HOME | DD
zacthetoad β :dance:
Published: 2007-06-26 08:56:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 6273; Favourites: 108; Downloads: 71
Redirect to original
Description
This emoticon is somewhat of an unusual submission, more of a tribute than anything.The dance emoticon was made famous on the forums of Something Awful , and I believe it has become a classic throughout the interwebs. Interestingly, I've seen nothing like it on deviantART. Although I have seen other classics from those forums and many more.
I've recoloured, reshaded and reanimated the original, where hopefully it can find its place on deviantART.
Related content
Comments: 51
It reminds me of Craig Ferguson's Secretariat dance.
π: 0 β©: 0
xD looks weird though 
π: 0 β©: 0
lol when i saw this, i was like, i gota fave this
π: 0 β©: 0
totally scares me.
totally beats the old dance, in an awkward weird way
π: 0 β©: 1
great colours (unlike the other critics) and it looks like a mix between 
Animation loop is not great, but i have never seen the actual emote
π: 0 β©: 1
The loop is not meant to be smooth.
π: 0 β©: 0
Boy 
I had a whole rant typed up here. 
π: 0 β©: 2
I would have loved a rant.
π: 0 β©: 1
well 
Then I think I started going on about how a lot of peoples' emoticon styles look the same... save for a fewβmine, for one, since I still use black outlines, and ~CYCLER who's uses a caucasian fleshtone as the color for all of his emotes, and also doesn't shade them much... oh, and he also uses black outlines.
Basically, if they're going to revamp the list, I think they need to preserve some of the well-known and often-used emoticons so that the work of people like `hprince329 and `monaux aren't just tossed aside. Honestly, I'd be pleased as pop if they just replaced the emoticon legend with =Zikes ' script!
π: 0 β©: 1
It is true that there are a few different styles emerging and nearly any new emoticonist can be placed into one of these categories. Myself included in that. There certainly have been some very influential emoticonists that really have pathed the way that emoticons will be done in the future.
Even though I generally hate black outlines, I can appreciate a style when I see one. However, I think for the revamp we should be going for what looks the best and what will be the best option long term.
If that means we lose and old emoticon, then so be it.
With that being said, I believe many of `monaux 's will not be changed, and the majority of `hprince329 's will be reworked but based on his originals. Yes, I agree that the new ones should be as much as possible like the originals, except in the cases where something better can be produced. Let's face it, some of the current ones don't even work or express the emoticon they're supposed to.
This replacement stage of the revamp is rather interested, because I'm wondering how many of them will simply be removed in the next stage? Of course the most interesting will be the final stage where emoticons are added, but I'd hate to be the person with that responsibility!
Anyway, time will tell. I noticed the next stage at *EmoticonHQ has opened up with a lot of classics. I some how thing =camelhijackation will play a large role in this section...
π: 0 β©: 1
Ugh... just read through the revamp guidelines and I'd like to punch the guy in the face who wrote it, especially for the part where he writes of replacing the shading toward something like 
Granted, I'm not against updating with emoticons that gets the point across better, but if you're going to dump 
And heaven help the poor sucker who decides to replace 
Your mention of camel raises the concern that we'll be seeing a lot of repeated names in the revamp. I hope this isn't the case, and I hope the people who get the final say make the legend as diverse as possible, both in artists and styles.
Yeargh! 
π: 0 β©: 2
Well, Β’eStunt certainly wouldn't be happy to read that. I believe it was he who wrote up the guidelines regarding the correct and proper manner in which to create a revamp. I may be wrong, but I believe he was saying that the shading should be like
With that being said, there are a couple of other styles, and most recently I believe =sereneworx 's has taken off. If you browse the gallery currently, you'll be surprised at how many imitate his facial expressions and animation.
I should have worded differently as to how I feel about the new emoticons. Yes it should do a better job at expressing the message, but you are correct that the animation/shading/style should also be good. Ideally, I want to see an emoticon that covers all areas and works perfectly. That's why I was against the idea that people can't closely base their revamps off the originals. You're right in the example of
Oooooh,
I'm also torn between the idea of repeated names and creators. I'd really love to see some consistency throughout the the Emoticon Legend, but given its rather enormous size I don't believe that will happen. But =camelhijackation is technically a great pixelist and his static emoticons work well. Again it comes down to the best emoticon for the job. If that means every single emoticon comes from a different artist then so be it. Likewise if it means that we have significant contributors.
There's a few things that we'll just have to wait to pan out I guess. So how things go, but I think the best thing you can do it contribute your own revamps!?
Yeargh!
π: 0 β©: 1
Well one thing about what he said is that he wants a uniform look to things... I just can't agree with that. I enjoy the current diversity, and if everything in the legend went from looking like what we have now to looking like 
God, =sereneworx ' emoticons are so smooth 
I didn't mean to emphasize shading's importance.
Really, zac. 
Finally 
LIKE RIGHT NOW!!!
It's shaded nicely (without borders, you blarpers
But seriously 
π: 0 β©: 1
I'd easily update every single emoticon on the Legend before I updated
Zike's script has a look of beauties on it, but also a lot of crap. Have you seen the latest :llama
And there better be at least one *neek-zique emoticon on the Legend somewhere, so you better get to work.
Sorry for this rather small rant response, but its getting late.
π: 0 β©: 1
Been a few days, but back to rant-responding!
Maybe I should ask what emotes you would keep rather than replace? Are there any now (not any that have been added within the past year or soβthe ones that have been there a while) that you would keep and not replace?
Haven't worked on the 
Yeah, there are some less-than-great emotes in Zikes' but it's a good idea in theory. It'd be nice if dA adopted a similar systemβwith a quality control, of course. Though, then comes the question of what standards they should be held to. Just thinking out loud here; I know they won't likely do such a thing. But it'd be nice.
I'll keep working on my
I'm enjoying this little back-and-forth.
π: 0 β©: 1
Aye, it had only been a few days and I was beginning to have withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully you've responded so I won't need to use that patches I purchased.
Ahh, how do I answer that question... No, I don't think that there are many I'd leave. The majority of those would be the more decent ones, those with the shading and dark borders. Although I wouldn't be upset if
You've also convinced me in regard to the style repetition. I'm not sure if I'm repeating myself (Its been a few days), but the job is far too big for one style. As much variation as possible would be great and as many emoticonists tributing as possible would be best. However, I personally feel there their should be some guideline in regard to have a little consistency. I mean the biggest reason we are probably running up the revamp is remove those black lines and ugly shading. That, and to have some better replacements of course.
When you read up the FAQ on emoticon editions, it references the fact that at one point in time, deviantART was taking suggestions for new edition to the Emoticon Legend. I have always wondered what such a time was like. And furthermore, I'll be more interested to see say in a year or two when the Emoticon Legend has been completely revamped and what the process is like.
Ideally, I would like to see something very dynamic, where emoticons can be added very easily and very quickly, but only with the support of the community. Like a vote or something, or perhaps something similar to the news system would be nice. As in one a month a new emoticon is displayed somewhere, and if it gets more than 100 votes its added.
I do believe its been too static for well, the entire time I've been on deviantART. As far as I can remember I've only seen maybe ten additions in my time here. Hopefully within a few years this issue can be rectified.
Please continue working on some revamps. As you and I have both now agreed, diversity would be best in terms of contribution, so get your act together!
I always enjoy an insightful conversation, particularly those regarding my favourite form of art.
π: 0 β©: 2
Forgot to finish a thought in my response
[...]The standard has been established. I mean, some of my older emoticons used a 19x19 base. While I enjoy the larger canvas, I don't think I'd go back to them. Mostly because I enjoy using the emoticons I make in dAmn, and a smaller emoticon is more practical for that.
That being said, I think I would be a hypocrite if I said that every emoticon should be 15x15, shaded, and use a border. I mean, for all we know, there could be some emoticonists out there who animate well and make excellent emoticons without all the aesthetic that the majority prefers. ~linessa made emoticons for a short while. Her shading style was glassy (similar to `monaux 's) and she did not have borders on them. Regardless, they looked good and animated fairly well (for someone who had just started making them; better than I was when I started anyway).
And that all goes back to the guidelines laid down by eStunt. I won't press that anymore, you know how I feel about them by now.
π: 0 β©: 0
Everybody has their favorite emotes in the list; going back to what I was saying about the community's overall opinion and my own partiality to
I'd compare it to (and I don't know if this will translate) having some favorite seats in different parts of an old ballpark, then watching it be torn down to make way for a new one. Yeah, the new one is gonna be nice, but there have been countless memorable moments in the old one. You want to always have those favorite places to sit, but no one wants a few parts of the park to be new, they want every part to be new. And it's just been decided: no one had a chance to voice their opinions. The higher ups one day just said, "we're gonna have a new ballpark," and everyone was so excited about getting a brand new one that the voices who wanted to keep the old one were drowned out.
That's kinda how I feel right now. I wonder if there isn't any other person on this site who is hesitant to go with this revamp, certainly not any other emoticonists, from what I've seen.
The other thing I wanted to say was that, in regards to shading styles and black lines, that's all opinion. Unfortunately again, it's the popular opinion. Borders that are a little lighter make the emoticon look softer. However, changing the border (and the color of the eyes and mouth), I would have to figure out a new shading style for my emoticons. Either that or a new way of drawing them. In either case, it's a move I don't want to make and that I refuse to make to adjust to how everyone else is doing them.
That being said, it makes it really hard to try to make an emoticon for the revamp. Making one that complied with the guidelines would, in effect, make me go back on that statement, and I don't see how I could respect myself as an emoticonist if I did that. Then, however, I would likely have no chance of getting into the revamp because such restrictions were placed on what got in and what didn't. Therein really lies my dilemma here. It's a matter of personal pride, as crazy as that sounds. It's like having an art contest and excluding those entries that use traditional media just because the majority of the artists entering used (and the contest judges like) digital media.
Man, you wanna talk about a rant response.
Back to the response part, a dynamic legend would do good, not only to get the favorite emoticons available to use all over dA, but also to get the lesser names out there (like neek-zique's, just to throw a name up 
And like I said, over the course of this response, mulling it over in my head, I don't like the idea of abandoning my own style just to get in the revamp. I mean, that would mean my emoticon would be there for a while to come... in a style that is NOT my own. Seems like it's not so much "Be a Part of the Emoticon Revamp" as it is "Help Us Make These Things So We Don't Have to Get the Usual Guys to Do It". So many people have adopted that style that it's easy to overlook that people still make them in other styles. I've emphasized that so much that I know I sound like a broken record. But I can't help but feel that they're unintentionally saying is "You can't get into the emoticon legend unless your emoticons look like this".
Which reminds me of something you brought up that you'd want to see in the legend: consistency. That's a fair thing to ask for, and you can have some consistency without wanting everyone's emoticons to look similar-to-uniform. Most everyone uses a 15x15 px base for their emoticons. There is usually some attempt at shading. The borders thing has gotten me all in a fit; more so than it should. But they singled it out: no black borders. I think black borders work well with my shading. Going back to the point, most emoticons have a border. The standard has been established. I mean, some of my older emoticons are 19x19 and, while I enjoy the larger canvas
On another note, I meandered over to =Mrichston 's page and now I'm wondering if there's a point to me making a
YEARGH! 
π: 0 β©: 1
Let me just... fuck! I'm yet to read through your whole reply, I might just tackle it on paragraph at a time. I feel like I actually need to sit down and complete a plan before I begin writing and completing such a enormous task.
When the Emoticon Legend is finally revamped, this is, when they are all complete and the actually images are replaced; there will be an uproar. You'll have people who like you say are partial to certain emoticons who will be upset to see them go. Then you'll have people who will just be upset because it has all changed and there is very little left of the original Legend. And finally you'll just have those complaining ones who love the dArama.
I believe after the initial teething problem, things will be fine. Until of course the next revamp in say five years is underway!
I am rather fond of your little analogy, however... To me, you will still be in the same park, having the same memories and still experiencing the same kinds of things. The only difference will be the seat you sit on. It will become more comfortable, stylish and a better fit to your body, thus reducing back pain (okay, not quite sure where I was going with that one!). But you other point about the higher ups just having the whole park demolished is not quite true. I know a blue worm who works for the construction has stated that if the old seat is better than the new one, the old one will be staying.
I think you'll be stretched to find an emoticonist who isn't looking forward to the revamp. Perhaps its because they are exciting by the chance to have their own work on the Legend and they are blinding destroying the history of deviantART, but I think that's a push.
You are correct instating that its the popularity vote that wins in terms of the style and the way in which emoticons "should" be designed. But this is the majority of this generation's emoticons. I can imagine if you drew a light border five years ago you'd never have a chance at getting your emoticons on the Legend. Unfortunately times do change as do our trends. And it is unfortunate, but to fit in with this generation's popularity, you will have to adapt your style. Whether this is a good or bad thing, there's little control over the guidelines.
That's not to say you can't keep rockin' the retro style in your gallery.
So now to the responding of the responding response;
I'm not sure if I mentioned it here in one of the responses or somewhere else, but I'm really starting to like this idea of a "voting" system. For example once a month five emoticons are selected by five different people and then they are put on display. Deviants can then either choose to vote them in or reject them. Depending on the numbers of course, but once an emoticon reached a certain number in the positive it could be added at the end of the month. This would allow many of a treasured non official emoticons to make their way onto the Legend, but also as you say to bring light upon some of the deviants with less than a million pageviews.
^livius 's dedication to the community I've always admired. The sheer number of emoticonists she watches is incredible which is always something I've looked up to because I don't think I could ever do that. I mean, how inspiring is it when you're just starting out to have the Gallery Director watch you!
^livius 's Daily Deviations (we're calling them them again apparently) certainly push this even more. I'll admit that a few of her selections wouldn't have been ones that I'd have necessarily picked, but its up to her and she really is doing a fantastic job of it. I'd never really thought about what you said, but in terms of the community she really is doing an incredible job.
You do raise a fair point about changing your style. I know there are other emoticonists who, for example, use a much larger size, bigger than 19 x 19px I think. They face the same decision as to whether they should conform to have a chance at being cemented into the Legend. Its a choice I do not envy taking, but its up to you to decide. Again, its probably not fair, but something that is happening.
How steadfast is Β’eStunt stuck to the guidelines? Have you approached him on this manner? I'd certainly be interested to see how it plays out. I think the best thing you could do is note him on that one.
What you just said there in regard to already seeing a better revamp is something I've actually thought about recently and am a little worried about. Some of the lets say "well known" emoticonists are producing large amounts of quality emoticon revamps within the first days that each section is released. Whilst they're doing nothing wrong intentionally, between three or four of them nearly the whole section is complete within a few days and then you have other emoticonists looking at them and saying "Well I can't do any better than that." So they don't even try. It annoys me (even thought I'm guilty of it myself) that deviants will look at it and say its good enough and then won't attempt their own.
I'm not sure if you can even make sense of that, but it would be nice if there was a way to overcome it. Perhaps something where everyone makes their revamps and then they are submitted. This would give everyone a chance... Or perhaps have a week after each section is released before anyone can submit.
I do understand your position. Not that I'm actually in it, although there are time I wish I was. I conformed when I first started with emoticons, and this left me with no style of my own, nothing identifiable as =zacthetoad 's. However, in your case as soon as I see the black border and your style of shading I know it belongs to you. But now you face a hard decision...
And its something I've not really thought about until these past few days, but I think your best approach would be to contact Β’eStunt . You never know how things might play out, perhaps you could reach a small compromise on both sides where both parties are left happy with the guidelines.
Enjoy the random thoughts and disconnected bit of conversation. Its far too long and far too early for me to proof read, so you'll just have to do your best.
Keep your chin up and don't let this alter your flow of creativity into the emoticon gallery.
π: 0 β©: 1
Seeing you bring this up in a journal response makes me want to go back and reply
Yeah people will be upset about the changes, though I'm still on the fence with it. I could come to embrace it if they were a little more lenient on what was accepted. Skipping to something you mention a little later on, I'd love for eStunt to read this series of novelsβer, comments
Good to hear that eStunt is not pressed to replace everything. I hope that a number of current emoticons stay. It will still be very weird adjusting. Do you think there might be some way of preserving the current set of emoticons for use in dAmn? With a script similar to Zikes'? Just a thought...
I can understand the excitement that comes with revamping the legend; I felt it too and I was anxious to get started on some (then I succumbed to my usual laziness
Popularity has always been my enemy, mostly because I've never had any. Until I started making emoticons, that is. I went back to writing and that ended fast.
Though, I think I have been quoted before as saying "There are only so many ways to shade a 15x15 circle." Regardless, I haven't seen all of them, so people need to get innovative.
And I will keep rockin' my style, thank you.
Oh yes, a dynamic emoticon legend needs to be looked into. 
In light of your rant today, I think ^livius needs to keep looking for the innovative avatars and emoticons. Innovation is so very rare anymore with everyone imitating other styles. Finding a new way of doing something, or doing things no one has done before is definitely worth getting in the public view. Hell, it might encourage others to be more innovative.
The whole style question *is* something I think I'll approach eStunt about. Like I said, I'd like to direct him to this coversation and have him add his thoughts (if he even cares to read the whole thing
I wonder if the fact that the better emoticonists are giving it their all isn't something eStunt has taken into consideration. I hope it's something he's taken note of. I agree, there's no fault in it, and no one emoticonist would (or should) claim to be the best on the site, so they're no doubt thinking someone could easily come up with something that could blow theirs out of the water. If I had the skill they had, I might be doing the same thingβone wants to be in the legend, but they can't bank on making just a few, then end up having them all be trumped by another, where if they had done a different emoticon, it would have gotten in. Again, no fault there, but it is awfully discouraging to see emoticons so good that I have to go up against.
I think maybe having to submit them privately through notes would be a better solution. That way, you couldn't see the other revamps as easily and would therefore be able to concentrate on making one without the distraction of the others that you might see as better than what you could come up with.
Well, it looks like my first step at this point is contacting eStunt. Though the hardest part of this is going to be just getting off my arse and getting some of these done. It'll still be hard with the other revamps there. Depending on how eStunt feels on it will determine what I do next in regards to it. I may be the only one who feels this way and, therefore, may just be shut out.
And I wouldn't say you conformed, exactly. For one, if there are a lot of people making them one way, it could easily be someone's understanding that this is just how they're made and they'd start making them imitating the way everyone else is doing them, just because there's nothing else to compare it to. Also, you do have somewhat of a style. More often than not, you use that yellow-green hue for your emoticons, and that does set you apart I think. Gives your emoticons a signature look.
I've got some excellent emoticon ideas in my headβone in particular that I keep telling myself to just sit down and do. Hell, I've even got everything drawn out, I just have to piece everything together and get it animated. Unfortunately, that is the hardest part, in my opinion. And if I ever get the sucker done, you'll see why.
Well, it was about damn time I replied to this.
π: 0 β©: 1
Aye, it certainly has been a while and I'll do my best to respond. However, I don't want to be going over old ground that we've already covered so please forgive me if I do venture into that territory. Also, there's something on TV shortly that's worth watching, so we'll just have to see how this goes.
Β’eStunt I believe is quite busy at the moment, hence the slow progress at *EmoticonHQ , although this could be seen as a good thing. But my point is yes, he should have a look at this novellas, I'll note him later perhaps.
I think much like v5, the new emoticons will have a slow start with much hatred but within a few weeks people won't even remember what they looked like. It would be nice if a small tribute or something could be organised, but I don't see that happening. A few months back I actually created a list of emoticons can no longer be used on deviantART. It was quite long and I had a lot of trouble finding them but I'm down to one to go. Anyway, I found it interesting as to how hard they were to find.
Perhaps something like =Zikes 's script could be organised, but as I said I think people will move on rather quickly.
Another thing I've been working on recently is something along the lines of A History of deviantART's Emoticons. Those that I would call the Founders like `hprince329 and `monaux deserve so much more attention than they receive. These people were the most influencial in today's standards, closely followed by other deviants in the next generation such as =darkmoon3636 and !camelhijackation . But the problem is they haven't remained active and have therefore had trouble receiving the attention they deserve. Funnily enough, even the latter mention have now become inactive in terms of making emoticons. There is little than can be done, but hopefully people will remember them for the contributions. I plan to do somewhat of a write up about such people and hopefully get in contact with a few of them.
I too agree that style is important and there isn't enough variation. This could be explained by the sudden increase in popularity people like =darkmoon3636 and =sereneworx later gained and people wanted to get into the art style. However, as with most people starting something new, they need somewhere to start and someone to work off.
I actually have an idea for a new style of shading. Its nothing big but I'll be sure to work on it for my next emoticon, which I have no idea when it will appear. Something to do with basic dithering I'm thinking. We'll see I guess.
=Zikes needs to be back. Someone please start a petition.
Yes, perhaps I'll note both ^livius and Β’eStunt and give them a link. Good to see my writing compares to the great J.K. Rowling, although unfortunately thread posts don't pay as well.
In regard to how the Emotion Legend revamp should work, I've already stated how I feel. I do like the idea of the notes, or perhaps it just doesn't need to be updated as often. Not sure exactly what the solution is there though...
I've recently realised that perhaps my green is partially know, and maybe even my little Fella icon. Although its probably my bounce that appears to have taken off, no pun intended of course.
Heh, I too know procrastination well. The number of files on my PC that are just a few words of an idea or a nearly finished emoticon that have sat there for a few years... Its ridiculous!
A nice short one to keep things to the point and moving forward. I'd like some other contributions, but I feel that won't be happening anytime soon as its hidden nicely on a random deviation on mine. Still, you a good person to rant with because you actually write well and your ideas are thought out.
Its always nice to see someone else with a passion similar to mine regarding the Emoticon Legend.
π: 0 β©: 0
Why are u pointing everything out I WANT TO SAY
π: 0 β©: 1
The original looks horrible.... your emote is just a cleaned up version, no offence or anything, but I don't see why it deserves any merit....
π: 0 β©: 1
Some of the greatest emoticons aren't technically the best.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah but this weird dance emoticon just doesn't seem to cut it for me, and it's the first time I've ever seen it or seen reference too it... each to his own I guess
π: 0 β©: 0
I dont like it. the colours are a pain to look at, this expression is just very weird. those eyes ehmm.. arent really emoticon like, and the mouth could use some better shading. the movement with the hands looks off, like flossing indeed. it pulls back its hand in some kind of shock whilst the motion forward is smooth
π: 0 β©: 1
All things stated are intentional as following the original. As I've said, some of the greatest and most classic emoticons aren't necessarily the best technically.
π: 0 β©: 0
This scares me...
He doesn't stop looking at me
π: 0 β©: 1
He's doing the I'm-gonna-be-in-your-pants dance!
π: 0 β©: 1
Sorry, one of your weakest emotes yet.
Make something similar but original, this looks awful. Sorry but you know I am the only one that is going to tell you the truth.
π: 0 β©: 1
Its a tribute, its meant to be based off the original. I care not for visual pleasure, this is a salute to a classic emoticon that's made its way through the net.
π: 0 β©: 0
π: 0 β©: 0
LOL
I thought so too xD
π: 0 β©: 0
XD That is like a mix between
π: 0 β©: 0