Aalasteir's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sketch Collab Shitpost 2023]

This is the power of teamwork!

Aalasteir responds:

Yep. Just like genocides, what?

[CINDER - part I]

The beginning is interesting with the turquoise spirit floating through the forest, shaping into a ghostly figure. Then, the scene transitions to a cat, followed by another scene of somebody running. You're presenting multiple narratives simultaneously. The turquoise ghost spirit moving around is extremely well-made, and the dynamic camera angles are powerful, along with the shadows and lighting.

Defining multiple narratives and then having them all conclude is a very good technique.

There is so much detail and great atmosphere. The sound design emphasizes and helps move the narratives along very well. The transitions are really well-made.

The plot reminds me of the premise of "Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" by Blake Snyder.

The design of your website is also amazing.

ZanMiller responds:

Thank you for your thorough response and analysis :) I'm glad you noticed the work I put into the story, however simple it may be. The original comic I made had some confusing holes I tried to fill with this animation.

I haven't read that book but it definitely sounds right up my alley :) I am a librarian after all

Thanks for checking out my website! It's very fun to add new elements and items to it

Thanks again for your thoughtful words and feedback, stay spooky

[Gauntlet 2 NES Parody]

The thick lines are appealing, as well as the strong shapes featuring strong silhouettes. The composition of the scenes is well-placed.

Starting the movie straight into the action is really good, as it fully communicates the character, their actions, the universe they inhabit, and establishes the rules of that universe well through visual communication.

I enjoyed that the announcer's voice is not completely drowned in bitcrush, and the other characters do not have this effect. I feel it makes it more engaging and adds a good level of variation and contrast to the narrative.

And the ending title screen is not too long and it ends on a good melody.

Sadly I have not played Gauntlet 2, though I have played Golden Axe.

Your movie is amazing!

SuperJeffoMan responds:

Thank you so much, Aalasteir! I really appreciate your well thought out review, and kind words. Thanks again my dude! <3

PS: Golden Axe is great

[5:51 PM]

Atmosphere is kino. Your animation is really well crafted. The expressions positions add a lot of character and soul. They are very impressive.

In the intro, you have the names of the characters listed. However, I couldn't see them clearly as the text blends too much with the scenery, especially Nixon Bubble.

What if the characters were saying something in the intro so you immediately knew what they sound like and which role they played in the group.

I found the intro to be very confusing and didn't understand how the world works, the power levels of each character, and which abilities they use to complete the challenges they face. I assume it's intentional that the world is surreal, though.

02:00 -- That line is a really good from Nixon Bubble -
"I wouldn't let some curse' exposition dunk on me like that"
Really funny!

I feel it would make more sense if the voices were in mono instead of leaning into the left stereo field, as I feel that decision does not serve as a narrative choice to further your plot and the immersion of your story.

This is just an opinion from a humble Internet peasant. You can insult me if you want.

largestvoidian responds:

Hey thanks so much! I love getting feedback on my projects! I could totally change the intro as you said, and yeah not sure about the audio. Again, thanks!

[The Canadian Irritator]

Cool characters, funny plot.

The female character has one set of clothing at 00:10
Then the clothing set completely changes at 00:30
Simply as the viewer, I found that confusing.

The ambient noise is nice and using Gmod footsteps is funny.

Jordanisgreat responds:

Thank you. Its my first animation I made with my own ocs, I made it back in the spring of 2023, I am gonna reupload some of my other ones here to newgrounds aswell cause youtube is just not a good place to have them anymore. (they have been giving me bullshit strikes over the smallest of things and I want to keep the sexual humor of my animations so I thought this site was better for it)

Btw the character didn't change clothes. I will admit star and xeno are a bit similar to each other. I hope future animations will help differ them more.

Also yeah I use source engine sounds cause sfm has alot of them to use. I also use halo and sonic sounds

[Bloop goes to a restaurant]

@Bobert-Rob you've had your account for 21 years. You have history and experiences and feelings that I have not experienced, please I would like to tell you, you are amazing for being you.

My perspective the primary audience of your ART should be YOU.

I don't have the same experiences and history with art as you do, though.
What I do understand is making a lot of shit other people don't give a fuck about.

I listen to what I do, sometimes I feel I listen too much. What I can share with you is what keeps me going, and that is the process is the goal.

The process is the goal.

Bobert-Rob responds:

Yeah, I just get lost a lot since I'm trying to carve out some kind of living from it. My dream is being able to make art that has an audience. My work has quality to it, I know it does. I love the hell out of everything I do, it's rare anymore that I put out a thing that has no redeeming qualities. Everything I make has a touch of greatness to it. But it's getting the audience to agree, or to even give it a chance at all. That's the most difficult part. And the audience constantly being catered to by algorithms and machines that think they know us better than we do, we as a society take way less chances. We cling to nostalgia, cling to the past, so unknowns like me can't get anywhere if we don't cater to that. And what I want to offer is something unique and different. So of course my work is going to be difficult to share. I just feel that pain more some times than others.

Thanks for taking the time though. Because clearly this one has almost no nostalgia attached to it, aside from my own nostalgia for my older work. Very selective nostalgia, I guess, lol.

[Jans Birthday]

You have great comedic timing. I've seen your Jan's Birthday multiple times, 5 in total. From my perspective, it's because there is a seamless transition from scene to scene, and the flow in your story has good rhythm, making the experience engaging.

ZabuJard responds:

wow glad u enjoyed it!

[Worlds Apart - CryptoDogs]

Your cut-out style is interesting and unique. Your concept is good.

Please, I would enjoy your movie more if the voice was in mono, so that it isn't played entirely in the left channel.

Thank you.

KimA007 responds:

Thanks for the feedback!

I'll have to investigate why it is appearing in mono. That is really bizarre but I'll see if I can get it sorted out.

Cheers!

[Grunkle Stand]

That's crazy! You managed to make this in 2 hours, how did you come up with the concept?

I feel the execution is very well done.

-- -- -- --
EDIT. Thank you @ICantSeeHelp Pikmin is a nice series.

ICantSeeHelp responds:

dude I was just bored and I was drawing Stan and Pikmin was playing in a another tab and then I was like eh sure

[Overly Dramatic Kamehameha Finish]

Thank you, I appreciate the control you exhibit in your line work to define the character; it is excellently done. The result forms appealing shapes and is not a mess of lines, making it engaging to read the action.

Your movement is fluid, and what is especially impressive is your ability to control the perspective of your scene.

If he is shooting a laser blast in front of him, how is he moving upwards? Shouldn't it project him backward? Additionally, the character pulling the beam Kamehameha upwards, wouldn't that propel him downwards? I understand that this functions because the character can fly; however, I had issues with that being visually explained to me during the scene.

Would it make more sense if he was shooting the kamehameha downwards so he is moving up?

You incorporating sound design into your movie is an excellent choice I felt very immersed.

00:20 - I feel it should be "Fade to Black" instead of "Cut to Black" because it disrupts the impact of the scene. The character is tired and winding down; having it be a cut disrupts the energy that the scene is, I feel, trying to communicate. It's like the character is falling asleep, that's how I see it.

And please, feel free to easily dismiss my review; you probably should. I don't know much about animation. I'm a severely autistic man who went to a special school for most of his life. I may not be knowledgeable, but that doesn't change the fact that this was my experience with your movie, and I found it amazing. I would just like to be more honest, I would just like to be helpful.

Yipcks responds:

Thank you for the feedback!!

I'm glad you liked the line work, I try to put as much detail as long as it doesnt prevent me from keeping a nice flow in the animation.

I didn't even think about the kamehameha propelling him in the opposite direction, but it's definetly something I'll have in mind next time I do something like this.

I'm always thinking about these little things, like which way the hair will move or how to mantain momentum, so it's refreshing to see it's not just me who enjoys that kinda of stuff :3

Oh yeah, fade to black would make a lot more sense, I always get lazy in the ending while editing, sometimes I forget stuff like that.

Overall, great review sir! Gave me some stuff to think about in my next one.

Cheers!