Stu’s Web Wednesday: Thomas ‘TomSka’ Ridgewell

There are times when I see a video a like and just stay there. I've learned that's generally not the right way to go when it comes to the Internet. Seeing that in this Wild West world of online video (Wiki Wild Wild even. And now you have the entire song stuck in your head. You're welcome.), a lot of the time the one video can lead into so much more awesome than one can imagine. That has definately been the case with TomSka for me. I got hooked with, arguably, his most famous productions then finally just recently branched out to all the other sketches he's done and found his type of sketch comedy and action is not only right up my alley, but also types of videos I'd love to produce.

What got me first with TomSka's videos was the animated line drawing madness that is asdfmovie. When watching asdfmovie, you have note that it's real quick bursts. The segments tend to range between 5-20 seconds each, so it's a lot of quick random bursts of comedy hitting you in your brain. The great thing is that there are some running gags in it, not only within each movie but also within the series as a whole. Usually I post just one to give the idea but this time I feel with asdfmovie I need to give the whole context. So I'm posting the playlist of all of them because it just doesn't work without it in my opinion.

So foolish me thought "So asdfmovie is awesome. That's his series. Right?" Wrong. In finally exploring Tomska's Channel, there was so much awesome sketch comedy and action that my mind was blown into full on constant repeat viewing. The comedy and timing is so solid, it's better than a lot of other sketch "comedy" that I've seen on other sites that try so hard to be relevent and funny and fail fantastically at it. There's one in mind right now that I will not post because I don't want to inadvertenly promote it. I don't even know why I brought it up. Anyway, a baby with a gun, because that's how that segway works.

Now a baby with a gun is pretty fantastical comedy, at least I certainly hope so. But even a slice of life comedy can be done the same way. How about that awkward time in telling your best friend you're dating his sister?

The comedy's all well and good, but TomSka also does some of the better action shorts I've seen. Sure, they can be considered one in a million online, especially early in the Interweb's life, but these are different. They're not just lightsaber battles and shootouts, they've got an extra bit of character to make them unique. Besides, the action shorts also hit me because a lot of them reminded me of one person. One person who's life is so totally like this, or at least in their head they are. That person is, of course, Lisa. Who else really? For example, this is what happens when Lisa gets her hair done.

And this is what happens every time her cats go nuts

I have a feeling you'll see it my way.

Tomas 'TomSka' Ridgewell can primarily be found on his YouTube Channel. If you are dying for more, he also has a second personal YouTube channel where the quick talking and dubstep glasses continue. He's also on Twitter and Facebook if you just need more. One funny thing with this week's Web Wednesday is that when I was planning it, I noticed something. If you really watch Lisa's first episode of REMAG closely (say at about the :52 second mark) you may see one of TomSka's early videos in it. Just worked out that way.