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Post by Nova on Dec 14, 2016 16:59:10 GMT -5
So I feel like JS is trying to learn the site lore as fast as they can, and then making it very clear to the userbase "Hey, we learned all the site lore!"
Like, you know that feel when a corporation uses a meme correctly, because on the one hand, they used it correctly, but on the other hand you're still giving them the hairy eye because they're a corporation using memes? >_> That's how I feel when JS does site lore. And that's not remotely fair, and not equivalent, but it's still just how it makes me feel.
And on the other hand? It's actually genuinely nostalgic to see new material starring the cast of Cheat. Like that's kind of awesome. Yeah, you gotta give them credit for trying -- and I think it's cool to shed light on content that are typically forgotten nowadays, like Cheat. :3 It's definitely not as an eyesore as some corporations trying to incorporate memes though, some of that is terrible.
I have to say, I found today's animation hilarious cause probably not three days ago I was like "You know what, I'm going to play a couple rounds of Cheat for fun" and holy moly an animation on it a couple days later XD
Also, props for Little Timmy for studying all night and doing super well. I always felt bad for the little guy so I was really proud of him. <3 take that Spectre |
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Post by Duke Pikachu on Dec 15, 2016 0:25:55 GMT -5
Day 14 (Better Cheater) ANIMATION: Hm, it's an okay animation though I was suspecting a twist at some point. Like maybe after winning so much NP the Chia Police shows up and freezes Little Timmy in a block of ice via a ray gun.
GIFTS: Wearable and book, very nice. I want to note the contacts in particular for a funny thing about them and an idea it brings: on Jetsams they do nothing. It's not really Spectre's contacts but rather Jetsam contacts... and I have no idea why TNT hadn't thought of doing that sooner. Neopet body parts related wearables. wigs/caps, manes, contacts, wings, eyes, etc. based on Neopet body parts. I'd list examples but I started and there's just so many. Ooh, and and maybe they could have wearables that remove a certain body part, like invisibility coating for wings and tails.
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Post by doctortomoe on Dec 15, 2016 3:46:56 GMT -5
Is it just me, or do Armin's eyes not focus on the same spot? |
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Post by Kozma on Dec 15, 2016 4:46:57 GMT -5
When did Armin learn how to swim?
Ah, well. I think this might be my favorite advent animation of the JS era simply because it has Armin in it. <3 |
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Post by Huntress on Dec 15, 2016 7:39:55 GMT -5
So I feel like JS is trying to learn the site lore as fast as they can, and then making it very clear to the userbase "Hey, we learned all the site lore!"
Like, you know that feel when a corporation uses a meme correctly, because on the one hand, they used it correctly, but on the other hand you're still giving them the hairy eye because they're a corporation using memes? >_> That's how I feel when JS does site lore. And that's not remotely fair, and not equivalent, but it's still just how it makes me feel.
And on the other hand? It's actually genuinely nostalgic to see new material starring the cast of Cheat. Like that's kind of awesome. Aren't they kind of obligated - or at least perceived to be obligated - to learn all that site lore, though? I mean, they do run the site. I remember upwards of a year of constant complaints on this forum when they didn't get the lore right.
One interesting thing with this year's Advent Calendar in particular is that all animations are crazylong. They all tell a pretty lengthy story (and gods help you if you miss the Fir the first time around and have to rewatch all over again xP). Past Advent Calendars were a sort of mix-n-match of short clips with the occasional longer one thrown in, but now they're all basically the equivalent on NT comics with a plot and punchline and suchlike. Not sure if that's a sign of site management Trying Real Hard or just the next step in the constant Advent Calendar progress over the years.
ten years down the line: grimdark CGI action sequences yay =D |
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Post by Herdy on Dec 15, 2016 9:23:42 GMT -5
I think part of the length is due to the way they are telling the stories. Best example is probably the Tarla day - they repeat the first transaction part so much, with delays as well so that they make sure that we all see that yes, I see there is payment in that Vanda's hand. Yes, I see they got a bag. Oh, Tarla is happy. Oh, the Vanda is happy. Yes, I see that the Tuskaninny is paying, and oh yes, I can see that he got a bag. Oh, the Tuskaninny is happy. Oh, Tarla is happy. And oh yes... It feels to me like in the past we'd have just cut straight to the part with the Jetsam and gone from there. There have been good examples of length - like the Sloth vs. Space Faerie day. But we've also had a lot of fairly annoying padding just to make them look longer.
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Post by Huntress on Dec 15, 2016 10:12:40 GMT -5
Whut - the Tarla animation was exactly as long as it needed to be to tell that story. You establish the shop, you establish that there are customers, you have transactions with two before the Jetsam to show that there actually are multiple customers (three is minimum if you want to convey that idea) and then you get the culmination with the Jetsam. That's why I drew the parallel with NT comics; that's exactly how I would've drawn it as a comic, with a setup of transactions before the main storyline. And then kicked myself for it because that takes up at least two panels of pretty dense information and I r lazy bum who doesn't like extra work, but if you skip it and start with the Jetsam, it'd look really abrupt.
Which is why I can't find the time to draw comics any more xP The number of panels I consider optimal for delivering a simple punchline is something like five or six.
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Post by Komori on Dec 15, 2016 11:40:05 GMT -5
I agree with Huntress. These shorts don't really have extra padding per se, they just decide not to hide their reuses, for efficiency's sake. (TV animation reuses stuff all the time, but they just try to be better with hiding it. We've used the same fire animation through THREE seasons of three separate cartoon series. XD) I've been kinda' impressed with the length of stories they've decided to tell, even though it comes at the cost of less-polished assets than previous Advent Calendars.
As for today's items, does anyone know if that first item is a consumable? I kinda' don't want to lose it.
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Post by Zoey on Dec 15, 2016 12:01:08 GMT -5
I agree with Huntress. These shorts don't really have extra padding per se, they just decide not to hide their reuses, for efficiency's sake. (TV animation reuses stuff all the time, but they just try to be better with hiding it. We've used the same fire animation through THREE seasons of three separate cartoon series. XD) I've been kinda' impressed with the length of stories they've decided to tell, even though it comes at the cost of less-polished assets than previous Advent Calendars. As for today's items, does anyone know if that first item is a consumable? I kinda' don't want to lose it. The Maractite Gift Box gives you a book about Taelia and frozen foods (or something or other, can't remember).  |
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Post by Herdy on Dec 15, 2016 13:21:11 GMT -5
I disagree about the Tarla thing, personally. You could start with the Jetsam buying his first bag and the punchline would be exactly as effective because the audience is already familiar with the premise. And, like I mentioned, there's largely no need to show that Tarla's happy after each purchase either. JS have done good work this advent, though, there's no denying that.
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Post by Ian Wolf-Park on Dec 15, 2016 13:27:12 GMT -5
I'm curious as to why Dubloons were given out. I get it that it's a Krawk Island (and kudos for JSN for remembering Hannah's past as a barmaid), but it's rare that an existing item, 'Rod of Supernova' notwithstanding, is given out as a prize. |
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Post by Flutter on Dec 15, 2016 14:17:30 GMT -5
My giftbox gave me a Cup of Frozen Borovan. I would have appreciated the book XD
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Post by Breakingchains on Dec 15, 2016 14:23:02 GMT -5
Aren't they kind of obligated - or at least perceived to be obligated - to learn all that site lore, though? I mean, they do run the site. I remember upwards of a year of constant complaints on this forum when they didn't get the lore right. Yeah, you're correct, and I did acknowledge it's not fair for me to think that way.  The site is theirs and they have the freedom to work with everything that's ever been on it, but there's always this gut reaction. |
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Post by Herdy on Dec 15, 2016 14:34:27 GMT -5
I'm curious as to why Dubloons were given out. I get it that it's a Krawk Island (and kudos for JSN for remembering Hannah's past as a barmaid), but it's rare that an existing item, 'Rod of Supernova' notwithstanding, is given out as a prize. We've had years before where random codestones, and dubloons, have been included in prizes. Even paintbrushes, I seem to remember? |
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Post by CrimsonShroud on Dec 15, 2016 17:09:13 GMT -5
When did Armin learn how to swim?
Ah, well. I think this might be my favorite advent animation of the JS era simply because it has Armin in it. <3 Simple, Hannah taught him. That, or he learned by watching Hannah swim in their adventures throughout the Ice Caves. Speaking of which, I remember last year there was an animation that featured Armin along with several side characters from other plots. In regards to the animation, there is one thing that kind of bothered me: why did they give Hannah and Armin wrinkles under their eyes? Hannah I can understand as it's supposed to make her look like she's worked to the bone as a barmaid, but why give them to Armin? He's supposed to still be just a kid at this point (unless they're implying this animation takes place many years after the Ice Caves plot, which I doubt, since TNT did say that the advent calendar animations are practically non-canon.)
Also, Armin's weasel laugh at the end... |
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The site is theirs and they have the freedom to work with everything that's ever been on it, but there's always this gut reaction.
