Animation Source Forums

(I'm using BaltoSource specifically in this, but it applies to all the Sources.)

So there have been several members, including myself, complaining about sparkledogs, unrelated fanart, renders, linearts, OCs, etc., etc., etc., but we haven't really done much about it rather than discuss, rant, and argue.

Granted, we can't add or remove anything that isn't our own without Steet. But like I said...that's only works that aren't our own.

I suggest we start this by going through our own galleries (if we have them) and deleting ALL non Balto/BaltoSource related works. This includes art, images, characters, etc. It's perfectly fine to have original art/characters--in fact, for those of you who are into character making, I encourage more than just fancharacters--but they just don't belong here. Sorry.

Second--spread the word! If we wanna be a force that will actually move, we need more than just the few that'll actually stop by to read this particular topic. So if you're going to join me in this and put the "Balto" back in "BaltoSource", encourage others to do the same, else this will never get off its feet.


Will everybody do this? No. Will it have an immediate impact? Nope. But the more people that do this, the less unrelated works we'll have on the Sources, and therefor less to give the newbies the wrong idea, which I think is part of the problem.

So let's take the steps, person by person, to work by example and turn the Sources back into fansites!



Ah, but wait. There's a second part to this, too. And it's concerning characters and something that we're gonna need mod/Steet help to be able to accomplish.

So I think we can all agree that the character section has become one of the most problematic sections on the site, especially after the submissions became auto-activated.

Remember Mightybalto1925's April Fool's joke about making a new character Source? Well, if you ask me (or just read through the comments made on it), that actually wouldn't be such a bad idea. In fact, it could help.

Here's my thoughts on it:

1.) Delete ALL characters for ALL the Source pages. Yes, this will get rid of the "worthy" ones, too, but they can always be re-submitted afterwards. Will some members be upset about that? Yes. But quite frankly, there are going to be some members upset no matter what we do, even if what we do is nothing.

2.) Make a special CharacterSource of some sort. Why bother with this? Because I think that it's nice to be able to have a little profile with that for your characters, and there are some members who don't have accounts on places like dA for various reasons--remember that some of these people are kids and might not be allowed to. This way, they can have a place to post their little characters without begging for a new account or clogging up the FanSources. Plus, it's would also be nice for people who have non-Source characters who would still like a character page for their OC, but don't because it's not Source related.

But don't get me wrong here--just because it wouldn't be part of the FanSources doesn't mean it can be a haven for bad characters; the rules would still apply.

3.) Appoint a few people to check the new characters before they get posted. I know we used to do this, but since it's stopped...well, you've seen the character sections. There's bound to be a few people willing to check (myself included), and if we could get a more solid set of character rules that everyone understands, we shouldn't run in to the same problems we did last time.


Thoughts? Good? Bad? Other? Please tell me so we can work something out.

I have nothing against the idea of making a new source to put these characters on, I think it's a good idea, but I disagree with the fact that they should only have a characters page. The members would cheat and slap their images/drawings on BS, and we don't want that. So I think the best resolution would be to make a source where they can just put their stuff.

And I would certainly be willing to help out with checking these characters.

Good point...I hadn't thought of that. Thank you! -edits-

This is a great idea! So on board with this! I'll go through my gallery later and delete a few things.

I think I'll try to do this as well by going through my gallery and deleting all the stuff that doesn't have to do with either Balto or my fan characters that have to do with Balto and/or his universe. As for the rest of the ideas, I think they're good, but if it were to happen, a warning would be excellent, because some people (like me) don't have their character stuff saved on their computer anymore because of it being on AS for convenience.

I'm sending word to a few of my friends on The Lion King Source. With any luck, this idea will spread.

I agree with every point up there.
I also want to add to any "they can take it to DevArt" argument that might come up: Deviantart has an age requirement. You have to be thirteen to join (unless you put a fake birthday) and, even if someone is over thirteen, I've had a few friends with over-protective moms who heard the word "deviant" and assumed it was an explicit site, so they wouldn't let their kids join it.
That's the main reason I think a Character Source is such a great idea. I'm getting sick of seeing some of my fellow older members telling younger ones to take their sparkles to DevArt. What if they're under thirteen? I know plenty of kids on this site are. Even further, if their parents won't let them because of a misconception about DevArt's purpose, what are they supposed to do?

I should stop before that gets too long... Anyway I was finally able to go through my BS gallery and delete most of my non-Balto pictures. I tried it a while ago, but a glitch wouldn't let me delete anything. Seeing this topic made me try again and, luckily, it worked!

Here is my opinion :

- The difficulty of what is allowed or not is the main problem, as it can't be something really objective. As we've seen previously, having a character being "related" to a Balto character just doesn't work because people cheat.

- On the french side, since about 6 months, the characters must be activated before being on the site, and the moderators are filtering what comes in. It seems to work, but let's not forget that the amount of characters being validated on the french side is not even 1/10 of what's on the english site! Also, more submissions and more mods = conflicts over what should be allowed or not.

- And I remember that when mods had to validate characters on the english side, there were lots and lots of characters in the waiting list, always, no matter how many mods.

Here's what I suggest :

- Making the "Characters Source" site as suggested, and on this site, allow any kind of characters (as long as it respects the no-sex, no-violence rule), and no validation required by the mods.

- But on any other site, the submissions will have to be validated, and mods will filter what comes in.

- Then, I would post a news on the sites to let everyone know about this change, and allow them some time to move their "wrong" characters and art there.

- After that while, mods will be allowed to filter and delete any art/character that doesn't fit a site.

Just tell me your opinion.

I see nothing wrong with any of that. Seems to be logical and would work great!

1: Making the characters source is not a bad idea. I just think that ugh, it's hard. Is it going to be a "characters only" source, or is this like Deviantart? Because with the characters spawn fanart, fanvideos, fanfiction etc. Aside from the fact that we'd have to find something to call it unless you're fine with the current name Lol (I mean characters source seems kind of weird Imao).

2: Yes definitely, I agree here.

3: Of course, but then would the mods be allowed to move characters themselves? I mean, there was a lot of backlash over that April Fools Joke.

4: Yes, that would be really nice.

I agree at 100%
it's few weeks that I've already started to delete some of my characters that I didn't used anymore or that had a very poor Balto relation. I think that cleaning up our art/image gallery is a good idea, I shall do it aswell.

I have no objections. As long as those characters are off of here, and the site can make a recovery back to being a fan site, I'm happy.

I pretty much agree too, and since I don't have any characters on BS, but have several on TLKS that are Lion King related, and come from a story I wrote, which is also Lion King related, I think I'm okay. As to any future characters I have, I wasn't gonna put them up on TLKS anyway. The story they come from - also written by me - even with all the disclaimers and warnings and what not, are not appropriate because of its content.

As to what Steet said, hey, I agree 100%, although mod validation might not be such a bad idea. Heck, I could do it with no problem, as long as everything was categorized. But that's just me.

I don't really agree for the " character's source ". Why ? Cause there are MANY site where members can send they unrelated image, drawings, characters etc ... Just like deviantart ! And for those who don't have 13 years old, there is always the forum ... When I join the site years ago, all my art was on the forum and I have all the comments I want! Maybe more than on the site ... I don't see why there should be a site like this here since you made fan site for animations movies ... Plus, this is the open door for many things, like " so now we can make a wolf's rain source ? Or a twilight source ? After all, character's source is not about a animation movie ...". Think about it Steet, you know better than everyone that members are waiting for things like that to have more.

To me, the best to do is make exactly what we made on the French side. 1st, a news to say that the rules WILL change and say in which big points ( I think here it's about the Balto relations ) Then, members can get the Idea.
2nd, make the real news to say " here are the new rules who'll be apply since now in every site ". So, since this news, members will have to make related characters.
3th, let a time and add back the filter system ( if it's needed, you can add some new mods only for the characters. But if all the unrelated is not allowed again, there will be less characters than now. )
4th, then you can make what we made on the french side, clean every galery .. It'll take a lot of time but this is possible to make it. And if you want, I would be happy to help for this part.

This is just what I think, and Nakou is with me.

and, to don't have mods conflict about what is accepted or not, we have made a topic on the forum with example of what is allowed, what's not ( for the colors, etc .. ). And when we have a doupt, we ask to the others mods and see what they all think. Then we take the majority.
Here is our topic if you want to see it : /forum/sp ... t4526.html

To make it easier if you don't understand : Characters with naturals color are allowed. Those with just a little unatural are too ( and there is example of what is ok and what is too much ). And those who have unatural, too much accessor or wings are not allowed. There is a comparaison between a real dog colors, the cartoon one and the Sparkle one. And you know what ? It works on the sites ! No one complain, no one send sparkle characters or not related one and that's all. An other point ? The most of them are less than 13 years ... So don't tell me you can't do it with 16 years members ...

I completely agree that the non source related characters (and sparkle characters) need to have their own place. Yet at the same time, I'm hesitant to say we should have a source specifically for them on AS for the reasons already stated.

If we create a whole new source for them, we NEED to have structure, not just 'everything goes'. Members try to steal official characters (sometimes unintentionally I'm aware) by making them animals. Also, any images (not original art mind you) posted should have the same rules as on the other sources:

- Characters must be original

- If using a lineart or blank render, proper username credit (ex: render/lineart (c) _________ ) must be given on the image or in the description. Stealing would not be tolerated. Stealing only gets one warning remember, before a 1 month ban.

- Images (lineart and renders) must be well colored (no white pixels, coloring within the lines etc)


Also, Hecate, Is there any way your topic could be translated? I'm sure it would be a great help, just going by how it looks.

And lastly, Steet! Can we please, please, PLEASE have a character rule page for the characters section?! You may not realize, but it is desperately needed. All you have to do is create the page, and us mods or site builders can fill it up. Anyone else posting on this topic, please keep mentioning this if you agree!