Reblogs > likes

!!!

Okay. Okay. So. In no particular order:

1. The Art Style

Aside from the fact that, quite frankly, half the cast barely looks like themselves, a lot of the art just… Looks cheap to me.

First of all, it’s pretty obvious that they’re using a lot of assets in their background. While this isn’t inherently a bad thing… The execution here leaves quite a bit to be desired.

This mirror(???) is truly the bane of my existence. I think I may be getting closer to experiencing what it is like to go into a rage every single time I see it. Why is it LIKE THAT.

On top of that, a lot of the time characters look a lot more like they’re on top of the environment rather than in them.

(Additional, why are everyone’s feet… so pointy. I understand that it’s probably meant to be perspective but it just ends up looking silly)

And on the topic of The Backgrounds, what’s going on with the background characters?

Aside from the fact that I personally do not think Elmville is not this diverse… What are these?

While the Dog People could maybe be passed off as werewolves if we ignored everything behind Jawbone and Tracker… What’s with the large population of Singularly Eyed, Oddly Colorful, (one) Horned, (and) Tentacled creatures?

These are… Not even generic fantasy creatures? They look like the artists took a random trait generator and just ran with it. Not to mention, even if you tried to pass them off as some really out there cyclopses, those are Huge creatures. Truly, a logistics nightmare.

2. The Writing:

While, of course, I understand changing up the story to better fit the Webtoon Format, I feel like we’ve lost so much characterization from the way everyone was introduced. Considering we’ve only gotten four chapters so far, I’ll give them some time to play catch-up but I really do not think they could weave in those crucial characters points in as smoothly as their original introductions did.

While I feel like they might be able to course correct to some degree with most of the bad kids, I especially dislike how they’ve introduced Gorgug.

Gorgugs rage is an important part of him but he’s so much more than that. The fact that we’re introduced to this awkward, nervous kid who doesn’t fit in his house before we’re introduced to his raging is so important to his character. The fact his rage often comes from a place of fear and protectiveness is so important to his character.

We don’t get to see that. We’re introduced to a half-orc who rages after being attacked, who turns out to be awkward afterwards. Which, while sure, it could work, does not feel like Gorgug to me.

Similarly, in the way we’re introduced to Sklonda, the only parent we’ve met so far, we miss so much of who she is as a person. The cornflakes scene and her helping Riz only to question why she’s encouraging him are so important to her as a person and I’m so sad we did not get that. Sklonda Gukgak is an amazing woman and mother. The lady we were introduced to does not feel like Sklonda.

I’m really worried about the entire story being sanitized and scrubbed of what made Fantasy High the piece of media that I fell in love with.

I’m worried about how they’re going to handle everyone’s variously queer identities. I’m worried they’ll make Kristen less of an unapologetically horny lesbian. I’m worried that they’re going to obliterate any hint of Riz being ace in favor of making him an awkward nerd who keeps coming off as some sort of sex pervert.

I’m worried that they’ll water down all the serious moments because Fantasy High is just a Comedy now.

I’m worried peoples mental illnesses and neurodiversity will either be ignored or played for jokes. I’m worried about how Adaine seems nervous maybe, but not like someone with anxiety. I’m so worried about how they’ll handle Ayda’s autism.

I’m worried for a lot of things.

But I’m also trying to be hopeful.

There have been brief moments that I did like. I like how they’ve shown as using her illusions to trick people. I like some of the little details that have been added in to add more character, usually in brief, one panel glimpses.

The Slightly Higher Quality Kids!

Design notes under the cut :]