RedPhoenix's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sonic: Nazo Unleashed Pt1]

Nice one!

First of all, you did a great job on the graphics, voice acting, and animation. The animation was very smooth with highly detailed drawings-- I know this must have taken quite some time and it shows! I liked that you weren’t afraid to create many, many different scenes and backgrounds for your movie. That made it feel as though I wasn’t trapped in the artist’s head, but was instead in a world created by the artist.

As far as the voice acting goes: great job on that! Thank your team for me and let them know what a great job they did on getting down inflections, emotions, and believable dialogue. It’s so rare to find an entire team of strong amateur (as in not for a wage) voice actors.

Also, great use of gradients for light effects—those are definitely my favorite in Flash and you’ve got that effect down!

As far as critiquing your work, I’ll go ahead and be up front about it. You did take many ideas and elements from Dragonball Z by Akira Toriyama. To say that you were not heavily influenced by it would be lying. In order to stop everyone else from continuously saying that you ripped it off of DBZ, I would personally put, instead of a disclaimer, a thanks to Toriyama and Dragonball Z for inspiration and ideas for your animation.

Now, you might ask why I say that you were influence by the style of DBZ, so I’ll go through the list (but let it be known that this in no way takes away from the quality art that you and your team have created):

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--The characters voices seemed to be based off of Dragonball Z characters (I don’t know if this was intentional, but nevertheless, you guys still did a great job):
1. Sonic -> Goku
2. Shadow -> Vegeta
3. Nazo -> Cooler

--The destruction of the city in the opening scene, immediately followed by news reports were in the same style as when the scenes when the androids were terrorizing the city and how they were followed by reports of the destruction

--The scene when Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are going to fight Nazo is in the same way when Goku, Gohan, Krillin, and the others all meet-up to confront the androids when they were destroying “South City” (also like “South Island”)

--The ability of the Knuckles to sense the emeralds similar to how those of DBZ could sense the Dragonballs

--The way by which Sonic was about to die by the hands of Nazo, but then Shadow shows-up without anyone’s knowledge and blocks the attack is directly related to when Goku was going to be killed by Android 19, but Vegeta immediately steps in and stops 19’s attack. Both even have the same attitude that they don’t really care about the main character (Goku/Sonic), but just are in it to show off

--How Sonic goes “Super,” yet without turning Golden after tails (dies?) is in the same fashion of how Goku watches Krillin die and then begins thinking about his friend dying and that turns him into Super Saiyan

--The way that the characters powered-up or used powers were in the same fashion as DBZ: aura charge-up lines, ki blasts, ki boosts in flying, etc.

There is still a few more on the list, but the only reason that I bring this up is because you said that it is "not true" that “the following scenes are DBZ rip-offs.” They often directly relate to DBZ. In order to stop people from saying you are “ripping off DBZ” you should change your disclaimer and give Akira Toriyama credit for his work on Dragonball Z and give thanks for the inspiration to make this movie. After all, if you had never seen Dragonball Z, then ask yourself what your movie would have turned out like.
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Oh, and before I forget, please try to work on equalizing all of the audio. Try to get all of the volume of the Flash at around the same decibel range so that it's not too loud. To fix this is to go into Flash and to decrease the audio levels by sliding the volume level down for each clip. If you need help with this, drop me a note.

Okay, now that's over with, I'd like to commend you again on a job well done! I'd really like to see more of your work--and even in the same style.

May God bless you,
Red Phoenix

Chakra-X responds:

Thank you very much for this informative review!

But I must inform you, only two voice actors were custom made. The rest (sonic, knuckles, tails and shadow) were voice clips from the official games spliced together to imitate dialogue.

THANK YOU for listing things that seemed like DBZ, however I sincerely had scenes similar on accident such as (in the order you posted)...

-Never saw that saga. I just thought if a city was destroyed, it'd be on the news and it was a nice way to introduce Sonic's role.

-I think that's a bit stretching it, though "South Island" is actually a place in the Sonic the Hedgehog games *(I think the first one)

-In Sonic Adventure 1/2 Knuckles specifically can sense Chaos Emeralds.

-Having the anti-hero save the hero is common in shows. Shadow needed a badass entrance and the relation of Vegeta-Goku is similar to Shadow-Sonic.

-Similar yes, but if you saw your best friend die at the hands of a menace and you could transform, wouldn't you transform (and he also went into a Dark Super Sonic form, unlike DBZ)

-I like that style of power up =D

I do not remember if I thanked Akira Toriyama in the credits or not, but even though effects seemed like they were from DBZ, I just think they shouldn't be limited to DBZ. If 10 other popular shows did this the same time DBZ did, it would not be classified as a DBZ rip off.

And also, please point out some points where the sound was too loud, etc?

Much thanks for the review!

[CT: "the Fated battle"]

Sweetness!

Heya Kecho,

I haven't been to this website in a while, but this animation was definitely worth it! From start to finish, it felt as though I were actually in the game watching it unravel before me. It nicely followed the style of Chrono Trigger with a few surprises as well.

Also, I really enjoyed the camera work incorporated throughout the movie as well as the actual in-game music being used.

Again, great job and I look forward to your future animations!

P.S. Nice job on the scripting and the main menu! What fun!

[Stop Motion Experiment 2]

What patience!

Ahh, such a persistant artist should be rightfully awarded! Great job on this Flash. Purely original, innovative, and entertaining.

I love the use of the shadow moving objects-- nice effect. I look forward to other animations that you may do in the future.

"Sometimes the best ideas are worth waiting for. . ." Keep it up!

[Only Superhuman]

Interesting. . .

TmsT,

Nice animation.

I find it ironic that you may believe that God created humans only for their destruction, when it is only the contrary. Humans are destructive by nature; however, that is why God sent Christ to save us from this destruction.

The self-destructiveness consists of our nature to mess up in life. Have you ever stolen, lusted, or lied? Then that would make you a thief, an adulterer, and a liar. By God's perfect standards, do we deserve to go to Hell? Yes.

However this is why, God sent Jesus Christ, so that His Son would be the ultimate sacrifice for all the wrong doings we have ever done. It is only by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and by claiming Him as Lord, that you will be saved. . . Just something to think about.

TmsT responds:

Unlike yourself, the things that I post on NewGrounds do not necessarily reflect my beliefs. ^_~
This movie was more a poke-in-the-ribs for the modern "pop culture" view of "fictional God" that so many self-proclaimed atheists seem to think Christians believe in, rather than poking fun at Christianity itself.

However, I will think about what you said. Thinking is fun.

Cheers

[Claveman Ep. 1/5]

I got bored watching it

Not too great of a story, but nice graphics. Honestly, it got rather slow in the middle of the movie and became rather boring. Next time try to make the script and movie faster and more involving.

I give it an overall 6.

[Mega Man vs. Quick Man]

Worth the download! One of the best. . . Ever!

Hey Rodrigo,

I am completely impressed by your work here! The set-up, plot, and animation rock man (pun intended =)! I love your style and the way it was all presented. It was clever in the way that some of the parts were humorous, yet serious at the same time! Also, I like how you played into the fact that Megaman might have been part human or based to be like a human though yet a robot. Hence the reason as to why he bled.

Very professional work to be seen here; I recommend this movie to anyone at Newgrounds! These are the kind of animations that make Newgrounds what it is today.

Excellent use of music and sound FX that was in sync with the video. A job well done; and may continue to God bless you!

--Red Phoenix

El-Cid responds:

Yo Tanner!

Hey man, a million thanks for you fireball contribution. Someone already commented on it! And thank you for encouraging me into getting more into my art and flash. You really got me started.
May God continue to bless you too.
--Rodrigo

[Global Warming!]

Move Zig. . . Errruaaarraaagghhh

'Sup 'Digo! Mind if I call you that? Anyway, nice job on the animation! I think its funny that everyone is trying to figure out this movie and make a complex plot out of it, when its just supposed to be random!

There's not supposed to be a point to everything!
"I felt you were TRYING for something that wasn't happening" -- Ha! There was no trying, only doing! So what were you supposed to be trying to do? People, people. . . its just funny, so laugh if you understand the humor! If you don't understand it, then do not complain about it. =)

Keep up the good work! Rocks!

Thanks bro,
Red Phoenix

El-Cid responds:

Hola dude. Muchas gracias por el review bueno! Tu eres "el man"!

[Metal Gear Fiesta]

That Seriously Rocked!!!

That's some of the best flash I've seen! I loved when Snake is trying to get the guard's attention! I look forward to your future submissions, and if you need any help you know who to call!

Perfecto!!!

Iadulo!
--Red Phoenix