Bow Down to the Birthday Boy, Bitches!

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

🎈🎈🎁🎁🪅🪅🎊🎊🎉🎉🎈🎈

🎹🎹🪗🪗🎸🎸🎸🎸

Actually made it to 25. It’s been a Crazy First Fourth of my Life, part of me thought I wouldn’t make it this far. But I’m glad I have. Now if we get past 27 we’ll really make it.

Today I’ll be just hanging around for the Most Part, both Online and IRL. And Hopefully going to the City to Hangout at various places, maybe even grab some Drinks at a Bar.

But yeah. I’ll be around, but it might take a while to respond. Hope ya’ll have a Good Day.

I’ll write a new, updated schedule to put here at the end of the day. It’ll mostly comprise of previous stuff stated. With some Extra Inclusions I plan to work on.

Just writing a quick update for the middle of 2024, how my Plans have shifted and my current mindset on things. Figured this would be a good redux of the 5 Year Anniversary Review as well.

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1450709

Sharing the previous News Post, a list of Projects/Plans for the rest of 2024 (And Most Likely Beyond). Nothing has really changed to be honest, except for continuing the Edgy Art Arc probably until after Halloween. Feeling the Spooky Vibes Hard, but the Summer Vibes Hard too. Though I’d be lying if I’d said I was in consistent Good Spirits. From various, harrowing things going on in Fandoms and Industries I Love to the Crazy Stuff going on in my Country. Some days I’ve been just as depressed as I was in my Worst Times during the last few years. Despite all that though, I’m still feeling much better than every other 2020’s Year. Been getting a lot of Important Steps in my Art Journey does. My Artistic Skill has been improving and I’m resharpening my dulled Computer Literacy. Been hanging out in other Creator’s Streams and slowly opening up again like when I first started back in 2019. And getting a lot of Practical Work done in my Everyday Life. I feel like people are getting equally getting Kinder and Crueler as well as Smarter and Stupider in equal measure. But I am not blind to how bleak things are at the moment. So I’m currently just doing my best to prepare for whatever while getting stuff done and not Overwork my Mind and Body. Luckily even if it’s messed with what I thought my Schedule would be this year all the Prep Work’s been nearly completed. There’s only a few more things I need to do, Practically and for Creative Work. Then I can focus on actually getting Work done much more. I’d like to have my Finances fully figured out before setting up Commissions and finding Part-Time Work. I get Disability, and while I’m free to utilize it more than I thought I mainly use it for Necessities and Bills with exceptions here and there. I really want to Work, and finding Part Time is also a bit easier than I thought. But I need to be careful with earnings. Which is why I haven’t jumped to Comms/YouTube/etc yet. I would also like to start Streaming this year. But I want/need to Upgrade some of my Tech and make Assets. Taking more Time to just Relax too which has been helping. My Main Art Sites are Newgrounds, Twitter, and DeviantArt. With Substack for Written Work. I spend a lot of Time on Twitter, but I’m going to balance my Time and each better like I’ve been meaning to. And for here in particular I’m going to actually start voting for Stuff of the Month. For as much Respect is thrown on it’s name I still believe Newgrounds is Highly Underrated/Undervalued in the Internet. I’m trying to get back into exploring more of the Peripheral Web as well. And catching up not only on Old Media but a lot of Newer Stuff I’ve missed as well.

Anyway to wrap this up, Stay Safe out there Folks. It’s getting Crazy. But people are still worthwhile so try to get out and enjoy yourselves when possible. Be Mindful but Have Fun.

Sincerely, Devilman Shotokan.

Just setting this here to both remind myself and Inform Any Curious ‘bout it.

Edgy Art Arc: One of the Themes for this month’s Art. It’s what it says on the Tin.

DbD Killer/Survivor Portraits: One Series I plan to work on until I’ve drawn everyone.

Reign of Darkstalkers: Another Series like the previous, starting with the Playable Roster then going to Lore Important Characters who have Designs.

Fininshing Art Explosion: Finishing all the WIPs I’ve built up for a few years.

The List of Projects and Art I shared from Substack.

More Digital Art.

Livestreaming of Various Types.

Learning Blender, Audacity, RPG Maker, and other Creative Software.

Voicework.

Setting Up Commissions/Funding.

Expanding Creative Mediums/Subject Matter.

More Written Work.

And likely other projects.

I’ll share some recent News Posts from here to help further fill anyone in. And as a Convenient Source of Info, including the News Post I’m using for consistent updates here.

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1420517

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1450333

https://devilmandiaries.substack.com/p/list-of-creative-projects-for-the

Five Years! Five Incredible, Terrible, Long and Short Years!

This probably won’t be as long as the others, but I’ll add links to them and some other News Posts I feel are worth putting here for comparison. But this year has been the actual Turnaround I kept thinking other times were in the past. Not only have I been much more productive both in my Art and Everyday Life. Not just busy but productive. But I’ve felt “Alright” for the first time in a Long Time. The 2020’s have been the Best and Worst years of my Life. I’ve had a lot of Fun, a lot of Anger, and a lot of Heartache in these 5 years. I feel at a more stable version of my Teenage Mindset, which is usually a Good Thing getting towards 25 years old. Been making friends, reconnecting with Old Friends IRL. Getting things I thought would take ages done very fast. And have been learning to enjoy Life and People again despite this year especially having the potential to be just as bad if not worse than the Low Points in 2021-2023.

The Internet has changed a lot in this Time, such as the World. But at the same time things haven’t really. It just feels Hyper-Accelerated nowadays. I’ve learned just how Kind people can be as well as just how Evil. I’ve always been a blend of Hypersexual Edgelord and Hypersensitive Bleeding Heart. And I’ve been using my Art to explore that dichotomy. I’m a guy who went through some of the Worst Shit one can go through before I was even 18. Losing Loved Ones, Suffering A Disease That Can Be As Invisible As It Can Devastating, Having A Series Of Strokes And Seizures In 2015, Being Sexually Abused Very Young, And Trying Not To Ignore How Scary The World Is Without Drowning In It. In 2019 the Allegations against Vic Mignogna (Which To My Knowledge Are False) got me scared to work in the Dub Industry. Then in 2020 so much shit happened that nearly killed me quite honestly. The Smash Scandals. The Skullgirls Scandals. Activision Blizzard. The EVO guy. The George Floyd Murder. The Riots. COVID. And my Final Grandfather dying.

It was all almost too much.

Since then, I’ve been up and down, Emotionally Volatile and Exhausted, and Isolative. But I’ve also tried my Best not to remain stagnant. Especially since I got a new house (Trailer) in 2020 as well. Been working my Ass off damn near Everyday since. I already had been since I dropped out of High School but I spent much more time alone and working. But it gave me an opportunity to plan for the Future as I spent more time actually participating in the Internet.

My Goals as an Artist are pretty simple in concept, increasingly complicated in Execution. I want to make whatever Art I want to make, share my Thoughts on others, and potentially help people out with their Lives if I can. Whether it’s exploration of Serious Topics. Catharsis through Art. Or just talking about and comparing Experiences. Even just making someone Smile makes the World a little bit better. And making a Living on my own terms sounds nice as well.

I’ve met and talked to so many people in these Years. Made some new friends. Starting cultivating a Following. And have been learning a lot about Humanity. I wish I could remember it all. And I’m sorry if I’ve ever made you feel Ignored. All this on top of Studying various subjects as well as dealing with the Worst Depression I’ve felt has made it all feel like One Long, Blurry Year.

Which is why I’m taking more time nowadays to just have Fun and get things done. I also want to spend more time on my Art Socials and Across the Web in general, as well as IRL. Reconnecting, meeting new people, gaining as many Experiences as possible. I’ve pretty much got the next Decade+ planned out, and most Goals I want to achieve set. It’s just a matter of getting them done while staying Healthy.

It’s been a Wild Ride. Unbareable at times. But I’m glad I’ve had it. I Hope to keep doing what I do but better until my body finally gives out on me. I wish ya Luck on your Journey, Reader. Hope you wish me Luck on mine.

P.S: Some of my recollection of events is muddied since I was handling so much shit. And I didn’t spend too much time really pouring over my presence Online this year before writing. Was also way too critical of myself at times in those Early Posts. It’s sad seeing how much of a Cycle I was caught in but at the same time that Early Enthusiasm is nice to see. Nice to know I’m feeling more Stable than I did before I even started this Journey nowadays. I was legitimately losing it at times, but Summer of Last Year felt like a Big Turning Point. I feel a Good Blend of Happiness, Cynicism, Drive, Caution, and Enthusiasm again. Feel like I did before I dropped out of School, except more Experienced and at Peace. Still got a lot to do, but I’ve been having days where I can truly Relax for the First Time in a Very Long Time. And I feel like it shows in both my Output and Presence this Year.

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1420517

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1419262

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1384140

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1344738

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1302605

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1299531

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1291106

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1234799

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1233891

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1224477

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1217880

https://cyberneticshotokan.newgrounds.com/news/post/1072930

Well here we are, One Day to Five Years.

It’s been a Great Learning Experience. And even in the Worst Years I’ve had some Great Times. No substitute for IRL interaction, but I feel I’ve learned a lot about Humanity in that Time. And have comfortably settled into my “Role” here. From this point on I’m taking a lot more Focus on getting various Projects complete, including those outside of Illustration. And spending more Time just chatting with people and appraising their work. Blending the Best of the “Old Days” w/ the Good and Bad learned in this Time.

Now that I have all the Art Socials I want for the time being as well, I’m trying to spread my Activity on each evenly. I want to Start Streaming this year as well, hopefully with some sort of Model for my Avatar but I’m ok with VO-Only. Anyway to wrap this up, Thanks to all who’ve stuck through my Bullshit at times. Especially on Twitter where I’ve used it as a venting tool a lot. I’ve been shown a lot more Kindness and Appreciation in these Five Years than Imagined. It’s all helped me out a lot this Decade.

Even if I don’t remember due to just how Crazy the 2020’s have been in every sense of the Word. In a Time where my Mental felt in Constant Flux every Nice Interaction helped in the moment and was Very Pleasant. Especially helped when my opinions of Humanity was getting Low.

Once I get a lot of the Big Stuff I Want/Need to do this year done I’ll likely start getting ready to stream. I’d like to get Semi-Decent Equipment First, and have been making Studio Space along with Rearranging my entire Second Floor these past few years. Honestly just really been setting up for the Rest of my Life, Creative and Personal. I’d like to help my parents achieve their Dream of having a Log Cabin, to start traveling when COVID isn’t as Scary, and be as Self Sufficient as I possibly can while still having Fun.

Once I set up various streaming accounts, and figure out ways to get paid I’m comfortable with for my Work; whether Art or Entertainment, which feels Rude to Distinguish but you know what I mean, I’ll be able to have a more Consistent Flow.

I want to work for my Meals, pay for things I like or causes I believe in, support my Loved Ones, and Experience as much as possible with what I got. Don’t worry I’m not saying this all because I’m upset, quite the opposite actually. Just kinda looking back and thinking ahead. Honestly this post was just meant to talk about what I’m planning for after the Art Explosion. In that regard just a steadier, more varied Workflow after getting that and making various Art Pages done. Making sure I’m paying decent attention to ‘em all will be Important too.

Which will be much much easier using a Phone and Computer in Conjunction again. I’m planning to Learn blender, RPG Maker, Source Filmmaker, and more as well. Also playing Instruments/Making Music again as well. Just basically playing around with Tools I have and haven’t as a Kid.

So yeah, promised not to talk plans too much. So here’s basically an Abridged Rundown of what I got planned for pretty much the next Decade+. I’ll compile this in a NG Post and post it on Substack for Ease of Access to anyone in the Future. Good Luck out there people, and Have Fun.

Man today was…Strange.

I first woke up at 3, waking from a Handcam-Style Nightmare involving this fella (That’s What I Get For Watching Phoenix Jones Vids Before I Slept). Spent 3-5 Hours going over my Following List to transfer some of them to the SFW.

Felt a Grand Sense of Accomplishment having done it. But also a bit of Melancholy at how I’ve closed myself off a bit on here. Seeing names I haven’t talked to in a bit, and even a few abandoned accounts. Then slept from 11 am to 7 PM!

I talked about it with my Mom a while ago; but the combination of 2020’s Chaos, the Loss of my Grandfather and my Childhood Dog from 2021-22, and the slightly increased severity of my Condition. My Work Drive in Real Life and in my Art, while Bolstered by this, was Fatalistic.

Then I spent November 2022-Spring of 2023 trying to maintain sanity while getting things done and trying to learn more about the World through all the Confusion. And Venting. You see since 2013 I basically went through increasingly Harder Stuff each year.

Leading to me dropping out of High School when I felt at an Emotional Breaking Point in 2016-17. It was a very Healthy but Difficult Decision. I felt like I abandoned my Clan. I think that’s why I got as Enthusiastic as a Puppy when first talking to others when I started Art.

Despite everything, I missed people. Not like I never went out or visited people either, but even before I dropped out I have been on a Very Similar Grind. For 9 Years now, honestly more if I count all the Study through Experience in my Youth.

In November 2022, when I bled my Heart all over this page. I basically experienced what I’m learning is “Revictimization”. And tried to fully purge all of that Hate and Negativity. At least the Excess. I only felt I succeeded in October last year.

It’s gone back to the Weight of the World invigorating me to do what I can for people while enjoying Life. Instead of suffocating me. On here especially I see people older than me still struggling with feelings I did when I was Young. It Hurts. My First Instinct is to Help.

That’s how I’ve met many of you who Follow me. But I’ve learned that some stranger swooping in won’t always help, and has even set up for some of the Harshest Fights I’ve been in on here. I never had an Internet Argument ‘til 2022. But I became Hungry for Meaningless Conflict.

This year is looking to be Hard. I don’t want to spend another Decade filled with Bitterness. Or trying in Vain to Fight It. Or even with Deep Philosophical Wankery like this. I wanted to save all of this for the 5th Year Review but it feels better now.

I’m feeling Inner Peace again but seeing a World and a People drowning in Misery and Conflict. It hurts and I want to do what I can to help without Grandstanding. But I’m also just a guy trying to Live Life and meet his Goals while being there for Family. I can’t make promises.

But I’ll try to make my Time here worthwhile. Online and in Real Life, to spend the rest of my Able-Bodied Years Fighting for the Enjoyment of Life. And trying to attain as much Understanding as I can. Sorry for being so serious (Ha), just been thinking a lot, about a lot.

Apologies if this is Redundant, but priorities shift, things got done, and this’ll keep me to Task:

• Complete Art Explosion
• Make a Concise, New Pinned Tweet
• Create Any Art Pages I Think I’ll Need
• Check Out People’s Streams
• Widen Artistic Scope
• Write More
• Learn VTuber Rigging
• Make A Rig, Either PNG or Model
• Start Streaming
• Make Demo Reels & Do Voicework
• Figure Out Comms/Monetization
• Keep/Get Back In Touch With People

All this while getting IRL Obligations done, including spending more time with IRL Friends and Family. And keeping my Workaholism and Mental Stability in check. May not get everything done but I’m gonna try.

Firstly I'd like to share what I'm Planning/Working on this Year again so those interested don't gotta dig through Posts/Tweets.

• Making Multiple Art Accounts, some focused on SFW. Some NSFW, some Main Accounts like this where it's anything goes. I've already made a DeviantArt, a Substack, a Pixiv, and some more. Plan to make Art-Only Accounts for NG, DA, Twitter, and more.
• Getting the Art Explosion done. This will be especially good for my DeviantArt and other Art Accounts I make since I've only put a bit of my Art Gallery here on those. A few more Illustrations and I'll feel like I got enough. Uploading all at once so prepare.
• Broaden my Arts and Subjects. I'm learning how to use RPG Maker, Blender, Audacity and more. Also practicing Music again and Writing more. Gonna have a Wide Variety of Subjects, from Innocent to Extreme. Cartoony to Realistic Stylization.
• Streaming. Gonna learn VTuber Modeling, Rigging and the like and start streaming (Hopefully) within the Year.
• Getting Paid. Been talking directly to Patreon Support for some questions I had and it seems much less complicated than I imagined. Thought I got my First Paid Gigs on DA but those are most likely Scams. Looking for any jobs a Cripple can get without messing with my Disability Pay. Shit's how I've been paying off the place I got in 2020, and I've been working my Ass off on it and my Parents' since. I can do physical labor, on Good Days. But that's enough of that.
• Becoming a Newgrounds Supporter and exploring the site more. I have a very bad Habit of just sticking to the Art Portal when this place has been Bursting with Art longer than I've been Alive. It Deserves to be seen.
• Just interacting with peeps again.

And secondly, a Playlist to keep Spirits up in what's most likely going to be an Insane Year:

• Come Out ye Black and Tans (Irish Rebel Song) ((Many Irish Rebel Songs/Sea Shanties Right Now Honestly))
• I'm Back (To Rise) by Mick Gordon and Omega Sparx
• All I Can Do by Naoki Hashimoto and Daisuke Ishiwatari
• Extras by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Molly Daisy Scarpine (Pretty Much The Entire GG Strive OST, I'm Smitten)
• Barrel of a Gun by Little V and Black Pestilence
• Dragon of Sparda's Mixes on YouTube
• I Am Vengeance by Mega Ran and Gr3ysOn
• Okumura Music Group's Entire Discography. I'm Not Joking
• Gorillaz's Entire Discography
• SUPERWHAT by MF DOOM and Czarface
• R.N.D.M by Mega Ran
• BBTAG's Mixes of Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang's Themes
• Vs. Sayu by James Landino and Nikki Simmons
• [lofi villain] by D Begun
• Memories of Tokyo-To and Sounds of Tokyo-To Future by 2 Mello (BRC Fans Might Recognize Some Tunes)
• What Do You Fight For? by Naoki Hashimoto and Daisuke Ishiwatari
• I Got Next by Mega Ran and Zaid Tabani
• This Fffire and Take Me Out by Fran Ferdinad
• Let You Down by Dawid Podsiadlo
• Reinvent the Game by Randy Marx, GRP, and Yoshiya Terayama
• Not on the Sidelines by Rocco808, Randy Marx, GRP, and Yoshiya Terayama
• Platina Jazz's Covers
• Sapphire's Covers
• The 8 Bit Big Band's Covers
• Old School Country Greats
• GaMetal's Covers
• 2 Minutes Notice by Sam Haft
• Welcome to the Internet (Alastor's Version) by Caleb Hayes

And Honestly Much Much More I Could List. Might add more suggestions in the comments if anyone's Interested.

Good Luck, Stay Safe, Tag Walls, Punch Fascists.

If You Need To Know What I'm Up To, Read The Posts Before This. I'll Potentially Be Gone A While.

A Small Gift From Me, To Leave Things Off On A Happier Note

• A Cooking Soul Christmas Mix by CHILLAF on YouTube
• Extras (Elphelt Valentine's Theme) by Daisuke Ishiwatari and Molly Daisy Scarpine
• VS. Sayu by James Landino and Nikki Simmons (Many Versions Including A Straight-Up Christmas Mix)
• All of Little V's Christmas Mixes
• Christmas Cypher by I Am Jemboy and Wobble
• Dax's Christmas Tunes
• HOLIDAY by Lil Nas X
• All I Really Want For Christmas by Lil Jon
• And Any Other Holiday Classic, Modern or Vintage, you can think of.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Have a Happy New Year. Have Fun, and Stay Safe out there.