Episode 12 Update - 10/17/25 (Patreon)

It's time to start hammering down. Here's where we're at.

The Ep12 script is in good shape. The current draft (my draft) is pretty long - longer than the Ep11 script, but not too much longer. I'd be surprised if it goes as long as an hour, but I can see it being 30-45 minutes, depending on how everything gets paced out. There's still room to cut and add stuff, though. I'm glad I took ample time to isolate and think through a lot of the writing hurdles with input/suggestions from the other writers, but now I believe we're past the point of conceptualizing and at the point of chiseling and perfecting this beast.

I have four other writers working on this with me. About a week ago, I assigned them all to re-write the script and do their own versions of it. I wanted to get some of their voices on it and highlight what was and wasn't working. As of right now, I have obtained three out of four "alternate" Ep12 scripts from them. So far it's been fruitful. There are a few line/segments from the alternate versions I'm definitely putting in the final. A couple of them suggested major, major overhauls that I'm still mulling over and considering. And so far, none of them suggested majorly changing the one really expensive scene that I still don't know how I'm going to pull off. After I get that fourth re-write in, I'll be combining them all into the second major draft, which we'll all collectively edit as a team to get that final draft. This is going to be messy, and I can see some of them fighting for those changes down the line. But so far, I really like where it's going. I believe we can wrap this up before the year's end.

I've now started working on the 3D sets for the episode, but am early in the process. I was very cautious about going in with the 3D work too early without the script being done. As an example, in the last episode, there was originally a whole side thing about Whiskers being evolved too early, and I had someone model an in-between-evolutions model for her, which ultimately got cut out of the final version. I really didn't want that to happen again. But at this point, the script and the main plot points are far enough along for me to start getting a good amount of the assets organized and outlined. So in many ways, I'm partially working at the "outlining" phase of the episode, even though the script is still being written.

Regarding spoilers: I am going to be less cautious about them from this point forward, but I don't think it'll matter as much. For the last two episodes, I had to be super cagey about showing stuff. For Ep10, showing anything ruined the surprise of Sinnoh. For Ep11, showing anything ruined the surprise of Charmander's return. For this one, though, I don't think there's anything major that can be spoiled so easily. There's a lot of context and I doubt you'll be able to figure out spoiler-y stuff from the images alone. Hence, I'm going to be working more openly this time around.

As of writing this, I'm planning on doing live streams once a week on shipp.tv. The plan is to do a little gaming/chatting at the start of the stream, and then spend the rest of it working on the episode. At this time it's set work, but it'll eventually progress to animating. This whole process can get really isolate-y and I tend to fall into holes. I want to try doing this as a way to keep myself accountable and make sure I'm making ample progress week to week by forcing myself to show progress to the public in some way. We'll see where it goes.

Way back at the beginning of the year, I was approached by PokeDoku to make a collaboration video. At the time, I was too wrapped up in the OEL stuff, but I agreed to get something going with them. Right now, the two-minute short is completely voiced out, and the set's pretty much together. I just have to animate it (or get it animated). It's very simple and I've been picking at it. It seems likely I'll be working on it on stream when I run out of set work. I'd like to release it in late November or early December if possible.

I apologize once again for my slowness, but the Patreon extras I've alluded to are still happening. The show bible is nearly releasable, but I do have to properly write the sections that are just bullet-pointed. Just to temper your expectations though: the information on the next release doesn't include many of the events of Ep11. Some of the stuff, like what happened to Wartortle in the different timelines, has too many spoilers for Ep12 and will need to be put out later. I know I'm dragging my feet on this one, but it'll get out there eventually. As well, I really really want to wrap up all the commentary and set tour videos before Ep12. I've already recorded a pretty in-depth commentary track with Aron on Episode 11. Separately, he's done a commentary track for Bug Brigade. I'll be putting those up later, but still wanna get the commentary stuff for Ep7-10 recorded. Now that we're going into the finale, a re-visitation of everything seems appropriate. But, much like the show bible stuff, forcing it is difficult and it seems to get done only when it feels most appropriate to do.

I'm planning on moving in January. It's a major move, and it'll likely disrupt production for a little bit.I'll level with you guys - I feel like I've been off my game. Being in "pre-production" , having my priorities/goals being less directly tangible, and knowing I'll be moving soon - It's made it difficult for me to establish a healthy routine and maintain the focus needed to properly check my boxes. It's now becoming tangible. I need to lock in. There's stuff to be done and I need to do it.