Vyond

File:Lil Peepz 268.jpg

The Lil Peepz seem to be missing something...

Vyond is a website that allows people to make their own animated videos, using a Flash Animation app. It has been used even by some noted Animation personalities such as Paul Dini, who used it to produce his web series "Super Rica and Rashy". Signing up is free, though you must upgrade to a paid account (called Vyond Premium) if you want to have access to their full resources. You must be at least 13 years old to join.

There are two ways to make the videos. One is the "Quick Video Maker" which offers several ready-made "animated shorts" (some of which are based on licensed properties, like Star Trek) with the settings and actions already selected, and a small cast of characters to choose from (different for each); all you have to do is write the dialogue.

There's also the "Full Featured Video Maker" that allows you to start from scratch and select almost everything by yourself- settings, actions, sounds, FX, etc. (though again, you have a limited cast to use.)

You can buy more characters to use (or create your own) using "Vyond Bucks" (Virtual Money bought with real cash.) You can also use Vyond Points, which are earned by fulfilling certain requirements (making certain videos, sharing them on Facebook, etc.) You can also post your videos on YouTube, but that requires the Vyond Premium account. Note that the any videos you publish will have a watermark indicating they were made by Vyond (though you can pay to have it removed.)

Vyond also has a forum with an active creative community that gives advice and offers examples and contests.

This would have been just another video maker site if it weren't for the videos that pushed it into infamy: the "Grounded" videos, videos where Caillou and other characters cause or get into all kinds of trouble.

You can find it here: [1]

Tropes found on Vyond!:

• Audience Participation: The Free trial amounts to this.
• Bare Your Midriff: In the character creator, the user can select clothes that bare the female or the fat character's midriff
• Life Embellished: Super Rica and Rashy was based on Dini himself (and his wife, Stage Magician Misty Lee.) And their sock monkeys.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: some of the characters offered look... familiar.
• Read the Fine Print: in the joining conditions if you are going to use the site to make your own projects.
• Raymanian Limbs: The site's mascots, the "Lil' Peepz" seem to have these.
• Toilet Humor: A lot of pee, poop, and fart jokes.
• Web Animation: Several have been produced or are being produced with Vyond.

The Grounded Videos and their ilk contain

• Abusive Parents
• Angrish
• Big Bad: Caillou is the most common troublemaker in these videos
• Disproportionate Retribution
• You Are Grounded: The troublemaker will get grounded, sometimes for ludicrous amounts of time or forever.
• Younger Than They Look: Rosie's design makes her look more like a preteen dressed as a grown woman, but she's actually a toddler.