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 TAK (id:TAKtheAWESOME) from the Americas region.
Please tell us about yourself.
Greetings one and all, I am TAK and I am 13 years old. My little brother, Ronnie, who helps me a little on my Flipnotes, is 12 years old. We both live in New York and we are students. And you know what's surprising, I'm the quiet one in the family. Speaking of family, my family is pretty big. I have 3 nieces, 2 sisters, and 6 cousins. Some of my family members say I'm clever and witty.
I was actually asked to join Hatena by a friend of mine, who now lives in Massachusetts. So if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't had made a lot, and I mean, A LOT of good friends.
What are your interests or hobbies, and how do you spend your free time?
My hobbies? Basketball. Basketball's one of my favorite sports and I compete with my friend or classmates every Friday afternoon. I also like playing video games. I mostly like RPGs (Role Playing Games) because you have to use your strategy skills.
One of my interests is robots. Some day in the future, robots will help us with our homework, cleaning the house, and other stuff like that. Every time you wake up in the morning, your robot will say, "GOOD MORNING, MASTER. HOW WAS YOUR SLEEP?". It's going to be a little annoying (Ha ha!).
In my free time, I usually play videos games, draw cartoons, exercise ('cause it's good), take a nap, or look at other Flipnotes by some creators.
Please introduce some of your best Flipnotes, and tell us why you like them.
Usually my Flipnotes takes about 1-4 hours when it comes to animating. When it comes to drawing, it takes me about 30 minutes. I keep a journal to keep track of how much time it takes me to make a Flipnote and where I get the idea from.
★ 'Alien Wants Sweets' - This is one of my Flipnotes I like. The alien speaks backwards. Everyone loved it, especially my parents.
★ 'Sweet Dreams' - This was based on a real dream I had the day before I posted it. I can tell you, it was a good dream.
★ I also loved 'Shrink Ray'. It took my 3 HOURS to make this. Wow! We both talked about fictional stuff, then when Ronnie said 'Shrink', I had the idea.
★ The sequel to 'Shrink Ray': 'Shrink BAND'. This also took me 3 hours. A friend of mine really loved 'Shrink Ray', so I decided, 'How 'bout shrink band?'
★ This Flipnote was the first to be featured in the Weekly News, and is called 'Family Tree'. This took me 3 hours to make. This is not based on my real family tree.
★ This Flipnote, 'Sticky Situation', was also featured in the Weekly News. This took me, surprisingly, an hour to make. When I saw the weekly topic saying 'Sticky', the first thing that came to my mind was gum.
★ Last, but not least, 'Robots'. This took me 3 hours to make. I love robots, so I decided to make this Flipnote.
What techniques or skills are you especially good at in your Flipnotes?
My techniques? Well right now I am trying to make my characters flip and run. I know how to make my characters walk, punch, go SPLAT, turn his head, and speak (lip-sync). Sometimes, doing these techniques made me wonder how Butch Hartman does it.
What are some techniques or skills that you wish to improve?
Someday, I'll try to make my characters move at different angles. I will also make backgrounds instead of making the backgrounds blank. And I will try to draw and animate animals, like dogs and cats and lions and tigers and bears (Oh my!).
Please introduce some of your favorite Flipnote artists
★ One of my favorite artists here on Flipnote Hatena is SnowyOwl (id:BurrowingOwl208). He's awesome and I'm kind of proud of him for being really original. Sometimes his Flipnotes made me wonder, 'Why didn't I think of that?' He's great. :)
★ I also like the Flipnotes by Bo (id:bovegas). This guy is very good at animating. Not only that he can animate humans, but he can also make clever stuff. ...HOW DOES HE DO IT?!
★ Another one of my favorite artists is Limelight (id:Limelight). He's so original and to be honest, he can animate much better than me. Even his 5 second Flipnotes are hilarious and I can't stop watching them. I can tell he's into video games.
★ I'm amazed at how Thomas (id:tomf-96) turned from making stick figures dance to making humans jump. Even I can't draw or animate a human that well. Thomas, who or what inspired you? 'Cause your animating skills are awesome, no doubt.
Here are some of my other favorite artists:
★ Anthony (id:MarioAndSonicLover)
Is there something you would like to say to the Flipnote Hatena community?
Well first off all, I would like to say that I am honored to be Flipnote Hatena's Featured Artist. Thank you. I would also like to give a tip to make your Flipnotes better. Watch some cartoons. Study, the movements, the facial expressions, etc. Also study actors movements and gestures.
Flipnote Hatena is a site where you can share your Flipnotes with the world, not to beg for stars ('Please add stars if ......').
Entertaining your fans is more important than begging for stars. Don't copy anyone's Flipnote and claim it as your own. That's wrong. Because other creators will comment and say, 'YOU STOLE THIS FROM (original creator)!'. If you keep doing that, you'll probably become Flipnote Hatena's Public Enemy #1.
That's all the advice I can give to you. Thanks to the Hatena Staff for interviewing me, and I hope you guys have a great year.
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!
