The-Swain's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[- The Nail -]

Would have been fine...if this were a comicportal.

I know you can animate, rtil, but why the picture collage? A series of still images set to someone else's music with script to replace any spoken dialogue. And yet again, ANOTHER cartoon about someone else's character? Come on, you're better than that. I mean, the only difference I see between this cartoon and the traditional Foamy cartoons is that illwillpress actually animates his.

I don't imagine that this was supposed to provide deep, profound insight into the devilish workings of the Neurotically Yours series, but to offer a casual cartoon about how much it sucks. But even so, most everyone hates Foamy anyway, so why the statement? Whose minds were you trying to change? Come to think of it, you've now contributed to the Neurotically Yours page on this website. Congratulations: you've made the series stronger. Mission accomplished?

-Swain

rtil responds:

I haven't made the series stronger. Every attack on Neurotically Yours has been successful in that it changes some people's minds or brings them to a revalation about where the series has been going all these years.

If you think about the title of the cartoon, maybe you'll figure out why I made it. It's part of a phrase.

I spent 3 days on this, and I didn't want to spend any more time on it. Simple as that. There is some animation in this, and while there are some still images it doesn't make up the entire cartoon. And by god I actually drew Foamy and Germaine in several different poses, something he never does.

But enough comparisons, it was a fun little side project. Typical newgrounds, though, everyone is taking this so seriously.

[Space Duck]

What a trip!

Wow Chris, that was really impressive. I saw the first part of this on your site, but all of it combined really does your animation talent some justice. You must have put a lot of work into those betweens, because the line clarity was awesome all the way throughout. And the song, it really made this truly phenomenal.

To anyone reading this review, go to Chris's site and check out his music. The Swain demands it!

Anyway, bravo my young Chris, bravo. See you on front page! Haha

-Swain

Sexual-Lobster responds:

thanks, swain! i wrote this song ages ago but it was too cheesy to use in anything before now, but the space duck demands cheesiness!

[Blockhead Tribute]

Awesome!

I've been working on a new Time-Squad-related project lately, and I usually don't visit the portal very often when I'm animating. HOWEVER, I 'm glad I did :)

I'm a modest guy, so I'm not gonna praise the cartoon for being a tribute to my little character. Instead, I'll tell you about how awesome I thought those sets were! Seeing Blockhead's living room in 3d was really fun (I noticed you used a later background, after the plant beside the couch has been destroyed). Honestly, I think I'll watch this submission from now on instead of my copy of Episode 1, which I'm already tired of :)

It was also totally accurate to the episode, down to the last grin. I personally thought it was well done. Hope to see this in the Blockhead collection soon!

-Swain

Phill64 responds:

What luck you have! to be the first to see it!

That sofa was a killer to build lol, i havn't destroyed the set yet because of how cool it looks! i can't bare to tear it down! I used your latest background because it showed the most area of the room + being high enough quality to print. Maybe I should have edited the plant, but i figured it didn't matter too much.

I'm glad you find it accurate! I was playing each part of the episode as i was taking the frames :)

I loved the series (obviously), I'm glad i could put some fun back into that old episode for you :)

[Bad Guys In Space]

Hey Chris, welcome back to the community!

I managed to catch your previous submission and hadn't expected you'd finally get this piece finished (let alone so quickly). I can imagine that the revival on your forums over the past 24 hour has been...legendary.

I'm impressed that you managed to keep the cartoon centered around the actual "Bad Guys" instead of the Green/Blue Guys. But you know, the strangest thing happened halfway through: I felt myself missing your trademark songs, diddies, and jingles. You've got talent for music, my friend, and although the first Bad Guys was devoid of it, I've been spoiled by your know-how. If there is anything I would have had done differently, it would have been to add a few more spacey songs of true Nosal caliber. One or two just wasn't enough to sate my appetite.

Anyway, glad you're still alive, Chris. Power to the people.

-Swain

ChrisNosal responds:

Not sure I'd call it quick. heh. I actually started this thing around January, or possibly late December. It was just on and off, mostly off for a while. Just needed people such as yourself to kick me in the ass. And I hope to keep things more regular now.

I'll keep the music in mind. I do enjoy making it.

Thanks.

[NG Assassin Ep3]

That was fun!

It's too bad Blockhead died in the last one, because the quality of your work has significantly improved and his death could have been that much more spectacular :D

You're a mouse drawer, right? Because while a tablet makes drawing lines easier, it doesn't grant the user style or fluidity, which you have both of. The character animations were simple but very effective.

Good luck on the next one, too!

-Swain

SirHappy666 responds:

"Introducing Tongs"

I was going to fetch blockhead back in this one, all covered in bandadges. but I was just so desperate to finish it that I totaly forgot. I dont think there is ever going to be a 4th one, but If there Is then blockhead is coming back as the saviour of Newgrounds :)

I did start using a Tablet for this one and It was easyer to do the main guy, and I really enjoyed making Little Foot dance, but its hard to get used to and I still use the mouse alot.

Ive really am a Huge Fan of Blockhead and I love it when he throws the raddish at the kid and I was amazed with
the quality of TIME SQUAD.

Thanks for taking the time to write a review

[Angry Dog]

The Sickening Dreams of Gooseman

Haha, oh my dear, sweet Chris, I am glad that you didn't stray too far from your original sense of humor. I wasn't sure what direction you had in mind for your new creation, but I am impressed. All that's missing now is a "greasy" moose bang-geek and then the cast will be complete. Oh yes, and a visit to "bat country".

And I wouldn't be surprised to discover that this series is actually a dream within the twisted mind of Gooseman.

Ah yes, and points for redeploying the Sexington vs McGovern fight scene tune.

Sexual-Lobster responds:

thanks swain! i'd LOVE to visit bat country but i'm afraid that would just make me a plagiarist.

ive been wanting to use that tune again for AGES!

[Too Many Drugs]

Zing! I'll be watching this one many more times.

Well, talk about coincidence on top of coincidence. I didn't know you'd put out your latest installment, you sneaky devil. Oh, what fortune doth hold for we who make senseless cartoons.

It's strange that your animated series always seems to take the comic of its origin and then run in a strange, different direction with it. I admit that I had my fingers crossed for a truly mighty battle scene as per the comic version, but Captain Planet put that idea to short work with his left and right fists of justice and recycling.

As always, a great addition to the fold. Gooseman strikes again; no single groin is safe.

-Swain

Sexual-Lobster responds:

hey swain, yeh i operate out of the shadows in the back of your mind woo! the power is yours!

[penndragon]

Tricky fun, and I liked it, too.

Haha, was that Frou Frou? Were you trying to slip a Frou Frou song by us? You rascal, you.

Not sure what all the combat was about, but sometimes you just have to fight a big dragon in some clouds. Yet I have this suspicion that you're a mouse-user, not a tablet-user, and if that's the case, then let me express my awe. Ok, I'm done expressing, but mouse use is still no easy task. If that's not the case, then you've still got a pretty original style that goes past simple anime.

My only advice would be to animate a few more of the "motionless" characters - don't reserve your talent just for the flashy combat! If you want to really pull people in, make them feel like everyone, not just the person throwing punches, is an important part of your world. Maybe a head-tilt here or a spin-around there; have them put their whole bodies into it instead of just animating a single part of the body (such as an arm) that is itself attached to a still image. Now, I'm not saying that you should fill the cartoon with immobile characters who just shift in place the whole time, but an hour or two of work on this can bring an already colorful world into absolute life.

-Swain

spacejelly responds:

yeah i use a mouse, she be a cruel mistress, but i cant get used to wacoms for drawing. maybe for painting though, sometimes i get tired of hearing myself click.
i dig what your saying about characters, its true, i could have put more life in the other characters. lots of times i'll see potential, and just do the bare minimum amount of work, you know? but i'll take that to heart, thanks.

-Gen

[Geek Test]

Haha, I liked it.

I admit that I didn't expect much when I saw only a white background at the onset. Then I began to fear that this was a loud-noise-while-something-jumps-at-the-screen Flash after the narrator asked me to stare at the red dot. I'm happy that it turned out to be better than that. Points for the trailing line with that cow comment.

On top of that, even though the recording quality was just a little below par, I still thought pretty highly of your voice acting. There was something subtly charming about it. Assuming, of course, that this isn't totally how you speak on a day-to-day basis, you were consistent with the character and didn't seem to waver.

I'm gonna have a look at your other cartoons now. Thanks for the laugh!

-Swain

Utterly-Moot responds:

:O... The_Swain enjoyed my animation! I'm honored!

[In Memory Of Elle]

Touching message, but mediocre Flash.

Don't get me wrong, I can see some talent in the animation regardless. It was smooth (minus the blatant transitions between each animation without any blending whatsoever). In fact, I think you did an overall good job, but I don't agree with giving out awesome scores for sympathy alone. I hope that everything turns out well for those who loved your friend, but my advice here is that you take your obvious talent and use it to create an engaging cartoon that draws people in of its own merit.

I'm probably just bitter because I'm so sick of hearing Gary Jules's ripoff of Tears for Fears in every emotionally-oriented cartoon. It was fun for a while, but it's been drawn out past its shelf life. I'd suggest a rarer song next time.

Good luck!
-Swain

Doodlebuggy responds:

*shrugs* it was her favorite song.