I loved Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers when I was growing up. My two favorites nowadays though are the Japanese 魔法戦隊マジレンジャー [Mahou Sentai Majiranger] and the Chinese 铠甲勇士 [Armor Hero]. Both the original Mandarin and the English dub of the latter one are (legally) available on YouTube.

Lets see there are some cool thoughts here! Are we should he's the owner (are we sure hes's a he??) - maybe its more seamless, maybe he is the universe and the universe is him (hence why he's its shape?).

Maybe Ozwomp is genderless? Or perhaps it is a detail that one could provide in-game, like when one customizes their character?...In general, the idea of Ozwomp being synonymous with the Universe makes sense to me; it would also provide an explanation as to why the Paste flows through the ring, making them immortal.

I like this rocket idea! Maybe other stuff could be modified it is goes through him to! What would happen if he flew into a cloud of star cookie crumbs??

Yes, like different types of powerups! Maybe flying into a cloud of star cookie crumbs gets them to circulate around Ozwomp in a protective bubble or provides a speed boost of a longer duration until the cloud dissipates? I keep envisioning the kinds of vortices that appear around butterflies as they move their wings. Or maybe it simply makes an interesting visual effect, like when two vortex rings collide?

Since the Ozwomp games are more meditative, would the powerups be more about creativity in movement, solving puzzles, or unlocking things? The idea of a protective bubble does not seem to be of much use in that case as there is nothing to dodge and there is no concept of "damage"...It is interesting how storyline can influence gameplay and vice versa.

Interesting; so Orbulons are like elements? Do they construct into anything like atoms? Is there any sort of chemistry that can happen with them?

"Paste" evokes the concept of holding everything together, an energy that acts like a cosmic glue. The names of the substances made me think of the shapes that they make when bonding (i.e.: "orbulon" = circle and "squarulon" = square). "Triangulon" and "pentalon" were riffing off of that idea. Like actual elements, perhaps different proportions of them yield materials of different qualities? It could make for an interesting crafting mechanic.

The Sacred Hoop was something to build, one of the things that gives meaning to the journey, although the idea of elements could be used in other ways too.

Oh he's a protector now? Hmmm; I think I like him being more of an impartial bystander who makes no judgment on the actions of others; but maybe doing that is a form of protection somehow - crocodiles are very ancient and both dignified and grumpy - those are definitely good protector traits!

I totally forgot about Great Tipi! I like this utilising of elements going on - I guess that answers my earlier question! Somehow this makes me think of the large hadron collider - maybe discovery is the path to healing!

I thought the ideas connected together in a way that had an interesting dynamic, one that seems plausible based on all of the information given. For example, it gave an explanation for the appearance of the orb, a reason for why Ozwomp would be part crocodile, etc. It also provides a larger context that other characters and settings, like the Holy Ognobula and the Great Tipi, can be easily connected to. When motives are at cross-purposes it creates tension that drives a story forward toward a resolution of some kind. But stories do not necessarily have to play out as "protagonist vs. antagonist"...

In that case, maybe the voyage is one of self-discovery, of Ozwomp bringing progressively more harmony to every place that is visted until the realization that Ozwomp is the Universe itself? That would also fit in with the theme of "discovery is the path to healing".

Weirdly I never considered the minidsics having anything to with music, but it makes a LOT of sense! Do these songs have any special meaning that adds to his voyage? Could the songs actually be kinda random.. maybe there is no one song, but a stream of verses made up of all songs that harmonise.

The multiplicity of discs made me think of it as many unique songs. Since you fly to different places, maybe it could be thought of as the integration of different cultures, like we are merging the sacred songs of seemingly separate places into one? This links back to the previous ideas of Ozwomp being the Universe and how discovery, such as discovering more about one another, can lead to healing and harmony.

...Just throwing some ideas out there. It is interesting to see it develop.

Cool! I'll riff off of what everyone else has put so far, along with some information out of the design notes and The Yonkrip Tribune...

Part of what makes Ozwomp "owner" of the Universe is the fact that he is immortal. He was never born and will never die. His doughnut shape is symbolic of this eternal state of existence, an unbroken loop.

When he eats star cookies, they are blasted through the hole of the ring like the nozzle of a rocket. That's why he goes faster after a snack and has the power to travel such vast interstellar distances!

While star cookies are delicious, it is actually Paste which animates everything. It circulates within Ozwomp's ring, but also flows throughout the cosmos. It is the fundamental energy out of which other elements are made (such as orbulons and squarulons).

Ozwomp's crocodile nature, coupled to his ability to fly, make him an ideal protector of the Paste. Why must the Paste be protected? Some, like the Holy Ognobula, want to channel it towards get-rich-quick schemes. Such behavior throws the Universe into chaos. The orb that is looming is the precursor of a blackhole that will rip apart space and time should the Universe become filled with greed, recycling everything back into undifferentiated Paste.

The Great Tipi within Ozway is the last refuge of peace. The residents there want to create a Sacred Hoop for the healing of the Universe, but they lack the material to build it. It requires four elements, triangulons and pentalons in addition to the orbulons and squarulons.

They also need some bumpin' music to do The Dance of Knowing around it to get it moving. This is why Ozwomp makes his voyage, to seek out the minidiscs that contain the songs. Similar to how "a dog is a man's best friend", Platyhoop is Ozwomp's companion throughout his adventures.

...Ok, that's all I got for now. Haha! This is fun to imagine.

I have done both illustration and graphic design "professionally" before, but I would by not consider myself "great" at anything. Like all that I say, please take the following with a grain of salt...

Preliminaries

Generally, I find it best to cultivate an attitude of: "I am grateful for where I am and I am excited about where I am going."

Gratitude keeps one from becoming discouraged and excitement keeps one from stagnating. Together, one will always enjoy whatever they do, including the act of doing art. Art should be relaxing, something that we look forward to each day, not something that we would rather avoid because it is so stress-inducing.

It is also important to keep in mind that one might never truly "capture" what is in their head if they have a vivid imagination, even if they are a very skilled artist. However, if one's goal is to create things that are progressively closer to their inner vision as best as they can, then it is only a matter of thoroughly connecting what one sees to what one does. How can this be built into a habit? I will offer a simple method that has been useful to me...

Skill #1: Learning To See Things As They Are [Understanding]

Oftentimes, people replace the shapes and tones of the images that they see with symbols in their own mind. This tendency is particularly evident with optical illusions. Let's go through a few examples that have a strong relevance to drawing...

In The Muller-Lyer Illusion, when multiple lines meet at the same point, they can make the lines that they are attached to seem longer or shorter than they actually are:



The two horizontal lines in the above image may seem to be of different lengths, but they are actually the same size!



Similarly, within The Ponzo Illusion, overlapping lines might seem to distort the lengths and sizes of others:



Notice how the same is true with more "complex" shapes made up of multiple lines or curves (like the little symbolic "people" in the right-half of the above image).

When we group enough lines or dots together (such as in the case of "shading":wink:, we get some sort of tone:



Like lines, a tone can seem lighter or darker than it actually is depending upon the tones around it:



While tile B might look like a different shade of gray than tile A, they are both the same!



This is called The Adelson Checker Shadow Illusion. All of the illusions that we've shown here have one thing in common:

How something is perceived is dependent upon the context in which it arises.

Not only is this a beautiful metaphor for all forms of communication, it is also important in drawing...When we are drawing, we relate the lines that we are about to draw to the ones that we've already set down. Take a reference image and ask yourself, "How long is this line relative to that one? What is the distance or angle between them?" Use a ruler or protractor to check it after you make a guess.

Do the same thing with tones. "Is this tone darker or lighter?" One can purchase little cards that have a "grayscale" printed on them:



There are little notches cut into each shade of gray to isolate a tone underneath the card to check how light or dark it is in comparison. If you need some pictures to test it out, most photo manipulation programs have settings to turn color photos into black-and-white/monochrome ones.

Skill #2: Learning To Do Things As We Intend [Practice]

Now that we have some awareness of how we see, we can use it to inform our practice of making different types of lines. Fill up some sheets of scrap paper with straight and curved lines of various lengths and pressures.

As you do this, take note of how you hold your drawing instrument and how you move it. If at all possible, grasp it loosely and move from your elbow and shoulder, not your wrist. This gives one a wider range of motion and keeps their hand and back from cramping up. It should be comfortable to draw! Do not make the body tense.

Sometimes it is easier to make straight lines by "pushing" our hand away from our body, with the elbow opening up like a door hinge, whereas curves are sometimes easier to make by "pulling" our hand towards us, swinging our forearm in an arc with the elbow acting like a pivot. Do not be afraid to move the drawing surface around to approach each line from whatever angle is easiest.

Set down two points and try to connect them with a line. If you end up drawing a curve when you intend to make a straight line, do not erase it. Draw another line over it and carefully note how they differ from one another. Notice how we can make the "bow" of a curved line deeper or shallower, until it becomes so shallow that it is completely straight.

Repeatedly draw lines of different kinds over and over again, comparing them to one another, all while paying close attention to your grip and how you move.

Skill #3: Developing Hand-Eye Coordination [Understanding Meets Practice]

Next, try some simple drawing exercises. These can be a lot of fun and will help to connect the two previous skills together.

Start by trying to draw some simple shapes (like triangles, squares, rectangles, circles, and ellipses). When you are about to draw a line, see it as if you have already drawn it on your paper. Keep your eye slightly ahead of the point of your pencil as you move it. Move with awareness and intention.

Notice that simple shapes can become the guidelines for more complex ones [as demonstrated here by MangaMaterials]:



When these simple shapes become easy to draw, learn how to make tones of various shades within their borders. One way of doing this is by steadily moving your forearm back and forth like a windshield wiper, making a series of parallel lines that are somewhat evenly spaced from one another (i.e.: "hatching":wink:. Change the pressure and density of the lines to make those tones lighter or darker. For example, try to mimic the squares of the grayscale:



They don't have to be "perfect". The tones just have to be noticably different from each other. Repeatedly make various shapes containing tones of different shades, comparing them to one another, all while paying close attention to your grip and how you move.

Skill #4: Making Deliberate Choices [Application]

The previous three skills are foundational. It doesn't matter whether it is "abstract" or "photorealistic", all drawings of any kind whatsoever are based upon them to some extent.

Once we have some facility in them, it then becomes a matter of choosing how we use them and why. What do you want to convey? It is impossible to render the potentially infinite detail within one's imagination or the reality that we see before us, but we can control the simplifications that we make. What will you put in and what will you leave out? We can learn to convey a lot with very few lines and tones, letting the viewer's mind complete the picture.

We have now come "full circle". Use illusions to create symbols by choice, rather than being guided by them without awareness.

Conclusion

I hope this is helpful to everyone. For those that are interested, there is a lot of useful art learning material linked on my website as well.


Photo Credits:

Images 1 & 2
Image 3
Images 4 & 8
Images 5 & 6
Image 7
Image 9

Oh yeah, I meant to add this one too...

* Tupper Ware Remix Party feat. Dan Avidan - Starlight Brigade:

A few that I like...

* xkcd

Nerdy humour

* Strange Planet

Amusing dialogues about aliens adapting to human life

* Yumi's Cells

A little K-drama in comic form

* Extra Ordinary

Fun and silly

* Wayrift

A FFIV-inspired comic by a fellow Neocitizen

* Achewood [Content Warning]

Makes me think of an Adult Swim cartoon or something

* Lackadaisy

Beautiful art of cat people in the 1920s

* Elan School [Content Warning]

An autobiographical? comic about a "school" known for abuse

...More later.

I haven't done many. [Here is one example; content warning!]

However, they are really fun and interesting to do, almost like writing magnet poetry.

Some of my favorites are actually from a dear artist friend of mine who passed away. I don't think I will be able to find any pictures to share, but hers were amazing! They were often mixed into the backgrounds of dioramas or paintings.

At one point in time, she also had a beautiful one in her home that was made by another artist out of things that he fished out of the sea (e.g.: old floppy disks, rope, etc.). It was huge and heavy though! One time it fell off of the wall and nearly destroyed her computer monitor.

This is...FIRE!

Haha! Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Seriously though, it looks great! I'm glad that the art block has dissolved.

I will list a few classics that a lot of people probably already know...

* a-ha - Take On Me

I will always love the animation in this.

*Blind Melon - No Rain

This is a great song with a happy little video from a band that is underappreciated in my opinion.

* Beastie Boys - Sabotage [Caution: Explicit lyrics]

I still get a good laugh from it. Cop shows haven't changed much have they?

* Björk - Human Behavior

It was either this or Jóga for me, but both are directed by Michel Gondry anyway (same director of one of my favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine).

* The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight

Beautifully done! It is based off of the Georges Méliès film, Le Voyage dans la Lune.

* Radiohead - There, There

It seems like a friendly forest with magical little creatures...until it isn't.

* The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl

It was the first Lego animation that I saw, and the forerunner to things like Rymdreglage's 8-Bit Trip.

Ok, now for a few that are probably less well known...

* Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

Someday people will understand Wilhelm Reich...someday...

* Golden Shower - Video Computer System [Caution: Flashing lights]

Crude name, cool video. It makes me think of demoscene.

* The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism

Lots of fun! I remember when this one came out...I just wish the video was higher quality.

* Ugly Duckling - A Little Samba

This whole video is like a really terrible dad joke. I love it...But again, I wish it was higher quality.

A lot of J-Pop songs have excellent music videos (e.g.: Utada Hikaru's "Traveling", pretty much anything by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Perfume's "Mirai no Museum", and so on). I have already put a lot though.

Cool selections everyone!

Well, I guess we've all found each other then! I (unironically) enjoy much of what has been listed here (e.g.: Hey Arnold!, the first Mario Bros. movie, Crocodile Dundee, The Angry Beavers, electromechanical devices, etc.). I have to check out Circa Infinity now...The gameplay looks completely different, but the circular movement makes me think of Ghost for some reason.

Cobra!, you've probably already heard of it, but if you like War Gods, you might also like Mace: The Dark Ages, another clunky 3-D fighter that was released by Midway around the same time. I remember playing that one a bunch back in the day. I am also interested in what you have found! One of my fondest memories was my cousin excitedly demonstrating to me his strategy to beat the original MK in a few minutes. He repeatedly used Scorpion's spear attack and then would uppercut when the opponent was stunned. So simple, yet so clever.

There are no "boneheaded questions" for the genuinely curious! The question that comes to my mind is:

"What length is long enough for a person to express what they intend to?"

Only the writer of that post can answer that. Of course, not everyone may read it. That too is a personal choice.

...I can't imagine a forum being very fun for those that don't like reading though. Haha!

Natalia Lafourcade's "Soledad y El Mar":

For some reason the Tiny Desk versions of songs are just so incredibly good, and dare I say, better than the albums. Another amazing one is Yebba's "Stand" [Caution: Explicit lyrics].

In general, I think there is a significant difference between circumstances where someone is attempting to be insulting and when they are sincerely offering constructive criticism. Although, it might not always be evident which is which. Insults are usually done through name-calling, while constructive criticism is often accompanied by an explanation as to why an action might be beneficial to us. There are also instances when people just plainly state their own opinions (e.g.: "I like it" or "I hate it" without any further elaboration on their personal experiences).

I strongly agree with what SilkSkull has said. People are not always aware of how their words / behaviors are perceived by others. My approach to handling it is also similar...

Whatever the case may be, I always attempt to keep my composure and decide if what is said is useful. I try not to take anything personally. Oftentimes, whether or not someone else appreciates something that we do is simply a matter of personal taste. If it is a constructive action, then I will not let anyone discourage me from doing it.

Likewise, not all of the advice that we receive may be applicable to us, but I can gratefully acknowledge when someone is attempting to be helpful and be humble enough to listen. I want to learn from everyone and everything. No one person is capable of being fully aware and informed of every situation. We need each other to expand our points of view to better encompass reality.

However, I try to never return an insult for an insult, as that usually escalates into an argument. Sometimes people are addicted to whipping up drama, or they are of the belief that being difficult with others gives them some small sense of "control" over their own lives. Therefore, if peaceful dialogue is just not happening despite my best efforts, then I will minimize interaction with that person as much as possible. Nothing is ever gained by fighting, yet much can be lost almost instantly. There are situations where learning to keep a sense of calm can literally save one's life. Our emotional responses can provide useful information, but we must be cautious of reacting through them in ways that end up causing us problems.

As for a personal story...

I remember when I was in high school and an acquaintance of mine questioned why I was drawing the subject matter that I was. He then proceeded to tell me that he thought someone else's art was "better".

I simply nodded, but inside, it upset me so much that I stopped doing art for a little while. Please do not let that happen to you. Do art because you love doing it. If you do it for praise, then you will most likely end up disappointed when such praise is not forthcoming. Further, please do not compare yourself to others. Everyone is unique and we all focus on different things. When I finally realized all of this, then I felt a sense of freedom from judgment and could enjoy doing art again whether I had people to cheer me on or not. This kind of approach has worked for me with other activities too, like writing and making music.

Modern "social media" can seem like an unfriendly place, where one is under constant surveillance and relentlessly buffeted around by algorithms. Sometimes we need to attain equilibrium again (e.g.: by cutting down on all of the advertising and "news" within our online spaces).

I am sure that many people here gravitate towards MelonLand and similar forums for that reason. Of course, there will always be the issues of safety and privacy anywhere on the Internet (including on the "small web":wink:, but a lot of the pretense is absent here.

Along with this comfort, people not only seek out genuine connections, but also practical life advice. Where else can one go when their physical environment might be lacking? I do not have "The Answer" to that, but the following topic will be a sincere attempt to gather some of what I have found personally helpful throughout the years...


Questions

• "I am feeling tired about life and/or find it hard to move on."

You might be suffering from "burnout". Try to ease stress and heal from any past traumas as much as possible.

• "I am not sure what I am working toward."

You have a constructive purpose that only you can fulfill! Some organization, time management, and goal-setting methods might help to uncover it. It takes patience to create things.

• "I am overwhelmed by information."

Develop a sense of logical reasoning and break down complex subject matter into usable bits. Find some study methods that work for you. Be self-motivated in your learning.

• "How do I survive when I have little?"

Make sure that you get enough nutrition by managing your resources well. When one lacks access to healthcare, herbalism and basic first-aid are also helpful skills to have.

If you are trying to find somewhere to stay, please be careful.

• "I have trouble talking with people."

It may be helpful to learn some communication strategies.

In general, interpersonal relationships, especially romantic ones, can be difficult sometimes. That is especially true if we lack an understanding of what types of feelings and behaviors are associated with "love", and haven't carefully considered the aspects that make up long-term commitments like "marriage".


...So, my friends, what information have you picked up from the small web that has made a constructive impact on your life outside of the Internet?

Most of the people in my life know about my site but don't really care much about it. My family is aware that I have a website and that I take on various coding stuff, etc, but they aren't invested in the technology space to really care much about my specific projects. If they saw my website they'd just say "but Facebook is easier to use, why are you bothering?" My parents are quite old.

Friends, on the other hand, are a mixed bag. Majority of my friends are also not as invested in tech, and so I never had someone to relate to when it comes to programming. No one to really nerd out with besides through the internet. I love both my parents and my friends, but I definitely long for that person that I can relate to in a real life space.

I feel like my situation is similar to this. The people who know about it don't talk much about it, with perhaps one notable exception. If I am being completely honest...

Long ago, I was disappointed that very few people seemed to care about the things that I had put so much effort into, but then I realized that it was never my goal to get noticed. It was simply to share things that could be helpful to others. And hopefully, to work with people that can identify with those values in real life.

Therefore, I started to enjoy sharing again when my expectations became humble. People naturally focus upon their own interests and not everyone who appreciates what you share will tell you. This understanding led me to always try to give my best whatever the circumstances, and to be genuinely grateful for all of the comments and emails that I have received throughout the years. Sincerity means infinitely more to me than quantity.

So, cheers! You will find what you are looking for.