#Studio Setup Service

[nitainfotech]

Podcasting Studio Setup Services | Professional Podcast Studio by NITA Infotech

Enhance your podcasting experience with NITA Infotech’s expert Podcasting Studio Setup Services. We provide professional acoustic treatment, soundproofing, high-quality equipment installation, and studio optimization for superior audio clarity. Contact us today!

[mudwerks]

Kiki's Delivery Service Kiki Production Cel Setup with Production Background (Studio Ghibli, 1989)

[ort360solutionswy]

We partner with for-profit, service-based businesses throughout the United States to provide outsourced finance and accounting solutions that drive efficiency, growth, and long-term success. Whether you’re looking for expert bookkeeping, fractional CFO support, payables and receivables automation and workflows, we create cost-effective, reliable, and tailored solutions that help your business thrive—today and into the future. Visit our website and schedule a consultation today!

Business Hours: Mon – Fri: 9AM – 5PM

Year Est.: January 8, 2024

Contact Info:

ORT360 Solutions

Address: 30 N Gould St Ste St # R, Sheridan, WY 82801 USA

Phone: +1 855-868-9924

Website: http://www.ort360solutions.com/

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[fincrif]

Can You Use a Personal Loan for Creating a YouTube Studio?

In today’s digital era, content creation has become one of the most lucrative career choices. With platforms like YouTube offering opportunities to earn revenue through ads, sponsorships, and memberships, many aspiring creators are looking to invest in a professional YouTube studio. However, setting up a high-quality studio requires a significant financial investment. This raises an important question: Can you use a personal loan to create a YouTube studio?

Understanding a Personal Loan

A personal loan is an unsecured loan that you can use for various purposes, including debt consolidation, medical expenses, home improvement, and even business-related investments. Unlike business loans, a personal loan does not require collateral, making it an attractive financing option for individuals who need quick funds.

Lenders approve personal loans based on your credit score, income, employment status, and repayment capacity. Since it is a multipurpose loan, you can use it to finance your YouTube studio without any restrictions from the lender.

Costs Involved in Creating a YouTube Studio

Before taking out a personal loan, it’s essential to understand the costs involved in setting up a YouTube studio. Here’s a breakdown of key expenses:

1. Camera and Equipment

A high-quality camera is the heart of any YouTube studio. Depending on the content type, you may need DSLR cameras, mirrorless cameras, or even 4K camcorders. Additionally, essential accessories like tripods, gimbals, and lenses can add to the costs.

2. Lighting Setup

Proper lighting enhances video quality, making it more professional. Ring lights, softbox lights, and LED panels are necessary investments for a well-lit studio.

3. Microphones and Audio Equipment

Audio quality is just as crucial as video quality. A shotgun microphone, lavalier mic, or condenser mic, along with an audio interface and soundproofing materials, can improve the overall production quality.

4. Computer and Editing Software

Video editing is an integral part of content creation. A powerful computer with sufficient RAM, storage, and a high-quality graphics card is necessary for smooth video editing. Premium editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve can enhance post-production quality.

5. Studio Setup and Backdrop

A well-designed backdrop adds to the aesthetics of a YouTube studio. Depending on the theme, you may need a green screen, customized backgrounds, or decorative items.

6. Internet and Streaming Equipment

A high-speed internet connection and streaming gear like capture cards and encoders are essential for live streaming and uploading high-resolution videos.

7. Marketing and Promotion

Investing in SEO, social media ads, and branding materials can help grow your YouTube channel quickly.

How a Personal Loan Can Help You Set Up a YouTube Studio

Using a personal loan for your YouTube studio can be beneficial in multiple ways. Here’s how:

1. Immediate Access to Funds

A personal loan allows you to access funds instantly, helping you purchase essential equipment without delay.

2. No Collateral Required

Unlike business loans, a personal loan does not require collateral, making it a risk-free borrowing option.

3. Flexible Usage

Since personal loans are multipurpose, you can use them for any studio-related expenses without lender restrictions.

4. Structured Repayment Plans

Most personal loans come with fixed monthly installments, making it easier to manage finances and plan repayment effectively.

5. Lower Interest Rates Compared to Credit Cards

Personal loans often have lower interest rates than credit cards, making them a more affordable financing option.

Things to Consider Before Taking a Personal Loan for Your YouTube Studio

While a personal loan can be an excellent financing option, there are certain factors you should consider:

1. Loan Amount and Interest Rate

Compare loan offers from different lenders to get the best interest rates and loan terms.

2. Repayment Terms

Choose a repayment plan that aligns with your earning potential from YouTube to avoid financial strain.

3. Credit Score Requirements

A good credit score can help you secure a loan at lower interest rates. Check your credit score before applying.

4. Alternative Financing Options

Consider alternatives like crowdfunding, grants, or business loans before opting for a personal loan.

Steps to Get a Personal Loan for Your YouTube Studio

If you’ve decided to take out a personal loan for your YouTube studio, follow these steps:

Step 1: Assess Your Financial Needs

Calculate the total amount required for your studio setup.

Step 2: Check Your Credit Score

A higher credit score increases your chances of loan approval at favorable interest rates.

Step 3: Compare Lenders

Research various lenders and compare interest rates, repayment terms, and processing fees.

Step 4: Apply for the Loan

Submit an online or offline application with the required documents, including proof of income and identification.

Step 5: Receive Funds and Start Your Studio Setup

Once approved, the loan amount will be disbursed to your account, allowing you to purchase the necessary equipment.

Conclusion

Yes, you can use a personal loan to create a YouTube studio. It provides an excellent financing option for aspiring content creators who need immediate funds to invest in high-quality production equipment. However, it’s crucial to evaluate your repayment ability and explore different loan options before making a decision. By using the loan wisely, you can build a professional YouTube studio and turn your content creation passion into a sustainable career.

If you’re considering applying for a personal loan for your YouTube studio, compare different loan providers and choose the one that best suits your financial needs. With proper planning and investment, your YouTube journey can be both financially rewarding and creatively fulfilling.

[commandyourbrand]

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with their target audience. Podcasts have emerged as a dynamic platform to reach and engage with niche markets effectively. Whether you’re in the tech industry, the wellness sector, or any other niche, there’s a podcast for you. But how do you find the perfect fit for your business? This is where podcast booking agencies specializing in niche markets come into play. We suggest you take command podcast to maximize your business growth. 

[kianamaiart]

can i ask what the process was like for hiring voice actors for your project was like? i have my own animated project i'm working on and that seems like a big, scary step as an indie creator

I'm lucky in that a lot of the VAs I cast are friends/mutuals of mine so I just DMd them and asked for their rates/if they'd be open to working on my pilot. When I posted the character bios initially, Shara commented on DeVoid saying "I wanna voice the baddie" and I said "bet". For everyone else, I'd just send them the character bios and script to read over to make sure they were down. I was even luckier that a lot of them were just down to help me out despite me trying to pay them (i made sure to at the very least offer my services as an artist if they ever needed prints for cons in the future)

More under the cut

Of the 7 VAs, I didn't know 2 of them personally and was planning on cold emailing their agent (they both have the same one) to ask if they'd be available for something like this. I was definitely nervous and was drafting up emails for such a long time wondering how to pitch the project and make it seem appealing without tooting my own horn too much.

During this time, I'd DMd Marieve, who's my friend and coworker on Big City Greens (voice of Tilly and our voice director), and asked if she'd be open to giving me voice directing tips since I'd be working with professional VAs on my own. She was gracious enough to just work alongside me on the project which was SO helpful, I owe her my life. I mentioned to her that I was still casting and was gonna email Atlas Talent to see if I could book the two other actors. What I didn't realize is that Marieve was also with Atlas and had the same agent and is also friends with said agent. She connected us and they got back to me right away!

That was my in, and from here on is what the booking process is actually like. This is what I feel like will be the most useful to you!

I told them who I was looking to book and they asked if they could get more info on the project. I sent them all my pitch materials so they knew this was a legitimate thing that was happening. I'd had pretty much the whole board and all the scripts done at this time. I feel like having actual, tangible work to show will really help your chances. The talent will know what they're getting into and if they're open to doing the project. Oh and also, if you have some VAs cast and are going to cast more, mentioning who you have already can also give you leverage and make you seem more legitimate. Ooh and also also, I let them know I was massively open to improv which I feel a lot of actors enjoy. A big selling point for this project.

They passed this along to the actors and I also made sure to tell them my budget. I was told by another VA friend that VO rates usually range from $200-300 an hour (you can shoot lower for indie projects). I told them I could do $200/hr but since they're pretty high profile, I was willing to negotiate.

The agent got back to me saying that the actors really liked the script and were willing to do it for free/at a discounted rate which meant the absolute world to me. Both of them are sweethearts and I also owe them my life. From there we scheduled zoom sessions and also studio times (we recorded one of them in person which was so sick). I'd say zoom's the way to go so you don't have to pay to rent a studio out and most VAs, due to the pandemic, have at home setups. There was a lot of scheduling back and forth involved with the agents and the studio but it all worked out and boom! Had em recorded in the next couple weeks.

I will say, it's ALWAYS worth asking and reaching for the stars. VAs are artists too and generally like being on fun, creatively fulfilling projects. You never know who'd be willing to be on your project if you never ask~

[itadoribites]

Temptation Suite | Reader x

Multiple men

PROLOGUE – “Temptation by Design”

Host Club AU

Chapter 1!

✦•┈๑⋅⋯⋯⋅๑┈•✦

summary: You weren’t looking for a relationship, pleasure.. or hook ups.. Not really, But after your long time friend and coworker, Mei Mei suggests a well known host club tucked away in the heart of Tokyo. Curiosity began to get the best of you. Well, one wrong turn and a single black poster later, and you’re standing in front of an unmarked door that allegedly promises luxury, indulgence, and a night you’ll never forget.

..but what you didn’t expect was that the men in the club were men who you knew. Classmates and professors.

contains: Suggestive Themes, Alcohol Mentions, Mild Language, Adult Themes (Implied Sexual Services in Future Chapters), Mature Audience (MDNI) & Setup for NSFW.

A/N: I got this idea of a story from the brilliant @divinedomainn so I highly suggest checking out her series “Stream and Scream” If you enjoy this one.

In the fic I give them host names! Im hoping you guys can decipher who’s who by the names! I’ll probably post at the end which is which for help!

This is also my first time writing anything like this nature/Series and anything on here at all. So please spare me the rude comments and enjoy <3!

It was Wednesday, only the second worst day of the week. (Tuesday being the first, obviously.) You were having overpriced drinks and a terribly slow day.

Mei Mei, your closest friend and coworker, had been stirring her cocktail lazily, her eyes were sharp behind her strangely dark lashes that didn’t seem to match her hair. She watched you like a hawk with a funny look from across the table. She had always looked far too elegant for the places she dragged you to—dripping in silk and gold like royalty slumming it for the thrill.

It was silent for a moment, before she had been the first to speak up and break it.

“You’ve been uptight lately,” she remarked. No preamble. No warning. Just an attack dressed as concern. You looked up at her with a raised brow. “I think it’s time you let someone take the edge off.” She added on.

You sighed and shook your head at her words, sipping your own drink with far less grace than she had been. “I’m doing fine.” You remarked back. You could never admit that her words had slightly offended you.

“You’re surviving,” she corrected. “There’s a difference.”

You scoffed loudly, folding your arms over your chest, giving her a look of irritation. “I don’t need a one-night stand.”

She laughed, low and amused. “I’m not talking about some yucky Tinder burnout with a studio apartment and some superiority complex. I’m talking about professionals.”

You blinked and chuckled softly. “What, like… escorts?”

“Hosts,” she clarified, smiling like the cat that always gets the cream. “It’s ..Classy. Discreet. Very hands-on.” She nodded at her own words. “There’s one club in particular. I’ve heard excellent things about.”

You rolled your eyes and took another sip of your beverage before speaking again. “You’ve heard things?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “..and maybe experienced.” She said only half-joking. “It’s invite-only I believe. Hidden entrance. Absolutely stunning men. Think like.. luxury therapy, but instead of trauma dumping with some old guy, you get your soul kissed through your thighs.” She said smirking.

You choked on your drink and looked at her with wide eyes.

“No thanks,” you muttered quietly, looking around hoping no one had heard her inappropriate words. You shook your head, setting your glass down. “I’ll stick with overpriced wine and my luxury vibrator therapy.”

She shrugged, unfazed and sighing. “Suit yourself. But when you’re ready to stop pretending you don’t want to be touched my something other than that vibrator—ask me again.”

✦•┈๑⋅⋯⋯⋅๑┈•✦

You weren’t thinking about what she had said the next day whilst you wandered through Shinjuku, your mind was half on errands and half on your inbox. You weren’t looking for anything unusual, just minding your own. And yet—

Your eyes had caught on something between a newsstand and a boarded-up alleyway. It was a poster, sleek and black little designs around the edge in gold, it was half hidden behind flyers and neon stickers. More gold script at the top. You stepped closer, curiosity nudging at your ribs.

‘VELVET ROOM – TOKYO’S MOST EXCLUSIVE

HOST CLUB EXPERIENCE’

‘Invitation not required… if you’re brave enough to walk through the door.’

You cringed at the line before reading the poster once more.

Beneath it was a list—it consisted of no photos, just names and short descriptions. Like collectables on a blind-box.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯⋯⋅๑┈•✦

The star — He’s too loud, far too pretty, and too damn confident n’ cocky—but the moment those icy blue eyes settle on you, the fucking world melts away. He’ll kiss you like a dare, fuck you like a challenge, and laugh whilst you fall in love. You’ll hate how much you’ll want to come back.

The sinner — He watches from the lounge chairs of the velvet lounge, stretched out like a panther waiting to pounce. When you approach, he doesn’t chase—you come to him. And when he takes you, it’s without apology, without mercy, and without a single moment wasted and it’s aggressive.

The devoted — He’s not the type to talk over you, Hes silent. Shy, warm, intense, and just a the smallest bit awkward—but once he touches you, his focus is blinding. You’re all he thinks about. You’ll feel every motion like a vow. He’ll treat your pleasure like a promise he refuses to break.

The god — He doesn’t ask for your name, Doesn’t care. He demands your surrender and obedience. His mouth is cruel, his hands are heavy and rough, ‘n when he smiles, it’s with teeth. Choose him only if you want to be ruined—body, mind, and pride. But you’ll leave with a bruised body, throat, and a fucked-out grin.

The worshipped — He doesn’t just touch you—he studies you, Takes you all in. Every sigh, every flinch, every breath becomes a blueprint for his devotion. When he says you’re beautiful, it isn’t just a line. It’s a prayer. And he’ll make you believe it with his tongue, his fingers, and his ruinous focus.

The gentleman — His tie is sharp, his words are sharper—and his hands? Smooth and lethal. He moves with precision and intention, like he already knows what you need before you say a word. Your pleasure is a problem he solves with elegant efficiency… and lingering fingertips.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯⋯⋅๑┈•✦

You ran your finger along the edge of the poster whilst biting your lip and examining it further.

There was something old-fashioned about it—no QR code, no website, no contact info or social media handles, number.. just nothing. Just the dumb gold outline, and of course a strange little flutter in your stomach. Like you had been nervous.

Your eyes wondered back to the list:

The star

The sinner

at devoted

The god

The worshipped

The gentleman

It didnt even consist of any photos or prices. Just titles that weirdly read like promises.

You scoffed quietly and rolled your eyes at the poster. You pulled your coat a little tighter.

‘Mei Mei’s insane.’ You thought to yourself, Chewing your lip once more.

But still—you couldn’t stop thinking about her voice. Low and smug, echoing in your head like a dare:

“It’s luxury therapy… and they’ll kiss your soul through your thighs.”

You’d rolled your eyes at her. Laughed it off. You weren’t that desperate.

But were you?

You glanced down at your phone. Your Inbox full. Calendar packed. Another paper due. Another group project with no help from your player of a partner. ‘Stupid satoru’ You thought. You were tired. Burned out. And maybe—maybe just a little curious and in need of a break.

You stared at the red velvet door tucked between the shadows for a moment longer, you thought about it and then turned and walked away.

Not tonight.

But maybe tomorrow. After class. Just to see. Not to stay. Not to indulge. Just… to look. You were just a little curious, thats all.

Just once.

A/N: This is only part one! Its just to see how it goes, how people react and enjoy it and if i should continue.

Heres a roster:

The star — Gojo

The worshipped — Geto

The sinner — Toji

The devoted — choso

The god — Sukuna

The gentleman — Nanami

[princesscoress]

Hii do you think you could write a fic on how Vox would correct or fix bunny reader attitude when she misbehaves? xox

he doesn’t ( he tries )

this is also me feeding into the fact that bunny is a little

warnings: reference to another fic where bunny got spanked as punishment

Calm It Bunny

“princess i need you to stop screaming.” this had been going on for at least the past hour.

you had woken up to vox already being in his office so per usual you ran out of your room and straight to his office taking your usual spot on his lap. you had stayed up late the night before because valentino had watched you for most of the day and when he watches you he loves to wind you up so that vox has to deal with you being hyper.

the only problem was you were so excited to go find vox and to take a nap cuddling him like you did pretty much every day that you had forgotten to grab your stuffed animal when you ran to him.

which normally wasn’t a problem since vox would always send one of his assistants to go get your stuffed animal. except for today since vox had a cleaning service come in to clean up your guys’ room because he wanted to get you your own setup for when you were little since most of your toys were always getting scattered around.

vox hadn’t even noticed the stuffed animal missing until you had woken up and asked him for it. he was in need of a break and knows you love when he watches you play with your toys so he had taken you back to your room but your stuffed animal was missing when you guys got there.

“wan’ stuffy!” was all you said since you started your little tantrum. vox sighed then held his hand out “come on princess maybe val has it? you wanna come with me and go check?” you just nodded grabbing onto his hand.

valentino became the go to whenever you lost anything since he had found your stuffed animal when you had left it in the limo after going out one night with him and vox.

the idea of going to see if valentino had it calmed you down a little bit, your screaming turning into once in a while sniffles and the tears on your face starting to dry up.

vox handed you a pair of sunglasses before picking you up. “you put those on when we get to val’s studio okay? i don’t want you seeing anything if he’s filming.” you just nodded, laying your head on his shoulder.

you guys got to the studio and luckily there was no filming going on today, valentino was sitting in his office doing lots of nothing. which is why vox was fine with setting you down and letting you run over to the moth.

“vally!” valentino was pissed for a second about the nickname before he saw the little bunny the nickname had came out of. “oh if it isn’t bun, i wasn’t expecting a visit from you today.” he paused noticing the dried tears on your face. “conejita, what’s the matter?”

“she lost her stuffy. i was hoping maybe you had seen it?” valentino shook his head “i never see that thing unless it’s attached to the little conejita, she takes it everywhere.”

there wasn’t a sound out of you, vox was hoping you didn’t hear what valentino said or see him shake his head and that you were just hopefully staring at valentino.

he soon found out that was false when your tantrum started all over again. “wan’ stuffy!” he sighed attempting to pick you up but being met with you slapping him.

the slap brought both valentino and vox to be surprised. “princess.” he said attempting to pick you up again but being pushed away by you.

“bunny. i’m trying to be nice and help you find your stuffy but if you’re going to act like this you can say goodbye to your stuffy forever because i won’t help you if you’re gonna act like this.” his response just caused another scream to come out of you which prompted valentino to get up and shut his office door.

“HEY!” vox yelled finally getting your attention as he had crouched down to your height and getting you to stop screaming. “listen to me right now bunny. you’re gonna stop screaming right now, we’re trying our best to find your stuffy for you and you’re being nothing but mean. you’re gonna knock that off right now, you behave or no stuffy okay?”

all you did was nod going over to vox and wrapping your arms around him. “no wan’ spank!” he nodded picking you up and sitting down in the office chair valentino kept for when vox bored him about business. “i’m not gonna spank you princess but you need to behave. no more being loud.”

“i jus’ wan’ stuffy.” more tears started falling down your face which vox was quick to start wiping. “i know princess but we can only do so much if it’s gone it’s gone.”

“no!!!!!” you practically yelled but vox chose to ignore it knowing him getting mad at you just made everything worse as him yelling just made you noise wise worse. “princess, i need you to quiet down, you’re gonna hurt valentino’s ears.”

“i no hurt vally.” valentino chuckled at your response placing a kiss to your head. the two had just sat there playing with you for a little bit to try and get your tears to stop falling after your tantrum had stopped.

then there was a knock on the office door before angel dust poked his head in “bun bun come on out here real quick.” you looked over at vox who nodded his head before going by angel dust.

“we all heard about ya lil stuffy and we got velvette to make ya something.” he said before handing you a stuffed animal that looked exactly like vox. “ya like it bun bun?”

“wove it!” you said before running back into the office and showing vox and valentino. “look at that princess now you have a stuffed animal you can cuddle when i’m busy.”

“no!!!!” you just glared at vox, but it wasn’t really a glare it was more you trying to but just looking silly. “i’m sorry princess you got a stuffy of me to cuddle now.” you nodded being happy about him using the right terms to describe your toys.

A/N: valentino & velvette planned the whole thing to get the stuffed animal from her because of how dirty it was so they put it in the wash but it shrunk and they knew better than to give it back to her like that. ( they don’t wanna be the reasons she cries )

[sgiandubh]

It's all in the details

Pap walk and a totally last minute (panic?) setup. I am writing this with confidence.

Have a look at the photo credits, as per People magazine, that saw it chez the ever serviceable JJ and pounced on it (you know conversations mildly happened, even if no rep confirmed anything, btw):

As pointed out in one of the comments threads, we know who the people at Backgrid are:

It is not difficult to find out who that particular contributor is:

This particular photo, mind you:

Who is @wj_images?

'Street portraits and event photography'. Particularly interested in the Soho neighborhood of London.

Follows Russell Tovey (and a bajillion other celebs, but not S) and the @allisjoycafe account (mutuals). Bingo!

Let's connect some dots, shall we?

Pics were taken in front of the Soho antenna of the Burger & Lobster restaurant chain, 36-38 Dean Street:

Across the street from the Dean Street Townhouse, actually. See for yourself:

All is Joy Cafe is part of All is Joy Studios, in Soho. Workspaces and events hub. 75 Dean Street, Soho:

They even have a TikTok account, ROFLMAO:

Distance between All is Joy Studios and Cafe and the Burger and Lobster Restaurant is 157 feet. Roughly 48 meters:

The circuit is like follows:

SRH -> Russell Tovey -> All is Joy Studios and Cafe -> wj_images paparazzo -> Backgrid ->Just Jared -> People magazine

As for Jennifer A's involvement, I would be very reserved, this time. Remember (LOL) his representatives (her, of course) have not confirmed anything to People magazine. It was SRH's idea and jingle all the way.

LOL. Did someone say 'organic'? Jeez, Louise, puh-leez.

I rest my case. And this time, it took me one hour, not 15 minutes.

[nitainfotech]

Professional Studio Setup Services | NITA Infotech

NITA Infotech offers expert Professional Studio Setup Services for businesses & content creators. Get high-quality audio, video, and lighting solutions!

[benpaddon]

My current home recording setup is great for podcasts, less so for VO and audiodrama. It's time to upgrade.

So why not hire me? I'm available for the following gigs:

Writing! Hire me to write for your thing. I've written or ghost-written for a number of clients, and have written for my own projects including Jump Leads, PortsCenter, Hot Quest, and The Game of Rassilon.

Script notes! Have you written something you want feedback on? I'd be happy to read it and give notes, feedback, and constructive criticism.

Voiceover! Yes, my home setup sucks at the moment, but it's good enough for podcasting and it'll only get better. Or, hey, if you're recording in a studio in the LA area... (note: I will not cross the SAG-AFTRA video game strike picket line)

Standup and/or event hosting! This one's trickier because I'm based in Los Angeles and, y'know, maybe you're not! But let's talk anyway.

GMing or DMing your tabletop roleplaying game! I was the GM for The Game of Rassilon for three seasons, ran Hot Quest for FilmJoy, and have GM'd the majority of our live shows. I've GM'd for a number of different systems including D&D 5e, Doctor Who, Monster of the Week, numerous 2d20 games from Modiphius (e.g. Star Trek Adventures, Fallout), and countless indie systems. If you're looking for a GM, either for a private game or a streaming thing, hey, hit me up!

Being British! Look, I can't help that I'm originally from the UK. But I can monetize it. Possibly. Hire me as a British consultant for your writing, or whatever. We'll figure that out.

Interested in any of these services? Got something else in mind? Hit me up! I'm available, affordable, and golly gosh darned talented.

Don't want to hire me, but still want to help? You can always throw some coin in the tip jar:

paypal.me/benpaddon

patreon.com/benpaddon

[be-gay-find-cryptids]

There's an old black train a-coming Scrapin' 'long the iron You don't need no ticket, boys It'll take you when it's time

...

It's been five years since the animated series Infinity Train debuted, and it's been three since it was canceled. Not only has the studio, HBO Max, not renewed it for a fifth season on the flimsy basis that the series' stories and themes were too dark and unappealing to children, but has also removed Infinity Train from its streaming service and digital purchase platforms.

Despite the unjust treatment this show has been saddled with, we can still celebrate Infinity Train and all it accomplished. For people reading this that haven't seen it yet, each season (or "book") follows a different protagonist navigating a seemingly endless, magical train, where each car is its own unique world, challenging passengers with puzzles and personal revelations. This setup allows the show to explore complex themes like identity, trauma, guilt, and forgiveness. The series excels in character development and often presents morally complex figures who grow in surprising ways. It's considered a rare gem in animation and highly regarded for its mature portrayal of emotional hardship. The series' vibe is similar to Over the Garden Wall, Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines. For fans of this, I highly recommend this show.

If you would like to legally support Infinity Train and its creator, Owen Dennis, Book 1 & Book 2 are separately available on DVD. If you would like to see all four books, they can be purchased individually on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, iTunes, Sky TV Apple TV, Vudu, Now TV, and Google Play. Please always consider these options before piracy. There's a better chance of this series coming back in some shape or form if we focus on boosting official views.

If you can't afford to purchase Infinity Train officially, or if you live in an area where the show isn't available to you, there's a Google Drive of the entire series available. There's also another Google Drive available for all of the archived bonus features of the show, like the official pilot and videos of Owen Dennis' commentary.

Thank you, everybody, for checking this post out. I'm planning on doing something like this every year on the first of November just to remind everyone that this show still exists. Please share this around and consider participating in this trend; Infinity Train deserves to be remembered.

[ultraericthered]

The Average Piece Of Junk: Code Geass Lelouch Of The Rebellion

Had some Pizza Hut earlier, and it put me in the mood for this.

What can be said about Code Geass? Well, quite a lot, but the stuff I'd like to say about it focus squarely on the initial series that was rolled out, Lelouch Of The Rebellion. The nature of this series is utterly paradoxical. It's 50% mecha anime camp, but 50% sincerely trying to be a serious drama About Important Stuff. Its narrative is deeply thought through and intricately played out, except for when it just goes "Hey, y'know what'd be freakin' cool? Yeah, throw that in there somewhere!" like Monty Oum working on RWBY, and revels in style and spectacle over substance. It throws lore, worldbuilding, character drama, politics, war, racial prejudice, and high stakes melodrama to engage the viewer and take it completely seriously, then will throw the cheesiest, goofiest shit at the screen as if to tell the viewer "lighten the fuck up and don't take this so seriously!". It embeds much foreshadowing into its events and scenes between characters to build anticipation, then will pull twists and turns derived from literally nothing, making them effectively surprising to the audience but also confounding and rage-inducingly stupid. As another post on the series put it, "Code Geass is Japanese nationalist propaganda disguised as a global political drama, disguised as a military mecha show, disguised as yaoibait, disguised as a teen melodrama, disguised as a high school romcom, disguised as a Pizza Hut commercial, except those layers aren't layers at all, but are instead comingled in a giant snake ball of insanity."

Quite accurate, but in the show's debut season prior to the off-the-rails rancid shitshow quality of the R2 season, there was some genuine substance and solid writing quality worth appreciating. Sunrise Studio had some lofty aspirations to create this sort of mangnum opus anime that could appeal to every sort of anime fan ever, and they didn't quite make that but the narrative in the first season did follow a solidly structured road map and there was a sense of the people writing for it actually trying to service the plot and characters with just enough weight to keep it afloat as an engrossing and entertaining property rather than allowing it to drown in its most shallow and hackneyed qualities like what befell R2. The setup with the world, the politics, and the warfare between factions involved in the central ongoing conflict is likely what has best stood the test of time and is still genuinely compelling. It's got a corrupt monarchy and aristocracy turned into a full-on evil empire expanding its reach and setting an imperial settler-colonial project in Japan, with what was once the Japanese mainland becoming "Area 11", and naturally this comes with oppression, racial discrimination, armed revolution, terrorism, political disputes, machivellian schemes, battefield tactics and counter-tactics, media manipulation, religious nationalism, ancient orders, shadowy conspiracies, secrets to be uncovered, deceptions and ruses masking ulterior agendas, and a deep look at just how all this effects the everyday lives of the people living around the events of this story and those who drive it. Most central in all this is our protagonist Lelouch Vi Britannia, who is ready and willing to bloody his hands and taint his soul in order to gain what he wants most and reshape the world according to his desires.

The conflicts between the Britannian characters and the Japanese characters (or "Elevens" as they're derogatorily called) is interesting. The main state of Britannia and the majority of the Britannian population, especially the non-involved civillians, are not terrible people, even while the Holy Britannian Empire that provides their livelihood and keeps them under its protective rule is unquestionably evil. The vast majority of the Japanese characters are sympathetic, but there's some nuance in the depiction of their freedom fighters and resistance groups, where the line between noble rebel warriors for justice and callous, hateful, homicidal and wantonly destructive terriorsts is so thin as to be a slippery slope, as we're shown clearly with Zero's Black Knights. But by far the biggest highlight (aside from C.C in general) is the dramatic tension, moral and ethical dilemmas, and character arcs of Lelouch, a Britannian prince turned champion of the Japanese resistance, and Suzaku, a Japanese Prime Minister's son turned champion of the Britannian forces. The two childhood friends have a dynamic not too unlike Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked, where they both see very clearly the horrors and corruption rotting within the existing system and want to bring change from the way things are, but they both approach it from two different not entirely invalid but not without flaws angles. Lelouch places most of his focus on himself and his ability to bring about great change and prioritizes that end result above thinking through all the details of it and what costs would need to be paid or not, while Suzaku puts his focus on making great change from within the currently standing system without putting enough focus or value on himself and what HE could do to push those changes, being more content with indirect outreach via small good deeds, guiding others to reconsider things and being the stepping stone for those others to do the heavy lifting for him. Both of them have half of the big picture, and had they worked together from the start, they could’ve gotten it down. It's thus the epitome of tragedy that the two come to be at odds, and when they finally do join together, too much damage had already been done, much of it by their hands, and all they can do is act as a unified force for futher evil, terror and violence until all their wrongs can be set right through an unsettlingly bleak, machiavellian, authoritarian act of penance that offers their blood and very lives as sacrifices. These two characters, who are really the core of the whole story, play out their dynamic sort of like a twisted, subversive, nuanced take on Saturday Morning Cartoon good guys VS bad guys, where the "good guy" is actually servicing the status quo and institutional power of a despotic, bigoted imperial regime and spirals into becoming an Anti-Hero who's jaded by all sides of the conflict and acts only for his own wants and beliefs, and the "bad guy" is, from the offset, an Anti-Hero who wants to bring down the imperial regime for his own byronic reason and spirals into becoming every bit a supervillain and just as monstrous a menace to the world as the enemy he looks to destroy. (This is one area that R2 blundered up spectacularly, which is especially galling since the conclusive points of their character arcs are still so perfect, with them both becoming their own former enemies - the Emperor of Britannia and Zero respectively - and Lelouch dies vilified to the world while Suzaku lives on as a famed Anti-Hero, giving up his right to live as his true identity, who is also vilified to the world and believed to be dead on top of that.)

And yes, in this same show we get Pizza Hut product placement everywhere, an anime-exclusive Pizza Hut mascot, nonsensical approximations of European names for characters, outlandish Chinese stereotypes, free-form jazz music, bad Chess symbolism, a roller-skating mech suit in white knightly armor called the Lancelot, characters with dignified titles such as "Earl of Pudding", Zero and his Black Knights being super performative and Extra as fuck, a secret Illuminati-like doomsday cult that holds influence all over the world, and an episode in which a giant mech tosses a giant pizza. It is absolutely ridiculous, flashy and inane as all get-out, and so up its own ass that it crosses the line into being brilliant, and so much fun to watch. It may be 75% junk food anime, but it's dear to so many of us all the same, and would not have caught on without that value.

Too bad that subsequent Code Geass anime, regardless of their individual quality, could never measure up to this initial outing. I still stand by my belief that it should've been an anthology series with four or five different seasons total that all tell different stories from the POV of different characters all set in the same world against the backdrop of the same larger conflict with the Holy Britannian Empire, with the biggest constants in all the seasons being C.C, the larger Myth Arc about C’s World and the Geass itself, and the arc between Lelouch and Suzaku. Would've given the anime that much more staying power, as something other than an anime project that didn't live up to its fullest potential and recieves glow ups in other mediums like manga and video games.

[errantsquam]

ERRANT MERCH MANUFACTURER MASTERPOST

list of manufacturers i've tried. hopefully easier for other artists to get started in the merch game. Singapore/SEA centric. I update this whenever I feel like it.

Taobao manufacturers require some basic Chinese knowledge, but it's honestly not that bad. May set up a phrases masterpost in the future.

Use at your own risk because your experience might not be the same as mine. But this is what I've personally experienced!

[R] - Recommended. However, try at your own risk. Caveats will be mentioned

[NR] - Meh. Usable but probably not recommended

STICKERS/PRINTING

[R] Danlim - Self-service again. Less self-prep needed, the people there will give you feedback if they think your alignment is messed up (very helpful!). Supports self-collection or delivery (but delivery is on the expensive end). Supports holo which is very nice. Low MOQ.

[NR] walyadfx.sg - (SEE UPDATE) Shopee manufacturer. Only tried them for transfer stickers. Self setup on an A5/A4/A3 sheet, but since they're transfer stickers there's no cutlines needed. Affordable and low-ish MOQ (if A5 sheets count as such lol) Came pretty fast and the quality was decent

UPDATE: Their printing is much duller on vibrant colors, but the transfers stick smoothly without finicky air bubble shenanigans! Smaller designs may be blurrier, too. Only use for simple designs.

[R] shuijingbiao - Transfer sticker manu. REALLY good quality, super vibrant colours! Blues and purples print well which is a huge shocker. Smooth and not blurry, even for text at smaller sizes. However, these are a bit more finicky to apply, and there may be air bubbles. A total bitch to scrape off too (which is probably a good thing). Make sure to order extras.

[NR] Gogoprint - Self-service is neat. However, you need to prep the files yourself, and a lot can go wrong. Some stuff to take note of is the correct PDF format (PDF X-1A), and making sure your strokes don't turn into vectors (there are some cases where this happens). High MOQ. Otherwise, more crisp than Vograce.

[NR] Vograce - Shipping isn't worth it. Printing is a little duller.

ACRYLIC CHARMS

[R] Juno Creative (Taobao) - Also on Alibaba at a slight markup. Good, affordable, better quality than Vograce. Hot stamped colors are gold/silver/red/green/blue/light blue/purple/pink. Please note that if you're doing hot stamping, DO EPOXY. The foil is not stable and will peel off otherwise. One-sided hot stamping otherwise. Use Weiyun to send larger files to them

[R] Bemick/Wenzhou Yadian (Alibaba) - My go-to for hot stamping. Supports single or double sided. Offer gold/silver/red/green/blue. Printing is generally better quality than both Juno and Vograce, but double sided prints "hover" slightly if that bothers you. Hot stamp is more iridescent than metallic. I like it though. Low MOQ but costly at lower MOQs.

[NR] Vograce - Still has the dull printing problem. Gross markup

PLUSHIES

[R] Gaopeng Toys (Alibaba) - Hesitant recommendation. They are the safe and commonly used option and have a low MOQ (as low as 1), but obviously low is expensive. Up to 3 changes allowed per sample, otherwise you pay the cost again. They handled the engineering of my complex sample pretty well. However, they have a tendency of using craft glue instead of something like a ladder stitch, which may be invisible or awful-looking depending on your product.

Have not mass produced with them yet. Treat as a cheap plush commission (assuming your local indie artist isn't open for comms).

[NR] Vograce (Manjuu) - They're probably middlemanning. They actually fucked up and sent my sample with its back upside down (yikes). Printing is dull (a common Vograce problem). Not sure who they're middlemanning for, but likely Doujin Studio (haven't tried) is my guess.

COINS

[R] Jinyin (Taobao) - Hesitant recommendation. WeChat needed for communication. Printing quality is nice, and they give advice to make your design read better. But the rep flipped out at me because I had an unusual shipping address (Taobao's warehouse).

[NR] Wenzhou Jinshi (Taobao) - WeChat needed for communication. Printing quality worse than Jinyin. Rep flipped out at me for sending the Chinese equivalent of Google Drive (Weiyun). Generally rude aside from that, no feedback given, and they get a lot of customers, so you're not important.

SPECIAL CLASPS

If yoiu're non-Chinese, you can order from here too! Do check the r/taobao subreddit for guides on setting up.

Please try to select 'Direct Shipping' instead of 'Consolidation' during payment though, otherwise you'll need to jump through some hoops with Alipay in order to pay Taobao. (Not impossible, just frustrating and scary if you think your packages are going to be held hostage)

Typical search term: 异形扣

Listing 1

Listing 2

Carbuncle Clasps

Jackpot

MANUS I'M STILL WORKING WITH

[NR] Kakubao (Taobao) - Soft (rubber?) PVC 3d charms, same as a lot of Sanrio charms. WeChat communication only. They fucked up the overseas shipping not once, not twice, but THREE times and tried to pin the blame on me and get me to pay lol. Only got a partial refund after a lot of complaining. They also bribe you to take down bad reviews. Don't use them.

OTHER COOL LISTINGS I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY TRIED

Doujin Studio Bottle Cap Buttons (Taobao)

Wing Flapping Acrylic Charms (Taobao)

Medicine Pill Acrylics (yes, it is that weird) (Taobao)

Please view listings and reviews at your own risk! Reviews may be doctored/paid for. Things to look for are

Unusually eloquent praise of the manufacturer, mentioning stuff like rush orders, etc.

Pictures that look like they came from a factory. The factory ITSELF, not the package. Common tells are gloves/factory equipment in the back/etc that multiple reviews have.

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