ANIME MASCOT animation showdowns.

[chucky]

I think this forum should have a unique and entertaining, identifiable mascot to use to illustrate animation concepts and examples.

Like the Linux penguin Tux , the firefox you name the others.

We could share the built character and have sketch battles, like conceptart.orgs COW or Ten second club, we could have weekly or monthly animation showdowns.

It could be just me but Larry just doesn't do it it for me, for this although I'm sure he could be involved in any sketches.

I know we all have limited time on our hands but here goes....

This post is designed to provoke any kind of response , so feel free to shoot me down in flames- I can take it.

[knunk]

Good idea Chucky.
Not sure a lot of us would have too much time for animating stuff. But the mascot idea is good.

This is the kind of thing the AS team should back and sponser.

Prizes and stuff. A day nailed to the "RedWall" at the GK studio maybe?

[slowtiger]

I need an AS mascot like a hole in the head.

However, having something better than Larry for performing the tutorial tasks is a good idea. But think a bit further: what should this character be able to do? He must demonstrate not only the basic techniques but also some of the reoccuring tasks people ask about in the forum.

[chucky]

tiger, how you must suffer in this day and age.
Great suggestions knunk BTW , luv ya wurk.

So any ideas?
good points Slow, regarding abilities. Although I think props are good for interaction. The Mascot is like the clownish compare.
I think could perhaps have a two armed two legged structure but not necessarily human ( where's the fun in that?) It could have any number of other appendages , (or not) as long as it's up to tasks set for it in challenges.

The character ( Animan/Marbo/Switch/Vecta or whatever the name will be) could be regigged, rerigged, adjusted improved or altered to get certain feats of animation completed as long as it remains recognisable.


What about someone or something WITH a hole in it's head? - where it's marble used to be...

[Víctor Paredes]

What about someone or something WITH a hole in it's head? - where it's marble used to be...

thats why this is called Lostmarble?
sorry, I'm chilean and never understood what Lostmarble really means.
It's like became crazy or something like this?


I like the idea of an official puppet to show how to do certaing things, maybe we could have a contest of drawings (not anme files yet, just draws) so could choice what character would be more enjoyable and representative of AS skills (because we all agree that the pngs startup character is not...).

I'm thinking it actually has not to be just one anme file, we all could play with the concept, but maintaining it. for example, i have seen many of firefoxes, some cute, some manga, some with anger in them eyes... but they all, even different each other, are the official firefox and we recognize them.

it's a good idea, chucky.

[chucky]

All right. let's get this thing rockin'
I wish I had an idea already but I've got my thinking cap on.
Let's post our pics in this this thread as Selgin suggests.
This could be really cool- I can't wait to see some of the concepts.

whoohoo

[synthsin75]

That was fun! Not really an official sort of idea.

The AVI has a sound effect for the marble hitting the floor.

[chucky]

That's cool Synth reminds me of the residents eyeball man.


I don't know about my first crack,
Pretty cliched, obvious maybe and the drawing needs fixing.
He also might look a bit like cheese:?
What about a female mascot?
I'll have another look in the morning and see what else I can come up with.
Be great to see what better ideas everyone else has.

[jahnocli]

Selgin, an English phrase "to lose your marbles" is to go slightly mad. I don't know if that was the original idea behind Lost Marble, though!

[synthsin75]

Here's my serious entry. She's even rigged and shading masked. She's not setup to be very flexible though, so she's not a good example for learning (well except for the masking).

Maybe I'll do a little animation with her.



Here it is as a logo.

(Animellia?)

[toonertime]

nice work, synth!

[heyvern]

Great work Synth! I agree this is great work.

However... to be perfectly honest... uh... please take this in the spirit of having a character everyone would be happy with...

I am sick to death of short skirted cutsie anime girls. I know it's Anime Studio... but... it I never see another big eyed half naked cartoon Japanese teen... it will be too soon... <phew!> There I said it. Feels so good to get that off my chest.

Just being honest. Great work. Not impugning your talent in any way Synth. Many people are fans of anime. I would just prefer a more "generic" non-specific type of character for a mascot of this type.

I hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings or offend anyone. I can easily be out voted.

I LOVE Chucky's little guy.

-vern

[chucky]

Synth, I think you've necessarily brought up an interesting point with this character which is charming and cute but and I do agree with Vern regarding the stereotypical anime girls, they can be.. hhhhmmm.. a little creepy.
This is an idea that has crept into the common consciousness like an infection and instead of reinforcing the preconceptions, maybe this the time to subvert
them, let's not be a unwitting accomplice to this twist.
Anime is on of those words that has a few connotations that could be changed, it would be a challenge to do such a thing and I think here is the opportunity to help steer the anime bus a little.
Don't give up, Synth I think you've done a good thing by bringing this to the front, maybe she could be a older and more genuinely mischievous. It'd a funny thing as Anime is a word that already has some kind of branding so I think you've recognised this and in that regard made an appropriate response for our debate whereas my little dude has been an ignorant attempt and ignored ALL conventions, which I shall now try to rectify.
OK time for another blast at this. Good stuff all.
People could also post reference material ie. characters that already exist, (if copyright allows) to illustrate appropriate responses/angles to take with these designs.

[synthsin75]

Yeah I debated that a bit myself before I worked it up. I looked up Moho and found a bird by that name, but I just didn't think that'd be as fun as a person. It's hard to come up with something that has no good starting point. Perhaps I've provided that.

Everything I've seen as far as content for AS goes ranges from cartoon to japanime. Cartoon isn't really my strong suit so I went the other way. I'm not sure I'd put the effort into much more than that, because I always tend to make everything more complicated (realistic).

I guess you'd have to strike a fairly fine balance. That is, if you want a character that is both simple (or stylized) enough to work as a logo graphic, and can be elaborated on much as Slowtiger mentioned.

I kind of agree that I'd be great to have a replacement for Windsor.



If the urge strikes my again, I may work up something else.

[chucky]

Please do Synthsin , I think what you have done is great and yes, Animellia would be better to see than Windsor and without input like her our design process would be negligent.