#pencimber

[ohlookitsanartist]

2001: BIONICLE

If there was a single franchise that’s defined and stuck with me through my life, it would definitely be BIONICLE. Little kid me was absolutely captivated by all these toys had to offer: Brightly colored robots with functional action figures, a continuing storyline through books, comics, and games, and so many characters and creatures across the different locations in their universe. Summer waves would come out near my birthday, winter waves would come out around Christmas. The Dream was absolutely my childhood (if you know, you know) . Even today, I still hang out in BIONICLE communities, making fanart and building MOCs, as my collection stands upon my shelves.

Honorable Mentions: Super Mario Advance 2, Sonic Advance

[ohlookitsanartist]

1998: Starcraft

I never played this game, but this game is one of my dad’s favorites. I often watched him play it on the family computer (while waiting for a turn to play my own games probably). Maybe not an ideal game for little me, but I loved the designs of the different factions. It likely got me primed to become a fan of science-fiction and robots in general. And of course, it reminds me of my father.

Honorable Mentions: Cowboy Bebop, Mulan

[ohlookitsanartist]

2023: The Amazing Digital Circus

At a time when giant studios seem too afraid to fund new IPs despite their wealth, it is lovely to see projects like this take off. I don't have the confidence to be a fulltime artist just yet, but I do have the means to support other artists in ways I would want to be supported. Although this show wasn’t necessarily funded as such, it seems to have inspired other creators to try to greenlight their projects, which I appreciate. The show itself is a great look into a situation where different people react to what is essentially an unchanging situation. The character designs are fun and simple, hiding their complexities within.

Honorable Mentions: Joined Bluesky, Atomicon, “With Faith” Webcomic

[ohlookitsanartist]

2012: Gravity Falls

This was a show I didn't get into until a bit later in its lifespan. Not because I didn't like it, just the aforementioned lack of cable access. But after later finding a way to watch the entire series, it's become one of my favorites. The quick humor and the intrigue of the supernatural keep me coming back for a rewatch. Plus seeing the evolving family dynamic in the Pines is endearing, at the least.

Honorable Mentions: Game Grumps, Markiplier

[ohlookitsanartist]

2008: Kirby: Super Star Ultra

Through this game, I was introduced to the pink puffball, and I can't think of a better way to do it. Kirby was a bright spot in a relatively lower part of my life, a bit of cutesy softness to mellow out my edgy demeanor. Of course, there's plenty of deep worlds and nightmarish beings within Kirby's universe that I also thoroughly enjoyed. It's that contrast between a simple interior and a deep interior that keeps me interested in what this series has to offer. One of the villains, Marx, even inspired a character I made for tomorrow’s entry.

Honorable Mentions: WALL-E, De Blob

[ohlookitsanartist]

2000: The Emperor’s New Groove

I don’t think Disney is ever gonna make another film like this, and that’s okay. This film messes with tropes while still having a good story and hilarious characters. I laughed at the jokes as a kid, and I still laugh at the jokes as an adult. My family even recites quotes to each other to this day. We especially make use of belting out “IT’S… DINNERTIME!”

Honorable Mentions: Chicken Run, Jet Set Radio

#pencimber #pencimber2025 #day6 #art #artchallenge #pencildrawing #artinspiration #emperorsnewgroove #kuzco #pacha #yzma #kronk

[ohlookitsanartist]

2017: Kouka & Bibi

Another film I didn't watch until the last couple years or so, but one I feel is worth including. There's not a single hint of dialogue in this film, but the expressive nature of Kouka and Bibi lends itself to some great visual gags. I'd say all of Dan Variano's animations are like this, and his comics as well, with the inclusion of dialogue never impeding (and sometimes enhancing) the visual humor. As unique as all of Dan's characters are, they are cartoons first and foremost, limited only by his storytelling ingenuity. Dan himself is a fun guy to hang out and chat with while drawing together.

Honorable Mentions: Cuphead, Logan

#pencimber #pencimber2025 #day23 #art #artchallenge #pencildrawing #artinspiration #koukaandbibi #danvariano #cartoon #animation #webcomics

[ohlookitsanartist]

2006: Super Mario Bros. Z

As the Internet became a larger part of my media consumption, my friends and I would gather around a computer to watch Flash animations on various websites. Of all the ones I’ve seen, this one stands out the most, being a bridge between sprite animation and anime fight sequences, all things my friend group enjoyed. Perhaps it bit off more than it could chew in the end, but the ambition is something I appreciate. In a way, this seeded the idea of making content for an online audience. A new avenue was revealing itself to me, though I wasn’t quite ready to take it.

Honorable Mentions: Flushed Away, Fun Home