The blog that I have chosen belongs to LittleKuriboh, the creator of Yi-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series. For those of you who are not familiar with this particular internet phenomenon, YGO Abridged is a series that originated on YouTube which features condensed parodies of Yu-Gi-Oh episodes. More information is available here, and at the YGO Abridged website. I’ve been following this blog since March 2007, mostly for news and updates on when a new episode is posted, but also to keep up with official news in the YGO Abridged fandom, and to learn more about the creator. Although some silly YouTube videos may seem frivolous and inconsequential, YGO Abridged has created no little bit of controversy, mainly over copyright issues.
Mostly, this blog acts as a site where fans of the Abridged Series can receive news and interact with its creator. LittleKuriboh will post updates and links to new episodes in his blog, as well as other related goodies, such as fanart. Before LittleKuriboh was banned from YouTube, his blog was always a much more reliable source of information and updates on the Abridged Series than the information box on his YouTube profile, and once the Abridged Series was taken down from YouTube, his blog made new episodes much easier to find.
Interestingly, a controversy came out of YGO Abridged when several YouTube users flagged some of the episodes for copyright infringement. This drove the Abridged series to several other video sharing sites, and eventually lead to its own website. However, during the controversy, many YouTube users rallied together in support of LittleKuriboh, noting that his use of footage from the Yu-Gi-Oh animé was protected because it was parody. LittleKuriboh’s YouTube account was deactivated, and then reactivated due to a large outcry from his fan base. This incident is actually what originally made me interested in the use of copyrighted material on the internet, and the distinctions that make certain uses legal and others not. Ironically, 4Kids itself has not sited YGO Abridged for copyright violations.
Of course, LittleKuriboh’s blog is firstly and foremost a personal online journal. His posts about himself reveal a shy, reserved individual that one would not expect to become an internet celebrity anymore than he himself did. The name of his journal is in fact “Little Kuriboh’s Hidey-Hole,” and even the name “LittleKuriboh” suggests a somewhat low self-esteem. Kuriboh is one of the creatures in the Yu-Gi-Oh series, but it is a particularly weak monster, thought at times it has won battles for the main character. He even comments that having so many people paying attention to him, and especially reading his journal, makes him feel slightly self-conscious, but he graciously allows his fans an insight on his life. Posts that aren’t about the Abridged Series often talk about videogames he’s been playing, movies he’s seen, or what he’s been up to. Recently he proposed to his girlfriend via YouTube (which is what lead to his account being removed again).
The style of LittleKuriboh’s journal is very simple. LiveJournal is a highly customizable site, and LittleKuriboh even has a paid account (a gift from a fan), which allows even further customizability. Still, the color patterns are simple, not even changed from the default of the style theme, and although he as a custom mood theme (pictures associated with moods that can be added to an entry), it was made by someone else. LittleKuriboh doesn’t use tags, though LiveJournal does offer them, but he does post links and pictures on occasions. My favorite part of his blog are his icons, which are usually very funny screen caps of characters making awkward facial expressions with some kind of witty caption.
His blog can be found here for anyone who wants to read it, and I would strongly encourage watching the Abridged Series, because it is full of lolz, and it rocks out loud.