building stories in between that build to those and do those moments justice. It kind of goes like this: Touchstones/key moments of the series are established, then we map out each season with those in mind (think of it like you have pillars and then the season arc is the roof held up by those pillars).

Q: How do you go about writing female characters or do you simply just portray them as a character first without special attention to gender? A: We just do our best to get inside each character's head... Be they female or male or horse or chameleon... and then write their character as true to who they are as we possibly can. There is a lot of discussion in the room when breaking story about "would Rapunzel do X or Y" and after a while, the characters become second nature to us. I have spent as much time with Rapunzel as I did in high school....so you really get to know them.

Q: So you have a rough outline for the series and as you go you flesh out ideas? A: Yes. There are certain things that we've always known would happen. Like, with Varian, we mapped out which episodes in Season one he would appear in and how his character would progress (so, ep 3, 9, 13/14, 20-end). The specific "how" wasn't always there. That becomes part of the story. How do we get Varian from A to B in each episode so by the end he is no longer a cinammon roll.

Q: Which character do you personally enjoy writing for the most? A: My favorite is King Trevor. As far as the mains, I mean, IDK  it depends on the episode. I love writing Rapunzel when she loses her cool a little bit. I love writing Eugene quips, I love writing Cass snark.... it depends on what they're doing.

Q: I do like how it seems even what can be considered filler episodes progress the story and characters in some way. A: Yeah, filler episodes.... yeesh not a term we like haha. The thing about a series is that we are always building character or establishing something. So yes there are eps that don't talk about the rocks or feature the main villain, but they show where the characters are in their particular place and time. Also, if you look at the season as a whole, you'll see that it mirrors the movie in some ways. There are moments in the movie that are straight up silly and fun and then there are scenes that are all badass action and then there are sad, dark moments and our episodes are like that. Some are Rapunzel's enemy and they are silly and fun and some are Quest where they are super dark

Q: Who is your least favorite character to write for? A: Hopefully this isn't a cop out, but I don't really have one. Like, I might say King Frederic in the first half of season 1, but then In Like Flynn comes around and it's so fun to lean into how much of a square he can be.

Q: How excited were you to finally introduce fans to the mysterious Baron? A: We were super psyched to finally get to use the Baron.

Q: Speaking of the darker parts of the show, are there any surprising limitations in place at Disney as to how dark you can go? Some, I'd imagine are obvious (no swearing, explicit content)- but are there any that'd surprise people? A: There are things that Disney doesn't let us do, but usually they aren't with "dark" things. THey're usually with some phrase they don't like or something. Like I wrote a line in Quest for Varian where Eugene calls Owl a "cold blooded bird of prey" and even though he was actually joking about Cassandra, we got a note that they didn't want to deceive children into thinking that owls are cold blooded when they are in fact warm blooded. Stuff like that is surprising.

Q: What there ever a character or an idea that you liked but had to be changed or removed (At least in season 1)? A: Definitely. I am the worst in the room because I get super attached to a lot of ideas and stories and characters and when they don't happen I get feisty. One I will reveal/can talk about was in Pascal's story. There was more of Pascal's journey to the tower in there and I had a scene of Pascal seeing a long blonde braid and getting happy, thinking it was Rapunzel. But then it turns out to be this dandy/crappy minstrel whose story kind of mirrored what Pascal was going through and he sang about how his girlfriend left him and at first Pascal thought he found a buddy, but he quickly got super annoying so Pascal bailed. I really liked the minstrel. I was sad he didn't make it in. He was so silly.

Q: In Quest for Varian the line "We're gonna get squished!" was that a Disneyfied line or was Varian just being a dork? A: Ummm...the squished line I can't remember honestly. We wrote that episode 2 years ago so sometimes it's hard to remember where they all came from.

Q: In the movie Raps hides behind Eugene a lot, and now in the show I've been noticing recently it's Eugene who's hiding behind Rapunzel, and that kinda body language totally sticks out towards their development because it shows how much braver and stronger Raps has become and also how Eugene trusts Raps, isn't as totally hung up on his ego, and also knows there's someone who can and wants to protect him, so my question is, are moves like these written into the script or are they mostly storyboard choices? A: I would say that much of the credit for the staging of the shots goes to our awesome storyboard artists. Certainly, there are times where we might write something like "Rapunzel steps forward and draws her frying pan" but other times, it might not be so specific and just as we pay a lot of attention to how Raps would act, they do as well and they work so hard to bring that out.

Q: What did you think of him (Varian) when he was first thought out and how his story progressed? A: Well, when I first got there he was just a name on an index card. And his trajectory was roughly laid out in that he would start out a friend but end up a foe. I didn't think of him as a kid initially, that came from someone else (either Chris or Shane) and I remember being worried about making such a young kid a villain because...and this is going to sound weird, but I was like "Can we punch a 14 year old in the face? Because if he's a villain we might have to do that." So I was skeptical at first, honestly. But the more we got into how he behaved and how quirky he was he just became super fun and sweet and then he fit naturally into the world.

Q: Is there a certain line that stands out as a personal favorite for you that you've written for the show? A: There are certain lines. One of them is when Rapunzel blows up the tower and they ask her what she's doing and she says "Letting down my hair" because it was fun making that famous line into a badass line. And everything Eugene says when he gives Max the tour of the tower. And when Eugene is confused about Chutney I laugh because that is based on a guy that I saw in Target trying to explain chutney to one of the workers who didn't know what it was.

Q: If you could do a crossover with another Disney Show/Movie which one would you want to do? A: Hmmmm... I think Enchanted. Would be cool to see Rapunzel and Eugene get thrown into New York with a slightly more street-smart Giselle.Or to see them go to Andalasia .

Q: Why is it Eugene hasn't had issues with his near death death? A: Well, he has mentioned his near death. He brings it up in Pascal's story and then in quest he talks about it. I think Eugene isn't the kind of guy that holds onto things like that. Like he might hold on to emotional hurt, but I think he looks at that as one of many close calls (okay, probably the closest call) he's had throughout his life and now that it's behind him, he faces it with humor.

Q: If you could turn another Disney movie into a series which one would it be? A: If I could turn any Disney movie into a series it would be Incredibles.

Q: Is there any music genre that fans might be surprised to find Rapunzel liking if she were to hear it? A: Hmmm... I think Rapunzel is the kind of person that would be open to anything. It's hard to imagine her hearing something and NOT liking it or at least giving it a chance.

BONUS WITH RICKY

Comment: Dude, Eugene's tour to Max through the tower was so funny, hahaha. Ricky: They cut a line out of the tour, which I was sad about. It was something like "See this stain on the floor? That's my blood. Seriously look at all that blood! Oh, boy, I am a bleeder." Comment: I loved Eugene's comment about Max climbing Rapunzel's hair when they were escaping the tower. Ricky: Hahaha yeah sometimes Eugene has to call out the strangeness haha. All of that is kind of paying homage to the movie. Like when he says "YOu should know this is the strangest thing I've ever done!"

Comment: I know it won't happen in the show, but it's stuff like that that makes me wish we'd be able to see Sora from Kingdom Hearts appear in the show. Eugene would be a goldmine of meta commentary on all the bizarre shenanigans that come with everything pertaining to Kingdom Hearts. Ricky: And to the Kingdom Hearts mention, it would be fun to do a crossover like that, but we can't really do crossovers like that. Every now and then I try to throw in an obscure Disney name or reference and it always gets caught (sulks).

Comment: I loved Lance's line in today's episode about the bee pheromones being  on the table in a drinking  cup. Ricky: LOL yeah. That was Jeremy's line. Tonight was his first episode (he started in Season 2 so he's a "new" writer this season). Comment: When you say Jeremy do you mean Jeremy Jordan? Ricky: No I'm talking about Jeremy Shipp. Jeremy Jordan doesn't write, he just sings like a god damn angel.

Ricky: Fun facts about tonight's episode: the lady that called Raps a "Clod" was voiced by Eden Espinosa. Also the first version of the story had Quaid as an old, out of work actor that the gang dresses up as a Sheriff. And then of course, the story evolved from there and stuff.

Comment: About Eugene dying, I would think the reason that's not mentioned much it's because Eugene simply isn't the kind of person that would hold to that stuff (Since we already know the show doesn't shy away from those kind of topics, for example, the King still dealing with Rapunzel's kidnapping even though she's been home for months now, and Rapunzel still dealing with her first 18 years with Gothel). Like, the characters don't get magically better, they keep dealing with stuff even after everything is done, and I think that's really cool. Ricky: Yeah. We show that Rapunzel still holds on to stuff. And Eugene does too (you see in the movie he has some issues and changes his name as a result), but Eugene covers a lot of that stuff with humor and sarcasm.

#Tangled #Tangled the series #Rapunzel's Tangled adventure #Q&A #Tangled crew #Question & Answers #chris sonnenburg #ricky roxburgh #Rapunzel #Cassandra #Eugene #Varian #Adira #TTS #RTA #BTCW

[tarteggs]

it me Garfield

2, 4, 17, 22, and 23 👁

hello garfield i totally fell asleep last night and forgot to answer these my bad LMAOO 

2. what’s your favorite thing about your style

HMMMM i’d say..maybe line art??? it’s always something i’ve been kinda proud of because it took me SO LONG like literal years to get the hang of having super clean and precise lines BUT!!!! nowadays i’m having a lot more fun with messy loose lines so that’s my fav part even if i’m still workin on perfecting it lolll

4. favorite thing to draw

pretty wom woms <333 also fanart of characters i like. also women again. also shitposts and redraws sometimes because it entertains me and me only

17. what do you love getting compliments about

honestly man i just getting ANY compliments in general it makes me so happy SDKHKSHGK my fave ones tho r comments on my art style because i am still working very hard to craft a nice and consistent style so it’s reassuring ??? to hear that sometimes. i also enjoy the keysmashes

22. what inspires you

literally every single artist i follow HAHAH i can’t think of specifics at the top of my head rn tho lolll also sometimes songs i listen to ??? they just get me motivated to draw lol ummm also my mutuals and irl friends inspire me a lot as cliche as that sounds but i appreciate them a lot :] 

23. what’s something you hope people notice when looking at your art

I RLY LIKE MAKING DETAILED STUFF SO I LIKE WHEN PPL NOTICE THE SMALL THINGS KFGJHKSHGFSK other than that once again i am just happy ppl see my art at all akfdjkhfjk

#LONG REPLY MY BAD #i simply love to talk . #and i just have a bad habit of rambling lmao #ok i should make an ask tag too hang on #tartasks #cool ?????? cool

[kordeliiius]

Summer Anime 2018 First Impressions

It’s time for yet another round. Most of what I'll be watching from this season consists of stuff that’s new/I’ve never heard of, and while not everything on my list was 100% enticing at the start, there’s a lot to offer.

Notes:

This is being published late because different shows are starting at all different times this season, so I will be doing a “late” list for shows that are airing later in the season, rather than stuff I started late.

As usual, I won’t be doing impressions for anything continuing from last season. This consists of: Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi, Black Clover, Boku no Hero Academia Season 3

Added Chio’s School Road to the list

Hanebado - What can I say except for the fact that the production was OFF THE CHARTS?? The art in general was good, but it also had some incredibly well-crafted shots and the OP was something I could not stop marveling at. I feel like it could have done a better job at introducing us to the main characters right away, since I feel far from acquainted from them and often forgot their names, but I know we’re going to find out and it still feels like each one serves a purpose. I seldom watch any sports anime, but so far this one seems like a winner. It’s not too over the top and flashy, but it gets the job done by just being intense. I felt like the sweat was too much before realizing I’d rather have that than anime ASMR. For now, I don’t have much to say, I’m just sitting here waiting for the conclusion to the next epic match.

Angolmois - This show doesn’t seem to have much that I’m personally interested, but then again, Youjo Senki was a war anime and I ended up really liking it. What got me interested in the show were the characters, which I can’t say so much about this early in the series. I’m positive that all of them will have a time to shine at one point. At least I’ll learn a little bit about history through this show. So far, a lot of unfamiliar names were thrown at me, which was overwhelming, but in turn got me to do some research. I’m only sitting here wishing that this show will be entertaining, and that the rest of the animation was done in brushstrokes like in the OP.

Banana Fish - I’d never thought I’d see the day where Ayumu Murase voices a black kid who can fight and has the best damn animation out of everyone in the casual scenes. Okay now that I got that obscure thought out of the way, let’s move on the the actual content. I was scared of this show going in, considering how I felt when I read the synopsis and came across Ash’s *cough* job description, but so far it’s not a toooootally in-your-face kind of show. It did a good job of luring me in- a few plot elements to start, a good-looking art style, and then blew me away with a fight scene at the end. It was pretty impressive!  I’m also curious to see what sort of commentary this show could present, as well as a foreign perspective on violence in America, both from Eiji’s and the producers’ perspectives. Keep it up!

Chio’s School Road - Wow, I sure am glad I decided to check this one out. It was very funny and inventive with its antics. I will admit, for a first episode, it was tamer than what I perceived it as from the OP, but I'm having fun with it already. I also absolutely LOVE Chio’s voice, and she’s a rather standout character in my opinion. I just hope they don’t try to make her too much of a ““relatable”” character, since self-depreciation and social awkwardness are things I refrain from laughing at.

Angels of Death - A pretty neat first episode. The thing that stood out to me the most was Rachel’s narration/talking with herself. It’s very reminiscent of how the main character of an RPG (which Rachel is) who often narrates their experiences as they “check” their surroundings and voice their inner thoughts. I found the use of sound to be especially unique, and the ED sounded very interesting. I haven’t played the original game, but I can already infer that there’s gonna be plenty of references that og fans will enjoy. Lastly, I’m assuming the show’s characters will be mostly fodder, since the villain from this episode was rather a throwaway, but will be more about the escape room concept and the journey itself.

Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight - Ummm what an interesting turn of events that was!! I like the idea of an anime about the performing arts very much, because I used to be involved in them a lot myself. The last few minutes of the first episode were excellent and well-made, filled with both action and aesthetic, but the subs were practically distracting me from them both, so I might need to go back and experience it again. The voice acting was likable in my opinion, and I was very happy to discover that the music director also worked on Houseki and Yorimoi!! I feel like this could be something truly exciting.

Hataraku Saibou - I’m a sucker for personified analogies (something I’m sure many of you are aware of), which is why I decided to start watching this show. Even though this series’ analogy is more “human”-looking than how I would have designed it, the whole concept of cells and organs as a giant city is well-constructed, down to our main character who must have literally been born yesterday. The use of CG can be a liiiittle jarring at times, but when done right it works just fine. I don’t have much to say right now because the first episode really only scratches the surface of what we’ll be seeing, but BOY am I excited for what comes next.

High Score Girl - A rather impressive and funny first episode in my opinion! I don't know why I doubted it when it turned out to be rather decent. It was just enough to get to know our two main characters for instance. Like others who were looking forward to this show, I'm glad that they're integrating real video games into the story instead of creating cheap knockoffs. And while the animation isn't the best I've ever seen, it sure kept me hooked with the crazy facial expressions, overacting, and occasionally stretching the models, though some more movement would be nice. It's nothing revolutionary for CG anime, but it gives me hope.

See you guys again soon with the continuing and late impressions later this month!

#anime #seasonal anime #kei's anime list #anime review #first impressions #summer anime 2018 #hanebado #angolmois #angolmois: genkou kassenki #banana fish #chio's school road #angels of death #satsuriku no tenshi #shoujo kageki revue starlight #hataraku saibou #cells at work #high score girl #long post #kramblings

[the-sun-princess]

What are your strengths and weaknesses with art? :o

HO BOY

one that is probably both is my tendency to rarely think about what I’m doing. a strength because it means I start trying new things and don’t really get held back by the thought of “my art isn’t there yet” and just go ahead and start doing it. a weakness because I don’t usually start fiddling around to how I can plan this better and make it more dynamic until i’m waaay to far into the first idea and don’t want to start over

also my lines don’t really fall into either. just is what it is. 

Strengths: ummm. I think I’m fairly decent at anatomy and expressions, i can sketch pretty well and get things kinda flowy? my stuff has gotten a lot less stiff. I try to keep my character designs diverse in body and face shape, tho i could still do better. My variability in style for both coloring and lining allows me to get across a certain feeling better for comics and single pieces and I no longer feel frustrated my art isn’t “consistent” because everyone is still recognizable, so I can switch styles to hit emphasises better (i hope)

Weaknesses: COLORING and also backgrounds/settings. I haven’t worked on them until like last year so it’s behiiind even tho i’m trying. i SUCK at contrasts I never make my shadows darker like I should I just like bright colors too much so I’m really bad at making color palettes that have a good balance between bright and dark because my color theory knowledge is nonexistent;;;; I’m horrible at using negative space vs black to shape things. and I still need to work on angles and such when it comes to backgrounds. i don’t know how to draw furniture for shit, or buildings or anything because I just. Don’t. draw them. Just. Need to work on that more of backgrounds and understand how that stuff works.

but well

i really just keep trying. just have to keep trying and keep working at it. no use getting hung up on it. if it comes to be too frustrating switching what i’m doing or just stopping for the day is good until i’m ready to come back to it. gotta stop feeeling guilty about “putting it off” even if I lose my motivation for a while. there’s no shame in letting things sit for a year

#me #art related #*vague flailing* #it is what it is #yanghearted #ask

[littlethoughtsandfeelings]

The Bachelor Australia 2017 Recap – Episode 3

The girls are CASUALLY (and still standing, I might add. Get some more seating in there, already) gathered around the kitchen, agreeing it’s the group date episode. Simone throws down in her talking head, saying that she doesn’t like Leah (our Villain Number One).

Osher materialises (are we 100% sure at this point he’s not a wizard and this isn’t apparition?) with a date card, and tells the lucky (hmm, would we say lucky?) girl she has 15 minutes to get ready to add some URGENCY for NO REASON. 

The clue reads: “I am really drawn to your creative side.” A rivalry is set up in two seconds between the painter (sorry, there’s a painter there?) or Laura, the jewellery designer. Laura the jewellery designer wins. (Side note for the producers: you can’t expect us to care about a rivalry if you spend LITERALLY TWO SECONDS establishing it. It is pointless, easy fodder for the episode, and don’t think we don’t see that.)

Matty’s talking head says he’s had his eye on Laura since the red carpet, and we get a de-saturated flashback to remind us who she is (thank you for this. This is actually quite helpful).

Matty J comes to pick her up in a very small (she notes that it’s very small) boat. Laura’s wearing some kind of maxi skirt thing, and I’m just reminded that she’s had fifteen minutes to get ready. I have so many questions about this. What if she hadn’t shaved? What if her fake tan was uneven? What if her bikini was in the wash? 

They talk for twenty minutes about BOATS. LITERALLY I COUNTED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. If I were drinking, I would already be hospitalised for alcohol poisoning by now. So… let me get this straight. They’re taking a small boat to a… bigger boat? And this is exciting?

On the BOAT, Laura’s nervous-talking. After the self-described word vomit, they have the obligatory “how many people have you loved?” conversation. I’m not really sure what this is supposed to achieve, other than confirming that they are not, in fact, children.

Back at the mansion, a new date card arrives (do these apparate too? Osher, tell us your secrets!).

The clue reads: “A step back in time.” Ah, that’s right, it’s the Medieval Episode (side note: Didn’t they all eat haggis or blood pudding or something last year?). Some ladies are on it, basically all of them, so we’ll just talk about the important ones when (if) they make themselves known. 

Leah (Villain Number One) wants to be on the date. Wow. So content. Much interesting. Simone (her two episode long arch-enemy) gets the last place. Leah says that she hopes it’s competitive then. Jennifer, our Villain Number Two, says she didn’t want both of them to be on the date, at the “expense of [her] own safety”. What the fuck does she think is going to happen? Are the girls all given guns when they enter the mansion or something? I mean, I know they get vicious, but they’re not going to murder someone on national television, are they? (I mean hey, at this point, it would add some interest to this season. I’m dying of boredom so far).

Apparently Matty’s learnt from my criticism of last episode’s date, and this date with Laura doesn’t consist of just a boat ride, or even two boat rides. This time, he’s introduced… drawing. Of each other. Alright, I’ll bite.

The stumble upon two conveniently placed easels by the shore, and it’s revealed that Laura has experience of live drawing, as she is a strong independent woman with a Fine Arts degree. 

But, there’s a twist! Matty J has added a TIME LIMIT, because if the new media world of YouTube, etc. has taught us anything, it’s that CHALLENGES ARE FUN. He boasts about winning a drawing competition as a kid, and it’s actually nice to know that Matty hasn’t lost his personality this season, unlike other Bachelorette-contestants-turn-Bachelors *cough Richie cough*.

Matty jokes about drawing her lovingly, and this is set up very nicely for what we know will be a horrible picture.

Matty says, “The more I look at her, the more I realise that she’s completely and utterly beautiful.” Ummm… is this a compliment? It’s like, “I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I looked at her, the prettier she got.” It’s like when you’re buying a dress, and you’re like hmmm probably not my style, but then you can’t get it out of your head and go back to buy it anyway, and then it sits in your wardrobe forever, never being worn. What were we talking about?

So Laura reveals her drawing and it’s… um… interesting. Granted, it’s probably better than I could do, and no one said her major was in drawing… 

Matty reveals his drawing and it’s… I’m sorry, Matty. It’s hideous. They even have the big strings in the score underneath and it literally looks like a drawing by a serial killer.

They joke for a bit.

Matty: What tripped me up most was…

Laura: The face?

Matty: The face. 

They go to a SEXYTIME COUCH and have wine, because what is The Bachelor without a healthy dose of alcoholism?

Laura seems presently surprised that she likes Matty J (when do they get a chance to be like, “Nah, P.S. mate, I’m not feeling it”?) She’s biting her tongue, not metaphorically, literally, like between her teeth. Do guys think this is cute? This isn’t cute. 

HOLD THE PHONE. ARE THEY GOING TO KISS? SHE’S SPEECHLESS. HE LIKES HER. SHE LIKES HIM. JUST MAKE OUT ALREADY.

THEY’RE KISSINGGGGGGGGGGG AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. THEY’RE GOING TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE BABIES. HE CUPPED HER FACE. THERE’S A SUN FLARE. THEY’RE PANNING. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER. IT’S A LONG KISS. THEY’VE SEPARATED. OH NO, HE’S GOING BACK FOR SECONDS. AHHHHHHHH. 

He’s all shy and coy in the interview afterwards. He says he wanted to kiss Laura from the very first moment he saw her today. Look, she wasn’t one of my main picks, but, like with Matty J, she’s growing on me. He offers her a rose and she accepts. THEY MUSH AGAIN! (See last year’s recaps for explanations of this very scientific term.)

Right so after the ad break, we’re on the medieval date. (What, no Laura going back to the mansion with a rose and being interrogated? But that was such interesting television.)

Apparently, Matty spent five years in London (like every Australian under 30), and wanted to recreate the 1500s. Because this makes sense.

Osher says that Henry VIII had six wives, Matty squeezes in some chauvinism by saying, “My man!”, and therefore only six ladies (out of the twelve on the date) will have seats at the banquet with Matty. There’s also a rose ceremony later that night, which is apparently a bombshell dropped.

They put on costumes, and Matty is wearing pantaloons, which I am HERE FOR. 

Osher explains they will be doing typical activities of the time, so the girls get to look after the small animals around the farm. I guess it’s better than NOT exercising their right to vote, or NOT being institutionalised for having their period. 

The first mini competition is catching pigs. Yep. You read that right. Matty nominates helium balloon Cobie, ribbon dancer Akoulina, badass Simone, and Villain Number One, Leah, for this task (does he really know all their names? Or does Osher just whisper them to Matty out the side of his mouth?).

Osher warns them all NOT TO HURT THE PIGS. I REPEAT, DO NOT HURT THE PIGS.

Osher also says to not traumatise the piglets. Judging by the squealing, they are being traumatised every second of this horrendous experience.

Animal rights activism aside, Leah leads the charge, because apparently she’s a “country girl”. Cobie (who I swear wasn’t there two seconds ago) also gets a pig. Leah’s the first one through, and probably catches swine flu by kissing the piglets (jk I have no idea how it’s transmitted. In case you’re unaware, I am not a doctor).

Leah and Cobie are through to the banquet; Akoulina and Simone are out. Leah makes a generic villainous comment about decapitating them, so that’s fun.

Lisa (one of my early picks) says she wants to win the next challenge to get the banquet with Matty. Breaking: Bachelor contestant wants to win Bachelor’s heart!

Anyway, the next challenge is a sack race, with Michelle, Lisa, and some other people. Matty breaks down the sack race for us, in terms of agility, stamina, and hand-eye coordination, in what is probably a television first. Then there’s also a ring toss, halfway through the sack race. I’m pretty sure this is an exact historical representation. Belinda (who? Ah, the “love coach”) and Lisa get through.

The next game is that ancient game of soccer, with Elora, etc. They’re shoving each other, and they’re ruthless. I hate sports at the best of times, but if I was in this situation, I would politely curtsey right the f out of there.

Some more people get through, and they leave for the banquet.

At the banquet, Matty wants some goss about the dynamics in the house. Villain Number One says that it’s a bit shakey, and that maybe it’s the mother instinct in her, but she takes the feelings of others to heart. You may have thought I’d embellished that, but no. That was all her.

The other girls at the banquet are predictably unhappy about this, and wanting to get the heck out of there, Matty asks Alix (the body painter one) for some one-on-one time.

She decides to use this precious alone time with Matty to… ask about his family. ALIX DO YOUR RESEARCH, BABE. Interestingly though, Matty reveals he’s the middle child of five. Did we know this before? If not, that. explains. everything.

Leah is bored at the banquet because none of her evil-squad is there (side note: “Evil Squad” could be a good name for an all-girl metal rock band. Or a group of spiders. You know, either or).  

Leah eggs on Elise (who? Oh, another montage girl) to interrupt Matty’s time with Alix. Yes, it is definitely her decision and not chosen by the producers.

Elise says, “Are you guys finished or do you want a bit more time?” And Alix replies, “No, you can jump in, babe”. See, this is how you do it. Friendship! Happiness! Respect!

But then two seconds later Leah gets the shits and goes to interrupt. THIS IS DEFINITELY ALL HER IDEA. She describes herself as a “strawberry shortcake”, which I CAN actually buy as her idea. 

Elise returns to the banquet with her tail between her legs, and the girls at the table are all upset for her. Lisa thinks Leah likes the attention. Um, you reckon?

Leah talks about her mum, and turns on the waterworks. She actually says, “I care too much, it’s just who I am” and I’m pretty sure I vomited in my mouth.

Matty offers a hug and she takes it. He says, “I’m glad you’re here for the right reasons” to which Leah replies, “I think so.” At this point, do they just want to turn to camera and wink?

See, here’s the problem with this. They’re trying to recreate someone as iconic as Laurina. But the thing with Laurina, is that I’m utterly convinced she didn’t need any encouragement from the producers. “Dirty street pie” was all natural. It’s different when they have someone who says in a robotic voice (almost as if reading from a script), “Now I shall be mean”, and then goes and does something mean. I feel like they think it’s going to get them more ratings, or that people will be bored without this contrived bullshit, but I’m not buying that. No one actually thinks this is real, right? So, producers: Stop trying to make Laurina happen! It’s not going to happen. 

Anyway, back to the banquet, Matty reveals that he actually has a rose to give out tonight. His talking head explains that he’s seen a glimpse of a softer, more gentle side to this person, and that’s what he’s looking for in a partner. And then… 

Alix gets the rose! FUCK YEAH! GOOD JOB PRODUCERS! This is a perfect example of playing with audience expectations, and another example of Matty not taking any of their shit this year. Producers, how can I hate you and love you at the same time?

Rose Ceremony time!

They’re all still in their costumes, because the show wants to get as much use as possible out of their (presumably exorbitant) costume rental fee.

Osher reveals that only one (one? Really, Osh, there’s still a lot of dead weight here) lady will be going home.  

It’s down to Simone, the absolute best, and ribbon dancer Akoulina.  

Simone gets chosen (FUCK YEAH!) and even gets a cuddle from her bestie, Elora.

Farewell, Akoulina. May you continue to dance forever.

Next Episode: THERE’S A LIFE-SIZE BOARD GAME OF MATTY. F YES I AM INTO THIS SO MUCH. HE LOVES GAMES. I LOVE GAMES. WHERE IS COBIE?

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