I Love XKCD, Boom De Ya Da, Boom De Ya Da, Boom De Ya Da, Boom De Ya Da ...

October 21, 2009 8:26 PM

"I Love the Whole World" + xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel + Noah Raby + the Map of the Internet + Olga Nunes = I Love XKCD, a pretty cute bit of animation. (It's not the first time Raby's animated an xkcd strip.)
posted by WCityMike (40 comments total)

I thought it was cute, thanks.
posted by selenized at 8:40 PM on October 21, 2009

put my vote in the awesome column
posted by ShawnString at 8:49 PM on October 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

OMG

FLAGGED AS FANTASTIC
posted by jock@law at 8:52 PM on October 21, 2009

I don't think baby should be on an XTC trip.

Wait.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:55 PM on October 21, 2009

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: we already know your feelings on xkcd. There is no reason to repeat them in this thread, which is clearly for the fans of said webcomic, who think this is fucking sweet.

Thanks,
Caduceus
posted by Caduceus at 8:57 PM on October 21, 2009 [8 favorites]

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: we already know your feelings on xkcd. There is no reason to repeat them in this thread, which is clearly for the fans of said webcomic, who think this is fucking sweet.

Thanks,
jessamyn
posted by jessamyn at 8:58 PM on October 21, 2009 [11 favorites]

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: we already know your feelings on xkcd. There is no reason to repeat them in this thread, which is clearly for the fans of said webcomic, who think this is fucking sweet.

Are there people who don't like xkcd?

_{Oh well, I guess we'll never know now.}
posted by delmoi at 9:04 PM on October 21, 2009

Epic. Thanks for the link!
posted by spiderskull at 9:05 PM on October 21, 2009

Great discussion!
posted by Liver at 9:08 PM on October 21, 2009

This made me want to find a recording of the original campfire song. There's like.. one, or two. Good thing one of them is really good.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:08 PM on October 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've got to admit that at about I was a little annoyed at :24 in because of the omission of an important lyric. Then, at the very end, this went from entertaining to TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME. Thanks, WCityMike.
posted by dersins at 9:11 PM on October 21, 2009

It'd been even sweeter if that XKCD guy could draw!
posted by Liver at 9:17 PM on October 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

It'd been even sweeter if that XKCD guy could draw!

My hobby: threadshitting.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:24 PM on October 21, 2009 [12 favorites]

The XKCD guy actually CAN draw. It's a stylistic choice.
posted by empath at 9:29 PM on October 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

The XKCD guy actually CAN draw. It's a stylistic choice.

Right. It's not all just stick figures.
posted by jock@law at 9:34 PM on October 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

Cute.

I believe there are at least a couple other webcomics that occasionally animate their comics; www.deadwinter.cc is the only one that I can think of right now, though. Always nice when someone adds a little motion into an already excellent strip.
posted by Han Tzu at 9:47 PM on October 21, 2009

Right. It's not all just stick figures.

Well, the drawings of people are pretty bad.
posted by delmoi at 9:50 PM on October 21, 2009 [2 favorites]

(Not to crap on XKCD, I think he could be a pretty good artist if he practiced more. One thing about long running webcomics is that you can usually see the improvement over time, Penny Arcade is a good example. But XKCD looks about the same as when it started)
posted by delmoi at 9:55 PM on October 21, 2009

It'd been even sweeter if that XKCD guy could draw!
posted by Liver at 12:17 AM on October 22 [+] [!]

I thought I killed you! *Drinks ferociously*
posted by dirigibleman at 10:01 PM on October 21, 2009 [18 favorites]

XKCD is alright some times, but man, it's not the second coming of Krazy Kat or anything. I don't understand the urge some people have to link every. single. comic. as soon as they come out on places like Digg. I know MeFi isn't Digg, but the whole "I don't like XKCD, you suck dicks!" and "I like XKCD, keep you fucking useless opinion to yourself!" back-and-forth here is befuddling.

That being said, stick figures are a really fucking lazy stylistic choice.
posted by m0nm0n at 10:53 PM on October 21, 2009 [2 favorites]

your*

DAMN YOU LACK OF EDIT FUNCTIONALITY
posted by m0nm0n at 10:55 PM on October 21, 2009

There is amnesty no toleration of disagreement for about that this stupid day webcomic, I don't know why.
posted by trondant at 11:01 PM on October 21, 2009

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: this week's meeting has been postponed due to inclement weather. We've rescheduled it to 27 Oct, 6:00 PM in the auditorium of Our Lady Of Peace (Rt. 12, second light, door will be open). Refreshments (cola, beer, tea) will be served. Following the normal meeting with be an informal chat session about fielding a team for next month's Troll For The Cure (for aids lol) 10k Fun Run.

Thanks,
DTT
posted by Damn That Television at 11:06 PM on October 21, 2009 [9 favorites]

delmoi, no joke. Here's Penny Arcade then and Penny Arcade now - pretty amazing what can happen over ten years when you decide to take your craft seriously.
posted by migurski at 11:38 PM on October 21, 2009

Wonderful! Thanks, Mike!

Dear Metafilter cynicism brigade: No, seriously, we get it and you're awesome for noticing that XKCD is full of stick figures. Perhaps you could MeMail each other about all the stick figures while fans of the strip talk about how fucking sweet it is in this thread.

Thanks,
EatTheWeak
posted by EatTheWeek at 12:06 AM on October 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I can't think of a single xkcd comic that would benefit from looking like, say, Josh Lesnick drew it. It's fine the way it is.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:51 AM on October 22, 2009

I see XKCD as an extremely cynical commentary on one-dimensional stickmen striving (mostly unsuccessfully) to differentiate themselves by circulating the same limp cutesy jokes and TED-talk revelations over and over. An infinite dinner party in Cambridge, MA.

But then I also see favoriting is like a miniature act of arson. Cause you have no idea how big it will get! So you probably shouldn't ask me.
posted by kid ichorous at 4:00 AM on October 22, 2009 [5 favorites]

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade:

Whether you like or dislike XKCD, this particular comic / video is about loving life in general, its plastic ball pits and transitors and organic chemists and all. There is something worth celebrating there, even if it comes off naive. The stick figures, for all their simplicity, are also a recognition that the Internet enables everybody to participate in our culture regardless of their innate talents. There's something beautiful about that too.

Thanks,
l33tpolicywonk

P.S. You're meeting at Our Lady Queen of Peace? Really? Don't get me wrong, I've been there, lovely church, gorgeous location. Little out of the way, but that can't be helped. Still, it's a pretty cool place. They've got a credit union. Lots of social justice activism, especially outside the Pentagon. Never struck me as very cynical people.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:28 AM on October 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

XKCD Haters: as my mum used to say, if we all liked the same things, it would be boring

although, as a born hypocrite, i will definitely be shouting FAIL and u r teh SUCKX0rs etc., at stuff posted on mefi that i don't like.
posted by marienbad at 7:08 AM on October 22, 2009

l33tpolicywonk: I thought it was about copying a commercial by the Discovery Channel?
posted by flatluigi at 7:26 AM on October 22, 2009

You know what's awesome? Family Circus.

"Grandma is off her rocker." Oh man, that Billy.
posted by jefeweiss at 7:28 AM on October 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

But if we all dislike the same things, life will be great!
posted by adamdschneider at 7:32 AM on October 22, 2009

In this community weblog, all posts are comments are equal, but some comments are more equal than others!
posted by m0nm0n at 8:17 AM on October 22, 2009

Oh fuck I need to stop posting when my caffeine count is critically low.
posted by m0nm0n at 8:24 AM on October 22, 2009

But if we all dislike the same things, life will be great!

Wasn't that the idea behind 4chan?
posted by Theta States at 9:26 AM on October 22, 2009

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: Our Lady Peace, Silverchair, Eve 6, The Verve Pipe, Collective Soul, Seven Mary Three, Deep Blue Something, Candlebox, and that band who sang that "AAAAAHH WILLL BEE YOUR SUPERMAAAAAAHHHHNNN" song will be performing songs from the tribute CD "LOL Stick Figures" in the community center at 7PM. Clothing is optional. Coffee will be provided.

Thanks,
1998
posted by mintcake! at 9:28 AM on October 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

But if we all dislike the same things, life will be great!

And how will we ever reach that enlightened state without the continuing, selfless efforts of the MeFi Cynicism Brigade?

Boom de yadda yadda yadda.

(It was kinda a neat link though)
posted by Sparx at 1:59 PM on October 22, 2009

Dear MeFi cynicism brigade: Our Lady Peace, Silverchair, Eve 6, The Verve Pipe, Collective Soul, Seven Mary Three, Deep Blue Something, Candlebox, and that band who sang that "AAAAAHH WILLL BEE YOUR SUPERMAAAAAAHHHHNNN" song will be performing songs from the tribute CD "LOL Stick Figures" in the community center at 7PM. Clothing is optional. Coffee will be provided.

Thanks,
1998

I think I saw every single one of those bands at some point in the 90s.
posted by empath at 2:29 PM on October 22, 2009

It'd been even sweeter if that XKCD guy could draw!

Ah, God, I hope you're kidding. But if not: he can draw, and XKCD drawn realistically would be a tragedy*.

Depicting things realistically is one thing. Evoking emotions and such with minimal realism is another. Ask any animator whether all animation should feature photorealistic humans. Or just go watch, say, "Luxo Jr." and "Rejected".

XKCD packs a lot into its stick figures. A lot of awesome.

*on two levels
posted by madmethods at 7:08 PM on October 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Hey, I remember that song.
posted by oxford blue at 11:30 PM on October 25, 2009