Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps Animation Announced

[FlameStream]

While it didn't quite hit the mark on the scenario and tone for me (which is not too surprising as I didn't really like Colors in that aspect), I appreciate the artistic work and effort of everyone involved with this project.

[Natie]

On 8/19/2021 at 5:41 PM, JezMM said:

My only issue is I feel the modern shorts are just slightly more "flash-animated" looking than Mania Adventures, which all felt smooth as butter frame-by-frame hand-drawn animation (even though I expect it wasn't for plenty of shots).  I dunno if I'm imagining it, whether these ones just have slightly reduced budget compared to SMA, or if it's just a practical choice because the Modern character designs just aren't quite as bouncy/flexible/tailor-made for animation as Tyson Hesse's own classic designs. 

I am begging the internet to learn what "tweens" and "rigs" are.

Anyway I imagine the reason is because A. It's a more talking and B. Sonic web cartoons are no longer a "special one-time case" like they were in Mania Adventures and SEGA has more reason to want to cut the cost if they're gonna make more full-on miniseries' like this.

One nice takeaway is that it at least lets em do this cool lineless style with far less labor.

[Multikaris]

2 hours ago, charmsb said:

Probably not considering it doesnt look different than any other Jade Wisp and its the only one in the short. Would be cool to have another unique Wisp character I suppose, but not this time.

edit: Well, I guess the whole team of undercover Wisps also counts as unique characters.

I feel like if it doesn’t happen, a fan-nickname would be nice to remember her by.

[charmsb]

2 minutes ago, Snowragnarok said:

I feel like if it doesn’t happen, a fan-nickname would be nice to remember her by.

Jade-y.

Take it or leave it.

For real though, I'd rather give a nickname after the series concludes just to see what the character ends up being like

[Multikaris]

Just now, charmsb said:

Jade-y.

Take it or leave it.

Peeker? Would fit with Yacker, so all Wisps have “-er” names so they can fit together. It’s theme naming at work here.

[charmsb]

1 minute ago, Snowragnarok said:

Peeker? Would fit with Yacker, so all Wisps have “-er” names so they can fit together. It’s theme naming at work here.

I actually like Peeker a lot!

[JezMM]

10 hours ago, Natie said:

I am begging the internet to learn what "tweens" and "rigs" are.

I feel it's best not to get hung up on this stuff when it comes to language regarding one's specialist interests.  I'm aware of these terms, but "flash-animated" kinda gets the message I'm communicating across succinctly to those who don't.  Case in point: You knew I was talking about animation that uses tweening and rigs, message communicated.

Incidentally, I do agree that it's an absolutely logical choice and the vast majority of viewers aren't gonna be so picky. I honestly wish I could just enjoy it, but for whatever reason, despite only having an entry-level understanding of what goes into animation, I just can't unsee the individual layers and moving parts and puppetry that goes into this style of animation and it just takes me out of the moment a little bit.

[SBR2]

Man I don't know. I thought the animation was fine. It's not as stiff as say Johnny Test.

[Spooky Mulder]

I thought the animation was great! I enjoyed it and it made me love the Wisps again. I don't love the way they've been used post-Colors but I still think they're one of the few new additions over the last 20 years that really feel like they belong. I'd be fine seeing the wisps again in a main game, but I do think they should be more than just power ups. 

[JezMM]

I hope folks aren't taking my criticism of the animation style choice with too much weight - I should be clear that I don't feel like I'm watching anything that is cheaply made or amateur-grade here - if anything, it's the fact that 90% of the time they either don't use tweens/rigs or they mask it super well that makes the occasional shot stick out for me.  My distaste for that style is purely a "me" problem, there's nothing for the team to be ashamed of here, it's just unfortunate that the only way to solve it for me is for them to have not used it at all, which much as I would like it, is already a ridiculous expectation for free bonus content that they had no obligation to make - this stuff clearly exists far more for fans to enjoy than it does to promote the game and it's really freakin' cool that SEGA go for that.

[Natie]

15 hours ago, JezMM said:

I feel it's best not to get hung up on this stuff when it comes to language regarding one's specialist interests.  I'm aware of these terms, but "flash-animated" kinda gets the message I'm communicating across succinctly to those who don't.  Case in point: You knew I was talking about animation that uses tweening and rigs, message communicated.

Incidentally, I do agree that it's an absolutely logical choice and the vast majority of viewers aren't gonna be so picky. I honestly wish I could just enjoy it, but for whatever reason, despite only having an entry-level understanding of what goes into animation, I just can't unsee the individual layers and moving parts and puppetry that goes into this style of animation and it just takes me out of the moment a little bit.

Not getting mad at ya, haha, don't worry. I just wish the "Flash" misnomer would die out as Flash is mostly used now by independents making beautiful frame-by-frame and most of the professional rigged productions use Toonboom now and I can never resist commenting on it when I can, sorry.

Also I totally get your dissapointment, rigged animation is super noticeable and I've never cared for it, I guess I'm just a bit more unsurprised to see SEGA eventually get a lot more cost effective with their free web cartoons. Maybe it could go back, but for now im just glad we got Mania Adventures-tier stuff at all.

[Baldymcnosehair1999]

Anything by Tyson Hesse is awesome! Where was mike pollok though?

[Rabbitearsblog]

Good news!  Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps just won the Platinum Award in the 2022 AVA Digital Awards.