Flipnote Studio (DSiWare) Review

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 by Corbie Dillard

A DSiWare application that you'll definitely flip over!

It's no secret that Flipnote Studio has been one of the most anticipated DSiWare releases to date. The application has been described as like having your own portable animation studio right in the palm of your hands. Not only can you draw sketches and import photos, but you can then use the animation tools to bring those pictures to life. But exactly how powerful is this DSiWare application and does it offer up enough variety to keep DSi owners coming back for more?

When you first fire up the program you are faced with two choices. The first option allows you to view any Flipnotes you've previously created and saved on your DSi system. You can view them by recent notes, by various days on a calendar, or directly from your DSi system memory or SD card. You can even edit them if you're so inclined. All of these methods make it easy to sort through all of your Flipnotes, even if you've accumulated a large number of them. Your second choice allows you to create a Flipnote from scratch and presents you with a blank page with which to begin.

While the majority of your work will be done using the stylus, you can also use the DSi D-Pad and action buttons for shortcuts to various menu items that you'll need. The D-Pad allows you to press up for the main menu, right or left to scroll through your various Flipnote pages, or down in order to play your Flipnote animation. Accessing the menu presents you with every tool you're going to need in order to create your Flipnotes and it's broken down into basically two parts.

The first menu presents you with your basic functions. From here you can select your drawing tools and patterns. These vary from different types of pencil and pen tips to various spray paint patterns. You'll even find a very useful eraser tool that you'll quickly become acquainted with. The second menu also offers up some very useful tools including choosing everything from the different colors you're Flipnote will feature to the Lightbox option that will display a faded imprint of your last page's display for you to refer to. While it takes a little time to get acclimated to the many different tools you'll have at your disposal, you'll quickly learn how useful they can all be when you begin to create your more ambitious Flipnote creations.

The bottom screen of your DSi is where you'll do the majority of your drawing. And while you can choose to freehand your creations, the application also gives you a few ways to spice up your Flipnotes a bit. For starters you can import any photos that you've snapped with your DSi Camera application and use them in your projects. You can even edit these photos by adjusting their contrast and saturation settings using your stylus. Of course what Flipnote would be complete without a little music and sound effects, another neat feature that Flipnote Studio offers you. You can use your DSi microphone to input not only music, but also three different sound effects to liven up your Flipnote creation. You can even change the playing speed of these effects to given them a lower or higher-pitched tone.

Not only do you get to experience the enjoyment of actually creating your Flipnotes, but once you've saved them off, you can then connect to the Flipnote Hatena web site and upload your creations to your account to share with the world. You can even embed these creations on many of the popular social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. You can also place them on many of the popular internet forums, like the ones found on Nintendo Life for example. And if you'd rather not share your creations with everyone, you can just send them to your fellow DSi owners via the Wi-Fi function. It's up to you how you choose to share your creations.

Conclusion

There's no denying that Flipnote Studio is easily one of the best reasons to date to own a DSi system. While the program is simple enough for people of all ages to create a project, it still manages to offer up an almost endless amount of creative power limited only by the amount of time and effort users are willing to put into their projects. Couple all of this together with the fact that the application is completely free of charge and you have an absolute must-have DSiWare title that should end up providing many hours of fun for you and your friends.

9/10

Scoring Policy

User Comments

1. Wiiperson11 14 Aug 2009, 12:11 BST

Awesome!
Getting this in a few hours!

2. Supermarioman 14 Aug 2009, 12:11 BST

I'll downoad this when I get a DSi, that will be a while as my DS lite hasn't broke yet!

3. -TR 14 Aug 2009, 12:12 BST

Been playing aroudn with this litteraly all morning. It's brilliant.

Downloaded it at 11:03 last night, too.

4. Kittsy 14 Aug 2009, 12:16 BST

slams head into desk
Why, puns, why.

In other news, looks awesome. Good review.

5. Wiiloveit 14 Aug 2009, 12:18 BST

I'm gonna wait until later to play this, since the new Team Fortress 2 update was also released today, and if I play that as much as possible before the Americans all wake up, there's more chance of me getting a good game without waiting for servers to free spaces. Anyways, really looking forward to giving this (and 3-2-1 Rattle Battle) a go!

6. Machu 14 Aug 2009, 12:18 BST

It's an amazing little app, I need to put it down, but can't.

7. FATEM 14 Aug 2009, 12:27 BST

I was surprised at the score but I suppose the amount of fun is only equal to the amount creativity you have.

8. thebigM 14 Aug 2009, 12:34 BST

best things in life are free. might be the first reason to switch to DSi

9. Dr. Monkey 14 Aug 2009, 12:37 BST

One word "Amazing"

10. Tony 14 Aug 2009, 12:39 BST

It makes me wonder why this is free but they won't make the clocks and calculators free.

11. chunky_droid 14 Aug 2009, 12:45 BST

This is so awesome, I've been showing everyone my crappy animations every where I go!

My latest, Stick Megaman vs Stick Cutman!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

12. sirgrim 14 Aug 2009, 12:59 BST

Corbie should have animated a clock so he can review that and feel at home. I do notice his screen-shot of the calender. Maybe he got a little homesick.

13. JDB720 14 Aug 2009, 13:01 BST

It's truly amazing!

14. ReZon 14 Aug 2009, 13:04 BST

The DSi is now worth its price in my opinion. Flipnote is absolutely brilliant.

15. Jeroen. 14 Aug 2009, 14:12 BST

I was wondering which stupid pun they would use this time in the header.

16. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 14:15 BST

And now you flippin' know.

17. JayArr 14 Aug 2009, 14:28 BST

This is an amazing little program. I'm very animated about it.

18. chunky_droid 14 Aug 2009, 14:30 BST

I certainly made a note to flip-out upon noticing how animated everyone can get about drawing an app out of the DSi Shop

19. JustYourAverageBleh 14 Aug 2009, 14:32 BST

i think it deserves a 10
but very awesome review corbie!

20. Metang 14 Aug 2009, 14:33 BST

"And now you flippin' know."

grooooooooan

Anyway, great review Corbie!

21. bboy2970 14 Aug 2009, 14:36 BST

Has anyone noticed the ability to switch it to advanced mode? I just discovered this. All you need to do is click settings from the title screen then click a few pages over and you an turn advanced features on or off. The reason I bring this up is because almost any complaints about Flipnote Studio I have seen are very much rectified in advanced mode. Corbie, did you know about this?

22. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 14:40 BST

Yep, it's in the help section.

23. pixelman 14 Aug 2009, 14:59 BST

This game is seriously making me consider buying a DSi.

24. darkshaddow42 14 Aug 2009, 14:59 BST

More than just the advanced mode, holding the L button while in it (R for lefties) gives much more powerful tools, like using clips from dsi sound, mixing sounds, and draft mode! One of the sample notes tells you all this and more!

25. GonzoMontana 14 Aug 2009, 15:20 BST

it's more like a ... 10/10!

you can blow into the mic to fill a selected area while holding (L).

26. parmi 14 Aug 2009, 15:31 BST

Can´t get the damn thing! Got no internet connection! :[

27. parmi 14 Aug 2009, 15:32 BST

Looks brilliant though.

28. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 15:34 BST

you can blow into the mic to fill a selected area while holding (L).

Now that I didn't know.

29. Bahamut ZERO 14 Aug 2009, 15:37 BST

you'll definitely flip over!

You do realize that I'll never let you live this down right? Oh, thanks for the fun I'll have with this Corbie

30. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 15:38 BST

If I had used something normal, they just would have added something like that in anyway. I just beat them to the punch this time.

31. Cheezy 14 Aug 2009, 15:43 BST

So far I've made up to 9 simple Notes, haven't had any ideas since...I wanna do more so I gotta start thinkin!!!!

32. Bahamut ZERO 14 Aug 2009, 15:46 BST

@Corbie: Isn't it a law of universal reviews that you have to have a witty line under the title of the game as it's description, and the final sentence of the intro paragraph must be some question that says "Is it good or does it suck?" re-worded.

I'm sure the Director of Universal Reviews would flip if he saw you didn't. Oh, I'm already having fun

33. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 15:48 BST

We have a review guideline that "encourages" the use of a witty tagline. I'll just leave it at that.

34. Mars11 14 Aug 2009, 15:49 BST

so it's coming on Monday

35. SUPERZELDAMAN 14 Aug 2009, 15:49 BST

@Corbie you have to use the copy tool thingy and draw it aroudn the area you want to fill with paint. choose your paint and blow into the mic and it will fill that area . does anyone know if there is a way to duplicate one slide but have another on after it so like a dudes hair would be blowin back and forth without me having to draw it all?

36. Corbie 14 Aug 2009, 16:01 BST

It's already here Mars11.

37. Wiiperson11 14 Aug 2009, 16:11 BST

Hey Corbie did we get version 1 or 2?
And do you think we'll get some updates, like new colors?

38. Bahamut ZERO 14 Aug 2009, 16:15 BST

I would doubt an update to this. At least for a long time. There's more than enough here to keep us occupied.

39. Nintendo-Naut 14 Aug 2009, 16:15 BST

Wow. This is looking better than I thought...

40. Turbo Genesis 64 14 Aug 2009, 16:27 BST

For an awesome, free software, I think this deserves a 10. This has been a hit on NL Forum like nothing elese I've seen.

41. Bahamut ZERO 14 Aug 2009, 16:33 BST

@Turbo Genesis: It's because this is something everybody with a DSi has because it's free, plus the creativity makes it perfect for sharing. It's not necessarily due to software quality. Though this a worth a 9, I wouldn't go as far to say a 10.

42. Objection_Blaster 14 Aug 2009, 16:39 BST

Nice review for something heavily tempting me to upgrade to a DSi.

43. Bahamut ZERO 14 Aug 2009, 16:49 BST

@O_B: The upgrade with trade-in of a Lite should only be $70.

44. brandonbwii 14 Aug 2009, 16:57 BST

so can u record voice clips as well? this may come across as a dumb question.

45. JohnshiBRPG 14 Aug 2009, 17:23 BST

Wait until you see this animation of mine.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

46. motang 14 Aug 2009, 17:25 BST

I am loving this app so much, I would have given it a 10 out 10, but after reading the review I would agree to a 9 out 10 which still very very good!

Here is my latest creation:
Get the Flash Player to see this player.

It's just a picture not a moving one. I will on a later date make a moving version of this.

47. Kid_A 14 Aug 2009, 18:17 BST

I absolutely can NOT wait for this to hit the U.S.

48. Kid_A 14 Aug 2009, 18:19 BST

Scratch that. It's already out. F Yeah!

49. Odnetnin 14 Aug 2009, 18:54 BST

That blow-into-the-mic-fill-area thing is genius.

50. warioswoods 14 Aug 2009, 19:42 BST

@Kid_A

Ha, looks like you skipped out on the news for several days at an inopportune time.

51. Mendoza 14 Aug 2009, 20:21 BST

Man this is one of the reasons to own a DSi ( also the web browser and games like PiCOPiCT and Sujin Taisin are the reason)

here's one of my first flipnotes:

[xxxx]<object data="http://flipnote.hatena.com/js/flipplayer_s.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="279" height="240"><param name="movie" value="http://flipnote.hatena.com/js/flipplayer_s.swf"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="did=90918D80CC6F2701&file=6F2701_090972EABBFCE_002"></param></object>[xxxx]

EDIT: HOW THE FUDGE DO I EMBED VIDEOS HERE? :S

52. LEGEND MARIOID 14 Aug 2009, 21:07 BST

Everyone's having fun! Its like a dsiware party!

53. Dazza 14 Aug 2009, 21:08 BST

http://www.nintendolife.com/forums/announcements/flipnote_studio_clip_embedding

54. GabeGreens 14 Aug 2009, 21:20 BST

Great review as always! And for your great work, here is the animation you told me you liked
Get the Flash Player to see this player.

55. Odnetnin 14 Aug 2009, 21:24 BST

Get the Flash Player to see this player.
This is DSiWare's true killer app (pun intended).

56. RaccoonMario 14 Aug 2009, 21:52 BST

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

57. jorenmartijn 14 Aug 2009, 22:02 BST

Great app! Made some animations for myself today, but for some reason the Flipnote I send to the Hatena (?) website isn't displaying on the site. The DSi says it's posted, my avatar on the site displays my animation too, but it won't show up under my Flipnotes page in the profile.
Maybe someone can explain a little bit better what I'm doing wrong?

58. Ferdie 14 Aug 2009, 22:06 BST

Downloaded! Great review =D

59. Qwikman 14 Aug 2009, 22:48 BST

This deserves a 10/10 imo

@SUPERZELDAMAN- you can do that by going to the flipnote's menu and tapping the movie tape-looking icon, and then copying one of the sheets and pasting it on the sheet you want.

60. Super Smash Bros. Fan1999 15 Aug 2009, 01:29 BST

I absolutely love this device! It is the only thing keeping me off my Wii.

61. SonicMaster 15 Aug 2009, 01:52 BST

Totally agree. Was expecting this score.

62. cheese 15 Aug 2009, 13:32 BST

@racoonmario did you actually make that because it looks absolutely amazing!

63. MindFever 15 Aug 2009, 17:20 BST

Corby is evil... Flipnote Studio is even more eviiill (note: the word "evil" is pronounced like Dr. Evil does)

64. Odnetnin 16 Aug 2009, 02:11 BST

Flipnote ftw!!

65. Goldmidget 16 Aug 2009, 14:02 BST

i took its time getting here but it is exqused because of its awsomeness

66. ItsTheSal 16 Aug 2009, 15:24 BST

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

67. rhythmheavenfan 18 Aug 2009, 08:00 BST

I really want a DSi and this is one of the reasons I do. If I could just get my dad to buy me one.

68. randomstuffinc 18 Aug 2009, 17:07 BST

Truly sweet! Got two days ago amazing!

69. drew1118 18 Aug 2009, 23:27 BST

when i get the dsi i will get this right away cause its free

70. protozone.quadrant 19 Aug 2009, 02:38 BST

i downloaded this at like 12:52 PM
didnt stop playing till.....
around 8:00 AM

71. Crazed 04 Sep 2009, 03:28 BST

This looks amazing... Now I wish I had a DSi.

72. yagerslav 22 Sep 2009, 23:07 BST

10 star program, I animated a bunch of cyanide and happiness cartoons, but hatina wont let me share them, theyre very strict on what they allow your stickmen to be doing.

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