Hello from all of us at Hatena in Kyoto. This is Aaron with another edition of our weekly news blog.
Most of the Hatena engineers are away this week at a programming camp, so the office is nearly empty and very quiet.
It was fun to check out all of your "Big and Small" Flipnotes this past week, and we'd like to thank all of you for posting about the topic.
For this week's topic we're giving you all the chance to let our your "inner frog", and would like you to create Flipnotes about everyone's favorite amphibian. For more details please see below.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the weekly news blog, and looking forward to seeing your Flipnotes!
"Flipnote Monsters" competition for users in the Europe and Oceania region
Renowned illustrator Andrew Rae has created his monster, Bad Egg, and we want you to post a monster to Flipnote Hatena that you think can best him in a straight-out fight. The four best entries will enter a knockout competition. All battles will be animated by us and the final winning monster will then take on Bad Egg himself just before Christmas in an extra-special animation showdown! Andrew will judge all the monsters himself.
Andrew Rae has worked for many worldwide clients in advertising, print, publishing and animation including the BBC, MTV and V Festival.
All entries for the competition must be submitted by November 21st, 2010.
The four best monster animations will be viewable on Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL and the Nintendo Channel in December.
For more information about this special event please visit Nintendo of Europe's "Flipnote Monsters" website by clicking on the link below:
Please note that this competition is only available for users in the Europe and Oceania region on Flipnote Hatena.
"Make Your Own Mario Flipnote" special event for users in the Americas region
If you haven't already posted your Flipnote for the "Make Your Own Mario Flipnote" special event on Flipnote Hatena, please hurry up! This event will end on November 19, 2010 at 3:00pm (PST).
For more information about this special event please visit Nintendo of America's website by clicking on the link below:
You can also see the rules and other information by tapping on the "Make a Mario Flipnote" button on Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi (Americas region users only).
Please note that this competition is only available for users in the Americas region on Flipnote Hatena.
New limited edition themes: Sweet Donuts Collection
From now until November 19, 2010 (Friday), you'll get one chance to win a prize for every 10 stars you exchange for themes in the Color Star Exchange. If you're lucky you might win a limited edition theme or limited edition simple theme.
This week's limited edition theme and limited edition simple theme are both pink and black in color:
For more information about the Sweet Donuts Collection tap on the "Get Special Themes!" button on the top menu of Flipnote Hatena for Nintendo DSi.
This week's new themes
The Flipnote team has created two 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.
★ This theme features a skull and roses on a pink textured background. The design of the top screen display will change when you use this theme. (10 color stars)
★ This theme features an anchor and other elements inspired by ships. The top screen display and the background on the lower screen will change when you use this theme. (20 color stars)
The best of last week's topic: "Big and Small"
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.
"Big and Small" Flipnotes from the Americas region
★ Flipnote by Oreo (id:OreoNM180)
★ Flipnote by aNdii (id:aNdii)
★ Flipnote by spider13 (id:Spider13)
★ Flipnote by Doug H.Nut (id:DougTheMugLOL)
★ Flipnote by Niffian (id:Niffian)
★ Flipnote by Akira (id:maneki-neko013)
"Big and Small" Flipnotes from the Europe and Oceania region
★ Flipnote by Simon (id:simon-a)
★ Flipnote by Je@n-♭@pt★ (id:jbmasteur)
★ Flipnote by Minifigman (id:barrettvids)
★ Flipnote by CHR15☆ (id:haribo99)
★ Flipnote by Wateraic (id:WateraicDude)
★ Flipnote by ★MP★(id:markos-1996)
"Big and Small" Flipnotes from Japan
★ Flipnote by Arisa×RT@○●2 (id:hannnixya)
★ Flipnote by Shivashiva☆♪8 (id:SIVAVA8)
★ Flipnote by Masa (id:artto-ddt)
★ Flipnote by Taro (id:tatsuro1995420)
★ Flipnote by Shio (id:sioo)
★ Flipnote by Hina
This week's topic: "Frogs + ?" (11/5/2010 - 11/12/2010)
For this week's topic please create Flipnotes about anything related to frogs and add something of your own choosing. For example, frogs vs. stickmen, frogs flying in rockets, famous frogs in history, frogs chasing crickets, your vacation with the Flipnote frog... see where your creativity takes you!
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:r0mer0 posted this photo of this "Frog King", along with this description:
I found this Frog King on a kitchen fitter's show room. The clerks were rather surprised when I took this photo, they had seen customers taking pictures of the kitchens, but never of the kitsch!
★ id:Gabtraf posted this cute illustration about a frog looking for love (in all the wrong places).
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:
