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The Shadowland Prophesy
by mcc
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Run Hello
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Xaxxaxoxax
by mcc
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Run Hello
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Markov Space
by mcc
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Run Hello
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01/26/12 : Roxy: Break some glass.
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MS Paint Adventures
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01/26/12 : Roxy: Clear some space.
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MS Paint Adventures
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01/26/12 : Roxy: Break bottle.
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MS Paint Adventures
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01/26/12 : Roxy: Retrieve mutant kitten.
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MS Paint Adventures
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01/25/12 : Roxy: Take cat.
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MS Paint Adventures
From MS Paint Adventures:
• 01/26/12 : Roxy: Break some glass.
• 01/26/12 : Roxy: Clear some space.
• 01/26/12 : Roxy: Break bottle.
For a variety of reasons that aren't especially interesting, I won't be able to use work from one of the music team members. As such, I have disentangled some songs from a few existing animations, and have rescored those pages. I wish this artist the best of luck in whatever he chooses to take on next.
The silver lining is that in picking new music for the pages, I had the opportunity to match them up with pieces I've come to view as a better thematic fit for them. It's also pretty cool to see how new music affects the feel of the animations.
Here are a handful of the altered pages: 2722, 2733, 2880, 2926, 2970, 3620
These songs will be available in HS Volume 5, plus lots else. Which will be ready very soon!
To summarize: got help with art. New album at/near start of new act. New act on 6/12. Some interim updates before that.
New stuff:
Updated the map.
Looks like Moe has been lurching to life with new comics lately. Let's all go read it and develop a favorable opinion of Michael's work.
Earlier I mentioned I used artwork from contributors in the latest animation. These guys right here. A real fine bunch of artists. I recommend you check out the stuff they've got on their respective web catalogues.
Working with a bigger pool of people for a change was a lot of fun, and I am quite sure improved the final product. I'm still not sure exactly how much time the collaboration saved. Between orchestrating it all, prepping a million graphics and finagling with Flash for days straight, it's still a ton of work. I think the primary benefit here is it adds a lot of visual richness. Where before I would cut a lot of corners and recycle a lot more graphics, or just never even bother implementing certain scenes, this time I had quite a diversity of nice art assets to grab, and build the action around, and I think it paid off nicely. So thanks guys! Looking forward to next time.
Also, more about the song. Toby made this months ago in anticipation of some epic pandemonium going down on 4/13. Obviously that whole thing got delayed, and plans changed. But I always held on to it for EOA purposes and now here it is. What may be interesting for people to realize is how especially formative the song was to the action and story events in this page. It wasn't like I said "Hey Toby make this ridiculously awesome long ass song that switches up themes every 30 seconds or so, and also put a silly Squiddles interlude in there ok?" Nope, he just made it out of the blue, and I had months to think about how I'd adapt something to it. He didn't have the slightest idea what I'd do with it of course. But the result is this kind of odd musical storyboarding process. By composing the song he was sort of storyboarding the thing for me, or at least forcing my hand to address the musical themes at each step of the piece. The challenge was to pull everything together into a narrative that made sense, match the music switches, and cap off the act logically and compellingly within that prearranged structure. Constraints are a good thing. They invite creativity. I wouldn't want to be an absolute dictator on every facet of this project. I've never said, "Listen up guys I need a song and I need it to go EXACTLY like this." I tried to keep it pretty loose with the artists too. I just gave them some broad concepts to work with, and let them get creative with it. Some environments, some characters, etc. Practically no descriptions of specific events. They were as surprised as anyone else to see the outcome of the animation. They were probably surprised to see exactly to what extent I scribbled all over their nice drawings, setting them on fire and blasting holes in things.
Ok speaking of music, there's going to be a new album out soon. "But haven't there only been like three songs since the last one?" you say? Let me worry about that. There'll be plenty to listen to.
When? I'll probably spring it right around the launch of the next act.
When's the next act start? I was thinking of starting Act 5 on 6/12 to make some time to prepare some stuff, and take care of a few other things I guess. I'll probably slip some twixt-act updates in too. Not any sort of intermission though.
[S] Descend. Thanks to the great artists who contributed work to it. Made it go way smoother and look way better. Proper and thorough attribution to follow shortly. Thanks to Toby Radiation for Toby Radiation's enormously cool neverending song. Why won't it end?? Oh god.
Gonna type up a more proper news thing after I go to sleep.
As I slumber, I have no idea how hard this site is going to get hit. So HERE'S A MIRROR in case you need it.
Looks like a few days later than my projected date. Which is to say, as late as the beta was in getting to John's house! It is also as late as the beginning of the story itself, which if you recall, started with a misfire 3 days prior to 4/13/09. I try to make it so there is a reason for everything, even stupid things. In this case, even the simple tardiness of an animation project has become tangled up in Homestuck's lore! Let's all take a moment to ponder what this "means".
The good news is I'm no longer getting handcuffed by technical issues. I am now delayed merely because this thing is just really, really goddamn big.
I don't know if the RSS feed is going to pick up the update since I'm just swapping it out with that one. If you are an avid twitterist, you can follow me to know EXACTLY when the thing is up, at the EXACT moment I leisurely get around to tweeting about it.
It's going to be "late", but I felt like it was important to freeze this date in the archives, and then swap it out later. Some know the significance of that date. Probably most don't. I'll explain later.
Its tardiness is not even on account of the size of the thing (and it is pretty big!), but due to yet more computer problems. Actually it has been a bothersome slurry of computer problems, AND completely unrelated internet problems, which has been dragging at my progress and sapping my resolve. All I ask from my work environment is technically immaculate conditions. Without that I'm pretty much just another dude who never gets a damn thing done.
One day, the quality of my life will not predicate itself upon the optimal performance of an array of finicky machines. On this day I will have achieved PERFECTION.
edit:
I just wanted to provide you with a completely pointless update on the capabilities of Comcast's crack support staff. A Comcast support rep is empowered to do precisely these three things, and only these things:
1) Tell you to unplug your modem.
2) Tell you to plug your modem back in.
3) Dispatch a technician to your house, scheduled to arrive in one week.
I thought I'd offer just a tiny, succulent bite of the type of extremely productive behaviors which have supplanted my artistic endeavors as of late.
Let's all throw roses at Bowman's feet for his stirring cover of Trisha Yearwood's "How Do I live", and for his poignant vocals as well. Let us also cast floral arrangements at the good Mr. Smalley for shredding up his guitar something deliriously rudebrazen. NICE GUYS.
I got a new computer and was haggling with it over the last couple of days, getting annoyed by little things I'm not used to. But this animation was a good warmup for this machine before I take on the real EOA.
Going to shoot to have that done by 5/31. Which is cutting it pretty tight! We'll see if I can pull it off. But instead of going completely dark per usual I might sprinkle in an update here and there.That should keep you refreshing pretty hard. And here you were thinking you could relax. pfffff
Guys, let's read about Mark Twain.
Born 1835, Died 1910. Same years Halley's comet flew by.
His autobiography will finally be released just now.
In case it's not completely clear, please examine the date. Also, exhibit A, and exhibit B. (I never can be sure what people will or won't pick up on! Pardon me as I bludgeon you.)
Twain's a pretty fascinating guy. The fact that he was born and died on the years of Halley's comet is startling! Kind of like how Jefferson died on the 4th of July (But he was born on 4/13!!!) But where Jefferson merely belongs to America, Twain apparently belongs to... the universe???
Also as long as I'm yapping here are some more quanswers estioned.
edit: lest we forget, I threw the man under the bus on YouTube. Just so he didn't get too cocky.
UHHHHHHHH
edit: who made the sog? MM and , Xfac dumpass...
Posted, uh... I think 26 pages today, starting here. Was the kind of thing I felt like I had to post all at once, so it kept me busy drawing. Rather than the usual thing I do; draw a little, post a little, draw a little more, post a little more, all day. Just toying with you guys all day long like that, like a bastard. This website is my laser pointer and you are my brainless felines.
I wound up doing as much drawing for that static deluge as I tend to for an animation, but without all the animation stuff (EASIER!) Also I think I ruined a solid year's worth of perfectly good shipping with recent revelations. WHOOPSEE DAISEE
Anyway that's enough non-updating suspense. Next time I duck out it'll be on account of the real deal. Might go animation-dark early next week. Keep ya posted.