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So that you're braced for the kind of person you'll be dealing with on this blog.

What App/Brush do I use to draw?

No Longer Taking Art Requests

I don't do commissions at the moment either. Sorry.

...that being said, do you have any plans in the future to write a fanfic? maybe like a CoDawn fanfic i dunno....hehe

Ok I’ve struggled to answer this one sooner because I didn’t know how to thank you properly!

My writing has always been something that I thought needed a lot of work; I always take a really long time to articulate my thoughts, I struggle to recognise what tone I’m conveying and often feel it is flat or stilted, there’s usually some sort of typo I didn’t catch in my longer paragraphs, and in general I often feel like my words don’t carry enough meaning or value on their own. Not to mention, all grammar rules have gone out the window.

It’s why I usually communicate my ideas visually first and foremost, maybe supplement with some text if I feel so inclined. But my writing on its own never really felt all that worthwhile.

So reading this ask, seeing that somebody out there actually likes the way I write… it feels good. Really good, really reassuring!

It makes the time I spend deliberating on my words feel a little less pointless.

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As for fanfiction writing… maybe?

I mean, I don’t really have anything planned, but I occasionally jot some things down in pages. Character interactions, story concepts, stuff I jotted down for a comic I never even started on… you know, the type of thing that comes from a burst of inspiration that never gets a follow-up.

I gotta admit, it’s my own fault for even engaging with the negativity and taking it personally, considering it wasn’t specifically directed at me, just vaguely. If anyone has too much time on their hands, it’s me.

But thank you so so very much! ^u^

i will admit, i definitely had the more stereotypical view when i asked lol, which is actually why i was so curious! i was totally thinking, gosh does that mean cody is assumed to be so argumenative and cold/callous? i didn’t think that fit him, but your explanation makes everything much clearer. i think it can be hard with him because his behavior can be a bit situational, and sometimes, especially with a competition show like tdi, you don’t get to see the characters outside of specific absurd or strict contexts, like said competition, and for cody: sierra, gwen (though he’s so much more than them!). only smaller glimpses outside unfortunately i feel, so it takes a lot of care to understand him in both those specific settings/dynamics and outside of them and you show a lot of thoughtfulness for his character (he deserves it :))

i especially understand when it comes to the functions of fe and fi, it would certainly seem to contradict his very core of trying to be “cool” and appealing in specific ways socially and also almost being a bit of a mediator sometimes for the social harmony aspect (japan commercial when the girls were arguing, even in the drama brothers- which i feel is a harder time period to assess his authentic personality because that whole sequence is a fame getting to their heads situation lol but this still shined through to me- when everyone is arguing/annoyed and he happily asks justin what he thinks lol). his people pleasing nature you emphasized later and how it affects his dynamic with sierra was also a great point for your reasoning.

thank you for your detailed response, you articulate your thoughts very well! you are certainly not anything close to an “idiot!”

Ah, you’re very welcome!

I definitely had to do a little extra research when jotting my thoughts down, and got a slightly refreshed perspective on what the cognitive functions actually do. It’s difficult to get a solid consensus on anything when it comes to talking about anything MBTI related, you could practically be talking about any number of things thanks to how much it’s been reinterpreted and abstracted by different sources. It’s hardly any wonder why people would immediately assume it’s all just glorified stereotypes.

Even now, I’m not 100% certain on the conclusion I landed on, but I think explaining my thought process at least lets people see where I’m coming from. But still, take my interpretations of the functions with a grain of salt.

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Cody’s a bit of an odd character to type for sure, a lot of other TD characters actually fit more cleanly into their “expected” MBTI types and using their cognitive functions in the order of their stack, while Cody kind of subverts his on a couple of levels. It reminds me of how he subverts his label as “The Geek” by not actually having that as the focus of his character.

He is my favourite character, so of course I want to analyse him with a bit more scrutiny to make sure I can portray him accurately, or be able to develop him forward from his canon portrayal while doing so in a manner that still feels true to himself.

Even with the deeper analysis though, some of the points you brought up were things that didn’t even cross my mind when writing the main post, but they definitely reinforce the point. Nice catch with the Drama Brothers thing especially!

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No problem at all! A little extra clarity is required when you’re dealing with a bunch of terms that look very similar, especially as a visual aid for someone who isn’t already familiar with them.

Fe, Fi, Te and Ti can easily be mixed up with one another, especially in a big wall of text.

But Fe, Fi, Te and Ti are a lot more distinguishable.

i’m not familiar with mbti, why would you classify cody an an entp with an ne-fe loop?

Thank you so much!

As for the MBTI stuff, I’m very much still an amateur myself. So this explanation may not be exactly on point, and I could very well get some things wrong, but it’s not like the personality system is completely scientifically airtight anyway, nor was it designed to be applied to fictional characters.

Regardless, here’s why I think Cody is an ENTP.

Anyway, my crack ship is Gwen in the Geoff, Bridgette and Brody polycule. The longer I think about it, the more serious my love for this idea becomes. And while I'm here, I figure I should tell you that I really love your art. Its so sick. You're incredibly skilled and incredibly talented. <3

Yeah, I feel much the same about Gwen basically being reduced to a vessel for relationship (specifically romantic relationship) drama. It sucks, but it’s also a thing you have to spell your thoughts out about in a nuanced way, because Gwen has always been defined by her relationships in a broader sense. Her archetype is literally “The Loner” after all, so a lot of her characterisation was always going to revolve around social dynamics.

But yeah, it’s specifically the romance-oriented drama that always seems to do Gwen a disservice.

I gotta say, I love that crack ship idea! I never even considered it as an option before but it sounds like something that could actually have interesting writing. Gwen is definitely the odd-one-out of the bunch, interests-wise, and you could very well derive drama from that dynamic if you so chose to, but it also feels like a generally positive environment of people who would actually want to help Gwen work through her misgivings instead of her running away from the relationship entirely like she has in the past.

And in turn, the story actually has a chance to explore Gwen’s interests again! I would love to see her artistic inclinations, horror movie knowledge and fascination with the macabre explored in more detail!

cody

I’m astounded that people can look at this thing and still be confused how he’s an alien.

(Also that screenshot you sent has a colouring error where his tooth gap is drawn into the linework but they filled it in with white and it’s bothered me ever since I noticed it, so now you have to notice it too. You’re welcome)

It is not odd in the slightest, and as silly as this may sound in return I find genuine comfort in my ask helping you feel like you got things off of your chest, because it helps me feel less alone in this unique problem as well, and it’s a very isolating experience. I can only imagine how amplified things are when it connects to your hard work that you share with us.

The same, vicious Cody hate cycles over and over again…Anyone who has any ounce of morals would know that some of his actions to Gwen are inappropriate. We get it… no kidding…I used to be able to process the series as the exaggerated cartoon it is, but now I watch him (specifically only him) and feel like? Actually physically unwell. Sorry if this is too much, gah! You’re the only person I’ve seen seem to have a similar emotional response to the community’s treatment of him and his fans, though I really hope that you feel better soon, and that it’s never so extreme for you.

You definitely have no reason to be embarrassed, and I’m glad you can’t bring yourself to be too ashamed. A few moments of vulnerability after being worn down is nothing to be ashamed of, it is sad you even must deal with any of this quietly and it says a lot about your own resilience.

I saw you said you were tearing up replying to another ask, and please know, you are NOT alone. I cannot even tell you how many times I have cried over stuff related to Cody and how people speak about him, and as you expressed anyone that likes him as directly connected, over the past year. It's become that severe that I'm considering going to a professional therapist about it (but terrified they won't take me seriously, haha :,)). I feel so awful admitting that, because how am I actually so upset over a cartoon, but it’s that bad! I don’t mean to keep talking about myself, my point: your feelings are very valid, especially as someone in the position of sharing your art and having that meaningful presence in the community ♡.

Best wishes to you always, and I definitely look forward to when you do post more CoDawn art :D! While I am here, I LOVE the more realistic style you used for them in your last post of them. So cute. Definitely how I imagine them looking in a more realistic way, super exciting to see, like they are coming to life! (Sorry for the long ask again I never realize how much I go on typing my goodness haha…)

Thank you, and best wishes to you too!

Sorry I don’t have much to say to match your word count, pretty tired rn, but wanted to give you a response ^u^

Bonus Cody Headcanons

Makes the most unfunny spadinner-adjacent YTPs you’ve ever seen. Tries to show them to his friends as a “super funny video he found”, and slowly dies inside as the video plays out and they don’t laugh at a single joke. He then backtracks and says he “thought it was sorta funny, but realised that it’s not actually that funny at all”.

Chews on pencils, chews on erasers, chews on Lego bricks and shirt collars and all kinds of things he knows he shouldn’t chew on, but can’t help himself and does it anyway.

Oh, and definitely bites his nails.

Constantly making up little tunes on the spot about whatever he’s doing at any given moment.

Air guitar stim.

Gets lightheaded if he stands up too quickly.

Keeps snacks in his pockets, never know when your blood sugar will drop.

+ Bonus Dawn Headcanons.

Easily overwhelmed by being in crowds or busy places (too many auras, too many noises).

If she ever ends up lost in the city, the only thing keeping her from having a shutdown would be the pidgeons, rats and other city wildlife.

Sometimes walks up stairs on all fours, always does this for indoor staircases.

Minor allergies to artificially-derived food additives.

Too honest for her own good. Sometimes she can tell when what she’s about to say isn’t gonna go over well, but she can’t help but blurt it out anyway.

Despite her bluntness, she really does see the best in people first and foremost.

Never ashamed of her honesty or her eccentricities, but can get extremely embarrassed if she ever says something that’s incorrect, especially about a person. She’ll withdraw from whoever she said it to for a good while afterwards, effective“disappearing” from them.

Always has really cold hands, but only to other people. Animals aren’t bothered at all.

Hair seems to have a mind of its own, often clinging to plants and bushes, getting tangled around doorknobs, etc.

Actually has a pretty good sense of humour, likes to play up being “out of touch” to troll people by making them overexplain things like modern conveniences to increasing absurdity.

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I'll admit I don't ship it myself, but as a multi-shipper and someone who has survived the horrors of tumblr, I do want to say that as long as the ship makes you happy, there is merit to it. Dork and mystery girl is a cute ship trope for a reason.

I'm not going to deny that people aren't going to suddenly stop saying it's not a 'real' ship because this is, unfortunately, the internet. But you deserve to draw the art that makes you happiest and ship what you want.

No matter what art you make, when I do see you on my dashboard it sparks joy.

Thinking I was a bad person for posting CoDawn was a consequence of my bad mood at the time. I don’t generally think that, but I do sometimes feel a bit of guilt for posting it knowing it makes some people uncomfortable.

I’m also a multishipper myself, I just happened to get attached to this ship in particular.

It sucks that there’s a “competitive” slant to some of these ship debates, but I don’t want that at all! Having ships that contradict each other coexisting in spite of it is the fun of fandom, and having an outlook where “there can only be one” causes so much heartache.

I can’t fathom how Dawn would definitely hate Cody. She would see the good (and why he acts the way he does) in him immediately. Cody is not presented as a bad person in universe, as much as the fandom acts like he is, even if his pervy acts would be too much in real life. I’m so drained over this, so I really understand why you feel the way you do.

Genuinely just sending you good feelings. Your CoDawn art is appreciated by many, even if it doesn’t feel like that at this time.

Don’t worry about responding to this (or anything you don’t want to, of course!), but sending another message because it really is that bad and you deserve support. I hope you feel better about this stuff soon.

Yep, that’s the one. It’s pretty brutal.

I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t handle the negativity as quietly or with as much grace as I usually try to. Definitely had a sulk-fest in the comments section. Not my proudest moment, but I can’t bring myself to be too ashamed either.

The subreddit has been a less-than inspirational place to be as of recent, so seeing people label my high-effort contributions as “slop” was a little too much for me to just keep bottled up.

But thank you for the positive vibes. It genuinely is uplifting, even if the fact that I’ve been using these submissions as half-vent sessions makes it seem like I’m still in a dour state.

I understand very much why you wanted to pause posting them, which is so sad because you seem very passionate about them and draw them so adorable. Like you said, it’s truly not a simple “oh, I don’t see how this could work,” “not my thing but cute.” It’s complete disdain more often than not.

I saw that there was literally a Reddit post about CoDawn a few days ago, inspired by seeing your art, with tons of comments about “self-insert” and dismissiveness. I can only imagine how discouraging it is for you, and I must say you handle things with grace. This fandom ships anything that breathes, and you know what? I love that. Have fun! Be creative! But when it involves Cody the shipper immediately “self-inserts” and it’s “disgusting” and Cody’s a “terrible person who shouldn’t be around girls…”

Within the past year, the hate for Cody and anything surrounding him has gotten so extreme that it is completely discouraging to say or post anything related to him unless the only people seeing it are others who view him positively. I’m afraid to even say this because of his history as a fan favorite, that people who dislike him would simply roll their eyes as such an accusation, but it’s true. It really is. I get anxious (so embarrassing…) when a post of Cody comes on my feed, or check the tags, because I know I won’t be able to escape some negativity, to the point where I’ve started blocking tags. It’s like, not enough… I feel so much shame honestly saying (which is now internalized as just thinking!) anything about him because I immediately start thinking negative things about him and how others will perceive it poorly. Apologies if that’s a bit much but it’s gotten to that point and your mention of feeling like a bad person resonated with me.

I know this won’t change anything, but if it provides any comfort, you can NEVER be a bad person for enjoying them, or anything even just related to Cody. It is not possible. You deserve to find comfort in it whether you decide to post them or not. I’ve started feeling the same way about Cody in general, so I seriously understand. It’s an awful feeling and I actively try to feel better because I feel so foolish being upset over these things but it’s a real feeling and you are not alone if it does make you feel down in general or about yourself.

Cody and Dawn have incredible potential. Them both coming off odd, but meaning well, having sweet hearts that are a bit buried under layers of attempting to connect in ineffective or generally unintentionally intrusive ways. They work well together, and I think they’d bring out the best in each other and find a lot of joy and peace once they actually get to know each other. I think Cody would be mesmerized by Dawn’s beauty too, ha. I’m not so sure why that’s even questioned, Gwen is beautiful but she’s supposed to be a bit of a loner outcast in universe! Especially in Island. He’s not against unconventional girls one bit as long as they’re treating him like a person and not a toy… I hope you keep drawing when you feel ready, and take care!

Thank you so much for your wonderful words!

I know this might be odd to say, but reading through this really validated a lot of the feelings I had about the fandom skewing heavily towards negativity and dismissiveness, especially towards anything related to Cody. You basically articulated everything that was storming inside my mind that I would have made a mess of if I tried to do so for myself. I feel like I got everything off my chest without having to string the words together for myself.

2 vents for the price of 1! LOL

But yeah, the Cody hate as of recent has been really intense and vicious. The worst part is that it’s almost always interwoven with contempt for his fanbase as well, like the haters can’t separate the character from the fans. And yet, if you point it out, you’re called the sensitive one who “can’t handle criticism directed towards your favourite character”, ugh.

Yes, I know he was rather creepy with Gwen. How he treated her wasn’t right. And I know he acted entitled and jealous about her in TDWT. I know he’s hypocritical in not considering the creepiness of his actions towards Gwen when Sierra does the same (and worse) to him.

But by golly, these people won’t ever let you forget.

I, for one, am rather sick of feeling like I have to put up a disclaimer for liking a cartoon character. And I’m sure you are too.

But alas, the hate train doesn’t seem to be coming to a halt anytime soon. How long do we have to wait until Cody’s no longer “overrated”?

Anyway, enough of that.

I’m glad you seem to be on board with CoDawn. Once again, articulated my own thoughts for me. I really do love the ship, as unusual as it is, and I don’t want to completely give up on it yet.

Thank you very much for your kind words!

And I’m really sorry for subjecting you and others to negativity that I dragged here. I try to avoid doing that, being dour about things others have said, since fandom culture in general has skewed unnecessarily towards upset and conflict. Unfortunately, today I was weak and ended up feeding into the negativity.

But I’m doing a bit better now (I say as I tear up writing this).

There are other factors which make the ship complicated for me, like having an acquaintance who I know is very uncomfortable with it, so I alway have that guilt in the back of my mind whenever I post about it.

But I also see how it makes other people happy, and it strikes a chord with me in a very specific way. So I have to weigh the odds a little whenever I post; does the positive outweigh the negative?

It's totally valid if you wanna pause art for it, though. I just don't think you should stop forever, especially if you're worried people don't like it. Just draw whatever you enjoy at the end of the day.

I know this is an older ask, but…

Most people, from what I’ve seen, are very dismissive of the ship. Not in just a “not my cup of tea” or a “wow, that’s random” kind of way, but they actually express that the dynamic has no merit and they seem to think the ship only exists because of people self-inserting themselves as Cody to get with Dawn.

And that’s not what the ship is to me, but when I see so many people make that assumption about the ship, it also feels like they’re making an assumption about me by extension.

They actively call the ship “slop”, say “WTF IS THIS?!”, vaguepost about it, and in general, I feel like somebody’s side-eyeing me any time I post about it.