At 16 hours ago, TomFulp wrote: Sad news; Randy Solem, one of the original stars of NG, passed away this week at the age of 36.

36? That's no age to die at. We've been sadly robbed of another talented artist and pillar of the community.

At 3 minutes ago, Coop wrote:

At 16 hours ago, TomFulp wrote: Sad news; Randy Solem, one of the original stars of NG, passed away this week at the age of 36.

36? That's no age to die at. We've been sadly robbed of another talented artist and pillar of the community.

I find it hard to swallow. I lurked around VGDC before I ever even joined Newgrounds. I remember talking to Randy personally, he was a p. chill br0

I remember those movies, loved em and Randy was a great animator. It's alway's a shame to lose such close friends and at a young age as well.

Rest well Randy.

Sad what was happened.
It is somehow too strange to me that you can die so young.
My condolences.

RIP Randy. Here is an image of him in 2004 from the cartoon The Modorator.

Thanks Randy for inspiring so many people it was great to know you.

I worked with Randy on many Flash cartoons back in the day. I remember lots of late nights chatting with him as we were working on our random Mario toons. He was a great friend and he'll be missed. Hard to believe he's gone.

36 is too young.

rip.

I loved his work.

I remember watching that mushroom kingdom series as a kid.

I'm really gonna miss him

My God forgive, preserve and keep you.

Very sad to hear that, 36 man... that's way to young to die...
Rest in Peace, Randy

Wow, that's really sad. RIP Randy. Best wishes to his friends and family.

Rest in piece ya douchebag.

may he rest in peace

Rest in peace Randy.

Oh, geez. It's been three years since Ben Spurgin died? It's hard to believe that and it still seems like only yesterday, we lost an important animator. I think in terms of animation, Randy Solem might have been the most important we've ever lost as he utilized the "Mario Vs. Sonic" cartoons (first is still the best), "Rise Of The MK", etc. It's so sad that someone so talented would have to die at such a young age. I really wish we could make a day tribute to him with flashes like we did with Ben Spurgin.

At 21 minutes ago, j0hnny wrote:

Wait till people start pumping out sprite tribute flashes to Randy and Stamper weighs in on that. Stamper absolutely despises sprite flash and sprite games that use rips rather than original artwork. What is even more interesting is that since Stamper is a main part of the Newgrounds staff now, he has the power to have any sprite flash removed from the portal and can justify it by saying the art is plagiarized and violates copyrights of Nintendo, Sega, etc etc. and then turn around and tell people to use their own artwork only.

So he's basically hating on the attention? People are praising the video, not saying he drew and created everything from scratch. He's never claimed info and all the copyrights were always given. There's nothing to be mad about...? Especially now, would he rather have all the views and praise Randy had, while no longer being alive? He's paid the ultimate price in life, there's absolutely no reason to be bitter.

• 

  The Price of Pixels

  by JeremyLokken

  A hard life is the price of pixels.

  Movie

  22,612 Views

  (Ages 17+)

I'm a bad person and will be the next to die no doubt.

Randy In Peace.

Fuck, I loved his animations, this is sad :[

Randy you made the best sprites R.I.P I wish your daughter the best bro

Oh that is sad news :(... R.I.P Randy Solem, you will be missed! No one can ever come close to be as good as you with sprite movies. Rise of the Mushroom Kingdom was one of the greatest sprite movies i have seen.. My prayers go to his family and friends.

Always a shame to lose someone .. especially someone who had the talent to inspire others.

RIP Randy, that's a terrible shame. Condolences to his family - may they find peace. Many people loved him through his work.

At 1 hour ago, altr wrote: http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/217474
I'm a bad person and will be the next to die no doubt.

Randy In Peace.

Haha nah, Randy even showed me that over his house a few years ago, he found it funny and flattering. Not to mention the douche that made the video, it's ashame that his biggest view count for that year is because it was about Randy.

I'd be a hater too if my best video had 808,000 views and Randy's 'best' video has 2.3 million+ in 8 years lol. Was he on TV for his work? Ahhh I see now.

Good god, his toons were some of the first flash animations I've ever seen!

He will defiantly be missed...

At 1 hour ago, j0hnny wrote:

At 6 minutes ago, SouthJersey wrote:

So he's basically hating on the attention? People are praising the video, not saying he drew and created everything from scratch. He's never claimed info and all the copyrights were always given. There's nothing to be mad about...? Especially now, would he rather have all the views and praise Randy had, while no longer being alive? He's paid the ultimate price in life, there's absolutely no reason to be bitter.

Well heres what it is and what I was even discussing with someone else. Regardless of what Randy or anyone else makes the most important part of a Flash Movie is the plot and jokes. The art is secondary. Randy always put the plot and jokes first in his movies. This is something I always stood by. People like Stamper like to focus first on the eye candy and the presentation of a Flash movie. Its different ways of looking at things.

Stamper has a very dry sense of humor, I don't find anything he has made at all even slightly funny but he pays a lot of attention to detail. I remember seeing a collab where Stamper did a Metal Gear Solid 3 joke of Snake licking a vagina. This to me was not at all funny or amusing. Though the detail and artwork was great.

Randy on the other hand took rips and sprites from other sources and focused more on the jokes and plot. He felt it more important to really make an effort with the plot to the point of writing up scripts and drawing blue prints before hand. I have to respect all thats gone into Randy's Flash movies because yeah although he didn't make the art himself a hell of a lot went into the planning.

I can appreciate South Park much more than I could appreciate some of the CGI crap I see in movies. I helped create sprite flash movies for Razoric. I ripped backgrounds, sounds and sprites tirelessly but the most important part of the movies stemmed from AIM conversations between myself and Rob Foor just joking around and laughing. It wasn't about the artwork, it was about the fun factor. Randy enjoyed what he did and he found his jokes amusing as did other people. Thats the important part as far as I am concerned. He had fun while he worked and others got a laugh out of it. So IMO who cares about the eye candy.

Ill take Randy over Stamper any day of the week, he may be a staff here and i may have been away from newgrounds for years but reading about his reaction to Randy's death is lack of respect. One thing Stamper may not realize some people don't have the drawing skills. I for one am one of those who does not draw very well for animation purposes although creating some vector based logo in Illustrator is more my speed. Randy may not have been good at drawing from scratch but his Sprite cartoons made more then up for the lack in that department. It takes TIME and a lot of effort to create RISE OF THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM!, sprite or no sprite, he always gave copyrights to Nintendo, Sega etc and KICKED ASS at what he did.. RIP Randy Solem

I have nothing against Stamper and i respect all artists for their input and talent but Stamper could be less of a dick ( referring to the whole making fun of people who died ) and Vagina jokes aren't funny..

man...thats awful - - i get my first real job check next week so -perhaps i can give some to his family

best wishes for them~~

I used to watch his movies all the time when I was younger. It sucks to see someone who entertained me as a kid pass away.

That's really sad! I can't believe that.

I sure loved his ROTMK? It kicks ass, even after this tragic passing.

Hopefully the same thing won't happen to Mark Haynes (aka Alvin Earthworm) who is another epic sprite animator compared to his furry art, but I admit he's done the latter long before doing his flash series.

No, no... It can't be... No, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! D: D:

I am very saddened to hear that Randy has passed away. He has always been one of my favorite Flash arts ever.

Rest in peace, Randy. Newgrounds just won't be the same without you. :-(

R.I.P our favorite flasher :(______