There was a really obnoxious conversation about web 2.0 and MSPA-style webcomics and novelty storytelling gimmicks on an SA forum I sometimes read/post in and I was surprised no one referenced this really nice example of one done very well, but poop if I’m bringing that subject back up again, so for the sake of sharing a cool thing and not shitting up that thread with bullshit, I’m sharing it here.
Spiddrelli, which by the format of the website looks pretty MSPA-inspired, handles the animation and page progression differently. Starts with a voice-acted scene, “pages” are like motion comic panels and the progression from panel to panel based on clicking word balloons, parts of the scenery or prompts, and there are interactive segments. Feels like a point-and-click adventure game in places without any of the gameplay. I haven’t properly read it to have an opinion on it, but figured I’d be remiss to not drop a link to it as an example of interesting ways to do things, especially since the art in latter parts looks really nice and I like the character designs, and the animation is really nice and is the only comic done in this style that has a real grasp on pacing and mood. So far as I’ve read it I think it’s a really great example of this concept done not only well but really enjoyably, and thought it’d be worth sharing something positive and hopefully inspiring to people interested in this kinda of idea.
It is frankly the first comic/motion comic/whatever we’re gonna call it since MSPA and Hobo Lobo that I think actually feels like it completely benefits from its execution instead of being the same scene repeated over and over with the only animation being mouth-flapping and weird “i’m angry” shaking or what have you that hardly justifies something being animated at all.
Here’s all of the video smooshed together! Sorry the quality is pretty poo-poo for the first half, I’m still learning stuff! I cut out all the parts where I was talking and answering questions because you can’t hear it anyway.
The audio messed up, so instead of trying to preserve it I just aimed to speed everything up and trim it down so I could upload it in one part, cramming over several hours of work into 15 mins. I’ll get the quality sorted next time so the audio will be preserved, too, and post multiple parts.
(SORRY FOR ANY ADS THAT POP UP this is hosted on Ustream)
Video from a ustream session wherein I talk shop and about important subjects, like just how tired IS my butt????
All of the videos leading up to this recording are a little messed up in terms of audio, so this one kinda stands alone easier. So here’s the last 48 minutes of the Ustream/live stream from yesterday afternoon! I’m editing together some of the less clear recordings later.
So Dave Shabet took screenshots of his most recent page while he worked on it and … oh goodness, look at this thing. That’s a screenshot an hour at some points. I am constantly impressed by his pages. Dang, son.
So hey! Just a heads up, my bro Dave Shabet is taking pre-orders on Dead Winter Book 2. I own the first book and it is a tall, sleek, handsome book. In fact it’s so nice it’s single-handedly given me ideas about the printing of my own future LMN collection. It’s very much worth the investment, assuming you haven’t read it online before and don’t know that it’s a pretty rad, quality comic.
There’s also a sale going on at his store on the same website for the next 5 days, too. Check it out!
