shippiddge

Update - 02/01/26

Hey all! It seems I didn't fill up the Ep.11 notebook used to draft ideas even halfway, so it's now become the notebook for both episodes. Here's a detailed update on what I'm doing right now.Episode 12 is currently being drafted out and is in the early stages of the writing process. I've gotten the writers I want ready to work on it, and itching to go. I have a lot of ideas, but I'm holding myself back from rushing it, because I want to be extra sure about what I want out of this last one. This series and its char...

Starter Squad 11 - Ditto Face Draft

Getting the Ditto face right was a long and expensive process between me and PrimatePunk. Before creating the drawings that became the final images seen in the episode, we did a version where he animated the face on top of the rough draft. Most of the stuff here translated directly into the final, but I feel like this version has a certain uniqueness to it. In this draft, you can also see some of Camtoonist's original, more exaggerated takes on the Weepinbell movements and lipsync before I dialed them back a bit for the final version.

Episode 11 - Full HD Download

Here's a download link for those that want to watch the episode without YouTube compression.Fun fact: Episode 10 was actually made in 720p but upscaled for the upload. Episode 11 is the first one created entirely in 1080p.

Starter Squad - Episode 11

Starter Squad 11 Teaser

Hi. It's finished. This teaser will go public on Christmas morning and the episode will launch on the 31st. I wanted to give you access earlier, but I didn't want to jynx it until I had the full episode intact. And I literally just finished it just now as I'm typing this.I still have to make the thumbnail and write the credits. And I guess I'll also be re-watching it over the next week to double check for mistakes. But yeah. It's complete. That took way too long. Way, way too long.Make sure you've filled out the...

Episode 11 Update - 12/11/25

I finished Scene F and am now finishing Scene D. The entire episode is now almost entirely rendered out and I've completed the detail adjustments and fixes on C and D. Here's where we're at:A - CompleteB - CompleteC - CompleteD - One FX elementF - CompleteX - One FX fixI need to finish the remaining VFX shots of Scene D and make that one fix on Scene X. At my current rate, I believe I can do that within the next few days.The only thing that gives me pause is the sound. Though most of it's there, I think there's still som...

Episode 11 Update - 11/10/25

Okay. Scene F has now come leaps and bounds. The episode now looks roughly like it did when I imagined the idea years ago, so I'm happy about that. But I desperately need to wrap up these pesky loose ends.Here's where we're at:A - CompleteB - CompleteC - Minor fixesD - One FX element, some detail adjustmentsF - Detail fixes, texture fix, two FX elementsX - One lingering FX fixI was right to fear Scene F. Too many special effects. So many tweaks and errors that just keep popping up as it went on. It's so bloated and some el...

Episode 11 Update - 10/03/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Alright. Almost finished.- Hiring out for lighting was a good idea. I have learned so much about light this time around am now find myself way more comfortable with Blender nodes in general. All the lighting is now finished except for Scene F. The episode now looks, in my opinion, simultaneously like a faithful continuation and an upgrade of the look of previous episodes.- I've been rendering frames non-stop. I my PC and Laptop simultaneously run renders 24/7 and now have thousands and thousands of fra...

Episode 11 Update - 09/02/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Hi everyone. I'm closing in, so make sure your name and sprite is as you'd like it.CGHero is working out. Three lighting specialists are currently working on different scenes. I plan to play to each lighting artist's strengths and utilize what they do as effectively as possible. I like the results so far. I've been chipping away at the special effects bits with a plan to finish them in tandem with the lighting people. Right now I'm trying to spend all of what's currently left in the...

Episode 11 Update - 08/17/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING][edit: Having issues uploading .gif lately. Try this link]I have been very busy and am pushing to finish this.The Cameras are done for every scene. I completed the Camera Pass and adjusted all the animation along the way. There are still some small adjustments and tweaks to be made in Scene D, such as errant frames and simulation fixes, but they are minor.I spent so , so much time on Scene F the past month. There were a lot of needed adjustments found as I went through the Camera Pass. So many, in fact, th...

Episode 11 Update - 07/11/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]This past month has been intense and productive. I have been glued to my desk for practically all of June, working during all waking hours, usually stopping only to eat or sleep, and getting a render off nearly every night. After a good amount of struggle, I'm finally in my zone and getting this complete my checklists at an output I wasn't able to before. I'm aiming to keep this pace up until it's complete. In doing the Camera pass, I'm now in the "locking down" stage, tying down...

Episode 11 Update - 06/08/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]I got a little held up in May. I had to take off time to help some family and also attend a friend's wedding but I'm now back and at full force.In my trying to lock down the Sound Cut, I realized that I had to make sure /everything/ was lined up. Every footstep, all the physics, every splash, every major physical action. Even though the character animation was "done" I kept finding a lot of cut corners and unfinished bits through the episode that I had to lock down for this cut to make it a ...

Episode 11 Update - 05/02/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]As of a few hours ago, the Scene D animation is now complete. I checked my other scene files, and I couldn't find any major mistakes or errors. This means all character animation for Episode 11 is complete. This officially concludes the "production" stage and marks the beginning of the final stage - "post-production".I have already sent off Scenes D and C to VFX, and they are in-progress. As well, all the "face" work on my end is complete and the artist is now working on the fina...

Episode 11 Update - 04/05/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]March was a really, really bad month for me, and far too much went wrong.I really thought we were around the corner with animation, but when I tried locking down the details, getting it looking "complete" proved to be far, far harder for me than I thought it'd be. In addition, I found so many mistakes and unfinished bits with this character that I'd forgotten about and had to just re-do. As of writing this, Character "C" from the last post is now finished, and locking down the detail...

Episode 11 Update - 03/01/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Exciting news, friends. We are now rounding the corner. Here is where I'm at with Scene D.The character animation is basically done. I wanted to come to you guys with it being done done, but I still need to do all the detail work until it is truly considered locked down.After I lock it down on Scene D, I'm going to go back through all the other scenes and double check the details on the character animation as well, and doing all the final detail work on the cameras. I want to make sure everythin...

Episode 11 Update - 02/01/25

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Hello all and happy new year. Here’s how the episode is now progressing:For a good chunk of this month, I’ve been working with a hired artist on one very specific aspect of Scene D. I previously thought I'd have to wait until the scene’s character animation was entirely complete to get started on this part, but Scene D is now far enough along that we’re able to collaborate on it. The image featured in today’s post features a frame that won’t be utilized, but something very similar will b...

Episode 11 Update - 12/02/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Unfortunately, I've not finished scene D. I've gotten further, but based on where I am now, I do not think I'll be able to have this out before the end of the year. An early 2025 release seems likely.The main special effects of Scene F are now complete and have been passed back to me. All the particle effects (water, dust, etc.) are looking correct and in place now. However, the files are HUGE and I'm having trouble working with the sheer scale of it. As of writing this, I'm having ...

Episode 11 Update - 11/01/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]I am now going to try my best to update you every month, regardless of how far I actually get, for the sake of consistency and transparency. I have been making sweeping life changes and I intend for this to be one of them.I have received a lot of inquiries about getting your name in the credits, and I want to re-iterate that even if you decide to un-pledge later, paying at least $5 total entitles you to get your name in the credits, and giving at least $10 total entitles you to a Pokémon sprite of your ch...

Episode 11 Update - 10/02/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]I have been busy. I'm trying to squeeze this out. Here's a rundown of the current progress:Scene A - All the special effects complete I've been working with someone that's been doing fantastic work and they're continuing to do special effects for a small section of scene F. This went so smoothly. I like how it came out a lot and I think you will too. I am now (finally) working with some very competent people.Scene F - Animation is done and polished. Everything is in place to finis...

Squad Song

I'm releasing this early for Patrons! Feel free to comment on it if you'd like. I'll release it to everyone else in like a week or so... or whenever I get around to making a thumbnail for it.

Episode 11 Update - 07/01/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]I have now finished the character animation for Scene F. The most important scene is now covered and it's a relief. The animator working on polishing the climax has told me that they won't be able to start until early into July, so I should hear from him on that soon.I'm now attempting to complete one final scene, Scene D. A lot of it is already complete, but a lot of it isn't. My attempt right now is shifting between going straight through from the beginning and tweaking all unfinished ...

Episode 11 Update - 06/04/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Hello. I'm still deep in character animation but wanted to keep you updated with what’s going on. To be honest, I’m a little frustrated. Scene F has been far more vicious to me than I understood it to be.Scene F contains the climax as well as the most special effects required in the episode. The plan was to completely finish Scene F by the time I got Scene D back from the animator working on it. That way, I could pass F along to a VFX artist while I focus solely on D. Both D and the VFX will ta...

Episode 11 Update - 04/04/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Hi all - right now it's all coming down to character animation.The musical score of Scene X is now complete. My guy is doing fantastic work. It's the same guy that scored the opening of Episode 10, as well as a few key scenes. This time around, I'm really going hard on the score and making sure to include a lot of unique references that Pokemon fans will enjoy. He is currently scoring Scene A.The character animation for Scene B is complete, save, of course, for special effects. That makes 4...

Starter Squad 10 - Whiskers Reference

Sometimes, for the more emotional beats, I film reference. See how this compares to what was animated in Ep 10.

Episode 11 Update - 02/09/24

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Right now we’re still very deep in character animation. I didn't do as well in January as I'd hoped, but I've now completed Scene C and Scene X. Here's the current state of all scenes:-Scene A is complete, save for special effects.-Scene B is almost complete. I am doing this right now. I plan to have the character animation completed by next update.- Scene C is complete, save for special effects. A good chunk of it was done on stream, but a lot more of it had to be done on my own. I may go...

Episode 11 Animation Livestreams - 2023

In 2023, I live streamed a good chunk of the animation process of Ep11 on shipp.tvI specifically picked out the least spoilery scenes to animate. You can view the full live stream sessions here:June 18th, 2023 (First Live Animation Stream)July 24th, 2023 (First Use of Slowpoke Vtuber)July 31st, 2023August 28th, 2023September 4th, 2023September 11th, 2023September 18th, 2023September 25th, 2023 ("Scene B" Completed)October 2nd, 2023 (First "Scene C" Stream)October 9th, 2023October 16th, 2023October 30th, 2023November 6th, 2023Nov...

Behind the Scenes - Charmander's Lament

Above you can view a rough version of the song/animation as it was being plotted out.You can also take a look at these video notes I made during the songwriting process:Initial Lyrics Collaboration Lyrics and Format Tweaking

Episode 11 Update - 12/31/23

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]I’m a little more behind than I’d like to be at this point, but we’re moving along and should be capping off character animation soon. Here’s a rundown of where we are with the scenes:Scenes A and B are mostly done. No changes for a while now. I have small amounts to fill in there, but the bulk of it’s complete and I’ll be putting off finishing them for now until the other scenes are finished.Scene C has been animated on stream and is almost 100% complete. I plan on finishing this scene on strea...

Charmander's Lament - Starter Squad Halloween 2023

Happy Halloween all!

Episode 11 Update - 10/26/23

View Unblocked Image [SPOILER WARNING]Lots of progress. I think we're on track to finish by early 2024. ...I think.I haven't really touched Scenes A and B, but A is practically done, and B needs a few more days of attention. They're in the best shape of all, and I', happy with everything done on them.Scene C is coming along really well. I've been animating it a lot on stream. I'd been hoping to share with you guys the VODs of the streams where I animate them, and still do. But I haven't figured out the best way to pu...