Just a note.
I just wanted to take a second out to say how much I love animating. You know, when I released Metal Gear Awesome, and everyone was labeling me as “an animator” and I was catching a lot of flak for it considering MGA’s obvious lack of animation in any way, I denied that title pretty strongly.
You know, being an animator usually means you want to go work for Pixar or some studio and work on someone else’s projects… I don’t like JUST animating, I love telling jokes and creating characters. I love coloring and I love cleaning up, I love writing and tossing out ideas. I’m not strictly an animator, and when I say “I love animating,” I love the entire process.
I’m not claiming I’m any good, and I’m sure there are still people who don’t consider me to be a “real animator,” whatever that means. As far as I’m concerned, drawing two pictures and swapping them real quick qualifies you as an animator. The implications of your skill level or devotion is obvious in your work, and I think it’s silly to think that any of those implications should carry on into the term “animator.”
What is gained from being elitist about animating? Maybe someone is not as good at drawing, or animating anything, but perhaps there’s some good ideas there. Execution a little off, but intentions really good. We’re all human after all, your work may reflect some things about you but it’s still just work. As long as you’re not slicing babies in half, I’m cool with you. You can be elitist about animating but I feel like you’re missing out on a lot of possibilities. You know, great ideas or even just okay ideas. Anything can inspire you, and deciding whether or not you like something before you even know what it is just silly to me.
In short, I love creating. I hope to keep doing it for a long time.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I agree, half the work is in the ideas. I see some artwork that isnt all that mind-blowing o anything, but the application is tremendous. I think you dont give yourself enough credit though Ego, you’re quite a good animator. For many reasons one of the most popular in the Newgrounds community and such.
I’ll have to disagree about the sliced babies though, this is the pinnacle of comedy!
February 5th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Something I get a little irked about regarding people’s perception in animation, is that it’s as if it -has- to look gorgeous to the level of a Disney film or anything with a billion dollar budget. If anything I feel like that’s the definition of the “elitism” you’re talking about, and it extends far beyond just people who delve into animation themselves. Like even online, there are tons of incredible creators that come up with really interesting and unique ideas for cartoons that never get proper recognition because they don’t have the world’s greatest sensibility of animation. It’s like the viewship and peers -require- to be treated to top-notch visuals or they can’t be bothered to give two shits about any other type of brilliance that would be buried under there. It gets to be the same for animated works in real life too. That’s something I wish would change, but it shows no signs of stopping anytime this century.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:17 am
*JUMPING HIGH FIVE TO FREEZE FRAME*
February 6th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Mmmmm stuff to talk about yay.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:43 am
I don’t think it’s that certain people don’t think you are a real animator or not, rather that they take up and issue with the massive amounts of popularity you got on Newgrounds with a simplified style of drawing.
But those people don’t take into consideration all the other aspects that would go into one of your animations aside from the illustrations itself, I guess that shows some of the ignorance people can display online, but I’m sure you were aware of that already.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:00 am
you are a great animator, no matter what some people think ‘animator’ means
I am a 3D animator so yeah there are TONS of different processes involved in different types of animation, but its all still animation.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:20 am
I think, that what you do is awesome (I don’t know a better word), fantastic, maybe, and you’re very got at it, don’t be bothered about other people’s thinking. But I understand your point, just go on with your job, there will be always certain kind of people which will disagree with us, anyway, with our way of seeing the animations, the humour, and so on.
Take care, greeting from Spain / Germany, hahahaha.
February 6th, 2010 at 6:56 am
*is inspired*
February 6th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Yeh Ego, animation should be about the creativity, inspiration, dreaming and not about what the audience wants the whole time or what they expect.
art is the defined perception in which we think beyond the boundaries of the box set upon by humanity that entitles us to dream of beautiful worlds and to imagine what, can, or will happen.
man i love these little segment you type out, it’s soo fun to share ideals.
l8s dude!
February 6th, 2010 at 10:01 am
@Robert
your a 3d animator too?
sweet so am i; what program do you use?
mine (3ds max 2010)
l8s
February 6th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Yeah, I am just now getting flash and trying to work on it. Ive loved your stuff for awhile, thanks for making it, it makes me day sometimes. Now I know just how hard and time consuming flash is, I myself is making the simplist thing I could think of and its taking days! Good job on all of it, cant wait for the game, have fun with it!
February 6th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
you talk out of my soul. I hope i’m going to be such a great animator like you “Egoraptor”. And maybe i have anytime the honor to meet you or work witch you *dreaming*
February 6th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
True story is true.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:43 am
I think the thing about getting elitist about being an animator kind of hearkens back to a quote I once read, that I forget who said it. It went something like, “Academic politics is the fiercest kind of politics, because the stakes are so low.”
Well, animating, in America at least and probably in a lot of other parts of the world too, is looked down upon as a second-rate form of entertainment, suitable only for children and simpletons. This is probably why James Cameron got so bitchy about Avatar being classed as an animated film, even though, between the Na’Vi, the mecha, and Pandora (aka the place where I understand they spend most of the movie), even someone like me who’s never seen it can hazard the highly educated guess that it has more in common with the old Alice comedies than Titanic, in technical terms at least.
So, since we’re trafficking in something that is already considered to be worth less than any hill of beans you’d care to present, those who find value in it are desperate to validate themselves as much as possible. Which I guess means having incredibly exacting standards regarding what does and doesn’t constitute an animator which nevertheless are conveniently formulated to always include themselves.
That said, I really have a lot more in common with your particular viewpoint. I’m studying to be an animator of the go-to-a-studio-and-make-someone-else’s-movie variety, but I do like telling my own jokes and stories as well.
February 7th, 2010 at 6:01 am
I’ve always considered myself a writer/comedian first and an animator/visual artist second. Sounds like you’re pretty much the same way.
But yeah, the act of DIRECTING specifically, in my opinion, is the most fun part of the entire process. Coming up with ideas, planning things out, fantasizing about what the product is going to be like when it’s finished, etc. Animating is mostly just a means to an end. For me it can kind of become gruntwork sometimes, but I totally understand that some people enjoy it more than others.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:47 am
People would find faults even if we were grey blobs exactly the same with all the same skills. As long as your having fun, pretty much…DO WHAT YOU WANT CAUSE A PIRATE IS FREE!(burning women and raping houses isn’t really good though.)
Just passin’ by your doing gods work Arin.
February 7th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
well,egoraptor…you are a great animator,though i always wanted to try my hand at flash submissions but im poor so none for me lol,anyway thanks for doing what you do and i would love to see better things in the future….on AIM im narumarumi so yeah send me an IM wen you have a chance cause i would love to work with you and just be friends and stuff ^^
February 8th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I always thought what you did was great. mostly because you’ve found a balance for all the necessities by yourself. I actually started messing with Flash recently. Used a friends computer and can’t anymore. I actually hope I can get ahold of it again and continue working on it. I’ll get a computer to call my own some time. DAMN you economy!
Getting the characters down with those expressions that people just love to look at, and putting that animation and voice with it is just so much fun.
It’s loads of fun to bring everything together. Also, I doubt you mind, but I realized my little project is pretty similar to an awesome. Then again, awesomes are just quick sketches anyways.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Look at other types of animation like disney or nickelodeon they have more or less sold out to everything people dislike, only thing that has animators uncorrupted is the Internet.
Keep on chugging, Hanson!
February 9th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Dude your work is hilarious, seriosly ok brahhh!! lol, i know this is off topic but just wanted to give u serious props for yo sh*t B, just watched goku vending machine on youtube……OOOOOKKKKKKKkAyyyyy!!! LMAO!!!! keep up the good work popcorn playa
February 9th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
hi,um me again..sorry if im being a nuance! anyway um do you think you would ever release a drawing guide for those of us who cant draw?? thanks for doing what you do and i would love to see better things in the future….on AIM im narumarumi(again)so yeah send me an IM wen you have a chance cause i would love to work with you and just be friends and stuff….yeah anywho you can email me at poopcola7@yahoo.com or just hit me up on newgrounds…hope to hear from you soon!
February 10th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
You and Kirbopher have said something that so invigorating and inspiring. Take a look at Ralph Bakshi; he didn’t focus on the a/v quality, but wanted to make the story better and proved that animation wasn’t just kid crap. (That mindset being a result of Hanna-Barbera when they left MGM around ’58-’61.) Hell, Warner, Disney, and Fleischer used to include adult-market jokes to get adults to watch. As much as I like some of the stuff Disney did, Fleischer’s cartoons were better directed and written. The notion that animated cartoons are the aforementioned kid crap is a young and dying notion thanks to Wes Archer, Matt Groening, John Kricfalusi, Mike Judge, Peter Chung, Seth MacFarlane, and many others.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
um. your animations are awesome
when you start catching flak
that only means you’re doing something right
February 11th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Who cares what title you (or other people would) label yourself with. The one important thing is what you do is just as awesome as their title suggest.
Hello Egoraptor old buddy. Long time no see. Glad to see you’re still rocking the awesomeness after all this time! (’tis OmegaDez aka Dez aka Dez 26 aka Sakura *ugh*)
February 12th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Dude Dez! What’s happenin’ man!! Dude we haven’t talked in ages. It’s good to hear from you!!
February 12th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
yeah, fuck rtil
February 12th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I also hope you continue animating. Cos you are awesome.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Y’know.. I understand that you may not take my opinion seriously since I’m just one person but.. I was really looking forward to that one point in time where you said you were going to stop the “Awesome” series and go into thing that were much more serious! Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there was any part of the awesome series that I didn’t enjoy.. Aside from the Gears of War one. But that may have been because I didn’t like the game, but maybe not. Who knows?
I just have to say.. As popular as your awesome type of art is, I am more looking forward to your art and animation as a serious artist, where the main point doesn’t require a satiric or vulgar sense of humour.
You fan since the beginning, (of the awesome series on newgrounds, at least.)
Mari.
P.S: I wish you good luck in any of your future endeavours.
Please don’t ever stop until it becomes a burden to continue. (stop now if this applies to the present!)
February 13th, 2010 at 12:01 am
P.P.S: Even when your art and animation does, inevitably, come to an end.. Even though I’m sure that you already know, I’d like you to think about how many fans you really had. I’m sure there would be a large amount of people who would support you through thick and thin, through the good and (if it were possible that you did this type =P) bad. But also the ones who would think you were too over-rated.. And it’s always possible that this is true! (Be humble and agree with this, please, haha!)
But over-rated or under-rated, I’d have (and am still!) been here.
Godspeed.
February 13th, 2010 at 8:00 am
Long time fan, love the stuff and glad to see you’re moving on to have a whack at exactly what you want to do in life, pretty much identical to what I’m doing right now, which is working on an animated StarFox series. Check out the official site if you’re into that kinda thing. I’ll check back here often to see what other rad stuff you come up with.
February 13th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Oh wow sup Fredryk. Long time fan as well; I was watchin’ those videos of yours long ago wondering if I could be that funny on camera too haha.
February 14th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I slice babies in 3 pieces.
Are we still cool?
February 14th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Now that explayyyyyyins evrything!
February 15th, 2010 at 7:06 am
Animating is kinda fun, actually. Im discovering that now…
February 15th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I just want to say that no matter how people label you since your work is not great is awesome im from Nicaragua a lot of my friends loves your work some of them never heard about the awesome series but when i show it to them they just love it…so keep up the good work.
sorry if this commentary looks misplaced i dont know of other mean to tell how we appreciate your work.
sorry again for my english we speak spanish here.
Cheers from Nicaragua !!!
Saludos desde Nicaragua !!!
February 15th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
but what if you do slice babies in half?
February 18th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Nothing much is happening with the old Dez. Glad you still remember me in spite of your web celebrity status
I’d still love to chat again with you sometimes. Hit me up!
February 18th, 2010 at 2:01 am
World.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Word.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Regardless of which part of the process is your favorite, they are all important. The most memorable cartoons are based on solid storytelling, which is a combination of many things, not just the animation. The story is what makes or breaks any animation or any other art form for that matter. The voice acting, timing and animation are just wrapping that goes around the story, either enhancing or detracting from the original story. The best animation in the world won’t make up for a weak story.
I appreciate the fact that you do what makes you laugh. It ensures that people with a similar sense of humour will laugh with you. It’s not your responsibility to apologize to those who don’t enjoy your work.
Do what you like. Like what you do.
February 19th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
I think your a mighty fine animator sir! =D
By the way what programs and or hardware do you use to animate/ create artwork?
I’m just wondering because, I want to start doing more in depth artwork and animation as a creative hobby.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
wheres the porn D:<
February 21st, 2010 at 5:55 am
Gosh, this actually made me feel better about my serious lack of talent. I draw everything by hand (as i have TBS and not flash) and that shows.
Have you seen Sita Sings The Blues? I mean, it was done by 1 person, and still it manages to look really great, even if it’s not a mega-budget disney animation.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:18 am
So much for under two weeks. But it’s better to have something delayed for a while than having something that sucks forever.
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
haha i expected MGA3 to come out today SINCE IT MARKS THE 4th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MGA1 and 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MGA2!!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Same thing here dude. lets compare myself to your friend Ross O’donovan. We’re both Aussies, we both have diplomas in animation of sorts (he’s a diploma of screen, and i’m a diploma of digital animation) and we have the same taste in humour and drawing technique. The difference? He has had a world of expeirence that i will never have. Mainly due to his work on ‘Good Game’ with winning their animation competition, and his work with the Gamer Tonight series, and his work on the ‘There’s something about halo’ collabs, and his overall popularity with others. I’m still awaiting my chance to make an entrance into the animation scene, but between college and work, i never have any time to make something original.
Ross let me steal a gag of his for my brothers birthday flash, which is not that impressive now that i watch it.
anyway, sad emo signing out.
February 26th, 2010 at 11:10 am
And I just wanted to leave a note asking how long has it been since you’ve come out with something? Oh yeah, forever. Enjoy losing your fanbase, cause that’s exactly what’s gonna happen until you get off your lazy ass and actually come out with something. I used to love you man, but your lack of content has started to build a strong disappointment inside me and now I see that that’s all you are, a disappointment.
February 26th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Good things come to those who wait, asshole.
February 27th, 2010 at 2:06 am
From Egoraptor on Newgrounds:
“Mr. Literal will be released this weekend! GET READY FOR A NEW EGORAPTOR PRODUCTION!!! YEEEAAHHHHHHHHH.
(PS I like it and I think it’s funny I hope you do too)”
From me: Hooray!
February 28th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
You and me are pretty much on the same boat. Well, except for the fact that you actually have cartoons and work out and about.
But seriously, it makes me glad that you said all of that. Within these past few months of my senior year of highschool, I realized that not only do I like to draw, but I love to write and act as well. I also have my animation teacher phrasing me for my character concepts and ideas. And it makes me feel great knowing there are great people, such as yourself, who are into the same thing.
Though I’m not be pumping animations out like I wish I could right now, I don’t think I can ever stop creating, which gives me sort of a triumphant feeling. And I have to thank you for being such an inspiration. If it wasn’t for people like you, I wouldn’t know what I would want to do with my life. Probably something boring…like accounting.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:31 am
Weeee-eeeelll, ego… as you say, half the work’s in the talent… like with games that have smexy graphics but the gameplay sucks SHIT.
Playing stuff like the original doom has NO story and AWFUL graphics, but it’s fun as all hell. that was what the first mga was like. and look where it’s gotten you, MAH BOI. my animation’s not that much better (in fact mga2 animation blows my animation out of the water… don’t blame me I’m using paint and windows movie maker for chrissakes…)
also, you seem to not know what a pro animator is. they don’t have to be “good” at animation, they have to make a profit off it. Like professional sports, it’s not just for fun, there’s a cash prize or some sort of bargain for the winners. as soon as you made animation your job, you were officially a “pro”. good work son.
okay just in case ur interested, I’m focussing on school right now (GODDAMN GRADE 12) so my awesome cartoon won’t be out in for evaaaar but y’know…
you should make an awesome DOOM cartoon: “if this is the future… THEN WHERE IS THE FUCKING NIGHT VISION!?” *smashes flashlight*
also, I’m currently in a deal with an agent to get my book published!!! OMG METAL GEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAUUUUURRRR
I’m editing it right now… when I don’t have 5 simoultaneous assessment tasks due… -_-
also am working on my horror book… won’t tell you the title cuz someone will steal it lol.
byeeeeee
-Zodiac
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:17 am
okay. WOW. ANIMAL FAT. YOU ARE GOD. YOU DIED. YOU CAME HOME FROM WORK AND YOU MADE ANIMAL FAT AT WORK AND DIED.
GOD OF FLASH ANIMATION!!! X’D
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
and I shall challenge you in a random off. you may have outrandomed me, the king of random, with animal fat, and I tip my hat to you, sir. but this ISN’T OVER. NOT BY FAR…
I SHALL OUTRANDOM YOU YET!!!
March 9th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Hey Ego,
Also a longtime fan of your work. But I gotta say I’ve never seen anyone ever been an ‘elitist’ about being an animator. I’m currently going to school for 3D animation (and having a blast!) and I’ve met some of the best animators out there.(One of them even did work on Beauty and The Beast!) Though none of them ever talk about how good they are at animating, they talk about how to make a good story. Anyone can animate, but it takes something more to create something fun (or sad or whatever) that people will enjoy.
I gotta say you’re one of my inspirations and one of those people who help keep me motivated.
Keep up the good work man.
March 15th, 2010 at 1:32 am
In all honesty, I would watch this over some high quality piece of crap any day. It really is the content that makes me want to watch something. I get excited and all freakin’ giddy (gay word) when another piece of your work comes out but, if I had to watch Avatar or hear about it one more freaking time I am going to super glue my face to the inside of a toilet and flush it repeatedly over and over. Keep up the great work and I will be there to watch every damn thing you put out there.
-Hubie
March 17th, 2010 at 12:24 am
You are one of my favorite animators period, I love your work and you are an inspiration. I was wondering if you could email me some tips on animation because i’m working on my senior project for my English class and I’m supposed to get tips or views on my subject of choice which is animation. You are one of the best, i hope you respond to this. thank you for your amazing animations, they have certainly affected my life in a positive way.
-Razz
March 17th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Egoraptor you insipre meh!!! I draw myself but I am TERRIBLE at drawing things in the same place unfortunatly. TT_TT I really wanna animate something! I have all these characters and they’re confined to my comics in my sketch pads and the eyes of my friends. Most think I’m pretty funny but not half as funny as you. You crack up my entire group. Keep up the good work and send meh a few tips if possible my e-mail is Mooshi_Loves_Kakushi@yahoo.com
May 16th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
dude, a good film is a good film. your work is cult.
i am working on my animation “degree” (that still sounds ridiculous) right now and let me tell you – animators, both beginners and the old time pros – are not conceited. it is not in the spirit of the art. my friends and i always say that “animators dance at random” – to me, that sums us up pretty well. conceited animators are not animators – they are wannabe film-majors. and therefore lamos.
Also, just wanted to tell you that pretty much my entire department worships the Awesome series (i guess except for the film major wannabes… O.o), and sometimes we can carry entire conversations only using quotes from your anims. i don’t think we ever quote any Pixar movies…
I know my way around the classic principles of animation and i can throw together a good drawing, but what you do is above and beyond, and i admire you in every way possible.
just the bit where Snake’s eyebrows grow into orange trees should get an animation award.
to say in short:
hotness.
I wanna bang you. (platonically).
over and out.
August 25th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Ok, well written, but the guy above me lol. Ok, I forgot what I was going to say