Stoked to be shared by one of my favorite food brands OF ALL TIME, Totino's. Pizza Rolls and Party Pizzas have been there for me through good times and the greasy times.
I love you, Pizza Rolls. I love you.
It's been a long time coming, but I've finally decided to make some prints available for purchase on Society6! My famed Pokémon poster, as well as some Batman typography work and my editorial piece on street harassment are available as prints! And just in time for the holidays, too! You can order them in any size, and even have them framed if you like. Fast and easy, and they will be professionally handled and shipped. Go check it out at society6.com/sarahhiraki
This past Wednesday I spoke to several groups–about 150 in total– students at Nelsen Middle School in Renton, Washington for their Exploration Day. We talked about art, college, feeling awkward, and Pokémon. Mostly about Pokémon.
It was a great experience, my first time speaking to a school group as an "adult." And the kids at Nelsen were fabulous. I was very impressed! Especially by the number of kids who raised their hands at "How many of you use Photoshop?"
My presentation is below, if you're in Middle School, or just curious.
We're the best; we're the worst. We're creators and destroyers.
One criticism of my generation (as it's shaped up so far) that I believe to be accurate is that we love rewarding, and to be rewarded for, our innane anti-accomplishments. Everything from getting out of bed in the morning, to being retweeted, to paying our rent is a "treat yo self" moment.
So while you debate whether or not your selfie deserved more likes, take one of these medals:
Except I like, didn't like have time to like write out what you did, so I like ugh you know?
Earlier this year I worked with the team at MakeMe to create some illustrative assets for their app. MakeMe is a social game that helps you accomplish your goals by engaging with a "do or die" pact with your friends via your iPhone.
I created a trickster fox mascot as well as some tarot-esque special ability cards for MakeMe. Because of my experience with fuzzy animals in the past, MakeMe was a fun project. If you'd like to see more, you can download the app in the App Store.
I've always ruled out long-distance relationships, but in approaching them again as an adult, I don't think they're half bad. Since my partner lives in a different country, I've been thinking a lot about this topic, and I figured I'd share some of my expert findings.
Okay, so maybe I'm biased, but The Wolf Among Us was one of my favorites of the weekend. Based on the Fables series by my friend Bill Willingham, the demo I played of Wolf Among Us took me through meaty brawl with the huntsman, which I failed a couple of times before winning. The game is gorgeously true to the comics, and really story-centric and immersive. I can't wait to explore more, and hopefully get better at punching people.
Tearaway is just plain adorable. It shares a lot of similarities with Little Big Planet, and is a papery, bouncy, colorful world of little arts and craftsy people that you get to play god for. The different touch interfaces of the Vita make the tangibility of the game art even more fun. All around, fun, adorable, and looks like something that would be fresh to play the whole way through.
I played Neverending Nightmares in a blacked out isolation booth with headphones, and had to do some deep breathing to keep myself calm. The game is styled after the art of Edward Gorey, based on the creator's own struggles with depression, and is creeeeeepy. Flat and super simple, the Neverending Nightmares is about remembering (or trying to) your nightmares and being brave enough to figure them out. I'm curious to see what the relationship between the protagonist and the female characters turns out to be.
I've only played 10 or 20 minutes of each of these games, but based on first impressions, I would recommend any of them. Game on, bros!
It takes about 6 minutes for me to get from my office to the parking garage my company uses. I walk through a parking lot, up some stairs, through a busy pedestrian intersection, and round the corner to the secured garage. Everyday after work, I put my shades on, get ready to walk fast, and have my keycard in my hand. I have to pump myself up for this walk. I repeat things in my head like, “I will wear your skin” and “I wish you were dead” until I make it inside my car.
Today, I had made it through the parking lot and the stairs, and I was waiting for the crosswalk. I notice a man approaching me, and hear him say something icky like goddamn sexy thing blah blah. I turned around and asked, “Are you fucking kidding me?” To which the man, walking away starts shouting back at me, “no I’m not kidding you, what did you want me to say, you’re ugly?” So I shouted at him, “Just leave me alone!”
and he shouts, “then stop talking.”
I do not want to stop talking. I will not listen to this guy.
If someone is harassing you on the street, put your safety first, and if you can, speak up. It's your right to feel safe wherever you walk, whenever you walk, in whatever you're walking in.
A bit of old news, but my friends at Cinesaurus have released their reel of work from 2013, which, conveniently enough, is a pretty kickass reel of our collaborations as well.
There are three projects in this video that I worked on: Cool Things To Find, which I designed and built characters for
Tipping Point (video yet to be formally released), which I designed and built errything for and Harvest Moon, which I scripted, costumed/cosplayed, and acted in.
It's been a blast, Cinesaurus! Congrats on a great year.
Planetary Resources has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to build and launch the world's first publicly funded and controlled telescope. The telescope will provide access for schools and universities, outreach to people who may have never discovered their love of space before, and provide amazing trophies (shown above) for anyone with $25 and an internet connection.
I'm a big fan of space... anything, and as such I believe that the solutions to a lot of our earth's problems can be found in space. Space exploration has had an impact on everything from medical technology, to digital communication, to education, and I believe it is our duty to support the private and public space industries at every "Opportunity." (ha. Space Joke.)
I'll be at the war room for the Kickstarter all day today at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. I'm sitting across from Frank Mycroft of PRI, and next to Hank Green (Vlog Brothers). Brent Spiner (Data) will be here later. This is a pretty amazing day for space geeks everywhere.
I had the pleasure of participating in and designing for the launch of this Kickstarter, and I hope you will find a backer level that suits you, and contribute to the project-- if not for the sweet selfie, for the students that will have the opportunity to explore space as never before.
Edit:
When you pledge your support to the Arkyd campaign, you can also add on one of the t-shirts I designed for Planetary Resources. "Dino Revenge" is mine!
There I am doing my very best "Happy Cat" impression on the cover of Seattle University Magazine.
I think I'm probably the youngest baby grad to make the cover, but I can't confirm.
If you'd like to read the full article, the online edition of the magazine is here, take a look!
My mom must be so proud. I'm honored to be in the magazine, and it's a wonderful feeling to have my professors and University's support as I keep doing all of this weird stuff.
Thanks Seattle U! and thank you to Caitlin King, who wrote such a sweet article!
I did a bit of branding for a new YouTube comedy channel: Snake Charmers.
It's managed by my friend from a few posts ago, Molly McIsaac,
and I am already scripting a few of its initial videos.
I'm enjoying these short-form writing projects after the success of Harvest Moon,
and I'm anxious to see how my new work will be received.
A haul video of all of the artwork I purchased (or was gifted, thanks Dean!) at ECCC!
And photographs below if you don't have 20 minutes to waste watching Molly and I
drink and describe how much we like everything we came home with!
Dean Tripp
Does anyone know the artist? I forgot to pick up her card!
Phillip Moy
By Monica Gallagher
Lorraine McLees
Pikachu Earrings: Geek Star Costuming, SM Jewelry from Anime World, Playing card style buttons by Lorraine McLees
Before there was Farmville, there was Harvest Moon, one of my favorite video games of all time. Part dating-sim, part RPG, Harvest Moon was the perfect title for uncool kids like me who thought completing virtual farm chores sounded fun. I remember playing hours upon hours of this game on Playstation and Gameboy (we didn't have an N64, and I have yet to get a DS).
So, what happens if you take this sweet and simple game and make it... grittier? Find out below.
Oh! And did I mention I play all six of the female characters in this video?
