Score: 8

"a little disturbing, a little sad, but not bad"

submission: The Ugly Duck

date: August 8, 2006

I disagree with the last guy: this was just plain disturbing. A baby and little kid being beat up? kids in toilets? I feel really bad for the main guy, I mean he had a screwed up childhood and then he kills someone in a murderous rage. I can't deny feeling pleased that he stopped that guy from whaling on the baby, even if killing him was a little extreme. I can't really figure out why this is called 'The Ugly Duck'.
But overall, I liked this animation, as disturbing is not necessarily bad. I mean heck, look at 'salad fingers'. There was nice drawing/animation here, and it was all very smooth, and I liked the style in which it was drawn- it was esthetically unsettling itself. I'm not sure exactly sure what was being aimed at with this animation. I would definitely call it a serious short, but if you were to aim for humour I would recommend less childhood trauma. It is also not funny that the man clearly knows that he has done wrong by killing the guy and putting the baby in the toilet. (BTW, was he actually pooping on it? or simply hiding it in desperation? or smothering it? unclear)
I would definitely encourage the artist to keep posting, because there are no problems with storyline or actual animation.
Kudos! gets a four.

Score: 7

""I didn't kill her, you know..." harharhar"

submission: Patrick 2 - Blood

date: July 15, 2006

Not all that bad so far as this series goes, But I think it would have been funnier if the amount of blood had been 'Macbeth.'
gets 3.

Score: 5

"not bad, however alterations can be made..."

submission: TMNT: REBEL 5

date: July 12, 2006

While I think the animation in this short is pretty slick, I found it as a whole rather annoying. I don't know if it was the completely out-of-place classical music, the kind of stupid voices, or the complete randomness that set me off. Yes, yes, I KNOW it said in the beginning that it would be random, but there is good random (for instance, in forehead shavecut, also on ng) and poor random, like this. The trick is to make your randomness appear to be on purpose and somewhat organised, rather than appearing unable to keep to a storyline, or else simply lazy.
A few things, like getting rid of the classical music, or perhaps using blockhead for more than simply star appeal (or not using him at all) would greatly improve this animation. In future animations, try to keep away from having people repeat themselves "hey guys-look- its really shiny-look-hey guys" and saying COMPLETELY stupid things (ooleeeoeoeleo?)
overall, this has some possibly good material "I forgot how to walk" that wasn't quite properly developed, but isn't all that bad despite it's flaws. Gets a 3
PS: I must confess to being disappointed that blockhead didn't cause a single death, or at least completely wierd them out.

Score: 10

"White is the most beautiful of colours"

submission: Broken Saints CH 21 ACT 3

date: June 22, 2006

I reeally hope that they don't sail away to the island paradise until they have saved the world. We just can't do it on our own, you know. The beginning was quite long without any talking, but thankfully the artist managed this well by really giving us things to see and think about. The audience is forced to imagine how all the scenery out the window must appear to people like Oran, and Kamimura, and most of all Shandala. The use of shadows for strangers was effective.
I thought this section was beautiful, and was really emotional without being sappy. I actually did think Gabriel was dead, and in fact I didn't like him very much as he seemed a little patronizing. But whatever makes Shandala happy. I wonder what part gabriel will have to play in the comming chapters? Now I have to watch or lie awake all night wondering (argh!)
I find it monumental that the end screen was, for once, white (joyous!).
I think it well!
all my fives.

Score: 8

"YES tea equals saving a life!"

submission: Broken Saints CH 20 ACT 1

date: June 22, 2006

I found the first part with the shadow men a bit confusing at first, but now I think I get the gist of what evil plots they are up to. And I am now pretty certain that the men are Palmer and his father. BTW, was that comment about family ties and the Commander-in-thief a reference to old Dubya? The boot certainly fits.
I found the second part nothing exceptional (by broken saints standards) but it is these small parts that keep the story moving. I am very sad at how wasted poor Shandala looks, she looks almost as old as Kamimura. I found it rather sweet to see the four saints finally together, talking together over cups of tea (to which I am quite addicted.) And I am not worried by what Kamimura put in it, although calling it poison was a mistake in terminology. I can't wait to see the consequences, and if they are still mad at him after.
Tea makes everything better!
gets my fours

Score: 10

"How can they help her???????"

submission: Broken Saints CH 19 ACT 2

date: June 22, 2006

Oh.
My.
God.
I was NOT expecting that ending.
This chapter seemed good, normal, and everything seemed okay, except for learning what will happen if they remove the chip, it didn't seem that big a section. (The banter between the three was funny. "I am sitting between madness and sin" hehe) I mean, the new music was really good. It is half funny, half sad how Kamimura does not know what people expect from him, and gave them money to try to make them happy, like a little kid really. And it was so very sad when he reacted to the condition of the girls. But I had no idea what they would find when they opened the compartment.
All my fives for the big suprise!

Score: 9

"Talk about a den of iniquity..."

submission: Broken Saints CH 19 ACT 1

date: June 21, 2006

I really liked this one! I gave me a bit of a turn to see the red "mature" sign at the top before I saw it, but I found this far less disturbing than the one where Oran has the fight with those two sons-of-batches lieutenants. I thought this was quite funny, the prospect of Raimi taking a muslim soldier and an elderly priest to a strip club. I also thought the dialogue was quite witty, with Oran nattering at Kamimura. The portayal of the club was well done even by Broken saints standards. I'm glad this turned out the way it did, because it shows that
a) despite Oran's snide comments, they manage to function as a group
b)The plot is still moving along after such high-tension points as the fight between Oran and Kamimura, and there are still things to discover and do.
As for the tension between Oran and Kamimura, I hope that they can learn to accept each other like Oran did with Raimi, by finding some common ground, like their spirituality. Anyway, now I must find out what Raimi has planned for his former boss.
Gets my fives. Hot stuff!

Score: 10

"I was hoping they could play nice..."

submission: Broken Saints CH 18 ACT 2

date: June 21, 2006

Finally they meet! I found this section particularly well done. The conversation between Oran, Raimi and the vendor was realistic and well scripted, and the constant ripping off of posters gave it an even tempo and a sense of rhythm to the dialogue. I am also pleased to see the friendship developing between Raimi and Oran, in light of their shared experiences. I don't understand why Oran was so hostile towards Kamimura, I mean before he flipped out, but this cliff-hanger has left me antsy to see how everything is resolved in the next part.
many more thumbs than I possess up on this one.
This things are so damn addictive- I have to see the next one!

Score: 10

"We call them "Lef-tenants" here in canuckistan..."

submission: Broken Saints CH 12 ACT 2

date: June 20, 2006

Quite a bit more hard-core than the rest, but nothing unmanageable. Everything remains as cool as it has ever been in this series, and I am particularly impressed by the use of static images that allows for fighting-action scenes. It is easy to forget that no-one is actually moving (much).
I found the storytelling was very good in this section. Since each of these chapters centers around one of four people, it is easy to make those characters important to the viewer, but this really makes the additional characters compelling as well, if in a negative fashion. The fact that the two lieutenants are so hateable (I spent half of the movie thinking "Those @#$%ing assholes!") makes the audience really root for Oran, and enjoy their comeuppance.
This also helped to clear up the time period somewhat, for I was confused. The fact that there was a canadian soldier with them makes me think that this probably wasn't the current occupuation of Iraq, which I thought it might have been earlier. Now I'm pretty sure this is set in some future, imaginary war. This kind of makes the politics of the movie different, so if it IS in the future, we don't really know exactly what the armed forces are doing over there. It probably doesn't matter...
Anyway, gets all my 5s
Keep up the good work!

Score: 10

"why can't we all be friends?"

submission: Broken Saints CH 14 ACT 3

date: June 20, 2006

Awesome! Pity that Oran and Raimi don't get along, even though The US DID invade his country, and Raimi WAS being a pit of a jerk, he did save Oran's eyes after all. Here's hoping that Oran is more amicable towards Raimi after he gets better
Same awesome dialogue, plot, artwork, tension, music, etc as per usual.
Keep Rockin'!