April 1st 2024

Check these songs out while you read:

Read previous blogs via the FP Blog Directory:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E_Itge20LGn7v4FnX4ldW1sBl7rZgloLd4WVHN2WHHA/edit?usp=sharing

Da Intro

Howdy and hello, folks, and welcome to the eleventh monthly blog post. Eleven!! That’s crazy!!

March was yet another good month for NG, so let's check out some stuff that happened you know the drill by this point!

Just as a disclaimer: I’ll only be showcasing submissions rated E or rated T. I have the M and A ratings turned off for my account, so if a user I showcase here has submissions with those ratings on their account, I may not know about it. Viewer discretion is advised and all that!

Da Recap

This segment is where I’ll be talking about cool stuff that happened in the past month here on Newgrounds!

If you haven’t yet, peep the Best of February!

https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1533025

Back in February, @CarterSterling started “Newgrounds NXT,” a group for aspiring animators under 1k NG fans. Check it out if you’re interested in joining!

https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1532797

There’ve been quite a few smaller site changes — including the ability to report submissions that have been primarily generated by AI!

https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1532878/1

Check out Tom’s post-PAX post for some cool convention highlights in the replies!

https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1533508

I know most of you lame-o’s out there don’t listen to NG voice acting submissions so y’all better peep the Storytime Collab hosted by @JAMRIOT and @AhWham - or else!!!

Be sure to keep an eye on the Newgrounds Calendar for future events!

https://www.newgrounds.com/calendar/

Da Works

“Da Works” will be me going over three works from this month that especially stood out to me here on NG. It may be popular stuff that I want to celebrate even more, or it may be more lesser known things that I think need a bit more love. Who knows! Anyways, here’s da works for this month.

Da first work from last month is "Aderlass" by @yCarl0! This piece speaks for itself entirely - my words won't do it justice. What a beautiful piece.

Da second is "AhWham / 25 / A100" by @Aalasteir, featuring @AhWham! This podcast episode is a brilliant look into the mind and philosophy of one of NG's hardest working collab organizers, directed masterfully by Aalasteir into a funny, heartwarming, and intellectually stimulating conversation. PLEASE give it a listen!

Da third and final work is "Crossette" by @sparkymessi, recommended to me by @xanxoepico! This track is incredibly fun and energetic, and just puts me in a great mood. The driving bass, vocal samples, and drum breaks all compliment each other nicely in a lovely piece that doesn't overstay its welcome. A great tune overall!

Da Spotlight

This segment is meant to celebrate the cool users on the site who I just think are plain awesome.

Da first spotlight goes to @shroeshrock! shroeshrock has a style consisting of rough linework and rounded shapes, giving his work a grungy but approachable feeling. Featuring a great deal of fandom-related artwork, shroeshrock brings new life to already beloved characters with loose yet clearly definable design work, showing an understanding of anatomy - and how to properly distort it to great effect. Go check out his gallery!

Da second spotlight belongs to @tom-atom, recommended to me by @SamaadBae5! tom-atom is a composer who does a lot of VGM work and whose music is very reminiscent of tracks from an era I’m sure many of you reading are nostalgic for. The jazz influence is laid on thick with tom-atom’s tracks, with a plethora of progressions, percussion patterns, and groovy basslines that scratch my brain in just the right way. Seriously go check out their work!

Da News

It’s time for da news! Here I’ll share some exciting or interesting news posts from around Newgrounds.

@fe3l1ngsk1lledd has a very important PSA for everyone.

https://fe3l1ngsk1lledd.newgrounds.com/news/post/1427024

@Bleak-Creep shared her twelfth round of underrated artist recommendations!

https://bleak-creep.newgrounds.com/news/post/1427531

@Zanzlanz hit 2k NG fans and reflected on what Newgrounds means to him. Congrats on the amazing milestone!

https://zanzlanz.newgrounds.com/news/post/1430857

@wonkypaws celebrated their 2 year anniversary on Newgrounds!

https://wonkypaws.newgrounds.com/news/post/1432094

For more comprehensive, weekly news on what’s going on in the NG community, please follow @TheTankTribune!

Da Mail

This segment allows you to share your voice personally here on the Frontpage Blog. Whether it’s shower thoughts, self-promotion, questions for me, something you think I should feature, or literally anything else - as long as it’s SFW I might feature it here! Simply PM me with the subject line “FP Blog Mail” to send your message.

I reserve the right to refuse to feature any message. Messages with profanity will be censored. Abusive messages will be reported to site administration.

Seems like the mailbox is empty this month…

Da People

This is a segment where I send some interview questions to a cool NG user and showcase their answers!

This month, I interviewed @Ditchu, a pixel artist and pixel animator most well known for his DELTARUNE fan creations! With an incredibly detailed and distinct style, Ditchu is absolutely a modern NG artist icon in my eyes. I hope you enjoy this interview!

Interviews are presented as-received with no edits unless otherwise specified.

What are the main inspirations you draw from in your work?

When I first started doing pixel art, I can definitely say that one of my biggest inspirations was Temmie Chang, her work on UNDERTALE at the time really solidified a presence in my mind that I can't really forget. But throughout the years, I've been sort of * absorbing * quite a lot of inspirations when developing my own art style.

Moawling, Ashley Nichols, SAINTTUFA, and ceno0 are ones that come to mind, but there are many others for sure-- I would say that I've been trying to lean on making my pixel art break the conventional way that pixel art is usually drawn (like the classic 8-bit and 16-bit), so the viewer has a "HOW IS THIS IN PIXEL ART!" surreal feeling.

How did you discover Newgrounds?

When I was a kid actually-- but *because of my mom catching me watching Madness Combat I was blocked from ever using it again--*. I only remembered it existed once FNF got popularized, and my mind raced to that ancient childhood memory and I realized I can finally see what I've been missing. And honestly, *I did miss quite a lot*. The wonderful, almost immediate positive response from the Newgrounds community to my art really made me feel welcomed tho, and now as I use it more and more, it feels like this is one of the best places for an artist to be in.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve submitted to Newgrounds?

Everyone believes that it would be my countless DR: Minis, where I make a crossover between a game that I like, with DELTARUNE-- but the things I enjoy more are my animations, like Distant-ssaura and UNDERTALE's Intro Remade.

They are so fun to make, write and produce, *if they weren't such troublemakers to do I would have made a thosaund more by now--*. If we are talking souly about which art of mine is my favorite, that would definitely go to Death Bun-ttle | Empowered-- One of my best work ever!

What’s your favorite color?

Now, look at me. *Isn't it obvious that it is pink*

What’s your LEAST favorite color?

Green--

*I don't know what it is, but I can't wrap my brain around it, how do I use it properly*

Give a shoutout to one Newgrounds user!

So many to choose-- but from my mind right now, I would say @Notakin. Their work with Fighting Games styled pixel art is fantastic, and it's something not many people can make it right like they can--!

What’s your message to the NG community?

Never stop doing what you think it's fun!-- Whatever you make, rather being art, music or writing, make it because you love what you are doing. For the longest time, I've been focusing too much on the numbers and algorithms that the world pushes down on everyone, but once I realized how that impacted my enjoyment of drawing and making art, I switched into focusing on just making what I find fun. If I can make myself laugh or feel happy from my own drawing, then that's enough for me, and I think you should think like that too.

Da Rest

March was a rather interesting month for me. I finally wrapped up the music for the FNF mod I’ve been working on for a while - plus made a few unrelated Funkin’ tracks - I’ve just been very funk-pilled recently in case y’all couldn’t tell. Also had some highs and lows in my personal life, but it’s all chill homie. Entering my final month of undergrad - it cannot be over with fast enough LOL.

I'm excited for what April has in store! I hope y'all liked my April Fools thing ;P

That’s it for this month’s frontpage blog! Thank you very much for reading.

Also -

for any interested musicians (as well as a few artists and voice actors), please remember to sign up for the Christmas in July Collab Album ‘24! Applications are open until June 27th but are first come, first serve - sign up today!

https://masterhand4444.newgrounds.com/news/post/1416075