There are some scenes and details that aren't necessary to further the plot but I think are important enough or interesting enough to warrant inclusion in the films. Most of the events I mention resonate emotionally.

What the Deathly Hallows Needs

The book got a lot of things right. Hopefully the films will follow suit.

1. The Dursleys show their true colours to more wizards.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince didn't start with the Dursleys. I hope that isn't the case here. Dudley lets his humanity show and thanks Harry for saving his life (kind of). Plus, we see the Dursleys' treatment of Harry disgust two new wizards.

2. Kingsley Shacklebolt's words make me shiver.

Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus warns the Weasley family and their guests:

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

Ten simple words, but full of such foreboding it's chilling.

3. Kreacher was loved.

Kreacher, the house elf, tells Harry, Hermione, and Ron the story of how Regulus Black took him to Voldemort's cave. Regulus Black doesn't force Kreacher to drink the potion, but instead drinks it himself. Regulus dies while Kreacher lives on.

4. Remus Lupin lets his fear and anger show. He yells and gets violent.

Remus Lupin offers to help Harry, Hermione, and Ron in their task. He also mentions that his wife, Tonks, is pregnant. Harry yells at Remus for abandoning his wife and child. Remus repels Harry and storms out.

5. Harry and Ron have one of their more amusing conversations.

A silver doe leads Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor. Ron uses the sword to destroy the Horcrux locket. Harry and Ron talk:

Ron: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I'm a — a —"
Harry: "You've sort of made up for it tonight. Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcrux. Saving my life."
Ron: "That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was."
Harry: "Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was. I've been trying to tell you that for years."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
J.K. Rowling

6. Hermione doesn't get blubbery when Ron returns; she gets wonderfully violent.

When Hermione sees that Ron has returned, she yells at him and pounds on him with her fists.

Ron: "It could've been worse. Remember those birds she set on me?"
Hermione: "I still haven't ruled it out."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
J.K. Rowling

7. Excruciating pain is inflicted upon Hermione (and we know how they liked sugar coating things in The Half-Blood Prince film).

While Harry, Hermione, and Ron are held captive at the Malfoy residence, Hermione is tortured. Repeatedly.

8. Yay, a dragon! It's just so cool, I have to see it.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron break into Gringotts Wizarding Bank. They escape on a dragon.

9. Harry tortures a Death Eater and means it.

Harry uses the Cruciatus Curse on Amycus Carrow when he spits in Professor McGonagall's face. Harry says, "I see what Bellatrix meant; you need to really mean it."

10. McGonagall becomes more than just a teacher.

McGonagall binds the Carrows and helps Harry.

Pansy Parkinson wants to hand Harry over to Voldemort. Professor McGonagall responds, "Thank you, Miss Parkinson. You will leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch."

11. Ron and Hermione finally have 'their moment'… at the most inopportune time, of course.

Ron wants to warn the house elves at Hogwarts so they don't die like Dobby did. Hermione is so moved by this she flings her arms around Ron and they kiss. Harry, standing next to them with a war about to break out, asks weakly, "Is this the moment?"

12. Everything since the first word of the first book has led up to this moment… Severus Snape's story.

The second Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film should contain each and every one of Severus Snape's memories. It felt like the entire series led up to that revelation. It's my favorite part; I've gone back numerous times since finishing the book just to reread "The Prince's Tale." If the film leaves out a single punctuation mark, it will be doing a disservice to Snape.

13. Alan Rickman is Severus Snape; don't mess up the most important moments of all eight films by neglecting this.

During Snape's memories, I want to see Alan Rickman playing his character from the scene where he begs Dumbledore to protect Lily onward. This is also the memory where J.K. Rowling refers to him as "the adult Snape" (page 676). It's like a note to the filmmakers: 'insert Alan Rickman here.'

I love Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. More than just a perfect fit for the role, he's also an amazing actor and no kid has Alan's years of experience. If he is not the one asking Dumbledore for help, not the one lamenting Lily's death, then we never get to truly see Snape at his best, at his most vulnerable, because Alan Rickman is Severus Snape.

14. Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy are parents, not Death Eaters.

Narcissa Malfoy lies about Harry's death to Voldemort because she wants to find her son, Draco. Inside Hogwarts, Lucius and Narcissa race through the battling crowd, screaming for their son.

Welcome Unfaithfulness to the Deathly Hallows

Plenty of details have been changed in the films. Sometimes entire scenes are fabricated just for the movies. So here are a couple changes I think would be worth making.

I. Dobby deserves a better death.

While Dobby is fleeing with Harry, Disapparating, Bellatrix kills him with a knife. It'd be nice to see Dobby receive the killing blow in a more meaningful manner (stabbed while actually helping Harry or something).

II. The final battle needs more emotion… starting with Voldemort's howling rage.

While Harry and Voldemort are getting ready for their last duel, they have a long, drawn out conversation. It would be much more dramatic if, during this exchange, Harry shows Voldemort the destroyed Horcruxes instead of just mentioning them. I want to see Voldemort's fury as he looks upon the ruined remains of his hard work.

When I read this scene in the book, I was disappointed that this was missing. Showing is always better than telling. After all, does Harry saying "There are no more Horcruxes" (page 737) really do justice to all the time and effort spent destroying them?

Divining the Deathly Hallows

There's a lot of stuff I'd like to see in the movies. But, more than anything else, I want to see Alan Rickman bring Severus Snape to life.

Every single one of Snape's memories needs to be in the film.

Severus Snape needs to be portrayed by Alan Rickman from the memory in which he's first referred to as "the adult Snape" (where he pleads with Dumbledore to protect Lily) onward.

My other 13 points are still important, and I think the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films will suffer if any are left out.

Shark Week on the Discovery Channel (it's really more like Shark Attack Week) is almost at an end. But that doesn't mean we should just forget about sharks until this time next year.

I love sharks. It's distressing to know that, in the last 25 years, many shark species have declined in population by over 90%. If something isn't done soon, they'll go extinct.

On average, 3.9 people a year are killed by sharks [Source]. In contrast, some studies estimate humans kill over 100 million sharks a year for their fins.

At the end of this article are links with petitions and information on what you can do to help protect our oceans.

I've included a couple quotes from websites. It's ironic that, while shark cartilage is touted as being a miracle drug, it's actually full of unsafe levels of a toxic substance.

The legal limit for consumption of methyl-mercury, set by the EPA, is 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight. Studies have shown shark meat contains as much as 1,400 micrograms of methyl-mercury in one kilogram. A person weighing 155 lbs would therefore get 50 times the legal amount in one single portion of shark steak.

Shark Savers: Quick Shark Facts

This finding leads to...

Shark fin soup is said to be an aphrodisiac, and many people consume it specifically for this supposed property, yet the Hong Kong researchers also revealed that, because of the high mercury content, eating shark fin soup could render men sterile—the opposite of the intended effect.

Jaws: The Natural History of Sharks
(Threats to Sharks and Conservation)

More About Sharks

Take Action to Save Sharks

• Ocean Conservancy: Sharks - lots of information; don't forget to sign the petition and contact your local representatives
• Shark Savers - has ways you can help save sharks and petitions
• WildAid -works to increase public awareness; sign their shark finning petition

Shark Information and Shark Fin Soup

• Discovery Channel's Shark Week
  • Shark Finning: Human Shark Cravings and the Price We Pay to Satisfy Them
  • Web Links - Shark and Marine Conservation, General Shark Sites
• CNN: Shark fin soup alters an ecosystem - you should watch this corresponding video
• Jaws: The Natural History of Sharks - Shark Biology, Shark Behaviour, Shark Evolution, Threats to Sharks and Conservation

If you're wondering whether or not I recommend Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the answer is of course I do. I suggest reading the book before seeing the film; it makes for a better movie experience.

The sets are beautiful as always, and the acting gets better with each film. Daniel Radcliffe delivers his humorous lines perfectly. Draco Malfoy finally becomes three-dimensional in this film, and Tom Felton really brings the new complexities of his character to life.

The Victories of the Half-Blood Prince

There's plenty to enjoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, though some scenes are more notable than others. The movie starts with the Death Eaters wreaking havoc on the Muggle world. Watching the destruction is quite a treat; in the novel, these events are only referred to in the past tense.

Later, Narcissa and Bellatrix sneak off to see Snape. In the book, it takes 3 pages for Narcissa and Bellatrix to reach Snape, 3 pages for 'pleasantries,' 7 pages for Snape to explain why he's trustworthy, and 5 pages for Snape to vow to protect Draco, for a total of 18 pages. In the movie, everything is quicker, and Snape's explanation is cut short. I was so grateful for this; I love Snape, but the scene in the book is too long and drawn out.

I really like the special effects used when Harry and Dumbledore visit memories of Tom Riddle. The surroundings form from smoke that falls like ink in water. It suits the dark tone of the film.

There are some great moments found only in the movie. I love when Harry and Hermione are arguing; Harry says he is "the Chosen One" and Hermione whacks him on the head for it. Ron talking about what great skin Hermione has is pretty brilliant, too. And it's hilarious when Harry and Ron fight for the one pristine copy of Advanced Potion-Making.

Where Harry Potter Misses the Train

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, we first see Harry sitting in a diner, flirting with a waitress. It feels out of place. In the novel, Harry is with the Dursleys. I was really looking forward to seeing Dumbledore give it to Harry's 'family':

I left him upon your doorstep fifteen years ago, with a letter ... expressing the hope that you would care for him as though he were your own... You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son.

Dumbledore; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling

Imagine my disappointment when it wasn't in the film.

Throughout the novel, many of students at Hogwarts are curious about Harry Potter. Add to that the raging hormones and there are plenty of amusing situations. The film portrays little of this. It doesn't show all the girls constantly staring at Harry, and the Quidditch tryouts are only a shadow of the humorous scene in the book.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron witness Katie Bell touch a cursed necklace. It is very creepy when Katie rises in the air, her dark hair whips around her face, and she screams like someone possessed. I love it, but the terror ends abruptly when she falls to the ground.

Katie should scream and writhe in agony, but instead she twitches silently. An innocent girl is in immense pain, but this display is far from the horrific scene it should be: It's too short, and after the brief scream it's far too quiet.

There are a lot of problems with the bathroom scuffle. After Harry and Draco duel, Harry doesn't get in trouble. I understand cutting this for time, but it's still unthinkable that Draco is bleeding profusely and Harry isn't reprimanded in any way. Also, they don't demonstrate just how awful Harry felt; he didn't know what the spell would do and is horrified when he finds out.

The main plot of the novel involves Harry and Dumbledore visiting memories of Tom Riddle, trying to discover Voldemort's weakness. This is extremely important... but most of it's cut from the movie. We don't see the memories of his family or the memories that take place after he leaves Hogwarts.

In the cave, Dumbledore never warns Harry not to touch the water; in the book, he cautions Harry about it more than once. When Harry must dip his cup into the lake to quench Dumbledore's thirst, the feeling of dread is almost tangible. This is not the case in the movie.

At Dumbledore's death scene, Harry hides and watches the events unfold. In the novel, he's paralyzed, forced to watch his last protector die:

Harry struggled fruitlessly, mutely, against the enchantment binding him.

... Standing there, imprisoned by Dumbledore's spell—if only he could move, he could aim a curse from under the cloak—

Harry's scream of horror never left him; silent and unmoving, he was forced to watch as Dumbledore was blasted into the air.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,
J.K. Rowling

It's not quite the same as standing by and doing nothing.

Anyone expecting to see the grand finale will be sorely let down. The Death Eaters are in, Dumbledore dies, and the Death Eaters are out. There's no climactic battle. There aren't even any speed-bumpy conflicts. Yes, Dumbledore died, but it's still anticlimactic.

The Half-Blood Prince is Rated PG

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are both rated PG-13. The stories only get darker as the series progresses, but Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is rated PG.

I'd call that a huge mistake on Yates's part. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (in novel form) is by far more horrific and violent than any book that precedes it.

Sectumsempra is Dark Magic. It's painful and bloody and leaves Harry horrified by what he did. It does not look like a few pin pricks, and blood does not flow back into wounds to leave a spotless floor.

Blood spurted from Malfoy's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the waterlogged floor with a great splash, his wand falling from his limp right hand.

"No—" gasped Harry.

Slipping and staggering, Harry got to his feet and plunged toward Malfoy, whose face was now shining scarlet, his white hands scrabbling at his blood-soaked chest.

"No—I didn't—"

Harry did not know what he was saying; he fell to his knees beside Malfoy, who was shaking uncontrollably in a pool of his own blood.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,
J.K. Rowling

Nothing from that excerpt is portrayed in the movie.

I expected Dumbledore's hand to look almost frightening. I pictured blackened skin, shriveled and clinging to the bones of his fingers. In the novel, it says "it looked as though his flesh had been burned away." In the movie, it looks like his fingers got a little sooty; nothing some soap won't cure.

What I find the most distressing, however, is the cave scene. If you haven't read the book, you won't realize what's happening to Dumbledore as he's drinking the potion. Dumbledore is hallucinating, seeing terrible things happening to people he loves, and he begs to be killed in their place. With every sip of the potion the torture gets worse. Harry is torn, force-feeding his last remaining father-figure this poison; he's repulsed by what he's doing, but he promised Dumbledore he'd do it.

In the film, Dumbledore just seems a little distressed, like the vile potion induces a mean hangover. Meanwhile, Harry almost makes poisoning a loved one look easy.

My last complaint of missing violence is a silly one, but it's even sillier that it was cut. Hermione is so upset with Ron she sends her conjured birds to attack him. The flock claws and pecks at him, chasing him away. The film just shows the birds fly at Ron like bullets and slam into the wall behind him, turning into little clouds of dust.

So Many Revelations Remain Unrevealed

So, what are you missing if you didn't read the book?

• While hiding his copy of Advanced Potion-Making, Harry comes in contact with a very important item
• The Horcruxes include
  • Hufflepuff's cup
  • something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's
  • Nagini the snake
• The memories of Tom Riddle include
  • the Gaunt house (the ring, the locket, who Tom's mother was)
  • Tom's mother sells the locket
  • Morfin Gaunt (Tom's first murders, steals back the ring)
  • Hepzibah (Tom murders again, steals Hufflepuff's cup and Slytherin's locket)
  • Voldemort applies for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position
• The meaning of the movie's title, the Half-Blood Prince, is never explained
  • In the book, Hermione discovers the meaning behind Severus Snape's moniker:
    • his father was a Muggle
    • his mother was a witch
    • his mother's last name was Prince
    • Snape was proud of being 'half a Prince'
      (it emphasizes his pure-blood side)
  • In the movie, Snape says "I am the Half-Blood Prince"—that's it, it's not brought up again

The first four omissions are the ones I wonder about most. In the last movie, how will Harry know how to find an item he's never seen before? And how will he figure out what the last three Horcruxes are? Tom Riddle's memories and Dumbledore's deductions are where the identities of the Horcruxes come from, neither of which can be expanded upon after Dumbledore dies.

What in the world took up two and a half hours if so many significant plot points were left out? Hmmm... that's actually a really good question.

Here Are My Demands

I hope for (but don't expect) an uncut DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that restores the growing horror of Harry's world, a version that does the book justice.

I want the uncut DVD to include the fear, violence, and pain that punctuate the novel. I want to see Dumbledore's hand look like a burnt ruin. I want to see blood spurt from Draco's face and chest while Harry kneels next to him, scrambling in panic. I want the cave scene to give me goosebumps as Harry trembles and Dumbledore cries and shakes in fear. I want Katie Bell to hang in the air longer, then scream and writhe in agony when she hits the ground. And I want Hermione's birds to attack Ron.

The uncut Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD should contain scenes so chilling I come down with pneumonia.

I'd also like to see Harry paralyzed under the invisibility cloak while he watches Dumbledore die, the climactic battle between the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, and Dumbledore's funeral. But that would be rewriting the screenplay's ending, not extending a few scenes here and there.

How best to sum up my feelings? Well, this movie contains only two of the seven memories of Tom Riddle, identifies only three of the six Horcruxes, but keeps in the bit where Ron accidentally makes it snow. Oh yes, what would the audience do without that pivotal scene?

At least we learn that Harry needs to find the real locket and Snape killed Dumbledore. I guess that's all two and a half hours could hold.

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies is a beautifully made film that follows John Dillinger’s short but exciting career. Johnny Depp brings Dillinger to life as the sometimes cocky, sometimes romantic, but never cold-blooded bank robber. Public Enemies steers clear of the gangster clichés and goes for historical accuracy.

Public Enemies is a Cinderella story, with Dillinger rescuing Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) from her boring and less-than-privileged life. Dillinger is Prince Charming as he robs banks, eludes the law, and swears himself to one girl; being played by Johnny Depp is what makes it perfect.

I appreciate the way Public Enemies is put together. The cliché dramatic music that I’ve come to expect during gunfights never pops up. Everything is frantic and loud in the surrounding silence. It’s different from what I’m accustomed to, and it works well for the style of realism in Public Enemies.

Johnny Depp brings Dillinger to life as the sometimes cocky, sometimes romantic, but never cold-blooded bank robber.

Myth and Reality:
Historical Accuracy in “Public Enemies”

Public Enemies is quite historically accurate. Artistic license is taken mostly with the order in which some events (especially deaths) occur. This doesn’t bother me: I understand that these changes add drama and thrills, two things I want my movies to have.

Johnny Depp avoids gangster clichés to portray a lovable, true-to-life John Dillinger. The people who knew Dillinger described him as friendly and good-natured, able to remain calm in an emergency and act quickly and rationally (Source). He was not an indiscriminate killer; he was accused of killing one police officer but never convicted. These traits are important: they’re a large part of the reason Dillinger was so popular.

Christian Bale plays Melvin Purvis as steely and determined but doesn’t get the chance to do anything special with the role. The law is bumbling and corrupt, highlighting the moral ambiguities of the Great Depression era. I think the police and FBI are actually less incompetent in Public Enemies than they were in real life.

I truly appreciate the costumes and historical locations in the film. Michael Mann put a lot of effort into making Public Enemies feel authentic, and it shows. Besides, I love fedoras and long gabardine overcoats: the fact that Johnny Depp is in them is just a bonus.

Missed Opportunities:

Dillinger – Bank Robber, Robin Hood, Smooth Criminal

I was disappointed that Public Enemies didn’t contain more bank robberies. Instead, the robberies were few and fleeting. The trailers made a promise that the movie didn’t keep. It was like getting to take one bite of the most decadent chocolate mousse and then being cut off. I didn’t just want more: I ached for it.

Not only were the bank robberies short, but the details were completely omitted. John Dillinger isn’t just famous for robbing banks: he’s famous for how he robbed them.

Dillinger and his gang used cunning ruses to case potential targets and assess security systems, like when Dillinger would pose as an alarm system salesman. And he and his gang are celebrated for pretending to be from Hollywood researching a bank robbery scene while they actually robbed the bank. They also posed as tourists to scope out police arsenals: that’s right, they stole their guns, ammunition, and bullet-proof vests from the police.

John Dillinger’s sly intelligence is hinted at in Public Enemies—”They ain’t tough enough, smart enough or fast enough. I can hit any bank I want, any time. They got to be at every bank, all the time.”—but never truly utilized.

The Focus on Billie Frechette Falters

–SPOILERS–

I don’t agree with all the omissions. When Billie is tortured for information, the law crosses the line and becomes truly villainous. Everyone wants to see Dillinger rescue the damsel in distress. Unfortunately, he doesn’t.

When Billie was arrested, Dillinger “cried like a baby” (Source). Billie wrote him a letter pleading with him not to try to rescue her for fear he’d be killed. What’s not shown is that Dillinger refused to accept this and checked out the federal prison where Billie was being held. It was then that he (reluctantly) accepted any escape attempt would be impossible.

Since Public Enemies focuses more on romance than on bank robbing, this omission seems like a big one. Dillinger, who orchestrated previous prison escapes, doesn’t even try to break out the girl he’s crazy in love with? No, it felt like something was missing.

–END SPOILERS–

The Bottom Line:
Is “Public Enemies” Worth Seeing?

I’m glad I saw Public Enemies and I definitely recommend it. The movie is not only entertaining but also surprisingly accurate, meaning the humor, the charm, and the moral ambiguities of John Dillinger and his story remain intact.

Just make sure you go in with the understanding that Public Enemies is not as action-packed as the trailers suggest. John Dillinger was a bank robber, but the film is unfortunately lacking in bank robberies. I enjoyed Public Enemies, but it has its flaws—there is just too much left out.

Public Enemies is a Cinderella story, with Dillinger rescuing Billie Frechette from her boring and less-than-privileged life.

I love Johnny Depp as John Dillinger. Dillinger is so often portrayed as a cold-blooded killer even though that was never the case. Thankfully, Public Enemies steers clear of such banked-on inaccuracies. Dillinger isn’t just a gangster or a bank robber: he’s human, and that’s how I like my antiheroes.

This summer is filled with movies with so little substance it’s insulting: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, J.J Abrams’s Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen. Thankfully, Public Enemies is here to give us back what we’ve been missing: an actual story, good acting, and true flair.

More About “Public Enemies”:
Johnny Depp Interviews & Historical Accuracy

• ‘Public Enemies’ No. 1 (in historical accuracy, writer says) – Los Angeles Times
• Johnny Depp interview for Public Enemies – Telegraph
• Johnny Depp Talks Public Enemies, Pirates 4, Alice In Wonderland And More – Latino Review

I also fixed a few problems. For one thing, I updated the search function to include companies. I also sped up the person information pages by examining the MySQL queries. Sometimes, the person pages loaded so slowly they would time out. Now they load almost instantaneously, so it makes a huge difference.

The CrystalAcids site is a huge project. Now that it’s completed, I’ll be updating my Gallery and my Résumé. Meanwhile, see my handiwork live at CrystalAcids.com.

I have submitted my first T-shirt design to Threadless. It’s a cute little tiger flying a tiger kite. Check it out. Show my tiger some love and give it your vote. Comments welcome.

I am already working on my next T-shirt design. More adorableness to come!

But, I have kept my promise and added a Quickies section to my Gallery. Everyone rejoice!

My site has gotten visible enough that I’m getting multiple spam comments per day. With so many other things to work on, I put off installing a WordPress spam filter until it actually became an issue. A good guideline that not enough websites follow: don’t fix problems that don’t exist when there are problems that do exist to work on.

I created this illustration in Photoshop. No tablet, just a mouse. I wanted to do something simple and fun. It’s nice to take a break and do something quick while working on other, long-term projects.

I’ll add this to my Gallery in a section called “Quickies” after HP fixes and returns my laptop.

What Good Mascot Design Needs

A mascot isn’t just a drawing; it’s a character with personality. GEICO’s gecko is like a living, breathing being; it’s easy to forget it’s a computer rendering.

Some mascots are just hand-drawn illustrations, others are combined with a logo. They appear throughout the site and motivate users to some actions — e.g. to visit some site section or fill in the sign-up form.

Mascots in Modern Web Design

The OUTSHOUTS mascot is calling the user’s attention to the ‘contact us’ suggestion (at What Is This?, doesn’t show in IE 6)

Don’t just plop the mascot in the header or logo and forget about it. It should appear throughout the site and create a more memorable experience for the user. Where would you be on the site? Urging users to sign up for the newsletter? Pointing out side notes in a blog post?

Here, Songbird’s mascot calls attention to the newsletter

The Songbird Media Player site is a great example of how a mascot can be used. Go take a look at the site, at the blog. See the possibilities? Of course, not every site warrants such extensive use of a mascot. How you use your mascot is up to you; there are no absolutes in design.

To leave a lasting impression, mascots have to look as cute, as sweet, as adorable, as pity and sometimes even as silly as possible.

A mascot can provide a site design with a fine and nice detail which the site would miss otherwise. … It’s important that the final mascot design is clean and fits to the overall site design.

Mascots in Modern Web Design

I want to use moourl just because it’s so damn cute

Mascots are the faces of companies or groups of people. What does your mascot say about you? It needs to represent you and what you do. It also needs to appeal to your target audience. If you’re not targeting gamers, don’t create an 8-bit mascot.

YiGG.de’s mascot in its natural environment

YiGG.de’s hamster catches the user’s attention because it’s bright orange. This isn’t random: the site design’s main color is light blue, and blue and orange are complementary colors. Keep your color scheme in mind when designing a mascot.

Don’t try to force a mascot into your site. If your site is cutesy and uses simple, cartoon-style drawings in the design, don’t create a realistic mascot rendered with complex textures.

Remember: Your site is the world your mascot lives in.

When Mascot Design Goes Bad

Going through the links in “Mascots in Modern Web Design” (and in its comments), I saw a lot of good examples of mascot usage. I also saw some mascots that looked very out-of-place on their sites.

Report Frog’s mascot on the main page

Report Frog was the worst offender. The cartoon frog looks weird on the otherwise professional site. Report Frog needs a more realistic frog, similar to GEICO’s gecko.

Report Frog’s “Fun Facts” (”A ‘log in’ is slang for a log party”) seem forced, not funny. Since the company’s name is Report Frog, it makes sense to go with a frog theme, but they’re doing it wrong. I’d rather see some frog silhouettes and lily pads incorporated in the design.

Report Frog is an example of how the wrong mascot design can cripple a site. Just because they want a frog doesn’t mean any frog will do: their current frog in a suit looks lame.

The Making of rycz’s Mascot

The purpose of rycz.com is to display my work, so naturally there’s a lot of eye candy in the design. In order to keep the site design unified, I took the pink kitty in the header and incorporated it in the footer, in my art descriptions, in the RSS link, and in the sidebar. When I needed to design my profiles on Twitter and Virb, it made sense to continue using the kitty.

Bubble Kitty getting into trouble on Twitter

As I was reading Smashing Magazine’s article, “Mascots in Modern Web Design,” it occurred to me that the pink kitty had become the mascot for my website. I didn’t do it on purpose; originally I just considered the kitty part of my theme.

Because I wasn’t thinking “I need to add a mascot here,” it looks very natural in my design. My site is made up of simple vector illustrations, and that’s exactly what the kitty is. Plus, the kitty’s very cute; even though it’s a really simple character, it still has personality.

Bubble Kitty says ‘hi’

Mascots don’t always have a name, but it’s easier to refer to them if they do. Because the kitty is next to a speech bubble on the gallery pages, my friend refers to it as “Bubble Kitty.” A silly name for a silly character.

More Mascot Help

• “Drunken Monkey Photoshop Tutorial” at Smashing Magazine
• “Mascot Design Articles” at SOSNewbie
• “Mascots in Modern Web Design” at Smashing Magazine

I chose to use pandas to create the CrystalAcids brand. The owner liked the cute site design and let me have fun with it. His one stipulation was that he wanted to keep the site blue. I utilized different shades of blue to create a site design that is far from bland or boring.

My job was to design the database pages and WordPress theme. My designs are almost complete; I reached a roadblock when the site programmer decided to switch from straight MySQL and PHP to Smarty. He started the conversion but has been too busy lately to finish it. When he finishes converting the database, I’ll be able to finish the design. Unfortunately, as of writing this the new site design is still not live.

Check out CrystalAcids in my Gallery for five images from the design. CrystalAcids is a nonprofit site and the work I’ve done for them has been pro bono.

Internet Explorer is the biggest offender when it comes to not following web standards. Most of the CSS hacks are for IE. But Microsoft has actually provided a rather eloquent way of slipping in IE-only code.

Conditional comments will not only detect IE, they’ll also detect which version of IE the user is browsing with. Since different versions of IE have different problems, this is extremely useful. Here is an example:

Some IE. specific code goes here

Some IE 7 specific code goes here

The designer can write a separate stylesheet for IE or write specific stylesheets for each version of IE.

Conditional comments are only understood by IE. Other browsers will interpret them as normal comments and not execute any of the code inside.

I am very fond of this technique. It’s been around for a good while now, so I don’t know why I don’t see more CSS gurus implementing it. There’s no messy javascript that can freeze the page, eat up memory, and crash the browser (not to mention many people have javascript turned off). There are no CSS hacks that dirty up the stylesheet. It’s not perfect—it’d be nice if IE actually became standards compliant one of these days—but it’s better than the alternatives.

For more information, see the MSDN Library Entry: About Conditional Comments

All animations were drawn using paper, a pencil, a lightbox, and a pegboard. X-sheets were used to plan the timing. The frames were captured using a mounted camera and everything was animated in DigiCel Flipbook. I converted the animations into Flash for use online.