Leaked DHX asset usage could spell doom for animators, fandom as a whole



It is no secret that last year, a file full of DHX animation assets was leaked to the internet at large. In it, were the character rigs and puppets and other art assets used in the episode Wonderbolt Academy. In the year since its posting, the files have spread far and wide across the internet with hundreds, potentially thousands of copies. Many animators in the fandom have used these assets to their advantage, creating animations that resemble the show almost identically.
This advantage however, may spell the downfall of the entire fandom animation world as we know it.




Over the last year, ever since the leak, the fandom has seen a boom in show-accurate animation projects. Along with that boom in creation, has also followed a wave of Cease and Desist orders handed down from on high in unprecedented numbers.

The reason for this, as many would guess is due to copyright claims, but what many have come to believe (not incorrectly) that many of these claims have to do with how true to the show they are. This, is because of the leaked assets.



Before we go any further, HN is not saying that every show-accurate animation uses the pirated assets. This is a case where a few bad apples spoil the bunch. There are numerous examples in recent memory where popular animations that appear show-accurate have been wiped out, and this situation is more than partially responsible for triggering that.

Hasbro and DHX, are aware of the leak taking place, and also have very-quick, very-accurate, and very-effective methods to determine whether leaked assets are being used in partial or in whole. They have people hunting them down now. They are wielding C&D's like a broadsword prepared to cut down any project that raises too many red flags, and for repeat offenders, could result in direct legal action.



We aren't talking about nasty emails anymore. We're talking about the potential of court-orders, and more. We're talking about artists being banned from working in the MLP:FIM IP ever again.
This isn't even about drama anymore, it's about the survival of the fandom and the art scene as a whole.

Animators, and anyone who is working on projects that appear show-accurate, or may be utilizing the pirated assets, this is your warning. Hasbro is out there and they are not playing with kid gloves anymore. Back-alley brass-knuckles is becoming a closer reality. The consequences, if this continues, may have a cascading effect on the fandom, from which it may not recover.

Note that original animation styles and intentionally non-accurate animations are going largely untouched in the C&D hailstorm - this is a hint to artists everywhere.



Now, this is where the line is. If animators stop using the assets and making animations that are too show-accurate, Hasbro and DHX should back off in time, as hunting down the animations will not be worth their time. But if they don't, this could force Hasbro to start cracking down harder, and on more than just animations, but on fan-art as a whole. You can see where the slope goes, and the bottom isn't pretty.

While we at Horse-News never find it necessary to justify our actions, we would like to point out to those still reading that we have been particularly harsh towards certain animators in the past, and more amiable towards others. A common thread among our more critical posts has been the valid threat of stolen asset usage.

The animation staff tend also to feel greatly disrespected by fan animators pirating their work.
So, if you see an animator who you suspect of using the pirated DHX assets, keep this in mind.
The future is in your hands.

Comments (52)

  1. fearmongering, fearmongering everywhere

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >believing Capper actually knows anybody at DHX

      Delete
  2. This puts that Kim Possible article into perspective.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This just means more artist doing more lanky scrible-messes with chest tufts ala Twily dai-I mean... "IN THEIR OWN STYLE!!!1"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's not a bad thing in itself. It's only bad if the artist's own style is bad. And if an artist is used to making art that is show-accurate, they can probably come up with a style of their own that isn't too terrible.

      Delete
    2. Damn your notion that chest tufts= scribble-messes. I often love chest fur and you can piss off.

      Delete
  4. Call Ron Paul, because it's fucking happening.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So how long until everyone is fucked?

    ReplyDelete
  6. The universe is soon to be fucked.
    Repent, repent your sins to Celestia ye sinners and be saved.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think Hasbro should first ask the animators to send their puppets at a certain email. If they don't show up as the pirated puppets, the people should have the right to continue their project. Honestly, I understand the issue of copyright and how it is not acceptable to use the shows puppets, but, if they aren't making any money off of them, what is the harm? But, there is a line to be drawn. If you are just doing some tests to get used to the way puppets work, you should be able to. But, for a big project, I think it is unfair to be using the puppets from the show.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At that point it becomes about how the project represents the brand and if it is in some way a detriment to Hasbro's ability to make money off the brand.

      But hey, Smile HD is still up and reaching 5.75 million views, so maybe that aspect doesn't weigh so much.

      Delete
    2. That's how they do it.

      Sources:
      Last stand of harmony
      Journey of the spark

      Delete
    3. Come again?

      Delete
    4. Step 1. Make or acquire non-pirated puppets. Email to Hasbro as requested.
      Step 2. Use the pirated puppets for the project.

      Delete
  8. One C&D constitutes a "wave" now?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some c&d are never publically shared.

      Delete
  9. what if someone just did an INSANELY good trace or something and threw it on the net?
    did a DHX employee decide to be evil and upload it?
    were they hacked?

    whoever did this is a douche!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So, as I said in the other thread, if you really, really want to work with dhx assets, then there's better alternatives that work the same way, and are legal.

    Tired's base is better than the leak, because the leak was unfinished, because dhx only focuses their features in main characters, and the background ones are built of old versions.

    http://pony-puppets.deviantart.com/art/Mare-Pony-Base-Puppet-Rig-432594286

    ReplyDelete
  11. >Listening to Mayde.

    Sure, go on, listen to that guy who's been spreading the fucking Kirby bullshit since over a year now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should know by now that it isn't me. That's Slashy. I had a small role in it, which was naming the symbols. Trust me, I wasn't the one shoving it down your throats. I'm sick of it too.

      Delete
    2. Blame me for shoving it down your throats.

      Delete
  12. Meanwhile, fanfic writers be like

    FANFIC MASTA RACE YO SHOW STAFF CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT OUR SHIT OR THEY EXPLODE

    WHILE YOU POPULAR, ACTUALLY WELL-REGARDED FAN CREATORS ARE BURNING IN THE FLAMES OF YOUR OWN MAKING, WE SHALL LAUGH TRIUMPHANT FROM OUR PILE OF HORSE MONEY (it's a small pile) AND REIGN ETERNAL

    SUPREME

    alone...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a writefag I can confirm that this is true.

      Delete
  13. This is my surprised face.

    Hasbro has been way nicer than they had to be. I'd be a bit surprised if they went all-out, though. Anyone from the Transformers fandom want to weigh in?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are actually way more lenient than Scruffy. It is just that this really does harm them since it may look like they were involved with the fan content.

      Delete
  14. Oh hey, that's a nice fandom you got there.

    Would be a shame if somethi- *BOOOM* BSSHHHH* *KRSSHHH* BOOOOM*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >implying racketeering.

      I thought so. Hasbro doesn't realize that racketeering IS a crime, do they?

      Delete
  15. why not just use your own style when making an animation? its fine to pull inspiration from other styles but animators should really use their own style just making show accurate stuff is just honestly gonna hold them back was the pony.mov series fun to watch because it looked like the show? no it was fun because it had such a distinct style that stood out. its fine to do show accurate stuff as studies but they shouldnt be used as monetary gains or anything.

    ReplyDelete
  16. http://boards.4chan.org/mlp/thread/18270389#p18270811

    ReplyDelete
  17. >We aren't talking about nasty emails anymore.
    Who are you going to email when you don't have an email address?

    >We're talking about the potential of court-orders, and more.
    Who are you going to take to court when you don't know their address, or when they don't live in America?

    >We're talking about artists being banned from working in the MLP:FIM IP ever again.
    What a threat if you have no such desire.

    I do not feel the least bit threatened.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yeah.....it's time to fight the goddamn power. No way I'm succumbing to this goddamn media mafia.

    ReplyDelete
  19. i think it's a fake, and they're trying to troll us… if it isn't then that sucks cuz my friend and I are working on a movie!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/06/the-official-mlp-flash-asset-leak-and.html

      Delete
    2. dunno how reliable that article is. the leaked ponies don't have that eye bulge they mention.

      Delete
  20. when does it get to the point where hasbro send C&D to people just drawing pictures of the characters and posting it on facebook? what is with their hatred of the fandom? they treating us like a domestically abusive husband one minute they're giving us new stuff next minute they slapping us in the face and telling us to clean up the mess in the kitchen

    ReplyDelete
  21. Spend five minutes looking up pony shit on Tumblr and tell me this fandom doesn't need to end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >tumblr
      well there's your problem right there

      Delete
  22. I think that hasbro should reallize that sending C&Ds drives fans away. We are there main source of income,nso they should ch-ch- check their privilages. Also, if the.characters look show like the animator could be really good, and like that style, as long as he isn't making money, they shouldn't guve a fuck. In fact fan animarion keeps the fan base interested ovrr the hiatus, so maybe they should encourage non profit forms of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >Main source of income

      [citation needed]

      Delete
    2. Actually, little girls are the main source of income and they are oblivious to the fandum stuff until they tumble over some R34 stuff and their parents throw away all their ponies. Hasbro sends all these C&Ds because they want control over their IP and thus their main demographic (and income source).

      Delete
  23. Though this might sound crazy, why not "license" or say that the animations created by other artists are instead "under the employment" of Hasbro thus ensuring that any works that are made in the future can actually become part of hasbro's image (mind you i mean the ones that aren't gore/clop/otherwise) and they can make their money.
    Why not charge a small royalty to some artists that make plushies and figurines so they can tap that source of revenue.

    I mean to me instead of punishing those that do things without the legal licensing of hasbro and making the rest of us scared, i'd use us like a cash cow and just ride the gravy train. They'd cover a lot more ground from a business standpoint, and they would be able to do things that otherwise couldn't be done within their corporate spectrum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. >corporate

      There's your answer.

      Delete
  24. Nice clickbait bullshit, kill yourselves HN staff

    ReplyDelete
  25. Why, what is wrong with Hasbro?

    ReplyDelete
  26. like pony's would ever be as big as it is with out the pirated puppets the fandom has been using .. its the fandom using the pirated puppets that keeps the fandom alive and pays the real shows animators wages .. because in the end , they don't have a show to make if no one watches it .. and ppl only watch it because of the fandom keeping it alive ..
    no one really gives a shit about the real show , we all just wanna see the fan stuff with the truly interesting " background ponies " no one cares about twilight we all wanna see vynal scratch and taffy and shit like that.

    keep killing your fan base big media , we will see who will be left in the eend when art and media die because no one can shit anymore because of you

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your content is nothing short of brilliant in many ways. I think this is engaging and eye-opening material. Thank you so much for caring about your content and your readers. spells that work

    ReplyDelete
  28. You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!. paletteamps.com

    ReplyDelete