This is Aaron at Hatena in Kyoto, Japan. We experienced some problems with connectivity to Flipnote Hatena for the past few days, but hopefully access should be restored now for most users around the world. If you are able to read this blog posting, then it is a good sign!
Last week we began giving the creators of Flipnotes that we feature in the weekly news blog some rare, color stars. Since we don't yet have color stars available for purchase for users outside of Japan, this is a great opportunity for you to get some new types of color stars. Please post your Flipnotes about the weekly topic to channel #8 from your Nintendo DSi and we might feature it here.
We're looking forward to seeing your Flipnotes!
In this week's edition of the Flipnote Hatena news blog, we're going to show you some of our favorite Flipnotes based on last week's topic "Snow", and introduce our new topic for this week which is "Pixel Art".
If you post Flipnotes about the weekly topic, we might feature yours here on the Flipnote Hatena Weekly News blog next week -- post your Flipnotes and join in the fun!
Lastly, scroll to the bottom of this blog entry to see Weekly Frog Sightings where we feature original frog photos and illustrations from users like you. Post your original frog photos to Hatena Haiku (post to the keyword "Frog Sightings") and we might feature it here next week.
Read the Flipnote Hatena News blog in your language
Here is a list of the URL's that you can use to read the different language versions of this news blog:
- English:
- German:
- Italian:
- Japanese:
- Spanish:
- French:
Thanks to the help and support of MdM (id:MdMbunny) you can also read a translation of this blog in Italian, and id:Alex_BCN82 is now translating our blog into Spanish. Please be sure to check out the other language versions of the blog, since there are some differences between each version. It might be a good way to learn a foreign language too!
If you are interested in helping us translate the blog to French please get in touch with us. Please note that this is a volunteer position, but your work will be very much appreciated by all of us at Hatena and the Flipnote Hatena community.
Also, please let us know any feedback you might have about our blog by posting your comments in the box at the bottom of this blog entry.
The best of last week's topic: "Snow"
As of today, there were 1,734 Flipnotes posted by users from around the world for last week's topic. We've selected some of the best of those Flipnotes from the past week which we hope you'll enjoy.
You can see all of the Flipnotes posted by users for last week's topic at the URL below (be sure to set your content preference to Worldwide to see Flipnotes from all regions):
http://flipnote.hatena.com/ch/11538387384115363923
You can also see the Flipnotes for last week's topic posted from your own region by entering the command
"Snow" Flipnotes from the Europe and Oceania region:
★ We really liked the "What's the target?" series which was started by MdM (id:MdMbunny). The Flipnote features MdM's bunny character throwing a snowball, and then hitting a target that is chosen by users who make spin-offs from the original. There have already been 50(!) spin-offs posted based on the original that you should check out. (If you double click on the Flipnote below you'll go to that Flipnote's page where you can easily view all of the spin-offs)
★ The people of the UK have had a lot of snow this year, and @り
ホg@
♪
w (id:qwertyyoshi) made a funny Flipnote about what people think of the winter weather there, titled "Frozen Britain".
★ Check out the snowman that experiences a physical transformation in this humorous Flipnote titled "Snowmen" by Romero (id:r0mer0). Nice work!
★ Katana (id:KATANAs4n) posted another great submission for this week's topic titled "Let it Snow", featuring a cat who has a unexpected encounter with the winter weather. Be sure to check out Katana's excellent collection of Flipnotes (currently there are 286 of them for you to enjoy).
★ Hinto (id:Hinto) posted another strange and wonderful Flipnote this week, titled "A Tasty Snowflake". We really like the unearthly sounds and creativity in Hinto's Flipnotes, and are sure that you will too. Be sure to check out Hinto's other Flipnotes too (There are currently 124 of them posted to Flipnote Hatena).
★ We really enjoyed the movement from outside of the house to inside of the house, and then into a television set and back again in this Flipnote titled "Snow falls fast!" by ☆★XAX★☆ (id:XAimeeX). Nice work!
"Snow" Flipnotes from Japan:
★ This Flipnote was based on a Flipnote of falling snow created by Mama (id:mama-5521), which is used as the background here. Sato (id:satoring) added her character named "Pao-chan" to the foreground to create this excellent Flipnote. The original creator was very happy to see that a spin-off created from her Flipnote was even better than the original.
★ This Flipnote by Aqua (id:qawsedrf09) is a well-done photo-realistic illustration of fallen snow. The creator recommends that you look at your screen from a distance and you'll see the image of a snow covered mountain.
★ This Flipnote by (Waon) captures the excitement and movement of skiing very nicely. We especially like the way that the wind blows through the character's hat as he skis down the hill.
★ Koaramaii (id:koaramii) made this beautiful Flipnote of a young girl who is overly-excited about seeing snow on the ground outside of her home. The Japanese text at the end of the Flipnote reads "Snow is great!" Be sure to check out the other Flipnotes by this creator too! (Currently 71 Flipnotes by Koaramaii can be seen on the Flipnote Hatena website)
★ Shouichi (id:s7110) made this snow house, that has a hidden surprise underneath. These kinds of snow houses are called "kamakura" in Japanese (not to be confused with the city in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan).
★ We really enjoyed the beauty of the falling snow and the careful attention to detail in this Flipnote by Yuuki (id:sachi-1914). The detail of the snowflakes and the illustration style of this creator is amazing!
"Snow" Flipnotes from the Americas region:
★ You'll surely enjoy the "Reluctant Snowman" by Cooper (id:Giik), about a cute little snowball who reluctantly becomes the head of a snowman. We especially like the sound effects in this Flipnote.
★ Enjoy a peaceful snowy day and introduction to the best things in the winter season in this Flipnote by SmashBro 1 (id:Smash-Brother01). Be sure to watch this one to the end for an unexpected surprise. Nice work!
★ We liked the flowing animation and connected ideas in this snow-themed Flipnote by Joker (id:Jesse007). You'll enjoy the nice attention to detail by this creator, who currently has 79 Flipnotes online.
★ Alex (id:griingo) animated the story of a character who has a bad day in this Flipnote titled "Snow Sucks". The funny sounds and facial expressions of the stick figure characters in this Flipnote are sure to make you laugh.
★ Kyle (id:tacoboy) reminds us that you should be careful when walking in the snow, or horrible things might happen. The character in this Flipnote has exceptionally bad luck, and the audio features some crazy sound effects too.
★ Check out the beautiful illustrations and nicely drawn animation in this Flipnote by IFoundNemo (id:Notable-Immunity), about 2 young lovers who meet each other on a snowy winter's day.
This week's topic: "Pixel Art"
For this week's topic we'd like you to post Flipnotes created by drawing one pixel at a time, known as pixel art. You can get some inspiration for this art form from old-school computer games, and the many "sprite" Flipnotes that you see here on Flipnote Hatena. See what you can create based on this topic, and post it to channel 8 from Flipnote Hatena on your Nintendo DSi.
We're looking forward to seeing your Flipnotes, and will feature some of the best ones next week here in the Flipnote Hatena Weekly News blog.
You can see all of the Flipnotes currently posted about this week's topic at the URL below (be sure to set your content preference to Worldwide to see Flipnotes from all regions):
Follow Flipnote Hatena on Twitter
We've started a Twitter account to keep you updated about the latest news and happenings at Flipnote Hatena.
Follow us at: http://twitter.com/flipnotehatena
Weekly Frog Sighting
If you are interested in having your frog photo featured in the "Weekly Frog Sighting" section of the blog you can post it on Hatena Haiku (post to the keyword "Frog Sightings") and we'll choose the best ones and feature them here.
Please submit only original photos/illustrations that you have created yourself.
The frog sighting for this week is of some rice crackers that I bought during my winter holiday when I visited Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki prefecture.
There is a Japanese custom to bring your co-workers or friends a souvenir (called an "omiyage" in Japanese) when you travel somewhere. Usually, people buy products associated with a particular region, such as candies or other edible snacks. I often have a hard time to find unique souvenirs, and look around a lot before I make my decision.
Luckily, after a lot of searching I was able to find the perfect gift for the Flipnote Hatena team, which were frog-shaped rice crackers.
We've been munching on these rice crackers in the office for the past 2 weeks and they're almost all gone, so I decided to save the last remaining package so I could take a photograph to share with you all.
They also sold giant versions of these rice crackers at Mt. Tsukuba that were about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in size, so I'll have to get some of those next time I go there.
Here's the interesting box that the rice crackers came packaged in.
(They're called "Gama Senbei" in Japanese)
Here's a close up of the crackers in their package complete with eyes and a mouth.
Hatena Staff Introduction - Kumi (kumi_t)
Hello Flipnote Hatena users! I work in the international department at Hatena in Kyoto, Japan. For my job, I help to choose the best Flipnotes every week and I also answer your emails in English. I really enjoy looking at everybody's cool Flipnotes, and I post some of my own too. Let's share our creativity here and make a fun community together!
How is the weather in your area? It was very cold last week here in Kyoto. It didn't snow, but it was freezing outside... like a refrigerator! During the holidays, I visited Florida in the United States where I expected the weather to be warm, but it was even colder than Kyoto. I was a little surprised and also disappointed, but I still had a great time there.
Here's a picture of the sunrise in Cocoa Beach, Florida that I took during my winter vacation. It was just beautiful, but it was very cold, so I wrapped myself in a blanket and watched it!
I am looking forward to seeing your new flipnotes!
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog, and please add a star if you enjoyed it!
Also, please let us know what you think about the Flipnote Hatena Weekly News blog by posting any comments you might have in the box below.
