Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Is my cartoon accessible? (self.Blind)
submitted by Maxeemtoons
Hi r/blind !
My name is Maxeem and I'm working on making my faerie fantasy comic story and accompanying animations accessible for the blind (as well as hearing impaired). In regards to the former, and this community, I have made YouTube videos with what I'm calling "descriptive audio comics" where I describe each panel of the comic. It's related to, but different from, audiobooks since these are more about describing the compositions I've drawn. I think I invented this medium but I'm not sure. And maybe you can tell me if I need to un-invent it if it just doesn't work.
Recently I finished the fourth video which is an animated cartoon with music and voices, and this takes place after the opening comic. So it has fast paced descriptive audio to keep the timing the same as the original cartoon.
Each of the four videos is approximately 20-minutes each and I am sure everyone is busy these days and can't be bothered to spend 80+ minutes on this unless they are actually compelled by the story (and I hope you are!) but please consider helping me make the project a better experience for the community. I would love to know what you think of my descriptive audio comics (DAC's) or my descriptive audio cartoon.
Besides feedback on the story, I am seeking advice on making the YouTube videos more accessible. Such as, what might you expect in the video description or the tags? What obvious things have I overlooked because I wasn't thinking like a visually impaired user?
Maybe some kind soul even has feedback on what more they may want out of the descriptive narrative.
Here's a $1.
*NOTE: I have marked video 1 and 4 for YouTube "mature content" labels. These videos require login, unfortunately, due to some inoffensive, brief, visual nudity. \[Shrug.\] Not sure why National Geographic isn't considered "mature content" but whatever, I don't want to get flagged/removed.*
Here's individual links to videos:
1. $1 (YouTube mature content status)
2. $1
3. $1
4. $1 (YouTube mature content status)
EDIT: updated a link
EDIT 2: Updated info about "mature content" warnings
My name is Maxeem and I'm working on making my faerie fantasy comic story and accompanying animations accessible for the blind (as well as hearing impaired). In regards to the former, and this community, I have made YouTube videos with what I'm calling "descriptive audio comics" where I describe each panel of the comic. It's related to, but different from, audiobooks since these are more about describing the compositions I've drawn. I think I invented this medium but I'm not sure. And maybe you can tell me if I need to un-invent it if it just doesn't work.
Recently I finished the fourth video which is an animated cartoon with music and voices, and this takes place after the opening comic. So it has fast paced descriptive audio to keep the timing the same as the original cartoon.
Each of the four videos is approximately 20-minutes each and I am sure everyone is busy these days and can't be bothered to spend 80+ minutes on this unless they are actually compelled by the story (and I hope you are!) but please consider helping me make the project a better experience for the community. I would love to know what you think of my descriptive audio comics (DAC's) or my descriptive audio cartoon.
Besides feedback on the story, I am seeking advice on making the YouTube videos more accessible. Such as, what might you expect in the video description or the tags? What obvious things have I overlooked because I wasn't thinking like a visually impaired user?
Maybe some kind soul even has feedback on what more they may want out of the descriptive narrative.
Here's a $1.
*NOTE: I have marked video 1 and 4 for YouTube "mature content" labels. These videos require login, unfortunately, due to some inoffensive, brief, visual nudity. \[Shrug.\] Not sure why National Geographic isn't considered "mature content" but whatever, I don't want to get flagged/removed.*
Here's individual links to videos:
1. $1 (YouTube mature content status)
2. $1
3. $1
4. $1 (YouTube mature content status)
EDIT: updated a link
EDIT 2: Updated info about "mature content" warnings
Carnegie89 2 points 4y ago
This is quite well done. First time listening to a comic. The Descriptive audio is good. Could use some audio effects for wind and fire and other nature sounds. Being visually impaired, auditory clues help emphasis the scenario and message.
Maxeemtoons [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thank you so much! I will bear that in mind for future entries.
iceking393 1 points 4y ago
When I click on a video it says: 'sign in to confirm your age, this video may be inappropriate for some users', and I don't have a google account to login therefore I can't click on the video to watch it. If there was anything adult or 'inappropriate you would say in the OP so... I dunno?
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It could be to do with settings on your videos so you might want to change those if that's the case.
​
Am interested in watching it since I had a similar idea with audio-describing mashup videos (music videos with visuals from a different film to tell a story)... although PLEASE tell me if I have NOT created this as well!
Also your idea sounds cool.
​
It could be to do with settings on your videos so you might want to change those if that's the case.
​
Am interested in watching it since I had a similar idea with audio-describing mashup videos (music videos with visuals from a different film to tell a story)... although PLEASE tell me if I have NOT created this as well!
Also your idea sounds cool.
Maxeemtoons [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Dang! Another consequence of society's ways of handling just being alive and human, I guess.
There is some naturalistic nudity, nothing really graphic, in the introduction. But I keep encountering this thing where being in America where our culture is extremely squeamish about just seeing like a butt or nipple or hair in the "wrong" place, I had to label my poor innocent drawings as "adult" in two of the videos (the first and fourth video IIRC).
Later in the story the main characters have experiences that are important elements of their character, and some of them are sexual or violent in nature, (Gee, kind of like real life, YouTube!) As a consequence it's kind of impossible to avoid some of the videos getting this "inappropriate" label unless I were to risk getting flagged or removed without explanation for VOT, which has happened to many of my friends' videos who in my estimation don't even have inappropriate content.
I am not sure any way around this, unfortunately, but you're right that I should learn the culture and remember to let people know in the OP about this, regardless of individual feeling. I will edit the OP.
I don't think I've ever seen a video like that u/iceking393, and I would encourage you to make it. Seems like we are seeing a rise in independent experimental media, which is really cool.
There is some naturalistic nudity, nothing really graphic, in the introduction. But I keep encountering this thing where being in America where our culture is extremely squeamish about just seeing like a butt or nipple or hair in the "wrong" place, I had to label my poor innocent drawings as "adult" in two of the videos (the first and fourth video IIRC).
Later in the story the main characters have experiences that are important elements of their character, and some of them are sexual or violent in nature, (Gee, kind of like real life, YouTube!) As a consequence it's kind of impossible to avoid some of the videos getting this "inappropriate" label unless I were to risk getting flagged or removed without explanation for VOT, which has happened to many of my friends' videos who in my estimation don't even have inappropriate content.
I am not sure any way around this, unfortunately, but you're right that I should learn the culture and remember to let people know in the OP about this, regardless of individual feeling. I will edit the OP.
I don't think I've ever seen a video like that u/iceking393, and I would encourage you to make it. Seems like we are seeing a rise in independent experimental media, which is really cool.
iceking393 2 points 4y ago
if its a drawing then yeah why not -
On the audio-described mashups: it's in German (where i'm studying right now as a VI student) - but $1: The film is Das Cabinett des Dr Caligari, and the music's by a German alternative punk-rock band called Eisbrechers. I put audio description in brackets alongside the song lyrics. However the AD and lyrics were in a comment (the only comment so tab down to that) and not in the description- couldn't fit them unfortunately haha. Is there interest in this sub for such a thing?
Hopefully Google translation works with it - still Google translate isn't always 100% accurate. It's getting better though
Like you're weren't the first, I don't think I am either. Maybe it's not called mashups but every search comes up blank. I searched here on r/blind and there weren't that- yet, however there are lots of people talking about making memes accessible, (as currently they're just a picture) by typing a description - and many blind youtubers and others use image descriptions which I've started doing too where possible. I'm just starting out though. Experiment away.
On the audio-described mashups: it's in German (where i'm studying right now as a VI student) - but $1: The film is Das Cabinett des Dr Caligari, and the music's by a German alternative punk-rock band called Eisbrechers. I put audio description in brackets alongside the song lyrics. However the AD and lyrics were in a comment (the only comment so tab down to that) and not in the description- couldn't fit them unfortunately haha. Is there interest in this sub for such a thing?
Hopefully Google translation works with it - still Google translate isn't always 100% accurate. It's getting better though
Like you're weren't the first, I don't think I am either. Maybe it's not called mashups but every search comes up blank. I searched here on r/blind and there weren't that- yet, however there are lots of people talking about making memes accessible, (as currently they're just a picture) by typing a description - and many blind youtubers and others use image descriptions which I've started doing too where possible. I'm just starting out though. Experiment away.
Maxeemtoons [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Very neat project. Maybe you should post about this separately, it's interesting
oncenightvaler 1 points 4y ago
Hey, quite liked your description. Wish you could get more actors. The story might not be my cup of tea but might still dig in and listen to episodes 2-4. I recommend you find Homestuck read through on youtube or for another take on described comics I've heard great things about https://www.graphicaudio.net but have not tried them much myself as yet.
Maxeemtoons [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I actually met the Homestuck creator at a bar during a convention we were both presenting at. Funny person in real life. My cousin is really into MSpaint adventures and I have been meaning to pay it proper attention since Andrew innovated in so many ways and really got audience involvement, through humor.
And thank you very much for the advice. I checked out graphicaudio.net and holy socks, Batman, those DC and Marvel comic adaptations have quite a budget. They really made their stories into proper audiobooks!
I guess the closest I've come to that is in episode 4 of my series, where there are actually 20+ voice actors, an original score and so on. It won't be like those 3D mind movies, but I really hope it's entertaining for ya!
And thank you very much for the advice. I checked out graphicaudio.net and holy socks, Batman, those DC and Marvel comic adaptations have quite a budget. They really made their stories into proper audiobooks!
I guess the closest I've come to that is in episode 4 of my series, where there are actually 20+ voice actors, an original score and so on. It won't be like those 3D mind movies, but I really hope it's entertaining for ya!
bradley22 1 points 4y ago
This is really good.
I love it when people think outside of the box.
I love it when people think outside of the box.
Maxeemtoons [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thank you for your kind words
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