#formicosa

[humansbgone]

And this gorgeous piece from @dezimaton! Formicosa City and Sophodra are both looking absolutely amazing!!!

[humansbgone]

Taxes?

Weird question, but do the macrovolutes still have to pay taxes?

If so, who do they pay it to? And do they have a version of the IRS, or does it all go to the ants?

(The thought that even giant insects have to pay their taxes is both a relief and disheartening. On one hand, they know the struggle, and it’s something to empathize with. On the other, taxes are a universal constant and no sapient species will ever be free of them.)

Submitted by Anonymous

Before I answer this ask, word of warning--looks like Tumblr is sharing your email when you ask anonymously now =/

As for taxes...in modern Formicosa City, yes! Taxes are paid to the respective Swarm that a macrovolute belongs to, if they belong to one. In exchange, they receive various protections and social services, and a sense of belonging (for whatever that’s worth). Depending on whether or not they have a family, and how important that family is, taxes may or may not be somewhat optional. (They’d certainly get the stink-eye for not paying, though.)

The Swarms don’t need to pay the ants taxes. Instead, they set aside resources for whatever the ants may need. Of course, if the ants want more than that, they’ll just take it.

Taxes are not a constant for all macrovolutes, however. In the past they were unknown, and some cultures across the bladders still don’t have them.

[humansbgone]

(This is content for Humans-B-Gone!, an animated sci-fi series about a giant praying mantis who works in pest control--those pests including humans. Watch it on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/c/humansbgone )

(NOTE: The animated series starts before Rose comes to work for Sophodra. The comics are set while she works for her.)

In our world, animals like moose and elk initially grow their antlers in covered in a layer of skin called "velvet," which they later shed. In the Humans-B-Gone! world, they shed a little more than that.

---

Finally, our first look at Formicosa City!

With how pristine and regular the 3D models of the characters are, it was fun to let myself get loose with their designs here. See how many inconsistencies you can spot! (Seriously though, don't.)

Next, I'll be doing a lore post. 

(If Sophodra touches your face with a cold, clammy sack full of moose it means she likes you. Really.)

[humansbgone]

@hyperray had a lot of questions! So, I'm putting them all in this master post to answer, with hyperray's questions in italics:

Can species of different Macrovolutes reproduce with each other and have healthy offsprings?

Technically, no. However…well, you'll see.

Do Macrovolutes have their own "Drip"?

Mostly no, because putting any kind of coating on themselves would interfere with their sensory hairs. It would also disrupt the look of a specific species, which is frowned on. However, the true spiders do sometimes like to decorate themselves with silk "stickers."

You know what you were doing with those shoulders in episode 7, didn't you?

;)

Would you consider to do one of these "Reading your comment as X" videos with your characters?

Actually, I did do a few "Ask Gregorsa" videos! They didn't prove that popular, though, and people wanted to know more about the universe, instead of the real life biology facts he was supposed to answer. You can find the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdJmrytBTbQ&list=PLiv07pYFma7mg6hlgLUh1C76DJ6HG8JAV

If Macrovolutes communicate through pheromones, the sharing of airborne chemicals, then what happens when too many try to communicate in one room? Wouldn't the chemicals get all mixed up and everybody would just "hear" mumbo jumbo?

Because their communication is 3D, they're very sensitive to the directionality of pheromones. In addition, pheromones used for conversation are highly volatile (break down quickly). And like us with unique voices, they can also smell who the speaker is. So, it's probably less confusing than a bunch of humans talking in a crowded room!

What woul Sophodra, or rather the Macrovolutes in general, think if a being like Perfect Cell from Dragonball Z? Powerful flying half bug half human thing

Sophodra thinks vertebrates are cool, where the average macrovolute is disgusted by them, so their opinions would be pretty different. Sophodra would think Perfect Cell is neat, the average macrovolute would just be horrified.

Are there any actual supernatural/mystic things going on in the Humans B Gone world? I wouldn't count the Unknown Nature because that seems to be a scientific thing in-universe

Nope, just the Unknown Nature!

Since bladders and bladder complexes are equivalent to mall countries, I wonder, have you thought of them being equivalent in culture to Earth's countries? If that's the case, what country would the Formicosa complex be equivalent of?

Yes! The Formicosa Complex is most equivalent to America--a big, powerful country that imposes its culture on the rest of the world. (Of course, the ants' dominion is even more extreme than that.) Swarm culture is also very capitalist. A melting pot of distinct cultures recently parted from their homelands, Formicosa City itself is most akin to New York City during its heyday.

Like humans have their own slurs to call each other, do macrovolutes have their own swear words to insult one another?

Boy, do they!

[humansbgone]

(This is content for Humans-B-Gone!, an animated sci-fi series about a giant praying mantis who works in pest control--those pests including humans. Watch it on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/c/humansbgone )

This was the first total break week from HBG I've taken in almost a year, so no progress update for now.

Instead, here's a look at an existing asset that will be used in the upcoming episode. (Longtime followers may have seen it before!) This is a gall house, the most common type of construction in Formicosa City. Gregorsa point opportunity: Do a little research on plant galls, then check next week's update to see how what you've picked up squares with what I have to teach you!

Next week, progress should resume as usual. Some script touchups need to be done, as well as rough recording, and finding music. The week after, might tackle the harder assets head on, just to get them out of the way--or, maybe I'll start small to ease myself back in. We'll see! Until next time!

[humansbgone]

(This is content for Humans-B-Gone!, an animated sci-fi series about a giant praying mantis who works in pest control–those pests including humans. Watch it on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/c/humansbgone )

(Continuation of this post: https://humansbgone.tumblr.com/post/695335901227859968/this-is-content-for-humans-b-gone-an-animated )

Pictured: Macrovolutes going about their day in Formicosa City.

In Tricularia is a bladder complex called "Formicosa." The top bladder, Formicosa Apex, is the site of most of our story. In particular, its capitol: Formicosa City, the bustling hub of Tricularian commerce.

Formicosa City is the most populated city in Tricularia by far, with people from all over the bladders. Principally, these are members of Fly Swarm, Moth Swarm, Beetle Swarm, True Bug Swarm, and Spider Swarm, as well as their many sister and daughter swarms. However, insects from every major group can be found here. All Swarms bend knee to the ants, who tightly patrol the city.

Formicosa City itself is a complex of plant galls connected by a network of modified vines, with modified Venus flytraps used as doors, lights, and windows. Though made of plants, extreme UV lighting has baked out the green. Unable to see the red that's left, the macrovolute perspective of the city is black and purple.

All this is suspended from the ceiling of the bladder, so that the city extends both horizontally and vertically for miles. Even on the plant galls themselves, residents are expected to navigate the sides and bottoms of plant gall islands as well as the tops. All this creates a place very foreboding to those who can't fly or drop down from silk lines. As a result, the population of non-spider arachnids is very small.

To humans, the environment is uninhabitable without special suits, due to dangerous levels of UV lighting and flesh-eating fungi and bacteria. Only those known as "hivers" dare brave the depths of places like the "Red Hive" (as they call the city). In particular, one group of hivers known as the Vadinites.

This is where Rose comes to work for Sophodra.

[humansbgone]

(Watch Humans-B-Gone! on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/c/humansbgone )

The backgrounds are basically done for the first stage! These were the backgrounds I was dreading the most--*have been* dreading the most, since I first conceived of this area, long before I ever even started work on the series--so this is a huge relief! Glad to see the assets I made were good enough after all.

The final backgrounds for this stage are either simple or mostly done, and tied up enough in the animation that they will be completed when that is.

Two more stages of backgrounds remain. Also intimidating, though not nearly to same degree as this stage. 

Over the weekend, I'll get a start on the second stage backgrounds, and aim to finish those early next week. With any luck, I'll be able to finish up the third stage backgrounds by then. Then, possibly only another month to finish animation! Here's hoping! Until next time!