I received a very thoughtful review on an old upload, and it brought up a lot of difficult feelings. It's surreal to think that something I worked on could have lasting impact on someone. I'm touched, but there's also a bit of sadness. Yonder Ho is my cartoon series that I started back in 2013. I had no idea what I was doing at any step of the way—bad art, terrible animation, seriously strange writing choices, a few regrettable attempts at humor, and poor sound design to top it all off. It was a mess in so many ways, but darn if it doesn't have a big ol' place in my heart. I was lucky to have amazing friends who brought the characters to life, crappy mic and all, and I truly cherish the memories of recording voices with everyone. Oh, the memories. It just hurts. I'd like those days to come back. For all its flaws, the show meant a lot to me; it still does.
It's been a long time since the last episode, and I feel like I haven't done much since then. I want to be productive again. It’s hard watching the years tick by, knowing I didn’t finish everything I wanted to. I have so many unfinished projects that haunt me. I start projects, then I get depressed or overwhelmed, and I end up running away from them. The longer I put things off, the harder it is to go back.
Reading this review and looking back at others just hit me some kinda way. It makes me want to work more on myself so I can get back to creating. I am hopeful for the future.
GuyRocketram
Hello!
I was rewatching the series with my girlfriend and felt the need to leave various comments on things i wanted to say. We often watch things together with sentimental value to ourselves and I wanted to share it with her.
I wish to say I cannot overstate how much of an impact Yonder Ho has had on me. I still quote it 'till this day to the point of some of the lines and jokes being vocal ticks. whenever im on a boat in minecraft i sing gullah gullah island because thats what pete sung. whenever i need to describe something someone else said was small as a big it's 'anti small' whenever i need to do a gruff southern accent i do a blue john impression, whenever i'm having technical difficulties i hum the little time card song. whenever something is spooky it's 'spooky dooky' whenever something happened a long time ago it happened in 'the before times'
not even counting all the stuff i dropped like mimicking the angry sounding 'JONNNNN' in the first roy haggard bit whenever anyone said the name john.
my girlfriend the whole time i was showing it to her was just like 'oh my gosh THATS why you're like that. thats why your sense of humor is the way it is this makes so much sense'
even the art style i tried to mimic and i still have tons of remanents of it in my style 'till this day (mainly with how i draw expressions simplified hands and hair)
Sure the art and animation may be crude but thats a part of the appeal to me and my girlfriend too. she actually got inspired after seeing how much it did with so little to finally start her own cartoon she had been wanting to make forever. though the sound mixing...yeah im surprised i never noticed how truly kinda funky the mixing is lol. though to be fair i dont think im much better at sound mixing, stuff is hard, and as for the regrettable jokes...yeah i completely agree. i did not remember all the weird stereotype humor in the show...i constantly apologized to my gf and had to be like 'i didnt remember it being this way im so sorry. i was friends with the creator i've seen his other stuff he isn't racist i promise' lol.
i think one of the main reasons the show stuck with me so much is Pete, who not even joking might be one of the best child characters of all time. in terms of how much he mimics how kids act...or at least how i acted.
he makes random references, he talks with himself casually, he says things which are blatantly false just to be silly, and even intentionally makes himself the butt of the joke sometimes. he's such a free spirit and is a perfect representation of how being a kid felt to me at least. just some free spirited joyful little child who does silly things. combined with his homestar runner-esque speech patterns, and katie's brilliant performance makes him such a joy to watch.
as of late me and my girlfriend had been working on our own cartoon (i do all the animation though) for the past year or so. and in the credits i always wanted to credit you the inspiration because honestly it would not exist without you. i have learnt animation and im somewhat ok at it these days, and if you want i'd be willing to help with any future yonder ho projects in anyway i can. i love this series that much and it means so much to me.
i relate to not feeling productive and watching stuff slip by as you dont finish creative projects. my cartoon i havent even done the first episode yet after working an entire year on it and its only because frankly im intimidated by it. if i worked on it just a little bit each day it'd be done by now but i spend so much time worrying if it is a waste of time or not if anyone is going to care if the final product will be good, and if there's something better i could be doing with my time (which ironically makes me feel intimidated to work on it so i end up playing video games instead, which is less productive.)
i guess watching yonder ho as a kid and as an adult fills me with this sense of awe. like this was all made by one guy, you, and you made something not only watchable but powerful and, as melodramatic as this might sound, life changing.
it might not be the most staggeringly amazingly animated thing ever but its fun to watch, looks appealing, and feels fun. it feels so authentic in its unpolishedness so unafraid to be itself. at times the show just kinda devolves into a youtube poop and it doesnt feel offputting or out of nowhere.
anyway whatever you do next, let it be known, i am legitimately excited. i have always been a huge fan of your work, and i sincerely hope you're doing well.
Bertn1991
Well, I appreciate the heck out of you, and the show loves you back. All this is wonderful, and I'm just so delighted. I think your understanding of Pete is spot-on. You know, he's just this impressionable, good-hearted kid. He's silly and random and repeats things he hears. My sister did a wonderful job bringing him to life. So glad he connected with you. He's very dear to me, above all my other characters.
And no worries at all about melodrama. Inspiration often comes from unexpected places. Mario Paint, this hokey art game for the Super Nintendo, was probably the most life-changing thing in my life. It's the the whole reason I got into all my creative hobbies, and eventually Yonder Ho. That's why all the "We'll Be Right Back" segments are done in Mario Paint. Once again, I'm heartened and blown away that the series had an impact on you. Thanks for sticking with me over the years and for all the kind words. You are just the best~
But more importantly, I absolutely can't wait to see the cartoon from you and your partner. Definitely shoot me a message when things get off the ground. And, of course, I'm happy to help if you ever need a hand, with music or art or whatever it may be. You are outstanding, and I look forward to seeing what you create. I’m cheering for you.
And a hearty YONDER HO to you. Thanks again, and take care!