Welcome to the Hatena Featured Artist section of our blog, where we introduce Flipnote creators from around the world.
We post the Hatena Featured Artist every week on Wednesday, and hope to introduce a variety of different artists that will inspire and entertain you.
Be sure to check here every week to see some of the most amazing artists on Flipnote Hatena. Maybe we'll even feature you someday!
Today's Hatena Featured Artist is Tako Death (id:rabbit_thankyou) from Japan.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I call myself Tako Death (Editors note: "Tako" means "octopus" in Japanese). I chose this name because once when I was eating some octopus sashimi (Editors note: Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy of raw meat or fish sliced into thin pieces), it got caught in my throat and I almost choked to death. I am new to Flipnote Hatena, and have only been using it for 2 months.
What are your interests or hobbies, and how do you spend your free time?
I like video games, reading and drawing. I also enjoy car races, and sometimes go to watch them. When I have free time I like making Flipnotes. When I don't have other plans I am usually lazy and spend my time sleeping.
Please introduce some of your best Flipnotes, and tell us why you like them.！
I haven't made many Flipnotes yet, but I will introduce some of my favorites here in my order of preference.
★ "Encounter" - I made this for Weekly Topic: Snowman. I came up with this idea when looking at an object in my house. I remember it started snowing when I was making this, and I got a fever. This animation is almost two minutes long, and I think it is my best work yet.
★ "The World Won't Become an Octopus" - I made this to celebrate reaching 50 fans. I am not good at animating with speed 6, so I started off making this animation of a ball to practice that. It evolved into something else that I never imagined. I like the quick ending. For pages 272 - 281 of this Flipnote I used some drawings created by Natsuki Egaraaa (id:natuki123456).
★ "Bird's Adventure - The Beginning" - This is the first animation that I posted for one of the Flipnote Hatena Weekly news weekly topics. I had just started using Flipnote Studio and was still unfamiliar with all of the tools, so it took me about 1 week to complete. Since Weekly Topic: Birds was 2 weeks long I was able to finish it before the deadline. I knew I wanted to draw an egg that grew feet, but wasn't quite sure how to make the ending.
★ "Lucky Thing" - I posted this for Weekly Topic: Snakes, and it was my first animation chosen as the Flipnote of the Week. I had decided about the ending for this before I started, which is unusual for me. I decided to add the snakes creating words and things after I began. I spent my whole new year holiday making this, and eventually got tired of drawing slithering snakes!
★ "The Old Man's Business Trip"- This animation was made for Weekly Topic: Bells. I wanted to add sound to this, so I tried making sounds by tapping on a stainless steel spoon with a pair of scissors, but the result wasn't good so I didn't use it in the end. I originally planned for this story to take place in a restaurant, but I thought it was more realistic if it took place in a hotel. I think the hotel doesn't work perfectly either though.
★ "Appetite vs. Need for Sleep" - I made this Flipnote for Weekly Topic: Sleepy. I started drawing this while lying in bed on a Friday night soon after this weekly topic was announced. I'm still not sure why I chose to make the baby left-handed. This is a unique story for me because the scene doesn't change at all from the start to the finish.
What techniques or skills are you especially good at in your Flipnotes?
I am not sure what I am especially good at. I enjoy making things move, and don't like showing things from the frontward view, and try to show things from various angles to keep my viewers interested. Many people describe my work as "unusual", so maybe I am good at coming up with strange ideas. I try my best to make my weekly topic Flipnotes completely different from everyone else. I usually throw away the first ideas that I come up with and then rethink those ideas into something else.
What are some techniques or skills that you wish to improve, try, or learn to do in order make your Flipnotes better?
My results when using colors are not quite as good as I hope they would be. Maybe I am just not used to used to using Flipnote Studio, since I enjoy using colors when I make drawings on paper. I am also not good at making finely detailed illustrations, because I have a short attention span. I like coming up with ideas, but my weak point is that I get satisfied with the results of my work too quickly.
Please introduce some of your favorite artists on Flipnote Hatena, and tell us why you like them or their Flipnotes.
There are many creators that I like, so I will just introduce some of them here.
★ Foomin (id:wrbyno10) - All of the Flipnotes by this creator are wonderfully drawn and have great sound effects.
★ Rib Destroyer (id:ribdestroyer) - This creator is stunningly creative, and I love gazing at the fluid motion in these Flipnotes.
★ Noichigo (id:queenbee0121) - I really like the way this creator artistically animates fine lines.
★ Cosmo★ (id:upa-rupa) - This creator's Flipnotes are so warm and relaxing.
★ Nagachon (id:NNagano) - I always study these Flipnotes by watching them frame by frame.
★ Okyuu (id:laughcraft) - This creator's Flipnotes all move beautifully, and are so interesting. I watched this Flipnote over and over.
Is there something you would like to say to the Flipnote Hatena community?
I would like to thank everyone who has watched my Flipnotes, added me to their favorites, written comments and added stars to my work. Thank you so much!
I plan to continue making Flipnotes, and will keep thinking about my viewers. I hope to keep creating animations that everyone can enjoy!
Thanks for checking out the Hatena Featured Artist, and please let us know any feedback that you have in the box below. Also, please be sure to check out Flipnotes by the creator we interviewed here, and show them your support with your stars and comments!
