Score: 8

"Haha, I couldn't get over the Sims music."

submission: Bens Journey Through Life

date: May 3, 2006

But the setup was pretty interesting. I like a film about time, be it a quick run-through or a time-traveling marathon. The future portion seemed out out place - not bad, just out of place - but there's no doubt that you meant it that way.

All in all, I hope you ace the assignment. Bravo!

-Swain

Score: 10

"Bravo, and a sympathetic nod (for all the work)."

submission: rtil's trad animation '06

date: May 2, 2006

I try to fbf as much of my flash cartoons as I can stomach, but really, I'm not an animator. I'm a storyteller. I'm still in the midst of animating right now, and just seeing the amount of work you've done here makes me cringe. I can imagine the long months that you describe.

Also, I'm pleased with your choice of audio for the dialogue test. Strange pick, but anything from Back to the Future is still golden in my book.

-Swain

Score: 7

"A worthy few seconds of cartoon."

submission: Summer Passed Out

date: April 27, 2006

Summer Moved On has been one of my favorite '80s songs for some time now, and I knew the exact moment of the song you were talking about when I read your description. I'm not sure how I ran across this submission, but I'm glad I did. I was hoping to find a way to put this song into a future flash cartoon of mine, so let's you and I cross our fingers for it :)

-Swain

Score: 8

"Still enjoyed it."

submission: Primal War 7

date: April 26, 2006

Good work on the backgrounds this time around. Just that little added flare with the yellow glowing over-exposure really brings the viewer a step further into your world. On the downside, the light didn't really cast its color upon the characters or objects, so it kinda felt like they were dancing in front of a big bluescreen.

Looking forward to knowing the rest of the story!

-Swain

Score: 7

"Strange effect."

submission: Confession

date: April 21, 2006

Jesus, and I was enjoying this Grilled Stuffed Burrito, too. Now I'm depressed and I don't think I feel like finishing it. For making me sad, I have given you a score of 4. Don't spend it all in one place.

-Swain

Score: 9

"This cartoon is my new mistress."

submission: Intriguinglies

date: April 20, 2006

I admit that I don't know what I see in it, but I see something. It's one of those cartoons that you have to watch a second time just to be sure that you've actually watched it before at all. It was for me, anyway. I really thought the voice acting for the shopkeeper was perfect for the character, and the creep factor was very high without being too deliberate.

If you make another one, I'll buy you a beer.

-Swain

Score: 9

"What a delicious treat"

submission: TMNT: REBEL 3

date: April 12, 2006

Haha, I still don't understand.

-Swain

Score: 7

"Certes, I see promise."

submission: Bored Aliens Short 01

date: March 11, 2006

Every cartoon worth its salt has something particular about it that sets it above others. With this submission, I can say right away without faltering that it's how clean it is. I don't mean the content, you silly goose; I'm talking about the style. Little glitches bother me when I spot them, but I've watched this twice and haven't noticed any slips. Fastidiousness is a good trait for a serious cartoonist, methinks. And it helped that I had no idea what the hell was going on.

The negatives? When I say there shoulda' been more, I don't mean the length. It was a nicely packeged little piece given its brevity. A lesson I'm slowly learning for myself is in the value of ambient sounds and background music. If at any point in your cartoon you find yourself without something to listen to, then do something about it. It's not a matter of distracting the audience; real life is very loud. Right now I can pick out three little irritants resonating in my room, and by all rights it should be totally silent in here. These ambients add character, and character deepens the world you're creating.

-Swain

Score: 8

"What a delicious treasure."

submission: Stop Sign and Soy Sauce

date: March 9, 2006

Well, congrats on front page, A-dawg. I did a double-take when I noticed it up there.

Now, normally I'm skeptical about using JPG's in a Flash (even if I'm blatantly doing it myself), but I thought the application was really very funny, almost like a photo album taking you back to the "good ol' days". Also, the cartoon was wholly improved from your prototype; the little things I secretly wanted you to add or to tweak, you did anyway on your own. Bravo, you little mind-reader you.

Also, good choice of ending tune: my favorite Silvestri song from my favorite movie series. Great Scott!

-Swain

Score: 3

"Like taking credit for a "ColorByNumbers" picture."

submission: Sounds of CS

date: February 26, 2006

Why did the AWPer teamkill that guy like 20 times? They should have server-banned him.

Not totally bad. The fact that you plastered warnings all over that you didn't make the song shows your honest intentions, and if people are going to vote as though the song was yours, then hey, you warned 'em.

-Swain