Anime Talk: Vocaloids!

Posted on January 27, 2015 by | Comments Off on Anime Talk: Vocaloids!

On this edition of "Anime Talk" I want to discuss the phenomenon known as Vocaloids. Now I first learn of this 4 or 5 years ago, however browsing youtube today I stumbled across a couple videos by the Fine Brothers ( Elders React to Vocaloids and Kids react to Hatsune Miku ) that brought them back to my attention ( I will link to those videos at the end of this article). For those of you who do not know what a Vocaloid is, they are computer generate synthesized singers and apparently a number of Japans top Idols are Vocaloids!

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Posted in Anime

Character Design Contest ♯106- TGT: Fantasy

Posted on January 26, 2015 by | Comments Off on Character Design Contest ♯106- TGT: Fantasy

Ok guys, you should know what to do in a TGT (2 Great Tastes) contest by now. You're given a compulsory genre (in this case Fantasy) and you have to mix it with another genre (e.g. Sci-Fi, Horror, Western etc.) for your entry. Simple as that.

As per usual, no limits on entries this week and the contest will close at midnight Saturday (blog time). Please read the contest rules before entering, have fun and good luck.

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges that I am hosting: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warnings. Only post pictures and images that you have either created for this contest specifically or you know for certain have never been entered to a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

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Posted in Challenges, Character Design Challenges

Possible Absence

Posted on January 25, 2015 by | Comments Off on Possible Absence

Hey Folks I just wanted to write and let you all know that due to pending weather conditions here in New Jersey that I may not be able to judge caption contest 60 or post contest 61 this week. On Monday night we are expected to be hit by a Blizzard lasting through sometime on Tuesday night. Now if I have electricity and no interruption in my internet service I will post as normal, but it is always possible that this wet heavy snow will knock services out and I just wanted you all to know ahead of time in the event I can't post anything.

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Character Design Contest ♯105 (Cyborgs) Poll

Posted on January 25, 2015 by | Comments Off on Character Design Contest ♯105 (Cyborgs) Poll
[polldaddy poll="8607664"]

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Posted in Challenge Favorites

Character Design Contest ♯104 (Random Names) Winner

Posted on January 25, 2015 by | Comments Off on Character Design Contest ♯104 (Random Names) Winner

This last contest was a great one, one where everyone was on the top of their game and producing work of fantastic quality. But unfortunately for everyone else, a certain person only needed one entry and it was over before the poll was even up. And that person is AMS for his Diamond Fog. Congrats man, and well done to everyone else who entered.

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Posted in Challenge Favorites

Since you were WHAT?!

Posted on January 24, 2015 by | Comments Off on Since you were WHAT?!

funnycomic_buttstroke

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Posted in Daily Random Panel

Creators Club Reminder

Posted on January 23, 2015 by | Comments Off on Creators Club Reminder

Hey guys, JR here again. Just posting up a quick reminder for y'all about this years Creators Club Poster. MadJack is still accepting submissions for the poster so make sure you get in there for your chance to be immortalised as a member of the Heromachine Community of this year. We've already had some awesome creators submit their entries, so get yours entered.

You can find the submission rules and stuff here: http://www.heromachine.com/2015/01/13/creators-club-2015/

You have under 2 weeks left to get on the poster, otherwise you'll have to wait another year for your chance, so don't miss out.

And with that. JR out.

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Character Of The Week: Delirious Al- Hummingbird

Posted on January 23, 2015 by | Comments Off on Character Of The Week: Delirious Al- Hummingbird

You know, sometimes my own rules do kinda get in the way in terms of this post. The rule about not including entries for current CDC's was included because I didn't want to sway the votes at all, but this week the one image I wanted to feature was an entry for the current contest. But, I don't want to remove it from the contest (despite the creator giving me their permission to do so) because it will probably win. So instead let's have a look at another piece which, while I don't have as much to say about it, is just as good.

Last week, I mentioned about how certain 'machiners have their own styles that make them stand out. Well this is another case in point. All of Al's signatures are present and correct, dynamic pose, moody background with gradient effect sky and awesome energy effect. I will say, the bottom of the character is rather hard to make out against the background, but it doesn't make the pose any less striking.

The colour coordination really works as well and is a good example of defining layers in a picture. You have the dark colours of the character, which comprise the first layer, which merge with the colours of the third layer, being the background. Now if it were just those two layers, the picture would be very dark, dreary and dull, despite the posing prowess. But then you have the vibrant greens and blues of the energy effect, the second layer, that sits in-between these two layers and spaces them out, adding depth to the image and breaking up the dark hues. And then it's tops off with the back-most layer, the sky, which has a light colour at its lowest point, the point where it meets the layer in front and then becomes darker at its highest point, the point where it diverges from the forward layer. I must also say, I love the neon lines that Al has included in the background layer to break up the black. I love how on the floor they change from purple to green at random points and are then blue for the background . Apart from breaking up the black, they also provide a really interesting eye-catch, and complement the energy effects quite nicely as well.

 

 

Mod Note: Quick question you guys. When it comes to this post, are you actually interested in what I have to say about the art? Because sometimes it's quite hard to write these posts because I feel like I'm just repeating myself. I always talk about the same things. And the intros are horrible to write. So do you guys want me to keep the text part of the post, or would you mind if I just showcased the pictures instead?

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Posted in Character of the Week, Cool Characters, HeroMachine 3, Things I Like

Open Critique Day #10

Posted on January 23, 2015 by | Comments Off on Open Critique Day #10

Alright, guys! It's time for another Open Critique Day!

As for how this goes, you post a work of yours, finished or WIP (aka work in process, for those who are new to abbreviations), and then others give you critiques on your work.  I do not mind if you post the occasional non-HM picture or piece of writing, but keep in mind that, though there are some, not all of us here are writers or do art outside of HeroMachine. All I ask is that you only post pictures that are your own design and not any that copyrighted or based off of copyrighted characters. As for pieces of writing, I’m not sure about whether fan fiction is allowed, but for right now, just in case, don’t post fan fiction either.

Also, again, if you post a work, it is highly recommended that you also give someone else a critique.

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Posted in Open Critique Day

Geek Quiz ♯8: Marvel Comics Edition

Posted on January 22, 2015 by | Comments Off on Geek Quiz ♯8: Marvel Comics Edition

This weeks quiz is going to be focusing on everyones favourite comics hype machine (and occasional producer of decent comics), Marvel. However, don't expect questions on characters like Spider-Man, The Hulk or Captain America. This quiz is to find out how much you know or can guess about the company its self. So have fun. Oh and obviously Wikipedia is not allowed. 'Nuff said.

As per usual, 10 questions with a total of 20 points to get and don’t post answers in the comments, just your scores. The answers will be below a jump from the post whilst on the main blog page, so if you don’t want to be spoiled, take a look at the questions on the blog first.

1. Who was the first Marvel (at the time called Timely) character to star in their own self-titled comic? (1 Point)

2. Which of these was not a Timely Comics title during the 1940's? (1 Point)

a) Joker Comics                  b) Gay Comics

c) All Funny Comics            d) Comedy Comics

3. In what year did National Periodical Publications (aka DC) acquire the distribution rights to Atlas' (later Marvel) comic book divisions output? (1 Point)

Bonus- In what year did this deal end? (1 Point)

4. What baseball term has famously been used by Stan Lee to describe Marvels staff of artists, writers and editors? (1 Point)

5. Who originally held the position of publisher of Timely Comics when the company started in 1939? (1 Point)

6. Who is the company's current Editor-In-Chief? (1 Point)

7. In the 1940's, what famous New York building were the Timely Comics offices based in? (1 Point)

8. In what year did Marvel go bankrupt? (1 Point)

Bonus- Who owned the company at the time? (1 Point)

9. Which Marvel character was the first to star in a feature length, non-serialised film? (1 Point)

Bonus- What year was it released? (1 Point)

10. Where is The Avengers currently on the list of Highest Grossing Films Of All Time? (1 Point)

Bonus- Which Marvel film is next highest up on the standings and what position does it hold? (1 Point)

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