#brother crab's year in review

[crehador]

brother crab’s 2023 seasonals in review: masterpost

winter | spring | summer | fall

and the short versions down below (anime of the season + runner-ups only)

winter: revenger, runner-up benriya saitou-san, isekai ni iku

yes i've swapped these since writing my winter post lol a fresh burst of revenger brainrot pushed it into the lead

spring: skip to loafer, runner-up tengoku daimakyou

yes!! i'm putting them both over oshi no ko

summer: undead girl murder farce, runner-up zom 100

i guess subject to change since zom100 is still incomplete (until christmas) but i doubt it'll drop when it's been so consistent so far

fall: migi to dali, runner-up overtake!

but genuinely it was so close. so so so so so close.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST

ANIME OF THE YEAR

SOUSOU NO FRIEREN

[kaythefloppa]

Wild Kratts - Fish Out of Water Review [Spoilers]

April is finally here, and with it, three new episodes have been released on the PBS Kids Video App ahead of their release. At the time I'm posting this, it is midnight and the one hour special "Our Blue and Green World" is yet to air on televison and streaming, so I will get to that when I get to that. Given that I have already reviewed No Name Dream and Backpack the Camel, I'll give a review to this episode as well. Spoiler warning and opinions ahead under the cut

First New York, then Hawaii, and now a goddamn University on the list of areas I would never expect these guys to film. Bros are everywhere.

As someone who is about to graduate high school, I feel IMMENSELY jealous of the college students who saw the motherfucking Kratt Brothers filming an episode on campus. I can already begin to see the floods of social media posts bragging about this on Tumblr and Twitter threads.

Ok I feel bad for being a bit salty earlier, I actually think it's really sweet how these people outside of the show can share their interests and expertise in biology and physics to help children educate. The entire live-action opening where they study the locomotion of mudskippers is honestly really sweet, and we haven't even gotten to our main animal yet!

God these are such cute animals. But beyond that, the term "fish out of water" could not be a more fitting title. They have joints like we do, can adapt to different environments, and can swim and climb like we can. This is probably my favorite live action segment because of how well structured the clips and movements are and just how fun it is seeing these little blorbs move around the place.

I should talk about how it took us half a decade to see a mudskipper on the show, and 13 years overall to get a focus episode, but so far, up to a great start and definitely worth waiting (for the most part).

Oh so is it like the Hermit Crab episode where in all of the official releases they leave out the determiner but in the actual episode it's there? This has no overall bearing on the episode but I just felt the need to point it out.

I should check off on my S7 bingo card about seeing the old inventions again because holy shit it's been almost a decade since we saw the Butterflier XT

Also can anyone identify those butterflies? I know for a FACT that those motherfuckers aren't monarchs because of their patterns (the only pattern variation in butterflies is sex-linked, and while I'm aware they live in Asia, this again, does not look like a match) but they also aren't viceroys because they lack the line around their wings. I only ask this to bring up my next point.

I thought the Butterfly Disc we saw in Season 1 was specifically programmed based off of Monarch Butterflies. But as established (until proven wrong), these are not monarch butterflies. So unless Aviva retrofitted or reprogrammed the disc to be multi-familial, as in they can touch any butterfly regardless of classification and activate accordingly (like with the Crocodile, Dragonfly, and Gecko Discs), the activation should not work. I only ask this because while it seems miniscule, Chris' decision to bring out the disc is what sets off the plot - It's what causes him to loose the discs in the butterfly swarm, so I feel like, while not a critique, it's a legitimate question as to the direct programming of the discs vs. the animals used to activate.

Man, Zach wasn't even in this episode and somehow they STILL lose their discs? (Actually, I am pleasantly surprised that they didn't take the opportunity to have this be a Zach-related episode).

You think they'd put a tracker on the collection or encode a chip the actual discs so that they wouldn't get lost this easily. This again, sounds like a nitpick, but earlier seasons set up a firewall for the Creature Power Discs and a tracking device/rocket-device on the Creature Power Suits and gloves because of how frequent these types of contingiences are, so there's really no excuse for this.

(Suck my ass PBS Kids Video App, I'm still able to get high quality snips even with your bullshit formatting!!!)

They really went all out with the "other-wordly" vibe that the mudskippers' territory gave off. Once again, we waited two years for this to be put to animation and to see come air.

I've made enough jokes around these situations in the show, so I think we'd all benefit if I just changed the subject: That front-facing mudskipper is fucking hilarious.

*Martin's voice* - Slimy Skin-breathers!

Okay, but I actually did not know that. At all. Even 10 years later, this show is still teaching me new things about animals in the most beautfully unexpected ways. This is one of the many reasons I will never give up on the show.

[Unexpected angst in bagging area - Also, with the inclusion of No Name Dream, which will air two days before this episode, that brings our Krangstt quota to #2]

Okay so I really like the set-up here, and it genuinely was a surprise seeing Jimmy angst in this episode as a subplot in a series that rarely operates on A-plots and B-plots (unless you count the villains' schemes which are usually just A^2 plots) like most shows. And as someone who legitimately was going through rough times (S7 was actually one of my few reasons to keep going), I heavily related to Jimmy. So yeah, a Jimmy angst episode? Can totally buy. What I'm not gonna buy is how they execute it with the ending, because that and the implications.... yikes...

C'mon! "Mudspitter" was right there! Right there!

Ok, here is where my main problem with this episode's subplot is. If I could boil it down to one word, it would be: Incomplete. Jimmy feeling inadequate based on an observation he made is one thing. Him immediately leaving afterwards on a whim moments after said observation is completely another and doesn't align that well.

Like, this would only work if Jimmy had attempted to be a fish "IN" water. If he tried to help Aviva and Koki with the data-research and inventing, but he failed, and they politely turned him down. Or if there was any basis as to why he suddenly disregards his piloting skills or teleporting, whether he doesn't care or doesn't think them to be enough for him to fit in. Like, he wants to be in on the action because some part of him doesn't feel like sitting around by the teleporter is enough. What I'm saying is, there is no pathos. I personally find it to be relatable, but on a narrative level, it doesn't work. I know the "character feeling left out so they leave" thing is cliche'd, but there's a reason it's a cliche, and that's because it follows a lot of writing beats that this particular episode doesn't, so on top of being cliche'd as fuck to begin with, it feels very awkward. And this is going to be apparent both here and in this episode's climax (which I also do not have many kind words for,) so I had to use my allotted time to talk about why this doesn't work.

Could... could they not call him on his Creaturepod? Could the brothers not call him on his Pod? Did he even have his Creaturepod?? Again, there are so many plot-holes in this B-story that could've easily been written around with a change of dialogue or scenery. Have Jimmy's Creaturepod be shown left lying around which makes them realize they have no way of getting him back to the teleporter in time. Jimmy would have no reason to even bring his Creaturepod on his adventure, so that just raises even more questions. Like, this isn't an active diss on the writers, but I think there should've been more proof-reading of the script since this is a massive oversight.

I think now is the time for me to bring up this question I've had for years now; How exactly does the teleporter work? In several episodes, we've seen that there is a coordinate code in the teleporter that allows it to be sent to the target. Koki's "the communication queen" as Aviva puts it, so she'd likely be able to triangulate the brothers' location. So I'm not sure why the show presents this as a struggle for Koki. This isn't the only example, so I won't hold it against the episode, (they have this be the case specifically to emphasize the point that they need Jimmy, which I can forgive) but it's another piece of lore that I should probably theorize about lmao.

Also

YOU HAVE LITERALLY TELPORTED THE CREATURE POWER DISCS FOUR TIMES.

TWO OF THOSE TIMES BEING IN A ROW.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS FOUR EPISODES AGO IN THIS EXACT SAME SEASON.

This whole episode spent the past five minutes making its main characters look incredibly idiotic for the sake of its B plot.

Once again, this episode's spitting facts that I didn't even know.

This is actually a neat seguay, having the brothers figure out the abilities of the mudskippers while exercising their own cool abilities. It feels really natural, and again, is an inventive way to show off the locomotive abilities of the mudskipper.

I feel like this falls very well between "accurate enough to be admirable" and "uncanny." I can (maybe on my deathbed) get used to this suit's design (though I'm partly glad Chris doesn't activate it because spoilers, he doesn't).

I've given this subplot a lot of flack, but credit where it's due, even with its misses, it does hit with the emotional beats.

Very conflicted on this:

On one hand, Jimmy actually taking the initiative to miniaturize is pretty ballsy. The show, despite not being serialized, does develop its characters in a way that you can sense a clear difference of them when you compare the modern seasons to the earlier ones. And this can be seen as a positive development for Jimmy, since it's his "Creature Adventure."

On the other hand.... back to what I was saying about consistency. Why did Jimmy bring the miniaturizer?? What was his prompting?? Was he planning on shrinking himself down the whole time? Like, he left his friends for god knows how much time and is now out of nowhere shrinking himself down to fish size because he feels inadequate? Uhm, Jimmy, ever heard the idea of therapy?

Also, again, very weird presentation of the episode. They don't at all put any attention to Jimmy's coms and whether or not he has them, (which would easily solve a bigger issue of why he's not contacted), yet they have him carry the Miniaturizer with him. Now, the latter is plot-relevant, but so could've been something about the Creaturepod.

This [from what I interpret] gets Jimmy out of his slump, making his "scientific discovery." Not realizing that his job of piloting and teleporting are equally important. Again, this is structured poorly. I like what they were going for, but it shouldn't have been the only thing that altered the trajectory of this subplot. Again, he can teleport discs to the brothers and pilot and while those are mentioned later on, it's not something he comes to himself in an "oh shit" moment. So this just feels unearned and weird. I really hate how harsh I am, since it's a Jimmy centric episode and it was the #1 requested thing on all the chat-boards during the hiatus, but this is one of those things where it has to be done right if at all. This isn't done right, and the fact that it takes up 50% of the episode just... ugh.

You can't tell it through screenshots but with the way Aviva says it and the scene cutting to her and Koki laughing at it, I'm 98% inclined that this was a specific innuendo, and ngl, I kinda laughed too.

Oh look, it's Kenge's cousin! [For you Lion Guard fans that also recognize Wild Kratts] - [I was inclined to make a reference to Jessie, but that felt in bad taste considering y'know]

Ok, but that has to be an Asian water monitor. Correct me if I'm wrong. What I'm definitely not wrong about is that their bites contain venom; To a human it's not lethal, however to small prey, including mudskippers, or anything around that size, it's lights out. So yeah, Chris and Martin are fucked.

Ok this line is absolutely badass.

Also, grey?? Grey?? I thought Jimmy's signature color was orange/yellow? Or red with the implication of the tail episode? Great, now there's another color that'll be in the debates for his future Creature Power Suit.

Once again, this arc feels weirdly put together. This notion comes up specifically at the climax when it should come up beforehand as Jimmy realizes his worth. Because otherwise, it gives the implication that he knew this all along and yet still felt like a fish out of water, which doesn't mesh together properly (it could, if the episode actually tried to do so which it didn't).

The episode, Sea Otter Swim, does this plot so much better. We see Jimmy's doubts, and we see how he overcomes said doubts in a way that is presented clear to the audience, and the climax where he actually realizes what he's capable of feels earned. This is not earned. So even though I am rooting for him to win, this whole thing just feels messy.

So is nobody gonna ask why Jimmy left his post? Is Jimmy not gonna tell everyone why he left, or at the very least ask why nobody bothered to call for him? Is nobody going to at least let Jimmy know that he can't just... abandon his post without warning because of the fact that they need him? Is Jimmy not going to come to that conclusion himself? Is anything in this episode gonna be earned??

This entire ending feels like an ass-pull: First off, Jimmy and the brothers had enough time to head back to the miniaturizer and then the Tortuga, and in none of that time, did Jimmy ever give them the Power Discs? Why? Yes, it was for the sake of the fake-out defeat/joke, but was there any reason why Jimmy just kept the thing hidden waiting to give it to the brothers?

The entire emotional climax to this episode is basically everyone putting Jimmy on a pedestal. It's unsatisfying because there wasn't any acknowledgement or follow up to Jimmy's conflict at the beginning, nor is the lesson learned in the right way, and the conclusion just overreacts by hyping up Jimmy instead of just having a reasonable "We're a team!" thing, or through any self-actualization of his good qualities that Koki pointed out. None of it, friggin' none of this is earned! Now it comes across as Jimmy being uncharacterstically boastful and cocky and the others just kissing his arse. That's probably not the intent but it was the result.

That is actually like, so fucking cool. I have massive respect for all of these people, like legitimately (also, considerning that's the exact opposite of what Zach does on an ethics scale, I find that really interesting). But beyond that, I think this episode has the best live action segments ever, they are so ingenuitive. I could easily see someone at my high school showing a clip of this episode in robotics' or biology class.

CONCLUSION:

PROS:

The live action segments.

The info dumps about the mudskippers.

The Kratt Brother's adventure with the mudskippers.

The animation

The background music (a lot of which is recycled from earlier seasons)

CONS:

Everything else (specifically the B plot). I feel like the writers wanted to give Jimmy his own storyline, either out of interest or seeing how popular the character was in chat-boards, but they didn't know how to do it so they just went through the motions without really connecting anything at all, so it's a lot harder relating to the exact conflicts in some cases, and you feel disatisfied by the cimax. It reminds me of what they did with Vitani in the Lion Guard finale, a case of giving this one character the spotlight, but hitting all of the wrong marks that does the character and the audience a disservice and leaves a bitter taste in the viewer's mouth by the end credits.

This is the first episode this season that has made me cringe, primarily off of its premise, not just a particular scene, a dated pop culture reference, or a weird-looking Power Suit. It is the first to make me cringe because of its story, which again, the B-plot takes up 50% of the episode, so it's constantly in your face. It's definitely not bad, not hateable bad, and it's far too early in the season to call it the worst, and there are definitely worse episodes out there, ones that have aired and ones that probably will inevitably air, but I can safely say, thus far, it's the one Wild Kratts episode that I enjoy, but only to an extent. The live action segments were by far the only thing that I got extremely engaged in, but other than that, and the other pros, it's not that good.

Final Ranking: 6/10: Above Average, but Needed Improvement.

[ofduskanddreams]

Magic to Make the Sanest Go Mad [pt. I]

@acourtofladydeath I was so excited when I learned that you were my giftee this year, and also worried how I was going to keep this a secret from you (fingers crossed I succeeded?) I'm so grateful to have gained your friendship this year, and I hope you enjoy part one of your gift! This could stand alone as a prologue-esque one shot, but I have more things planned so part two will be coming early in the new year. This part lays the groundwork, I swear there will be more actual Azris content in the second half <3

Summary:

The end (chapters 63+) of A Court of Silver Flames and beyond from Azriel's and Eris's points of view.

Rated M ✦ 8.3k words ✦ read it on ao3

start reading below the cut :)

Azriel is reviewing reports when Cassian returns to the House of Wind. He expects his brother to head to the dining room where the house is keeping a plate warm for him, and then come fill him in on what they learned from Eris that afternoon. That is not what happens. 

From the sound of it, Cassian is trying to crack the stone floors with every step he takes. Azriel listens while those furious footfalls pass the dining room without pause. He’s steeling himself for whatever storm Cass is about to unleash upon him… it’s all for nothing. Cassian never reaches the spymaster’s rooms, but he slams the door to his own with enough force to make the water in Azriel’s glass ripple.

In his experience, there are only a few things that can rile his brother to this degree, two of them being Eris Vanserra and Nesta Archeron. Given that Cassian came back to the house alone, Azriel suspects the latter but that the former isn’t wholly blameless—Eris Vanserra never is. 

Cassian loves fiercely and proudly. Azriel’s always admired this about him. It also means that Cass’s other emotions regarding those he cares for are equally fierce. Nesta, Azriel thinks, is very much the same even if she pretends otherwise. Sparks often fly when two evenly matched blades clash. This isn’t the first time for Nesta and Cassian. It won’t be the last either, so Azriel returns to his reports and tries not to worry. Cassian needs to cool down; he’ll talk when he’s ready to.

— ✦ —

That night, sleep comes in fits and starts. Dreams and nightmares wake him; overly persistent thoughts drag against the tide of his exhaustion. When he manages to fall asleep, the cycle repeats. Azriel gives up about an hour before dawn, pulling on his leathers in the darkness. He throws himself off of his balcony, letting the chilly dew-damp air drag him downward for a few seconds before he spreads his wings and glides.

Velaris at this hour is his favorite. A fair portion of the city’s inhabitants choose to sleep during the day and rise with the setting sun. Now those folks are back in their homes before their fires and winding down for sleep. It’s early enough that those who rise with the sun haven’t yet emerged. When Rhys was trapped Under the Mountain and Azriel couldn’t leave the city limits, this sliver of not-day-not-night was his salvation. It’s the only time the streets fall truly quiet. 

Now, he flies above those empty streets until they give way to gently rolling hills of swaying grasses and, finally, a pale expanse of sand. Azriel lands, startling a small crab who scuttles toward the frothy waves as quickly as its little legs can take it. He sits on his usual driftwood log and wills the briny air filling his lungs to center him. 

Time passes differently with his eyes tracking the ebb and flow of the waves. Before he knows it, the rising sun is warming his back and outstretched wings. Azriel closes his eyes, soaking in the gentle heat. He’s very accustomed to an ever present chill in his wings—every Illyrian is. For all the hurt-fueled-hatred he holds for Illyrian culture, even Azriel can agree that birchins are a delightful creation for this very reason. But, where the hot steam forces warmth into his blood and bones, the soft radiance of a rising sun coaxes that warmth to flow from within him. 

It’s bliss. Between the dawn, the hypnotic susurration of the waves, and the salty air cleansing his lungs with every breath, Azriel feels a sense of peace come over him for the first time in weeks. But, as it always happens when anything feels too good to be true, the moment shatters too soon.

There’s urgent news from Darach, a shadow informs him.

His eyes fly open, and he has to blink against the light before they adjust.

A scrap of paper falls into his lap that reads: Briallyn has Eris. His own soldiers attacked him last night while he was hunting. My informant says they all winnowed to her palace.

“Fuck,” Azriel breathes, crumpling the note in his fist. 

There were other Crown-controlled soldiers out there? 

The shame of a simple oversight and its disastrous consequences burns. 

Did Cassian mention it and he forgot? Phrases in Eris’s voice echo between his ears, making such terrible sense in the stomach-sinking way only hindsight can elicit.

Azriel’s fingers thread through inky locks, gripping and pulling until the sting anchors him. Now is not the time to fixate on his mistake. Cauldron boil him; he just should have followed up, made sure, done something—No. Not the time.

He needs to focus.

Okay. What does he know so far?

That Eris, their ally who knows too much about the Night Court, has been taken by their enemy. An enemy that would love to unearth their secrets; one who now has possession of a valuable hostage.

But how did Briallyn get Eris to the continent when he’d been hunting in Autumn?

Eris’s soldiers were fae, yes, but he had told Cassian that no one in this unit could winnow. 

The queens could only winnow when they were all together. 

Only a high lord would have enough power to winnow an entire group from Prythian to the Continent. 

A high lord or, Azriel realizes with a sickening certainty, Koschei.

He’s still processing these conclusions as he bids the shadows to take him to the river house.

— — — continue reading on ao3.

tagging: @iftheshoef1tz @ablogofsapphicpanic @damedechance @moonpatroclus @panicatthenightcourt @wilde-knight @areyoudreaminof @born-to-riot @queercontrarian @octobers-veryown @foundress0fnothing @krem-does-stuff @melonsfantasyworld @lady-riel @asnowfern @catboyjamesbond @secret-third-thing @valkyrieassassin @brokeneveningstars @xtaketwox @itsthedoodle @fieldofdaisiies @bubybubsters @nestas-workwife @thelovelymadone @aktrain

if you want to be added to or removed from my Azris taglist just let me know :)

[be-the-creature-fan]

WILD KRATTS. Season 3 Review!!!!!!!!!!

One sentence review (1 being the worst-10 being a masterpiece) Hope you enjoy :)

Hermit Crab Shell Exchange: WHY did Gormond call Chris "Green Pea" instead of "Green Grape"? However this episode have so many great moments to count. 9/10

When Fish Fly: I love the use of the "take a walk in my shoes" trope, it would have been cool if they stuck with the team switching roles until the very end but besides that this episode is iconic. See, finding creatures is like a piece of cake/10

Slider the Otter: How did Slider live that long? Cute episode but not the most memorable (sorry if you like this episode) 6/10

Mosquitoe Dragon: WHY Ya Hitting yourself?! Also not a bad invention by Zach completely backfired though. 7/10

Search for the Florida Panther: Wholesome in every which way, I loved the scene where Martin makes Chris go out and search for food, the live action part is also one of my favorites. 9/10

Osprey: I'm probably a bit bias but this episode is Amazing, fricking Jimmy loosing stuff is hilarious and not only do they make an episode of an animal that's the Mascot of my favorite football team ( though it goes by the nickname) they realeased it the year they won the superbowl and to make it even more amazing...Green and Blue are the team colors!!! 10/10 ( GO HAWKS 💙💚) ahem...anyways.

Bandito the Black Footed Ferret: Getting a bit of name dejavu and Martin not learning his lesson from the Googly Eye: The Night Guru episode tsk tsk tsk, good episode though. 8/10

Where the Bison Roam: The talking Bison are cursed, and they switched who was Lewis and who was Clark midway through the episode, a little rough around the edges but it's still good 8/10

Crocogator Contest: Very informative still remember the difference between an Alligator and a Crocodile because of this episode also poor Jimmy. 7/10

The Amazing Creature Race: Team Fastfeet all the way babbbbbyyyyyy!!! Though we were cheated out of a Chrizelle moment, oh well 6/10.

Prarie Who: Just a fun episode, but what in the creature world was Koki doing? Also all those crash landings would have killed them except for Jimmy. 9 Yips/10

Mystery on the Prarie: I've been impaled the episode, poor Jimmy, Bush Chris needs to return and where is Moo after this episode? (Spoilers Moo wasn't full grown in the Christmas special) 8/10

Chameleons on Target: Bruh why was Aviva blaming the Kratt Brothers for that whole ring chip thing? The way they hid was funny. 7/10

Opossum in my Pocket: Gormond commits attempted murder on the Kratt Brothers. 8/10

Fossa Palooza: Best mothers day episode EVER, we saw Mama Kratt and their old neighborhood? 10/10

Mini Madagascar: 0_0 why they make the mouse lemur scary though. 7/10

Aye Aye: I love the pirate theme and why do Jimmy be lazy (I get it its a personality trait of his but still) but I mean Aviva could have done it also Aghhh. 7/10

Lemur Legs: Best episode opening in my opinion, they should have named one of the lemurs Zaboo instead of Bob but it was still funny. That sarcastic clap the WK crew did was also great 10/10

Under the Frozen Pond: Child endangerment and the WK team not playing fair at Hockey because they were loosing (but they were there first soooo) 7/10

Lemur Skink Fight: Tried a Tameron fruit before, it wasn't that great, unlike this episode, Also this was one of Donita's worse ideas she should stick to clothing. 8/10

Golden Bamboo Lemur: The dress looked better without the lemur, Why doesn't Donita utilize the hypnosis technology more often and I can't believe the Kratt Bros almost forgot Koki and Jimmy, Not cool man. 7/10

Tenric Treasure Hunt: Obi-Wan Kratt is big sad for loosing his Brother to the River. 8/10

Praying Mantis: I love this episode! Props to the animators for changing the "What if" animation to fit the live action bit, but what was up with that toy Monkey, still gives me the hebijibbies. 10/10

Capture the Fishmoblie: Technically not cheating if Aviva just handed it to them. 7/10

Back in Creature Time: THEY NEED TO MAKE A SEQUEL!!! Zach wanting to make the Kratt Brothers extinct is very dark I love it, also by changing where Great Grand daddy Gormond landed, potentially be a risk to whether or not Gormond would still exist? Also MARTIN WHY YOU SMUGGLING A TASMANIAN TIGER?!?! STOP. 10/10

Great season but I feel like after this season the writing changed...

[amazingmsme]

Top 22 of 2022

End of the year tag game created by the lovely @otomiya-tickles This was so much fun, you always make the best tag games! Thanks for tagging me!

Part 1: Fandom Faves 

01. Favorite new fandoms of the year:

Our Flag Means Death, The Boys, Moon Knight, Workaholics, The Stanley Parable, (I know I’m super late to the game but this game rocks) Godless, other seasons of critical role, inside job & uh… does Goncharov count?

02. Favorite new ships since this year:

Blackbonnet, not new but still my faves, Namdermo, & Shadowgast & probably some more that I’m forgetting

03. Favorite anime/TV show of the year:

Despite not seeing the new season, my fave anime this year is Demon Slayer. As for my favorite show of the year, I think the latest season of WWDITS wins

04. Favorite movie of the year:

Prey, Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro), but if I had seen NOPE it would undoubtedly be that, Where the Crawdads Sing, others I’m sure. But this year I have barely seen any new movies & I haven’t seen any new marvel film starting with Spider-Man NWH (I know I know, you’re gonna beat me with rocks & all that jazz)

05. Favorite character of the year:

Caleb Widogast has had me in a headlock ever since I first saw him & he hasn’t let me go since

06. Favorite soundtrack of the year:

I genuinely don’t have an answer xiavaowh I don’t tend to remember what movie soundtracks I like unless it really stands out, & I’ve barely seen any new movies this year. But my favorite soundtracks in general are Wild America, The Kings or Summer and O Brother Where Art Thou

07. Favorite book/manga/comic of the year:

I don’t keep up with what is published that year, but my favorite book I found this year is Night Film by Marisha Pessl

08. Favorite game of the year:

Favorite game actually released this year? God of War Ragnarok. Favorite one I’ve played this year? Either Doki Doki Literature Club or The Stanley Parable

09. Highlight of this year to remember:

Fuckin’ Goncharov babyyyyy!

Part 2: Community Review

10. Favorite Tumblr moments of 2022:

Goncharov obvi, the queen’s death crab rave, Nov. 5th anniversary, & all the memes that came out this year. I have no grip on time so I have no idea which ones came out this year & I’m so dead inside I can’t force myself to remember

11. Favorite fan art of the year:

I don’t keep things organized enough to be able to actually find my favorite fan art specifically, but @fluffomatic is one of my fave artists on here, along with @ssnicker-doodless & @shyticklemonster r, @fluffy-alien alien but of course tons of other blogs as well!

12. Favorite fic of the year:

Bold of you to assume I can pick favorites & actually remember them 12 months later skagdk fr tho, some of my favorites are You Got My Devotion & Temptation, Frustration, So Bad It Makes Him Cry- @nhasablogg A Gentleman's Torture- @august-anon & uh, basically every single critical role fic. But specifically Waiting For My Mind To Go To Sleep & Embarrassing and Undignified- @chockfullofsecrets lightning damage- @spritewrites & something good to celebrate- @sapphicquill

13. Favorite ask game of the year:

Even tho I never really get asks when I reblogged that kind of stuff, I really enjoyed the list of questions on the fic writer ask game

14. My top achievements as a writer/artist/creator/blogger:

I finally managed to participate in tickletober & finish it despite 2 major deaths in the family at that time, can someone say coping mechanism?

15. My own best fic/post of the year:

I gotta go through & actually look but Draw Me Something as Pretty as You did the numbers this year, like ever other steddie fic lol. MY personal favorite tho was Dare to be Bold & actually got over 100 notes.

16. My most underappreciated fic/post of the year:

Too many of my tickletober fics tbh but that’s what I get for writing for microscopic fandoms like new girl, tuck everlasting & wolf 359 which all clock in around 10 notes each. You’d think with only 4 notes my Night Film fic What A Prize would win this category. But my Imposters fic Junk in the Trunk & Workaholic fic Pizza Payback tie with a whopping 1 note!!!

17. A post of mine that got more popularity than expected:

My recent “porn bots want me carnally” shitpost. I guess because it’s so relevant? (Seriously don’t get me started on that, I had close to 10 try to follow me yesterday alone)

18. Something I changed on my blog since this year:

I made a kofi! So if you feel like supporting me or you really want a fic, feel free to commission me!

Part 3: Next Year

19. Something I didn’t post this year but would like to do next year:

Mark my words I WILL make a Goncharov tickle fic, just you wait & see. I also want to write more for new or smaller fandoms I enjoy & get back to writing my chaptered fics. I also have some long one shots I want to make

20. Goals for next year:

Keep writing as much as I can, get back into physical art like oil painting, post more of my chaptered fics that I accidentally. I also want to read more fics because I really fell behind this year due to mental health & school

21. 2023 releases I look forward to the most:

The new season of The Legend of Vox Machina & uuuuhhh yeah I’m brain dead, I have no fuckin’ clue what’s coming out next year

Part 4: Spreading Love

22. Shoutouts to people who made my 2022 a better year: 

I can’t promise to remember everyone, but I can sure try. Thanks to everyone for making this year not suck as much as it could’ve, y’all don’t know how much it makes me smile

@happyandticklish @ticklishraspberries @ticklish-touch @raybidtickles @shunniebuns @sugarfics @hypahticklish @fluffomatic @fluffy-lee-boa @fluffy-alien @a-fluffer-nutter @a-simple-lee @lemonsandstrawberries @tickletastic @anasticklefics @tickle-bugs @tickle-fight-club @rosileeduckie @thebest-medicine @peachytickles @poesparakeet-fics @eldritchtickles @tickly-floof @spritewrites @august-anon @ticklygiggles @sapphicquill @nhasablogg @chockfullofsecrets @sunlitanon @shyticklemonster @ssnicker-doodless

& a ton of others! Love you all & I’m so glad I have y’all in my corner!

[kxsslikerealpeopledo]

I posted 2,516 times in 2022

136 posts created (5%)

2,380 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fandoms-princess

@tolerateit

@cobbledmoss

@nimbus713

I tagged 307 of my posts in 2022

#stranger things - 5 posts

#holy shit - 4 posts

#eddie munson - 4 posts

#joseph quinn - 3 posts

#loml - 3 posts

#kay shitposts - 2 posts

#its okay we still love her - 2 posts

#except daffy isnt a swiftie - 2 posts

#also - 2 posts

#we're all desi swifties - 2 posts

Longest Tag: 134 characters

#the job search is not going well and my only plans for after i get a job are to 'enjoy life and eventually buy my own house that i can

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

New url ---> hellfireswiftie

Prev. kk1006

15 notes - Posted July 23, 2022

#4

Eddie being Max's new big brother figure >>>>

33 notes - Posted July 27, 2022

#3

@clandestinial @tolerateit they should indeed invent both of these things.

60 notes - Posted July 25, 2022

#2

Finally Tumblr doing something smart by capitalising on something people actually liked. The crabs.

91 notes - Posted July 14, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

2,649 notes - Posted July 24, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[porcelain-and-nightbird]

I posted 243 times in 2022

4 posts created (2%)

239 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@quizasvivamos

@drifting-pieces-blog-blog

@funky-yellow-rat

@fantasy-hearts

@truthisademurelady

I tagged 145 of my posts in 2022

Only 40% of my posts had no tags

#moon knight - 38 posts

#steven grant - 15 posts

#ash ketchum - 11 posts

#pokeani spoilers - 11 posts

#moon knight spoilers - 9 posts

#marc spector - 8 posts

#pokeani - 7 posts

#danny phantom - 6 posts

#spiderman no way home - 6 posts

#pokemon - 6 posts

Longest Tag: 129 characters

#ok but ash originally planned to use the mega stone on lucario and then he didn't because he gigantamaxed gengar and he still won

My Top Posts in 2022:

#4

🦀 time for crab 🦀

it is time for crab on tumblr, but not time for crab in my life. yet.

0 notes - Posted April 1, 2022

#3

Wade Wilson (Deadpool) and Claire Bennet (Heroes) have the same powers and I don't know what to do with this knowledge. 😖

3 notes - Posted March 6, 2022

#2

He protecc his little brother 🥺

41 notes - Posted February 2, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

255 notes - Posted July 31, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[lunar-fey]

I posted 11,785 times in 2022

332 posts created (3%)

11,453 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@vivi-mire

@goldensunset

@thatrandombystander

@playtwewy

@catboycrimsonrain

I tagged 2,707 of my posts in 2022

#skerplescore - 95 posts

#the fey answers - 50 posts

#khdr - 39 posts

#&lt;3 - 33 posts

#the fey speaks - 29 posts

#🥺 - 28 posts

#collateralcore - 23 posts

#... - 19 posts

#*** - 17 posts

#me - 15 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#whenever i try every url ever exits my brain. idk if anyone wants to be tagged in stuff like this by me lmk 🤔 myabe ill make a list or smt

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

ok i did laugh really hard and eraqus & xehanort rocking up to the underworld like. "our friends.....dissapeared 🥺"

and hades just goes "so they died. so you mean theyre fucking DEAD then."

14 notes - Posted August 30, 2022

#4

14 notes - Posted January 11, 2022

#3

finally finished watching all the union cross scenes...... lays on the floor.

16 notes - Posted March 18, 2022

#2

please help your local disabled trans man + his siblings eat

howdy! my names nate & i currently live in a household with 2 other disabled individuals + a minor and we dont have enough to eat, pay bills, or get meds.

i have no income and after i pay this months bills, thats like it. im gonna have to close my bank acct or pay a bunch of fines i dont have the money for for having an empty acct. let alone being able to afford my meds ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

myself and my brother are currently working on getting SSI, but that could still take months and in the meantime we need to eat!

if you can spare anything my paypal is /nat1172

if you want something for your money there aint a lot i can offer, but i can do tarot readings and if you wanna pay me for something else send me a message and we can talk it out. i can draw (very slowly bc my hands r fucked up) and write.

ANYTHING HELPS but for now im gonna set a goal that will keep me able to pay bills + buy meds for another 3 months. $0/600

109 notes - Posted October 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

crabs.....already gone...??

226 notes - Posted April 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[araiz-zaria]

I posted 276 times in 2022

211 posts created (76%)

65 posts reblogged (24%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@araiz-zaria

@headspace-hotel

@aceofthyme

@kaxenart

@si-national-portrait-gallery

I tagged 275 of my posts in 2022

#drawing - 136 posts

#traditional art - 130 posts

#manga - 127 posts

#original art - 127 posts

#pen and ink - 116 posts

#fan art - 116 posts

#illustration - 99 posts

#not art - 90 posts

#brush pen - 82 posts

#david farragut - 78 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i mean yeah i should probably have all the siblings not just the bros but i already spent so much brain power imagining his brothers 🥲🙃💀

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Murat's Crab Shenanigans 🦀

See the full post

34 notes - Posted July 18, 2022

#4

See the full post

35 notes - Posted February 1, 2022

#3

👻🎃💀 Napoleonic Halloween Parade 💀🎃👻

Remember that during last year's Halloween I listed the costumes of these Napoleonic figures for this very occasion? Well...here they are in pictures! 👻

First of all...here comes Pharaoh Naps and Egyptian Queen Josephine 😏

See the full post

39 notes - Posted November 2, 2022

#2

Happy Appomattox Day, everybody 😏😎✨

42 notes - Posted April 10, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Davout, a Dragoon, and a Sheep 🐑

See the full post

45 notes - Posted January 29, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[silent-dragon]

I posted 1,853 times in 2022

That's 1,853 more posts than 2021!

1,042 posts created (56%)

811 posts reblogged (44%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@silent-dragon

@fumikomiyasaki

@serendipiadorm

@atwstedstory

@minccinoocappuccino

I tagged 1,414 of my posts in 2022

Only 24% of my posts had no tags

#twst oc - 546 posts

#twisted wonderland oc - 339 posts

#asks - 318 posts

#twisted wonderland - 285 posts

#twst fandorm - 210 posts

#serendipia - 142 posts

#personal thoughts - 140 posts

#twst sprite edits - 94 posts

#damián - 71 posts

#others twst ocs - 67 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#i cant send the ring asks cause i feel my ocs would have commitment issues and hold painful things they never want to burden another with

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

For Artfight my very first attack is a fansprite of Vipin from the @juhnglfangdorm made by @minccinoocappuccino ! ❤

78 notes - Posted July 3, 2022

#4

"Smile brother!" - Matero

Kofi comm art of my dalmatian twins! Art by LowlifeOnigiree on twitter. I highly recommend them as they are so sweet. ❤🐶🐶 Love their expressions and the vibrancy of their eyes so much. 🥺💗

105 notes - Posted May 13, 2022

#3

TWST OC Profile ~ Tarak Joshi

Comm art by @/minccinoocappuccino

Theme song to listen to while reading ^^

More Info ~

Gender: Male

Species: Timber-Indian Wolf mix Beasthuman/*Werewolf(AU see in fun facts)

Twisted from: Akela from The Jungle Book

Orientation: Bisexual

Zodiac: Libra

Eye Color: Lime Green

Hair Color: Blueberry with Greyish Fur on Ears

Dorm: Savanaclaw

School Year: 3rd/Junior

Occupation: Self-Taught Manicurist,Amateur Boxer

Club: Spelldrive

Dominant Hand: Left

Favorite Food: Bacon,Bacon,and Bacon

Least Favorite Food: Crab

Dislikes: Sweating,Dirt,Sand,Dust,Uncleanness

Hobby: Stargazing,Cosmetology,Fashion Treads,Cleaning,Cooking

Talents: Cleaning,Manicures,Hygienic activities,Boxing

See the full post

114 notes - Posted April 19, 2022

#2

My twisted wonderland oc Rex Shadow in Fairy Gala Couture. Art was done by @Baka_chicken on twitter. I highly recommend you give them a look see for art comms. Also thank you to @/minccinoocappuccino for help on reference ideas on his outfit. ❤

114 notes - Posted April 16, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Hello I'd like to introduce my twst fandorm,Mjestamode!

A dorm mainly based off of Cruella from the 1996 101 dalmatians live action movie & mini based from 2021 Cruella movie.

See the full post

116 notes - Posted April 23, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[crehador]

brother crab's top ops/eds playlist of 2023

o1. tombi - kvi baba | o2. antinomy - amazarashi | o3. shinda! - masayoshi oishi | o4. mephisto - queen bee | o5. song of the dead - kana-boon | o6. statice - saji | o7. 01 - queen bee | o8. lip-sync - hockrockb

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Breakneck by Marc Cameron

Arliss Cutter #5

 A fast-paced, action-packed, thrill ride that had me rooting for Arliss and the team he was working protection detail with ~ great addition to the series!

 What I liked:

* Arliss: U.S. Marshall, ex-military, strong, capable, lethal, team player, there for his family and friends, willing to take chances, lives by his Grandpa Grumpy’s rules and shares them with his nieces and nephews

* Lola: U.S. Marshall, partnered often with Arliss, in a relationship with Joe Bill Brackett, strong, focused, great at her work, thinks of Arliss as a big brother

* The prologue of missing Winnie, a 12-year-old girl, and how it was resolved

* The Bratva revenge angle that was the main focus of this book – glad it all was tied up by the end

* The plot, pacing, location, and writing style

* Seeing how Arliss’s widowed sister-in-law and her family are doing – and the potential for Arliss’s relationship with Mim

* Max: a bit of a surprise with potential to play a part in future books of the series – very curious about him.

* Catching up with some of the characters from past stories – even when it meant some were lost forever

* That I could thoroughly dislike the bad guys and hope they would be ruthlessly dealt with

* The potential of finding out, in the future, what really happened to Arliss’s brother, Ethan.

* All of it really except…

 What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about how evil some of the characters were and knowing that such people exist in real life.

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

 Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

     BLURB

 "Cameron’s novels hook you from the first line, cement your eyes to the page, and grip your heart in a vice. I can’t think of another writer whose work I admire more." —William Kent Krueger “Looking for authentic action, suspense, drama, and mystery? Look no further than U.S. Marshals Service veteran Marc Cameron whose thrillers capture the visceral nature of life in the trenches as only one who has lived it truly can.” —Jack Carr A train ride through the austere beauty of Alaska’s icy wilderness becomes a harrowing fight for survival at the Gateway to the Arctic in the thrilling new Arliss Cutter adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of TOM CLANCY POWER AND EMPIRE. Off the northeast coast of Russia, the captain and crew of a small crabbing vessel are brutally murdered by members of Bratva, the Russian mafia—their bodies stuffed into crab pots and thrown overboard. The killers scuttle the vessel off the coast of Alaska and slip ashore. In Washington, DC, Supreme Court Justice Charlotte Morehouse prepares for a trip to Alaska, unaware that a killer is waiting to take his revenge—by livestreaming her death to the world. In Anchorage, Alaska, Deputy US Marshals Arliss Cutter and Lola Teariki are assigned to security detail at a judicial conference in Fairbanks. Lola is tasked with guarding Justice Townsend’s teenaged daughter while Cutter provides counter-surveillance. It’s a simple, routine assignment—until the mother and daughter decide to explore the Alaskan wilderness on the famous Glacier Discovery train. Hiding onboard are the Chechen terrorists, who launch a surprise attack. While they seize control of the engine, Cutter manages to escape with Justice Townsend by jumping off the moving train—and into the unforgiving wilderness. With no supplies and no connection to the outside world, Cutter and the judge must cross a treacherous terrain to stay alive. Two of the terrorists are close behind. The others are on the train with the judge’s daughter—and they plan to execute her on camera. With so many lives at stake, Cutter knows there are only two options left: catch the train and kill them all . . . or all will be killed. “Cameron’s books are riveting page-turners.” —Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author “One hell of a book. Sharply drawn characters, intense action scenes, and a captivating narrative result in a white-knuckle thrill ride.” — Simon Gervais, former RCMP counterterrorism officer and bestselling author of The Last Protector “Great action in a colorful setting. This is fun!” —Kirkus STARRED Review

[devious-kat]

I posted 178 times in 2022

8 posts created (4%)

170 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@rynoprath

@jigsawtits

@lady-raziel

@tench

@madiesunny

I tagged 11 of my posts in 2022

#iswm - 4 posts

#in space with markiplier - 4 posts

#stranger things - 2 posts

#i was probably 11 or 12 - 1 post

#edit: - 1 post

#stranger things season 4 spoilers - 1 post

#byler - 1 post

#spoilers - 1 post

#st spoilers - 1 post

#stranger things spoilers - 1 post

Longest Tag: 83 characters

#some of you didn't see update on this post where i summoned 6969 crabs and it shows

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I’m already onboard with Our Flag Means Death and I haven’t even seen it yet. But the funniest thing to me is having played the Assassin’s Creed series, these two characters are very familiar from Black Flag…

Stede Bonnet

And Edward Thatch/Blackbeard

So I keep picturing them in my head XD

9 notes - Posted March 26, 2022

#4

OH FUCK I CAN SEE FROM THE PREVIEW ON INSTAGRAM THE CLOAK DROP HAS ‘FIX IT FROM THE OUTSIDE’ A N D ‘POP ‘ER IN REVERSE.’ RIP MY WALLET/BANK ACCOUNT

15 notes - Posted May 6, 2022

#3

Some thoughts on Stranger Things volume 2 and Byler.

So I get that like, they couldn’t suddenly be together this season, that wouldn’t be realistic.

But Will Byers still got shafted. He had a beautiful moment with his brother, I loved that.

But pretty much no reconciliation with Mike. You telling me in a 9 hour car ride Mike never thought “I can’t believe El commissioned this painting. Wait I thought she said she hadn’t seen it and had no idea what it was!”? That Will gave him this painting he worked hard on and Mike was like “oh that’s cool” and promptly erased it from his mind? Like I get the situation didn’t call for casual chatter, but like I said they were on the road for a lot of hours.

Not gonna lie, with the way El did it, and the title piggyback, I was expecting Vecna to go after Will by piggybacking into her mind. Or even once they reached Hawkins to like “feel him”.

For the first few seasons it felt like this was personal. That something about Will was causing the Mindflayer/Vecna to choose him. Why did the upside down go from just a hellscape to a copy of Hawkins on the *day* he got pulled in?

I’m really wondering how the 5th season will go. Overall, I felt disappointed in most of the last two eps. Jopper was beautiful. I was stressed about everyone living or dying. I feel so bad for Dustin. And Lucas. They have been traumatized. And poor Max, she broke my heart.

I don’t know that I’d call it queerbaiting only because like I said, I don’t think they could have gotten together in this time frame. But I also understand I may not know the complete definition of it.  And I’m sorry to everyone hurt by it. 💔

17 notes - Posted July 1, 2022

#2

Dude, anyone who makes any kind of ISWM merch that mentions fixing it from the outside, they’re gonna make a FORTUNE off of me. Or ‘pop ‘er in reverse’. I had to rationalize not getting a jumpsuit I’d have like, 2 occasions to wear.

32 notes - Posted April 9, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Y’all. I’m sure we’ve noticed this, but I haven’t seen anyone mention it yet

They just always have to be touching and I’m HERE FOR IT

197 notes - Posted June 7, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[strangeduckpaper]

I posted 6,399 times in 2022

That's 6,381 more posts than 2021!

329 posts created (5%)

6,070 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@mariethemage

@thepariahcontinuum

@galahadwilder

@selenelawfulgood

I tagged 2,352 of my posts in 2022

#the owl house - 539 posts

#fanart - 483 posts

#reference - 352 posts

#dc - 302 posts

#dc au - 205 posts

#e136 - 160 posts

#fantasy - 131 posts

#trope talk - 95 posts

#tropes - 94 posts

#hahaha - 94 posts

Longest Tag: 135 characters

#he’d known that consciousness could arrive in waves or in fits and starts but never once had he imagined that it could come in a throb.

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Arcane AU

Mel: What’s that...skittering noise in the rafters?

Jayce: Oh that’s just the assistant, don’t mind her.

Powder/Jinx:  :)

67 notes - Posted July 12, 2022

#4

OwlSwap: The Coven Heads

EDIT: Added the canonical Covenheads’ names

Emperor’s Coven - The Golden Guard / Hunter Wittebane

Coven Scout-Mattholomule

Coven Scout- Lilith Clawthorne

Illusions - Augustus “Gus” Porter

Bard - Skara Castastrata

Beast Keeping - Viney Creephallow

Abomination - Amity Blight

Plant - Terra Snapdragon, formerly Willow Parks

Oracle - Osran

Healing - Hettie Cutburn

Construction - Mason Stonecracker

Potions - Vitimer

... A good half of them (you can probably tell which half) are actively plotting against Belos.

-

The Head Witches from Belos’ perspective: Hunter has successfully recruited a force of extremely powerful Coven Heads. He has done well, though I must ensure their loyalty is to me, lest they interfere like Head Witch Parks

The Head Witches from Hunter’s perspective: I recruited my old Flyer Derby team to help overthrow the Emperor. 

68 notes - Posted June 1, 2022

#3

Reincarnation relationships just...make me so feral. And not just the romantic kind! I mean you have: 

The romantic Kagoyasha: Great!

The platonic Finn & Jake, the last episode of their series chronicling their decision to remain brothers, as they have for untold lifetimes before: Mathematical!

The varying Link and Zelda, forever bound by duty to fight at each other’s side to seal away Ganon: Beautiful & tragic!

The idea of spending a lifetime at someone’s side, dying, and deciding to do so all over again is just *chef’s kiss* so good!

88 notes - Posted April 15, 2022

#2

I know Hunter as Luz’s brother is a pretty accepted idea, but consider this:

Hunter gets adopted by Darius.

Darius gets together with Alador.

Hunter as AMITY’S brother.

112 notes - Posted May 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

LD&R Season 3 is actually the only season where I want to rewatch the majority of the episodes. Spoilers ahead for my faves:

Bad Traveling was phenomenal, Torrin is a magnificent bastard, love what we see about this world and want to learn more, I don’t mind the animation, and the crab speaking through dead body just hits a button with me. Shares the latter part with Swarm.

The Very Pulse of The Machine was majorly trippy.

Night of the Mini-Dead had me laughing out loud.

I cried during Mason’s Rats (don’t judge me okay)

In order to accurately describe my love for Jibaro, you’d have to extract the chemicals my brain makes while watching this and ingest the resulting drug. I watched the opening dance/slaughter three times. I’m seeing some weird connections drawn between this and Spanish colonialism in South America. Real lake Guatavita vibes.

124 notes - Posted May 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[projectforawesome]

Project for Awesome 2022 Perk Fulfillment

8Welcome to the 2022 Perk Fulfillment post. 

This post will continuously be updated as perks are fulfilled, so you can keep track of whether or not you should have received yours. You can bookmark this page and refer back to it to check on the status of your perks.

Digital perks will be emailed as they come in throughout the year, so please make sure info@projectforawesome.com is marked as a safe sender on your email.

Even if you bought a digital download bundle perk individually (i.e. you didn’t buy the whole bundle) you should still receive it at the date listed. If it’s not listed, it hasn’t been sent out yet! 

Please keep in mind that due to COVID shipping moves slower than it did in the past.  Note that you will receive an email from DFTBA when your perk ships.

If you have any questions you can email us at info@projectforawesome.com

Digital Download Bundle Perks

- John & Sarah’s Like Letters (3/2/22)

- Journey to the Microcosmos Soundtrack Vol 1 and 2 (3/2/22)

- Nerdfighter Coloring Pages (3/3/22)

- A digital hand-drawn affirmation from Hannah Hart (3/3/22)

- “I wanna be a crab” song (3/4/22) 

- Bonus Digital Download Bundle perks (3/4/22)

- Hogwarts as a Museum / Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast (3/8/22)

- Digital Nerdfighter Art Bundle (3/11/22) 

- P4A Knitting Pattern (3/22/22)

- Craig and Joe Movie Commentary (3/25/22) 

- Digital wallpapers (4/14/22)

- Super Carlin Brothers podcast (4/19/22) 

- Cocktails & Crostini livestream with Sarah and John (5/8/2022)

- Nerdfighter Cross Stitch Pattern (5/11/22)

- Pizza John x Anthropocene Reviewed Zine (5/16/22) 

- Dadcast (6/13/22) 

- Dear Katherine & Sarah (6/27/22) 

- John’s Tiktok drafts/ John’s deleted Tiktoks (7/6/22) 

- Exclusive DH&J episode (7/12/22) 

- Hank’s Tiktok drafts (7/12/22) 

- A Knight’s tale commentary (7/20/22) 

- AART Manuscript (7/20/22)

- Hank TikTok Dances (8/22/22)

- Baby-Sitter’s Club Podcast with John & Rosianna (8/26/22)

- Hank Thanks You on TikTok (9/12/22)

- Rosianna’s Winnie the Pooh story - 10/25/23

Physical + Exclusive Digital Perks

- Hank performs your tweet form (3/09/22) 

- Animated into Crash Course Form (3/23/22) 

- DH&J Personal message form (3/23/22)

- Nerdfigther Art (3/24/22)

- Signed Storm Trooper Helmet (SCB prop!) (3/29/22)

- Super Carlin Bros signed posters (3/29/22)

- Signed Mjölnir, Thor’s Hammer (SCB prop!) (3/29/22)

- Signed Iron Man Helmet (SCB prop!) (3/29/22)

- Signed Monster Book of Monsters (SCB prop!) (3/29/22)

- Signed Tesseract (SCB prop!) (3/29/22)

- Signed Thanos Rainbow/Infinity Stone Bobblehead Funkos (3/29/22)

- Hedwig Large Funko Pop (3/29/22)

- Tak Board Game Bundle (regular edition) (4/1/22)

- A Meteorite from Phil Plait (4/1/22)

- Crash Course Signed Script (4/4/22)

- Kurzgesagt 2022 Calendar (4/4/22)

- P4A Quilt (4/4/22)

- Signed and Personalized Copies of Josh Sundquist’s Book (4/4/22)

- Life’s Library Bundle (4/4/22)

- Crash Course Signed Script (4/6/22)

- Foam Hanklerfish Coin (4/8/22)

- Rainbow Hat Ornament (4/13/22)

- Pick a Pride Hat (4/13/22)

- Pride Hat Ornament Set (4/15/22)

- P4A 2022 Sticker (4/15/22)

- Signed Copy of the Bad Food Bible (4/15/22)

- P4A Quilt 2 (4/15/22)

-TAK Board Game Posh Bundle (4/15/22)

- Zoom Call with Dr. Aaron Carroll (4/14/22)

- Cosmic Bean / Pizza Mystery print (4/19/22)

- Trivia Night with Hank on April 20th (4/20/22) 

- Personal Thank-You video by Brennan Mulligan (4/21/22) 

- P4A T-shirt (4/28/22)

-Woodblock Nerdfighteria Print (B&W) (4/28/22)

- Sabrina draws you a frog friend (4/29/22) 

- Grace & Mamrie personalized video (5/3/22)

- Personalized podcast by Andrew & Rob (5/5/22)

- P4A Hoodie (5/9/22) 

- Woodblock Nerdfighteria Print (color) (5/11/22) 

- SciShow Finds Mystery Fossil (5/11/22) 

- P4A Enamel Pin (5/17/22) 

- P4A Mystery perk (5/17/22) 

- Physics Girl plushie (5/17/22) 

- Hand drawn affirmations from Hannah Hart (5/17/22) 

- Taylor Behnke Bat Art (5/17/22) 

- Physics girl postcard (5/17/22) 

- P4A Poster (5/18/22) 

- Signed Hank Green Book (5/24/22) 

- Dinosaur Bundle Amigurumi crocket kits (5/24/22) 

- Dimension 20 Death’s Avenged Mug (5/24/22) 

- Boggy Blush from Dimension 20 (5/24/22) 

- Bad Kids Enamel Pins from Dimension 20 (5/24/22) 

- Dimension 20 Wyrmwood Dice vault (5/24/22) 

- Dimension 20 Wyrmwood Dice tray (5/24/22) 

- Wrap Gift dice set from Escape from the Bloodkeep (5/24/22) 

- Under the Desk News Merch Pack (5/24/22) 

- Hank’s confetti (5/24/22) 

- Animal Painting (5/25/22) 

- Painted dinosaur (6/8/22) 

- Sharpie from John’s collection (6/8/22) 

- Book from John’s library (6/8/22) 

- Painted 3D Stegosaurus (6/8/22) 

- Signed John Green foreign editions (6/8/22) 

- P4A 2022 Socks (6/9/22) 

- John’s Zoom book recommendations 

- Rosianna’s tarot readings (11/29/22)

-John’s Cookbook pt. 2 (1/9/23)

Please note: If a perk is not on this list, it has not been sent out yet. Thank you!

[d-criss-news]

20 Questions With Darren Criss: How Acting Has Helped Him Make New Music

While Darren Criss has graced our TV screens with a range of characters, from high schooler Blaine Anderson on Glee to serial killer Andrew Cunanan on The Assassination of Gianni Versace, he was last spotted just being himself, on our For You Page on TikTok. “I’m walking to rehearsal with a guitar on my back with a Trader Joe’s bag ... I did not bring an umbrella because I forgot that it was raining. I’m rocking that NYC musician life,” the Glee alum explained in the hilarious clip posted three days ago.

While Criss’ acting work has earned him acclaim and stardom, he leaned into making music during the pandemic. On Aug. 20, he dropped a new EP, Masquerade, featuring five new tracks that Criss says were inspired by the different characters Criss has embraced throughout his career. After Criss wrote songs for his musical comedy web series Royalties and Apple TV+’s animated sitcom Central Park before the pandemic struck the United States, he then used those experiences as a precursor to his new EP. As Criss continues to promote his new music, he answered 20 of Billboard's questions – giving us a peek into how his new EP came together, and how growing up in San Fransisco shaped him as an actor, singer and all-around artist.

1. What inspired your latest project, Masquerade?

Although I would have preferred that it come at a far less grim cost, I finally had the time. Before the pandemic, I had written 10 new songs for my show Royalties -- along with an original song for Disney and another for Apple’s Central Park. These were all assignments in which I was writing for a certain scenario and character. Go figure. It was the most music I had ever written in a calendar year. This really emboldened me to rethink how I made my own music— to start putting a focus on “character creation” in my songs, rather than personal reflection. The latter was not proving to be as productive. The alchemy of having this time and having set a new intention with my own songwriting and producing made me put on a few of my favorite masques and throw myself a Masquerade.

2. How do you think your background as an actor complements your music?

They are one and the same to me. I treat acting roles like musical pieces— dialogue is like scoring a melody; there’s pace, dynamics, cadence, tone. Physical characterization is like producing -- zeroing in on the bass line, deciding on the kick pattern. Vocal characterization is like choosing the right sonic experience, choosing the most effective snare sound, and mixing the high end or low end. It goes without saying that it works in the complete opposite direction. Making each song is taking on a different role literally and employing the use of different masques to maximize the effectiveness of the particular story being told.

3. On Instagram  you wrote that “Masquerade is a small collection of the variety of musical masques that have always inspired me.” Which track do you identify with most in your real life?

Everybody absorbs songs differently. Some key into the lyrics, some into the melody, some the production, some into vocal performance. When I listen to songs, I consider all of their value on totally different scales. So it’s hard to say if there’s any track I “identify” with more than any others, since I -- by nature -- identify with all of them. I think I just identify with certain aspects more than others. If it helps for a more interesting answer, I will say I enjoy the slightly more classical, playful -- dare I say -- more Broadway-leaning wordplay of “Walk of Shame,” but that’s just talking about lyricism. I enjoy the attitude of “F*kn Around,” the batsh--t musicality of “I Can’t Dance,” the relentless grooves of “Let’s” and “For A Night Like This.” All have different ingredients I really enjoy having an excuse to dive into.

4. What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

Beatles audio cassettes: “Help” and “Hard Day’s Night.” I just listened on repeat on a tape-playing Walkman until my brother and I got a stereo for our room with a CD player in it, which was  when I just bought the same two albums again, but this time as compact discs.

5. What was the first concert you saw?It’s hard to say, because my parents took us to a lot of classical concerts when we were small. But I guess this question usually refers to what was the first concert you went to on your own volition, and that my friend, was definitely Warped Tour ’01. My brother and I went on our own— two teenagers going to their first music festival, in the golden age of that particular genre and culture. It was f--king incredible.

6. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid?

My dad was in private banking and advised really, really wealthy people on how to handle their money. My mom was, by choice, a stay-at-home mom, but in reality, she was my dad’s consigliere. They discussed absolutely everything together. They were a real team, and I saw that every single day in the house. They both had a background in finance (That’s how they met in the first place.) and were incredibly skilled at all the hardcore adulting things that I absolutely suck at. They were total finance wizards together. So of course, instead of becoming an accountant, I picked up playing the guitar and ran as far I could with it. Luckily, they were all about it.

7. What was your favorite homecooked meal growing up?

My dad was an incredible chef. For special occasions, I’d request his crab cakes. They were unreal. I’ve never had a crab cake anywhere in the world that was good as my dad’s.

8. Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time?

I don’t know if I’ve actually realized that yet.

9. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?

The specifics change every day, but the core idea at the top is to continue being consistently inconsistent with my choices, and to keep getting audiences to constantly reconsider their consideration of me. But I mean, sure, what performer doesn’t want to play Coachella? What songwriter doesn’t want to have Adele sing one of their songs? What actor doesn’t want to be in a Wes Anderson film?

10.  How did your hometown/city shape who you are?

San Francisco. I mean, come on. I was really lucky. The older I get, the more grateful I am for just being born and raised there. It’s an incredibly diverse, culturally rich, colorful, inclusive, vibrant city. By the time I was born, it had served as a beacon for millions of creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to gather and thrive. I grew up around that. The combination of that with having parents, who were unbelievably supportive of the arts themselves, laid an incredibly fortunate foundation to consider the life of an artist as a legitimately viable option. It’s a foundation that I am supremely aware is not the case for millions of young artists around the world. I was absurdly lucky.

11.  What’s the last song you listened to?

I mean probably one of mine, but not by choice. I know, lame. But I’m promoting a new EP, what’d you expect? But if you wanna know what I’ve been listening to, as far as new s--t is concerned: a lot of Lizzy McAlpine, Remi Wolf, and Charlie Burg.

12.  If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be?

The Beatles is an obvious "yeah, duh." Sammy Davis, Mel Tormé, or of course, Nat King Cole. I would’ve loved to see Howard Ashman give a lecture on his creative process and his body of work.

13. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen happen in the crowd of one of your sets?

I feel like just having a crowd at all, at any one of my sets, is pretty wild enough.

14. What’s your karaoke go-to?

The real answer to this I’ll write into a book one day, because I have a lot to say about karaoke etiquette. I have two options here: I can either name a song that I like to sing for me, for fun, or I can name a song that really gets the group going. The answer depends on what kind of karaoke night we’re dealing with here. So I will say, after I’ve selected a ton of songs that services a decent enough party vibe for everyone else, then I would do one for me, and that would be the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling.”

15. What’s one thing your most devoted fans don’t know about you?

What I have up my sleeve.

16. What TV show did you binge-watch over the past year?

Dave is a stroke of genius. There are episodes that I believe are bona fide masterpieces. Also, My Brilliant Friend is a masterclass in cinematic television.

17. What movie, or song, always makes you cry?

It’s A Wonderful Life.

18. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Get used to sharing everything about yourself and your life now, or more astutely, to the idea that you don’t necessarily get to control how your life is shared. I know it’s not really your thing, but you’re gonna have to get used to it, so start building up those calluses now. And don’t worry, all the stuff you love now will be cool again in your mid-thirties, so keep some of those clothes because you’ll be a full-blown fashion icon if you just keep wearing exactly what you’re wearing. Oh nd also, put money into Apple and Facebook.

19.  What new hobby did you take on in the last year?

I’ve always been a linguaphile. My idea of leisure time is getting to study or review other languages. This past year, I took the time to finally dive into learning how to read, write, and speak Japanese. Other than making music, it was one of the biggest components of my 2020-2021.

20. What do you hope to accomplish or experience by the end of 2021?

I hope I get to play live shows again.