How This Works

Learn how Script My Toon® is transforming the storytelling process for creative people across disciplines, industries and brands. If you value critical discourse and contrasting world views visually, you have come to the right place!

Platform Overview

I want to welcome you to ScriptMyToon (SMT). SMT is a Digital Graphics Uploading, Dialoging, and Commenting System.

Its basic premise is to use the comic strip paradigm as a means for illustrative art to be presented and for diverse observers, of that art, to each apply their individual dialog. The general public can then provide comments and rating of each of the uniquely completed comic strips."

Merriam-Webster defines a comic strip as "a group of cartoons in narrative sequence", hence the name of this application--where a person can apply dialog or a narrative (script) to another person's cartoon illustration (abbreviated as toon).

That said, SMT has taken some liberties in Merriam-Webster's reference to cartoons in its definition.

"SMT considers any form of illustrative artwork in its definition of cartoon."

The definition of the word "illustrate", according to Merriam-Webster, is "to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate". SMT thus provides a platform on which an artist uses visual features to explain a story. Since cartoons are typically visual features that are drawn or rendered, the typical artwork in SMT are illustrations in the form of drawings but not necessarily restricted to what could be considered as classical cartoon-like art. SMT has no preconceived notions on the style of the art to be used--that is entirely up to the artist! Freedom of expression where styles such as manga, pop art, fine art, stick figures, or even yet to be discovered styles--are all welcomed and appreciated. Emotions and stories can certainly be visually told using any of those.

Once the art has been rendered, observers of the artwork are then able to apply dialog according to each observer's individual interpretation. The dialog can be expressed in the form of speech bubbles, thought clouds, or captions--SMT's functional features include a robust user-interface that provides the tools to apply the dialog to the art. Other features in the application include the ability for users to access its art by quickly and easily navigating towards categories of interest, as well as search features using keywords and phrases

"SMT seeks to stimulate and facilitate civil discourse and elicit varied opinions across a variety of topics such as Politics, Religion & Philosophy, Personal Relationships, Health & Wellness, Humor, Sports, Entertainment, Human Emotions, etc. "

Because our planet consists of billions (and counting) individual human beings, our opinions are certainly nearly as numerous and diverse. Additionally, as individual human beings we are also members of groups that are defined along age, gender, ethnic, cultural, geographical, religious, and political lines that no doubt influence our opinions and how we view the presented art and its stories.

It is my hope that SMT provides a vehicle by which opinions and observations can be freely expressed in a way that is informative, thought provoking, and enjoyable

Lastly, it is my sincere hope that the users of this application will do so respectfully, with dignity, and with no intent of malice towards their fellow human being.

Its fundamental purpose is to enable the sharing of ideas and thoughts, either seriously or with humor, through illustrative media and the written word.

"By doing so, our lives and coexistence will hopefully be enriched."

Footnote: A note to the artists and future artistic contributors to SMT. Although professionals are encouraged and welcomed, please do not feel you have to be a professional artist to contribute artwork. If you feel you have something to communicate via an illustration in a comic strip format—please feel free to express yourself.

Tips For Artists

EMOTIONS & FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

The artist intends to elicit varying dialog of a specific emotion in the artwork (e.g., joy). Using the example of “joy”, the subject can have an expression where the dialogers will provide the varying dialog associated with that emotion, even with opposing viewpoints

THE VALUE OF NEUTRALITY

If the dialog is meant to either express displeasure or agreement, then the facial expression in the artwork should support the possibility of either and anything in between.

A way of achieving this is could be to use a facial expression that is more neutral and can support either the emotion of displeasure or one of agreement.

A "thought bubble" could also be a good tool where a person typically does not have an extreme facial expression when thinking, or having an opinion, about something.

Example 1: Neutrality

LIKE THIS

A NEUTRAL EXPRESSION

Could imply either happy, angry or ambivalent

LIKE THIS

A NEUTRAL EXPRESSION

Could imply either happy, angry or ambivalent

LIKE THIS

A NEUTRAL EXPRESSION

Could imply either happy, angry or ambivalent

Variations of Neutrality

With variations and range in dialog using same illustration

Example 2: Specific Emotion

The artist intends to elicit varying dialog of a specific emotion in the artwork (e.g., joy). Using the example of “joy”, the subject can have an expression where the dialogers will provide the varying dialog associated with that emotion, even with opposing viewpoints.