Hello from all of us on the Flipnote Hatena team. This is Aaron at Hatena's offices in Kyoto, Japan with another edition of our weekly news blog.
Even though summer is nearing its end, the temperatures are still quite high in Japan -- it is still 33°C/91°F as I write this at 7pm in the evening! Despite the heat, the Flipnote Hatena team has been working hard on some fun new features that we hope to introduce to you soon.
This week we are pleased to announce the release of the "Sea Life Collection" limited edition Creator's Room themes -- for more details please scroll down.
We hope that you are all keeping cool in your part of the world, and are looking forward to seeing your Flipnotes! Thanks from all of us at Hatena!
Flipnote Hatena 1st Anniversary Contest
As of today, more than 3,000 entries with DJ Shabushabu's original song have been posted to the Flipnote Hatena 1st Anniversary Contest channel and we're amazed at the quality of the Flipnotes.
We have posted several different frame rates/lengths of the contest entry Flipnote so you can make your animations as you like, and also released an extended version of the "Happy Birthday Flipnote Hatena" song by DJ Shabushabu. For more information about the 1st Anniversary Contest and for links to the contest entry Flipnotes please tap on the "Help" button from the top menu of Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi.
Please remember to post your Flipnotes before the contest ends on September 3, 2010.
New limited edition themes: Sea Life Collection
Today we're happy to announce the release of the "Sea Life Collection" Creator's Room theme series for Flipnote Hatena users. If you exchange color stars for Creator's Room themes on Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi or with the Flipnote Hatena Mobile Color Star Exchange you'll get a chance to win a different limited edition theme every week for your Creator's Room.
From now until September 16, 2010 (Thursday), you'll get one chance to win a prize for every 10 stars you exchange for themes in the Color Star Exchange. You're guaranteed to win one of the prizes below:
- Prize #1: Weekly limited edition Creator's Room theme (This week's theme is "Jellyfish" which is available until August 26, 2010)
- Prize #2: Limited edition "Marine Blue" Creator's Room color
- Prize #3: One green star
The limited edition theme offered as prize #1 will change every Friday, and four variations will be released during this four week campaign.
It's easy to take part, and you'll get one chance to win every time you exchange color stars for a theme during the campaign period. Tap on the "Try your luck!" button that appears after you exchange color stars for a theme to see if you're a winner. You'll get one chance to win for every 10 stars you exchange for themes in the Color Star Exchange.
If you exchange color stars for a 10 star theme you'll get one chance, for a 20 star theme you'll get two chances, and for a 50 star theme you will get five chances! You can also get one chance to win if you exchange color stars for two 5 star themes.
This special campaign is only available for a limited time. Don't miss this chance to get some new themes at the Color Star Exchange!
This week's new themes
The Flipnote team has created three new Creator's Room themes that are available in the Color Star Exchange this week. Below are some screenshots and details about the new themes.
★ Ice cream and toppings will increase every time you post with this delicious changing theme. (50 color stars)
★ A vivid pink and black theme with skulls, stars and hearts. (20 color stars)
★ This theme features a dragon and a knight in armor in front of a castle. (20 color stars)
The best of last week's topic: "Cats & Dogs"
We've selected some of the best Flipnotes posted from around the world that we hope you'll enjoy.
You can see all of the Flipnotes posted about last week's topic at the URL below (be sure to set your content preference to Worldwide to see Flipnotes from all regions):
You can also see the Flipnotes for last week's topic by entering the command 
via "Command Search" on Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi.
Hatena's favorite "Cats & Dogs" Flipnotes from the Americas region
★ Anna (id:Xenith) created this cute Flipnote about a hungry cat, who has a funny encounter with a dog.
★ A dog enjoys some cat food in this nicely drawn Flipnote by Gamer (id:eleazar).
★ It's raining cats and dogs in this funny Flipnote by Wingnut (id:BigDaddyWingnut).
★ Name Nom (id:Mohamed) created this animation about how opposites attract, featuring a "Roundhead" character.
★ This Flipnote by Elizabeth (id:lababyliza) features a variety of interesting angles and sounds that nicely express the tension between a cat and a dog.
★ We liked this strange Flipnote by P.C.B. (id:pbart) about a toy dog with a funny spring tail.
Hatena's favorite "Cats & Dogs" Flipnotes from Japan
★ This Flipnote by Asaseri (id:asa-seri) features realistic animation of a dog being patted on the head.
★ Koaramii (id:koaramii) created this subtle and funny Flipnote about a small dog keeping cool.
★ A cat enjoys some time in the moonlight in this nicely illustrated Flipnote by Takatan (id:takatant).
★ Sakarin (id:ugo_sakarin) created this Flipnote about a cute toy poodle that is sure to make you smile.
★ This interesting pixel art animation of a dog by RAG. (id:apri_korn) is a unique approach to last week's topic.
★ This Flipnote by Shii•Takeo (id:sintarou1023) features an inflatable cat, that reminded us of a promotional spot by Nintendo for Flipnote Studio.
Hatena's favorite "Cats & Dogs" Flipnotes from the Europe & Oceania region
★ Simon (id:simon-a) created this mysterious Flipnote about dogs and cats in this Flipnote titled "Mys-tree".
★ We liked the motion and sound in this Flipnote about an unlucky cat by Honey pie™ (id:MultiMegan).
★ katt (id:katt2) made this interesting Flipnote about a dog and cat at dinnertime.
★ Summer★ (id:EmerO36) created this Flipnote featuring a cute dog and cat with nicely animated subtle movements.
★ An character has an unexpected encounter with a mean dog in this Flipnote by ★mpa★ (id:markos-1996).
★ John (id:Bonggone) created this Flipnote about a sleeping dog who attempts to get revenge against a mischievous cat.
This week's topic: "Sea Life" (8/20/2010 - 8/27/2010)
For this week's topic we would like to create Flipnotes about things that live in the sea. You can animate things such as fish, whales, dolphins, corals, seaweed or anything you can imagine. Please be creative and have fun with this week's topic. 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. Post the Flipnotes you create to channel 7 from Flipnote Hatena on your Nintendo DSi.
Also, please do not use copyrighted music in your Flipnotes if you want them to be featured here. Check out some of the sites below for Creative Commons licensable and other royalty free music:
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):
Weekly Frog Sighting
If you are interested in having your frog photo or illustration featured in the "Weekly Frog Sighting" section of the blog please post them on Hatena Haiku and we might feature it here.
Please submit only original photos/illustrations that you have created yourself.
★ id:a721pikachu made this amazing image of the Flipnote frog with cheese balls.
★ This frog photo was posted by id:galhappy45 of a frog is her 8th grade science teacher's classroom.
★ This photo of a frog mug was posted by id:sam156e.
★ This is a photo of a cool frog kite that was posted by id:Xevious64.
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. Thanks!
★ You can also see comments posted by Nintendo DSi users by viewing the comments for the Flipnote below:
