by Julius Albert Custodio

Created on: June 21, 2009

Who haven't heard of one of the coolest websites on the planet, Newgrounds.com? OK, maybe not everybody. But I'm here to tell you about it and it's best that you stay put and listen because this won't take long...

Newgrounds has been around for years and it's one of the first websites that managed to make me a fan from Day 1. The first time I visited this website, I clocked in 6 full hours just from browsing through the site's contents alone. It's just a chockful of fun and I can't get enough of it.

What is Newgrounds anyway? Well, it's a content-sharing website which specializes in Flash-based movies and games. Flash is one of the best web-based programming languages ever to come out in years, and it still remains as one of the most reliable and fun-to-implement among the many programming languages in the world. Now, pair that Flash language with the creative minds of several people around the planet, and the equation is nothing short of genius!

Yes, the nice thing about Newgrounds is that they're like YouTube for Flash animators! Instead of showcasing the things your camera has captured, you're actually submitting original content that you came up with and created. This is virtually a meeting ground of amateur and professional animators who have something to say and are looking for the perfect platform to push their messages/ideas/opinons forward. Newgrounds has a really vibrant community, some of which are quite helpful to the budding Flash programmer. There's a number of them who even offer tutorials on how to make your first ever Flash video! In a way, these members are helping the "love of Flash" grow and thus, making Newgrounds not just a social community site, but a genuine learning venue.

Aside from Flash movies and games, it also has an audio portal which is a great source of background music for your movie projects (provided you ask permission from the musician). More on this later...

Recently, Tom Fulp (the site's owner, creator and administrator) and the gang from Newgrounds, have been giving away drawing tablets to its most dedicated members! These drawing tablets are quite essential if you're serious on your craft as an animator. Newgrounds is actually making the dreams of some of its mouse-using members come true- they're practically giving these members a chance to "up their game". I do see the potential of the chosen winners and I'm very happy for their well-deserved recognition. I can eaily equate this drawing-tablet giveaway bonanza

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