(^ If strider wins, I'll scream  the challenge is RIGGED!

(^ default out on 'im!  send dark matter some invisible thread for  entering!

(^ that's an inside joke for those that have watched way too much Penn and Teller bits)

(^heck EVERYONE should share monofillament for rigging  actually!  like where you GET the stuff?!

(^ hee oh-heehaha..ahh haa.. only just ..kidding

(^ but seriously if that catheaded  maker of a serriously  NICE mix of struggles   isn't in top space for the prize, I'm gonna end up trying to send a box of glunk off to that one in consolation, as I did to LeTendre  long ago.

(^..reaklly SHOULD get round to struggling this clown out of this box.. hmnnn..

(^ anyone who likes to do camera  live sear Seattle?

====too few heads make matter gode dark=======

(^the struggle of puppets  going "bad" .

not immoral bad.

 just..  you know. faulty. spoiled. in need of a refferbish.

  the animator WANTS to fix  broken ankle, 

but the puppet   reacts indignant:

  tries to cobver up the booboo.

 is afraid of the doctor..

 human hand(s) TRY to reach in and HELP fix busted part..
the puppet crawls away in terror. or in indignation "this is all YOUR fault!! don;t TOUCH me you ..yy..you.. yyEWwww imperfect creator you!"

(^ .. I really could use a spell checker ion here)

now THAT's a challenge.

  not one  I'm likly to personally animate,  but  I can see it in my mind:

(^ i can hear multile voice overs.. and sound effcts.

 this could be long or short  , but honestly , I've been watching and  holy cow the wire armeture trying to grow clay and getting a boxed head is suhhhWEET!

(^ 

but  hey. how many  entries have there been so far,  Mr.GardnerGuard?

Right , we need more although I am already in panic having Strider as adversary.

 Gusty your posts are the craziest post I ever exposed to myself LOL

meow to you and yours.

 sincerely, mad.

I am trying to make a new puppet thingy but I am afraid may not be done by the end of may.

Fear not mad cat of metal... I mentioned somewhere in here that I'm entering just for fun, not up for the prize or anything. I like the use of the word Challenge rather than Contest... it's more about challenging OURSELVES to do our personal best, rather than competing with each other. Besides, I seriously doubt John would send me that puppet, even if I were the only person to enter!!  

But here's something to put in your pipe and puff on for a while... personally I think your entry is far stronger than mine. Serious. Mine might look more finessed.. because I'm using a puppet I already made and a set I took many months to build, and lights that I bought over a long period of time and gradually learned how to set up... and while I feel I've just recently reached a new level of animation ability in terms of smoothness and expressiveness, my clip really fails to demonstrate much DRAMA... where as yours has it in spades! Your much simpler puppets (which I love by the way, they look COOL) manage to convey a lot more emotion and expressiveness than Skulkin does. He really hams it up as a mime, but really it's just a gag... your puppets reveal distinctly different rhythms and cadences in their walks... distinct emotional states, and put on a real performance. Something I've been trying to do and have only really just begun to with my clip, but I haven't gotten very far with the performance aspect yet.  

And to think... you're doing all this WITHOUT USING TIEDOWNS!!! I am seriously impressed my friend!! I've been watching your walk tests over and over (especially the last ones) and your work is inspiring me to remove gags and cliches and really try to PERFORM through a puppet... the way you have through just some twisted wire! 

Gusty, tell them to send me some INTANGIBLE thread....   (awesome bookends by the way)

I know, the idea of challenge is so much worth it than...'contest'

Yet it is always so exciting to believe my adversary is such a gladiator like strider himself.

And I have several thoughts to distribute to you all but...a big headache as well that you may not want to have, and I just finish it up saying 'I have no words'

 I am very surprised of how warm yet dark environment I am lying on, that it makes me so enthusiasticated to commit more experiments..soon, just for the fun of it and arts sake..and all that juice we all drink from.

 This is just a fantastic topic all the way around. Fantastic animation and even better attitudes. Strider, Class-Act response man. What a way to inspire all around positivity for the new guys.

Great job on the puppet Castle, He is really cool. Good luck to the possible recipients.

Sweet book-ends Gusty!

mine is called SpringGleaning:

Hello everyone! I'm brand new to this forum and it looks like I showed up just in time to win that amazing puppet! I am convinced I would put it to heavy use in an amazing film and give all deserved credit the puppet maker. Please leave me some feedback on my new shorts! Thanks very much!

Thanks Flem! 

Dread, some great work!! You have a good deal more versatility than I realized when I commented on the other board. Great to have you in here. 

(^ dread may well be the one in need of that ball and socket.

 I think I'm taking the cat under my cowbird's nestwing. just because.

(^ USe yOUR eWEs! who like playing with sound? and what's that cot to do with xposure sheets?!