Web-toons resurrect animation

The fairly recent phenomenon of web based animation has been thriving in large part because of an underground buzz. It has slowly been gaining popularity among bored people of all ages. Whether your tired of fighting over the remote, or sitting in the back of a torturous lecture, web animation offers the opportunity for easily digestable entertainment.

Creators of these diversions are not random, jobless members of society—for many animation is their passion and their job. Amy Winfrey, the creator of Muffin Films, Making Fiends and Big Bunny, is a perfect example. After working with South Park as an animator, she decided to branch out and become an independent creator of these much-loved Internet toons. While professional free-lance artists run many such animation websites, a large part of their revenue comes from merchandising items printed with logos and characters that die-hard fans can purchase (most people will recognize the extremely popular Homestarrunner.com gear). What better way to show your style than by sporting shirts or drinking out of mugs with a scowling pink bunny peering out?

One major draw is the length of each episode. With the typically short attention spans of our generation, a three-minute story is just the right length to keep us laughing and allow us to move on when it’s over. Most of the cartoons come in series with new episodes periodically uploaded to the sites by their proud producers. Many are light-themed commentaries or just plain cute, mind-numbing fun. Some, however, are overwhelmingly gruesome and violent, such as the story of Ninjai: The Little Ninja who is on an enigmatic mission and encounters evil ninjas who attempt to terminate him. The cute little boy in a shadowy straw hat nonchalantly slices off heads and talks to small birdies while on his journey.

It’s easy to get hooked on a specific website, going back for more whenever you need to write up a chemistry lab or post responses about Jane Eyre on Blackboard. Some non-committal fun can be found on Weebls-Stuff.com where a collection of animators contributes their freaky humor and randomness to add to your procrastination. The animation titled Kenya is especially mesmerizing—Weebls Stuff musical toons cycle back to the beginning allowing you to zone out for as long as you please. Salad Fingers is also especially creepy at 3:49 a.m. while you’re trying to finish your take-home midterm.

As it grows in popularity, finding new footholds in previously unexplored niches, web animation is also a great conversation starter or even a nice way to make up with your roommate after an argument about the hour-long snooze crime you committed in the morning.