The IAD Forums
eutychus
a year ago
How Are We Doing?

It's time once again, before I get started on the next possible phase of this project, to sit back and take stock and ask "How are we doing?" I don't get a whole of feedback about the site. Not that I'm complaining; it's the lot of a website owner that we generally don't hear back from many people to find out if we're really serving the needs of the community. The best we can usually do is go by what little information we can glean from Google Analytics.

So, if you have a chance, let me know what you think. Is the site working well for you? Is it easy to use? What do you use it for? Are there things that we could be doing better? Are there other functions that we could add that would be helpful for you? Is it necessary to keep the GAC Archives up anymore? (I still have items that I haven't converted yet, but am wondering if it's worthwhile doing it since most of the information can be worked into the main site, or there are reviews of videos that are ten years old!)

These are just general questions, but I'd love to get any feedback you would care to offer, either positive or negative, so I know what directions we should go in the future. If you would prefer to stay anonymous, that's fine to; just say the word and I'll drop you my email address.

Thanks!

Patrick Malone
Webmaster, The Internet Animation Database
BobbyS
a year ago
For me, this site is the best! I use this website to document Garfield and Friends quickies, animated inserts created for "Between the Lions" and "Sesame Street", various Terrytoons home video releases and more.
I also use this site to correct and do proper research for various Terrytoons and other cartoons.
I think there should be a function to correct the technical specifications on some entries (I.E. Color Type, Aspect Ratio, Sound Type, Running Time, MPAA Numbers & Ratings, Production Numbers, etc.)
This site works great for me to do various animation projects on!
Overall, we're doing great!
VoiceTalentBrendan
a year ago
works well for me too.
S. C. MacPeter
a year ago
All is well I would say for right now. All is well
PopKorn Kat
a year ago
Sorry for not popping in here for a while. From a cursory glance, everything seems to be fine, save for technical issues here and there. On Safari and Firefox on iOS, the forum is still inaccessible and brings up an error message. (On Firefox, the issue can be fixed by choosing "Request Desktop Site".)

Regarding the GAC Archives, you are right in that the filmography, home video, and censorship information on the LT&MM, Lantz and DePatie-Freleng sites should be merged into the main database. While it is nice looking through the sites for nostalgia purposes, there is bound to be outdated or incorrect information. Obviously the boost of video releases for the WB, Lantz and DePatie-Freleng libraries is one, but the Unofficial LT&MM Site's list of public domain WB shorts  erroneously lists "Crowing Pains" as a public domain entry. However, these sites also host extensive character biographies and interviews. It'd be a shame if those were to be annexed.
Nivekian
a year ago
There's a bit of a learning curve with adding entries... much of it doesn't seem intuitive and kinda' confusing, such as having to make an entry for a single episode of a series before making an entry for the series. I get why you did it, it's logical but likely unintuitive for some.

Having to start with the production studio almost makes some sense, but not when the studios themselves are non-searchable... starting with the title of the animation or series would be more intuitive. When I think of Æon Flux I don't think about Colossal Pictures, I do think about MTV but only because their station aired it, not because their animation studio was involved. Heck even starting with the artist would be more intuitive... if only they were also searchable.

Speaking of Æon Flux, I can't add it due to the Æ symbol. Are there many other symbols that are like this? Will there be problems adding stuff like .hack//SIGN or Blood+

Finding the undo page was a relief... thought I had seriously messed up (maybe I did? let me know if I did) Not sure why there is no way to undo edits in edit mode... kinda' weird to be forced to either scrap everything and try again or finalize and navigate to another page to undo.

It's also a little weird that many things are not hot linked that likely should be (for ease of use). For instance: when I'm on an artists page, why are the studios not hot linked?

Also, there doesn't seem to be a way to change or report existing Home Video entries. For example Asterix in Britain  : I have a copy in hand and both the package and cassette state the runtime is 85 minutes, not 75.

Furthermore, I do enjoy how strict the search function is. I wish they were all like that. So tired of every search engine giving bad results by trying to fix my spelling, ignoring characters, or adding them just so there will be some sort of popular match. (Damn you Google! I searched for "Elfs" damn it, not elf, not elves, not elf's)

EDIT: something I just noticed, when in the Studio Index, if one changes view to alphabetical the option to add a new entry disappears.
Toonatic
a year ago
So far, no complaints as such. I'm loving the site, but there are some things that should be looked into:

- The Distributors part of the site always lead to broken links (Columbia's not even updated). Also, the notes don't show up for the distributor whenever you add them.
- I know you stated the reasons, but I still feel we should have the ability to upload home video covers, gallery submissions and the like, but I can also see how that can get out of hand.
- One idea I do have; There should be an option where we should provide high-quality/remastered screenshots for cartoons that already have them. Say there's a Looney Tunes short on the site whose screenshots are sourced from a VHS or laserdisc and a few years later, there's a DVD or Blu-ray that contains a higher-quality transfer. One could resubmit those screenshots for the cartoon from the latter.

And I guess that's it for now. Again, love this site and look forward to continuing working on it. 🙂
eutychus
a year ago

- The Distributors part of the site always lead to broken links (Columbia's not even updated). Also, the notes don't show up for the distributor whenever you add them.

Originally Posted by: Toonatic 



Please submit a bug report about this so I can get it on record and look into it.

One idea I do have; There should be an option where we should provide high-quality/remastered screenshots for cartoons that already have them. Say there's a Looney Tunes short on the site whose screenshots are sourced from a VHS or laserdisc and a few years later, there's a DVD or Blu-ray that contains a higher-quality transfer. One could resubmit those screenshots for the cartoon from the latter.



That's doable, and in fact we already have one person who has been doing that already. It's always been our policy that replacement screenshots can be submitted if they are better quality (i.e. from a DVD or BluRay as opposed to a VHS copy) or thay replace ones that have broadcaster logos on them. The only thing you need to do is to let me know first since I have to "claim" them for you manually as the system won't let you as they've already been done.
ToonStar95
a year ago
The site's doing swell for the most part. Just a few issues, both major and nitpicks.

  • Having artists' full legal names can be a bit annoying at times.
  • I wish we can change a credit is "unverified" to "verified" when new evidence comes up.
  • Maybe we should have a list of dates for certain titles. They can be copyright dates, delivery dates (when cartoons were delivered to the distributor), premiere dates (be they formal premieres for theatrical films like in Hollywood or Annecy, or first airings of TV episodes), "announced" or "general" release dates (good for pre-1970s stuff, when production issues didn't always guarantee the release), preview dates (i.e., convention or benefit screening), earliest known showings, and the sort.
  • Maybe for characters with a "The" in their name (i.e., "The Brain"), we should find away to flip it like we do with titles.
  • On the homepage (and ONLY on the homepage), putting something in the search bar takes me right back to the homepage, so I have to type my search in a second time, and I always get into the searches the second time. Is anyone else experiencing this, or is it just me?
Toonatic
a year ago

Please submit a bug report about this so I can get it on record and look into it.

Originally Posted by: eutychus 



https://intanibase.com/iad_studios/index_chrono?studioID=31&firstYear=1965 
eutychus
a year ago

Please submit a bug report about this so I can get it on record and look into it.

Originally Posted by: Toonatic 



https://intanibase.com/iad_studios/index_chrono?studioID=31&firstYear=1965 

Originally Posted by: eutychus 



I meant in the bug report thread.
nickramer
a year ago
I think we are doing fine. As for the GAC pages, I think we should keep them for stuff like the interviews as PopKorn Kat mentioned.
nickramer
a year ago
I think we are doing fine. As for the GAC pages, I think we should keep them for stuff like the interviews as PopKorn Kat mentioned.
eutychus
a year ago

Having artists' full legal names can be a bit annoying at times.

Originally Posted by: ToonStar95 



Noted. I'm working on it slowly but surely.

I wish we can change a credit is "unverified" to "verified" when new evidence comes up.

Maybe we should have a list of dates for certain titles. They can be copyright dates, delivery dates (when cartoons were delivered to the distributor), premiere dates (be they formal premieres for theatrical films like in Hollywood or Annecy, or first airings of TV episodes), "announced" or "general" release dates (good for pre-1970s stuff, when production issues didn't always guarantee the release), preview dates (i.e., convention or benefit screening), earliest known showings, and the sort.

Maybe for characters with a "The" in their name (i.e., "The Brain"), we should find away to flip it like we do with titles.



Added to the Projex list.

On the homepage (and ONLY on the homepage), putting something in the search bar takes me right back to the homepage, so I have to type my search in a second time, and I always get into the searches the second time. Is anyone else experiencing this, or is it just me?



It did happen to me. I've added it to the Bug Report page.