Let us... continue the project updates! Waited a bit on this one. Why? Because MassManic, one of the people I collaborate with it on, has started posting the rest of Chapter One to his patreon. Once that is out, you'll see it over here for patrons.
Dreaming Between Orchards started as lingering desire to something lighthearted and silly. Some time ago, Mass was opening up his comic creation process to commissions, and I decided to take that on.
The idea was simple... Let's do a weekly 4Koma series where, one page a week, we get out one simple silly funny page. It could be a crossover of characters from my/Icarue's/Mass's works, thrown into a vague nebulous (and canon) situation where hijinks go for as long as we felt like making it. And we could slowly add on new character models, adding more and more crossover possibility. Maybe even invited guest writers or guest artists?
It was a win-win-win idea, as Mass got commissioned via a regular customer and all three of us involved (Mass, Myself, and Icarue) had weekly content to give our audiences. We had designs for the main characters, a first chapter written out, and were ready to go...
Then... well, it always feels like content creation is gonna be simpler than it is before it starts, doesn't it? Technical issues and perfectionism between a writer and an artist created a storm of it being a weight put on Mass's shoulders. All while he was navigating many other financial struggles.
Time went on and chapter one was eventually finished. It was good, in my personal opinion. I'm proud of it, and what Mass was able to do with it. But it wasn't sustainable.
As Mass continued to experiment on his side for how to give himself stability, I decided to take the project in a very Mass friendly direction. After all, that was one of the original points.
I restructured the story to turn into a 12 chapter one, with 3 4 chapter 'story arcs'... as much as comedy 4komas can have story arcs. And with that structure in plan, the plan forward was one where I'd ask Mass to do the art/comic for 2-4 of those chapters in total.
For the rest? I'd reach out to other artists to be 'guest artists' that draw art for the pages on each chapter. How long would it take? As long as it needs. When will chapters be posted? When it makes sense in all of our schedules. Chapter One, for example, is being posted as part of a way to give Mass a chance to take a vacation. I imagine it'll likely be of similar natures in the future.
I've not spent extra money from the Art Fund on this, I believe. This has become more of a passion project for me, as well as something to help alleviate the weight on a creator friend's shoulders when possible. I wouldn't ask to use more of the asset fund on what this has become.
The general process moving forward will be simple...
When I am in the mood for some lighthearted silly stuff, I'll write more and storyboard more of the 12 chapters. It is still an outlet for me. A canon one with ties to plans I have for the world, after all. Even if is intentionally twisted to not be taken that seriously.
Mass will slowly work on what chapters he takes on, and I'll slowly commission other artists to work on the rest of the chapters. When they're done, we'll bank them for a 'rainy day', as it were. Similar to why Chapter One is coming out now.
And then they'll come out when they come out, and hopefully everyone enjoys like the lighthearted hijinks and TFTG adventure.
This feels reasonable to me, and it feels like it'll work for me and for Mass and... for Icarue? I've not talked much about him here, but he helps too. Still, with Chapter One coming out, feel free to check it out over on Mass's patreon, or later when it comes here or to the public.
Rant, done. Yay stream of consciousness. Have a good day all!