Ninja Academy

First Anniversary - Top Activity Entries!

Well, a year has passed! A big thank you to everyone who participated in our anniversary activities, came to the party gathering, and voted for the contest submissions! We had a blast celebrating our first anniversary with all of you.

Without further ado, here are the top three "creative subbing" videos!

1. LingSte - Pinocchio

2. Cream_pie - Birth of a Beauty

3. Mariesol_monina - Pinocchio

And here are the top three "writing prompt" entries! (Click to view)

1. AmyPun - Entry 9

The sweetness comes from making new friends, exchanging discoveries, segmenting and subtitling together, and sharing interests in food, cultures, and activities. Although we are so far away from one another and will likely never meet in real life, we can feel that the interactions are genuine. It’s the feeling of being so close yet so far…

2. Singndance4life - Entry 2

There is a reason that the ‘crews’ that come to Viki to lay foundations, build and beautify, are called teams. On a team, there is an opportunity and a need for each member to contribute, even if those contributions take different forms.

3. Dudie - Entry 10

So all in all what contributing on Viki means to me is to have fun with other people, my Viki friends and help friends out when needed. And while doing that bringing joy to others who can watch their favorite Kdrama with subtitles in all the languages Viki offers. Maybe some of you are watching a Kdrama with the entire family with some popcorn and hot chocolate? That would be cool! And since Viki is still growing and growing I’m sure I will meet more awesome people on Viki :)

The two winners of the "janitor segging contest" are:

Signsofserendipity (Graduate Category)
Umno (Non-Graduate Category)

Great job everyone!

1:04 AM | Category: | 2 comments

Official Viki Ninja Academy Badge Announcement

Hey Ninjas,

Today we have great news to share with you. Students of Ninja Segging & Subbing Academy will now receive an official Viki badge on their profiles after graduating from the academy program!

Figure 1. Official Viki NSSA Badge

Figure 2. Official Viki NSSA Badge on Ninja Staff and Graduate Profiles

Ninja Staff and graduates, please check out your badge by clicking on either your “FAVORITES” or “VOLUNTEER PROJECTS” tab on your viki profile homepage to see it!

In addition to our unofficial badges, which allow graduates to display the portions of the program they completed, this new NSSA badge will appear in the badges area of the profile!

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the program and helped us come so far. Without all of the students, staff and supporters, we couldn’t have become such a great community. In the future, as we expand and improve the academy, we look forward to meeting new Ninjas and sharing more knowledge!

We would also like to take this time to remind everyone of the student rules. In order for the program to run smoothly and to allow students to be admitted constantly on a rolling basis, we ask that students please abide by these rules. In order to enforce these rules, Ninja Assassins will be around checking progress, so please remember to press on and be timely about deadlines for assignment completion.

Figure 3. Official NSSA Assassin Badge

Current and prospective NSSA students, please be diligent and commit well to the program so our assassin won’t have the opportunity to get you!

What Does Kill You Makes You Stronger 2.png

Figure 4: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

In addition to the badge, we are also excited to announce the launch of our website (thanks to heidi_lyon)! Please visit our NSSA Official website at http://www.ninjaseg.com/

10:17 PM | Category: | 1 comments

Flying Solo for the First Time

This week's article is written by a segmenter who shares with us her first experiences segmenting on an on-air channel and what she wishes she could have known back then. Enjoy!

Flying solo for the first time was a mix of...

excitement, panic, joy, and then panic again.

My first segmenting (on air) project was an emotional roller-coaster. Of course, I jumped for joy when I joined the segmenter team of that channel.

For me, the segmenters on Viki were, and still are, like magicians as they cut a part in such a fast and “relaxed” way.

But when I actually got the chance to segment a part, I was scared and must have had a facial expression like the one in "The Scream" by Edvard Munch.

“The Scream“ by Edvard Munch.

I wondered: "How can the other segmenters be so relaxed while I worry after every segment I cut?"

My segmenting speed could have been called “turtle speed”. On second thought, even a turtle could have been faster than I was at segmenting. While I cut and checked my segments again and again, the other segmenters cut their parts like butter, a piece of cake. I was totally amazed and impressed by their great skills, but that didn’t help me with my “being scared of messing segments up” problem.

However, thanks to the encouraging words and tips of the channel manager and the other segmenters, I hung on and tried my best. The more I cut, the more I enjoyed the segmenting work.

Looking back at my first segmenting project, I think I know why I got so easily scared during my first solo flight. If I had a chance to write a diary to my "past self" as the "future me" while traveling back and forth through time (Confused yet?? I always felt like that when I watched Faith, which is one of my favourite dramas by the way! The drama is so cool!!), I would write this:

Some Tips TO ME by me...

1) NEVER EVER compare your segmenting speed with someone else's while segmenting. The other segmenters are experienced, so don’t panic just because you are a “newbie”, as everyone was a newbie in the beginning.

2) Whenever you lose confidence about your segmenting skills, think of these statements as a personal mantra: No one is born a master. Skill comes with practice.

3) If you need more time in order to finish a part, it is not a “drama” at all! If you still worry about your speed, then just segment one of the last parts.

4) In case you are still too worried about your speed: Close your eyes and imagine you are the only one in the channel and in the timer. But don't forget to keep your eyes open while cutting the segments!

5) Don’t overdo the checking part. Just cut a segment, check its timing and length and then move on. Don’t obsess over a single segment. But if you are not sure about a certain segment, just ask an experienced segmenter for help or post a note in the team discussion.

6) The more you segment, the faster you become. It is similar to "Pokemon": You reach the “next level” after collecting some (combat) experience as a Ninja Segmenter.

7) Last but not least, don't make that "Munch Scream" face while segmenting! Just thinking of it scares me. Just relax and have some fun while you cut! Instead of making that face, sing "Everybody was kung-fu fighting."

Now it is your turn! What would you write to your "past self" as the "future you" based on your experiences as a segmenter? I'm curious about your experiences! What would you do differently? (Believe me, I'm way more confused than you by time traveling. It is definitely not the way I would prefer to travel... ;-))

10:30 PM | Category: segmenting | 1 comments

How to correct for mini-gaps and micro-gaps

“History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.” ― Sara Sheridan

For history, it may be okay for there to be gaps due to uncertainties of events that took place. Since many people and issues have existed, it’s impossible for there to be a complete sequence.

However, dramas are usually based on a good story script; thus too many noticeable gaps will reduce the quality of the story. As segmenters, although we can’t prevent any storyline gaps, we can prevent the small gaps between segments which result in a “jerky” effect. When there are small gaps between segments, the subtitles flash in and out rather than smoothly transitioning, and this reduces the enjoyment for our audience.

Our topic of interest today is what gaps are and how we can reduce the flashing of subtitles caused by them. We distinguish between three times of gaps:

Small Gaps - When there is a 0.5 seconds or less distance separating two segments.

Mini-Gaps - When there is a 0.1 second distance separating two segments. These can usually be seen at 100% zoom and are very noticeable when zoomed in over 150%.

Micro-Gaps - When there is less than a 0.1 second distance separating two segments. These are rarely seen at 100% zoom and are usually only visible at a 200% or more zoom.

What the different types of gaps look like:

Timer at 100% zoom. Small gaps and mini-gaps are noticeable, but micro-gaps cannot be seen.

Timer zoomed in to show micro-gaps in addition to the small and mini-gaps.

First, lets figure out how these gaps are created. Different segmenting methods create different problems, but mini and micro-gaps typically come from either the individual segmentation method (creating one segment at a time) or from the Shift + Spacebar continuous method. The only method that is currently 99% gap proof in most browsers is the XXL method.

So what’s the best way to remove the gaps? Think of the ends of each segments as having sticky tape on the ends. The only way to use the sticky tape is to use the keyboard shortcut keys (CTRL + ↑→↓← ) and move the segment to the right and left, pushing the other segment over. Once this segment has been “pushed”, it will join with your selected segment. Now you can move your segment back into its original position and the gap will be removed.
Please watch the following tutorial for a demonstration:

11:15 PM | Category: segmenting | 9 comments

What do Ninjas Eat or Drink when they Contribute on Viki?

If an athlete wants to build up his muscles, his nutritional protocol will probably be rich in protein.

But have you ever wondered what keeps our Ninjas alive for long hours contributing on Viki? Or what a Ninja eats in order to be prepared for some segmenting or subbing work? After all, contributing can be very tedious work which one shouldn't underestimate.

You may have once questioned yourself, "How in the world can anyone be segging and subbing at amazing speed, bringing us new subtitles within hours of upload?"

Today, we are going to share with you what the Ninjas Masters at our academy use to keep their energy high so that they are ready to contribute on Viki in their spare time.

As you may all agree, segmenting, subbing, and editing are time-consuming processes that can take away time from your meals. Therefore, we often find ourselves eating and drinking in front of our computer screens, rather than skipping meals and jeopardizing our health.

What do Ninjas Drink?

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee." - Abraham Lincoln

Fluids are a definite must in order for us to stay hydrated and alert. This is a chart of the typical things we drink:

[Please note: It is important that a Ninja is in one's senses as segmenting and subtitling work demands concentration, speed and precision.]

The possibilities are endless, but all contributors out there, please remember to keep your fluid levels high to prevent dehydration in front of your computers.

What do Ninjas Eat?

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
- Charles M. Schulz

Food provides the necessary nutrients to keep our metabolism high and allows us to be energized. Without adequate nutrients, our brains and bodies will fail to function properly, which results in decline of speed and quality of our contributions.

Even though a ninja might "withstand" certain challenges (like cutting several parts in a row), he/she still needs a certain amount of energy and vitamins in order to cut well. This is a list of the typical things we eat while working:

Chocolates in all its facets and "beauty" (almond roca dark, caramilk, kit-kat, twix, Ferrero Rocher, Godiva and Lindor, chocolate toffee covered macadamia nuts)
Candy (jelly beans, gummy bears, gum, cough drops)
Fruits (apples, strawberries, grapes, watermelons, pineapple, pears, melons, kiwis, bananas, citrus fruits)
Jello (with whipped cream)
Cookies (chocolate chip)
Soup (congee, yam sweet soup)
Asian foods (ramen, sushi, tteokbokki, jjajangmyeon, japchae, kimchi, dim sum)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cheesecake)
General snacks (chips, Cheetos, trail mix, pretzels, pistachios, crackers, rice cakes, energy bars)
Meat (BBQ beef roasts, roast chicken, BBQ pork buns, curry beef buns, chicken nuggets)

In conclusion, we want to remind all our contributors to put your health ahead of everything else. Without good health, body, mind and soul, at what cost are you willing to risk for your hobby on Viki?

9:17 PM | Category: editing, fun, segmenting, subtitling | 1 comments

Segment Timer and Browsers

"The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing." ― Joshua Harris

Every once in a while after reviewing a student’s video, the student will say, “I don’t understand why you told me those segments are late. My volume is all the way up, but when I pause right on the beginning line, I don’t hear anything!” This indicates a difference in segment timing between the two users. It is important to realize this difference in order for the student to effectively learn proper timing.

What causes timing dissimilarities? At NSSA, we searched for a cause by testing between browsers and across computers. It was determined that the browser in use may be a top candidate for the difference. In our research, we only tested segmenting using HTML5, not Flash, because Flash does not perform well for us in the segment timer. We recommend using HTML5 unless you do not have the capability.

Currently, the browsers Viki recommends are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer 9.0+. If you are using another browser, you may receive this alert:

(Note: One user also had this alert appear while using Internet Explorer 9.0)

Still, the segment timer in each browser does not perform the same. Here is a summary of what our experiences were with each browser. Windows Vista, Windows 7, and two versions of Mac OS X were used:

Chrome - Smoothest segmenting experience without lagging or stuttering. Occasional freezing. Comparable timing across computers.

Firefox - Longer load times accompanied by some lagging or stuttering.

Safari - Audio lag after un-pausing. Timing differed across computers.

Internet Explorer 9.0 - (Tested in Windows Vista) Performed the worst of the tested browsers with frequent freezing and lagging.

Opera - Performed somewhere between Chrome and Firefox, with smooth segmenting and less lag compared to Firefox. However, longer load times were experienced. Performance declined after segmenting several parts.

Following is a playlist of videos which demonstrate some of these experiences:

We also checked how well each browser supports HTML5 at html5test.com. This overview shows how well HTML5 is supported on browsers and their current and older versions based on several features. The highest score a browser can receive is 555:

Based on this overview and the experiences we collectively had, we suggest trying Chrome to segment in order to have the best experience and the most similar timing across computers.

Of course, there may be other computer-related reasons two users may see a segment starting at different times, but considering the browser is a good place to start. Anyone having issues segmenting should also look into the best browser for their computer.

Let us know in the comments what your experiences are regarding the segment timer and browsers!

1:57 AM | Category: segmenting | 0 comments

Ninja Horoscope

The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.
– Thales

Knowing oneself might not be that easy, but maybe the zodiac signs can bring us some enlightenment. Check it out! Maybe you will have an "Ahh, now I see" moment while reading... ;-)

An Aries is a person born between the 21st of March and the 19th of April.

Famous Ninjas: chizzygirl, babyinspiritestar1, blu3love
Viki Contributions: Aries are known to be energetic and adventurous. They can deal well with lots of segmenting, subtitling, and editing work and enjoy the challenges, as every video, language, drama, and genre is different. They have a strong desire to move forward (so they make great ninjas!) and they rarely turn down a challenge. Moreover, the Aries are always eager to learn or try something new. When something like segmenting catches their attention, they will look into it completely. It is one of their strengths to question things and find new ways and methods. Their “dark side”: It would be wise if red segments and fail-to-save subs stay away from Aries, as they are known to be rather impatient in dealing with errors. So all red segments and stubborn subs out there, stay away from the Aries! It is for your own good!
Teamwork: Aries are friendly, outgoing to teammates, and you can always count on them and their support. Their enthusiasm will make a boring and dull project fun and exciting. Besides that, an Aries doesn’t mind taking charge and leading a team in order to reach a certain goal. But they tend to become a bit impatient if they don’t get quick results. However, if a Viki troll comes along… no worries, the Aries will stand up to that troll for sure!

A person who is a Taurus is born between the 20th of April and the 20th of May.

Famous Ninjas: bjohnsonwong, mafeC4B

Viki Contributions: Taurus are dependable, loyal, and both physically and emotionally strong. Therefore, volunteer work on Viki is a piece of cake for them. Also, Taurus like pleasing, soothing things, so pictures of some drama hotties in the team discussion might be a nice cherry on top of the project. [Author: Just saying while being totally "unbiased" and "objective" (yeah right)… I would be definitely motivated and go the extra mile just because of some eye candy! ;-)] But watch out: Taurus can be a bit “possessive” of their eye candy, hubbies. So be careful with sudden love confessions toward a certain hottie. [Kidding...I think ;-)] As a Taurus doesn’t like changes that much, a certain working routine should be followed for their channels. Coming to segment and subtitle on certain days of the week is energizing and motivating for them. (As are the hotties!)
Teamwork: Taurus are great team players. Sometimes it takes some time until you get to know them better. Their “silence” is a trait that suits their ninja work well: Talk is silver, silence is gold. They care more about the job being done in the right way than “coming in first”. It would be wise not to rush them as they will finish their work at their own pace. To all Viki trolls out there, don’t breathe down their necks with questions like, “When will the Eng subs done?”. (Actually, it would be wise if you don’t ask that any of those Zodiac signs.) However, Taurus are down to earth and sensible, so they can generally deal with issues and Viki bugs calmly. Persistency is another strength they have. Once they set their minds to something, they will work for it.
Red segments watch out! There is no way you will defeat Taurus. Thanks to their stubborn personalities, they keep clicking on “save the segment” until the segment will be saved!

A Gemini is a person born between the 21nd of May and the 21st of June.

Famous Ninjas: Mazza, AmyPun, shms, serenite78, pilar_velasquez, purplecandy
Viki Contributions: Geminis are quick-thinking, quick-witted, and curious. They are adaptable and inclined to take on a lot at once due to their curious minds. Therefore, Geminis have a tendency to accept many projects and are interested in exploring all areas of contributing. The downside is that they take on too much, so they are unable to give everything their attention and may have trouble following through with all of their Viki commitments. Geminis should try to stick to a few areas of contributing and get really good at them. However, once something catches their attention (such as a segmenting or a subbing project) you can be sure that their enthusiasm will be like a “flu”: Everyone around them will catch “it” and happily join the fun (project). That is why they are also such great promoters of a (new) project. Thanks to their extraordinary communication skills, they can convince you to join any boring project.
Teamwork: Geminis love to talk and develop a real camaraderie while working in a group. If you have any problems or need some advice, you can count on Geminis as they will help and listen to you. Viki trolls shouldn’t even dream about starting an argument with Geminis. Because of their eloquent words and clever arguments, they will be the “winner” of every discussion. They are valuable team components, bringing inspiration to the team with their ideas. Moreover, Geminis want to be involved once they join a project, instead of leaning back and enjoying the “show”. However, they are not inclined to take the lead. Therefore, Gemini would be good candidates as moderators or co-managers, bringing progress and hope to the channel.

A Cancer is a person born between the 22nd of June and the 23rd of July.

Famous Ninjas: narin78, Kazumi_oka

Viki Contributions: Cancers are maternal, domestic, and they want everything to be harmonious. As a result, they are trustworthy and work hard in their contributions. However, they don’t expect much in return for their hard work as segmenters, subbers and/or editors. Working in their channels will be “like being at home”: comfortable and fun. Because of their great memories, they won’t forget past projects, former teammates, friends, and all the fun they had. So in case you want to talk about the “good old days”, Cancers are the right persons in order to reminisce about past projects. Although they are dependable, Cancers sometimes need a push to get started. They make great quality checkers (chief segmenters and editors) because they want to look out for their teammates.
Teamwork: Cancers love communal activities and are very nurturing and protective, so they will stand up for their Viki family. However, when it comes to themselves personally, they can be emotional and will retreat into their hard shells when feeling upset. Still, they thrive in a group environment where they are motivated by protecting their team. Cancers are quick to assist others and are always willing to lend a hand when somebody needs help inside or outside of a channel. Moreover, they have a great imagination, think in unconventional ways, and can come up with creative and unique ways in order to resolve a crisis.

A Leo is a person born between the 24st of July and the 23rd of August.

Famous Ninjas: supernenita3d
Viki Contributions: Leos make great channel managers and moderators because they are ambitious, dignified, strong, organized, and love being center stage. They are eager to see their projects through to the end, so you can always count on them to be efficient and to get things done. Believe it or not, Leos enjoy the process itself while accomplishing a lot. Because of their optimistic nature, it is fun to be around and work with them. Even a 100-episodes long drama would appear way shorter once they are in on it. They are also good candidates for segmenting and subbing marathons due to their persistent nature.
Teamwork: In a team, Leos are warm, inspirational and enthusiastic, although they can be stubborn in their ways. Because they are strong and fearless, they may take on a lot of projects without worrying about having too much on their plate. Leos will take matters into their own hands when confronted with problems at Viki. Moreover, they won’t avoid confrontation out of fear: If there is a problem, they will say what is on their mind without any euphemisms. Leos have to learn how to take it easy without stressing themselves out because of the load they put on themselves. Those subs that won't save and red segments won’t have the slightest chance to discourage Leos.

A Virgo is a person born between the 24th of August and the 22nd of September.

Famous Ninjas: Mydefinition
Viki Contributions: Their practical nature is one of their biggest strengths, which is also an important trait for a Ninja. Because of their methodical and efficient approach, they get their work done both well and fast. Managers out there, if you are looking for a smart and efficient segger or subber, Virgo would be a great choice!
Virgo are criticised for being judgmental, but they just want make sure there are no mistakes. That is why they are such great editors and chief segmenters, as they won’t ignore mistakes and ensure that everything is flawless. Perfectionism is definitely a virtue that should be fostered and respected.
Teamwork: Virgo are responsible, reliable, and helpful team members. They are goal oriented, perfectionists, and great achievers, but they don’t boast about their success. Moreover, they are too smart to fall for lies and insincere persons. In a crisis such as too many “Where are the subs?!” (right after uploading) questions, they stay cool and logical. Viki trolls should not even be in the same channel with Virgo as they are probably not able to handle Virgo, since Virgo can be harsh and direct. If you want more than a blunt response to your nuisance messages or questions, go right ahead and challenge a Virgo.

A Libra is a person born between the 23rd of September and the 22nd of October.

Famous Ninjas: Luzclarita81, Geseende
Viki Contributions: Libras love things to be refined and beautiful, so they strive for their work to be polished and enjoyed by an audience. They are also great communicators and know how to get what they want, so they are perfect not only for subtitling and segmenting, but also for leadership roles where they can guide a team. Moreover, Libras are quite charming and can be pretty persuasive. But when you join their project, you won’t regret it for even a second (even if the project is rather boring), as Libras have a gentle and outgoing nature and will make sure you feel comfortable. Libras are great following guidelines, but they stand out as team leaders who are fair and can easily guide others when necessary. However, Libras can be indecisive, so it is not always easy for them to choose between projects. Therefore Channel Managers out there, please give Libra time to respond to your project offerings and don’t expect an immediate response from them.

Teamwork: Libras are peace-makers and want to do what is best for everyone. That is why you can be always sure that Libras will consider various opinions (e.g. in a discussion) instead of insisting on theirs no matter what! They want to ensure harmony among everyone on the team. Apart from that, Libras are great team players as they don’t like working alone on a project. They will do their best to keep the “team spirit” alive once they join a project. Even though Libras like to share work, when it comes to “drama hotties”... they don’t like to share at all. So trolls have no chance to provoke Libras successfully, as their response will come with a “sincere smile”. But that doesn’t mean that Libras won’t stand up to those who break certain (common) rules: Their diplomatic, tactful, and objective nature is important in resolving any conflicts in their channels because they will talk things through rather than having verbal arguments over conflicts. They always play fair, which makes them excellent and trustworthy team members.

A Scorpio is a person born between the 23rd of October and the 21st of November.

Famous Ninjas: bkiss, heidi_lyon

Viki Contributions: A Scorpio is a go-getter. They are stubborn and determined to succeed, so you can ensure they will finish the subbing and segging projects they take on. Scorpios also know how to balance work and rest. They will work as hard as they can in order to earn their deserved break to sit back and be satisfied with their accomplishments. Because of that strength, Scorpio are very passionate and active CMs as they prefer being involved over staying on the sidelines. Besides, they love exploring Viki and all kinds of dramas and languages. The word “language barrier” doesn’t exist for them as they look for new horizons anyway. When it comes to their beloved drama hotties, they tend to get a "tiny bit" jealous, so hands off their hotties! ;-) Scorpio can be pretty persuasive, so don’t be surprised when you join their project even though you don’t like the project itself from the start. Scorpios can lose their tempers and even become vengeful, so it’s best to give them plenty of time and room to explore themselves so they can do their thing without feeling pressured for meeting certain deadlines. Therefore, audiences out there, please don’t demand subs! Just be silent and patient, you can expect good results from this waiting.

Teamwork: Scorpios don’t know the word “QUIT”. They are perfectionists who consistently strive to become better. The sky is the limit. Therefore, they will definitely be the ones who will have a difficult time working with lazy teammates. So if you are in a team with a Scorpio, please be considerate and try to understand a Scorpio. Try to strive for a similar standard and quality of work. Being passionate about your contributions is always a good thing, but most importantly: Don’t forget to keep your hands off their hotties! In case there any any issues in an On Air Channel (e.g. there is no episode, red segments are "on the warpath"), you can count on Scorpios. They will handle any crisis without any fears or worries about possible failures.

A Sagittarius is a person born between the 22nd of November and the 21st of December.

Famous Ninjas: Mihaelagh, wafaahs

Viki Contributions: Sagittarius are great Ninjas as they are known as truth-seekers. By talking to others, they find out the answers they are looking for. As Sagittarius love exploring the world, they enjoy working on Viki as segmenters, subbers and/or editors. This way they get to know more about other cultures and languages. Their optimistic and cheerful nature makes every project fun and exciting. Sagittarius are extraordinary Ninjas because of their open mindedness that welcomes any new dimension of thought. For them, segmenting and subbing is not just dull work. They will get to the heart of it and explore all its aspects.

Teamwork: They are great, sincere, loyal and honest teammates. But all CMs out there: Don’t even try to boss around Sagittarius, as they love their freedom and independence (well, who doesn’t). Moreover, once they join a project, you can be sure that they won't get lost in details and keep the “big picture”, the project, in mind. So it would be wise not to bother them with too many details as they know how to do their job. All Viki trolls and red segments should keep a safety distance from Sagittarius (it would be for your own good…). Sagittarius hate bad manners and despite their diplomatic nature, they can be pretty straightforward and blunt as they have a strong sense for justice… Another advice for Viki trolls: They should take off “bullying” from their daily agenda, as Sagittarius are usually on the side of the underdog and will make sure that everyone is aware of that. However, Sagittarius don’t hold grudges and are willing to forgive insults.

A Capricorn is a person born between the 22nd of December and the 20th of January.

Famous Ninjas: Egzona

Viki Contributions: Capricorns are known as hard-working, reliable contributors who will keep working in order to reach a certain goal. So if you have a project with a Capricorn contributor, expect them to get the job well done! Their persistence, ambition and determination enables them to keep pressing on. They are great Ninjas as they continue to put forth their best effort and never stop training their skills. However, they are also cautious and always play fair. Their honest nature makes them a valuable asset within the channel. But to all segmenters, CMs, moderators and subbers out there, please make sure that the Capricorns don’t overwork themselves as it is important to recharge one’s energy. [Author: By the way, stay tuned for next week’s article about food and recharging some energy!]. Once Capricorns start segmenting and subbing, they are totally focused on that work. That is why they are also great CMs as they will stay focused on the project they started instead of being on the verge of fainting because of a hottie… ;-) [Author: Obviously, I’m referring to myself…]
Teamwork: Capricorn are like chameleons, they are able to adapt to all kinds of channel managers, teams and so forth. Their flexibility allows them to work and adapt to changes in any environment. However, they also like to be in charge instead of being bossed around. Therefore, it’s important for teammates to respect them and give them freedom of creative expression. Besides that, they are reliable team members who can work well in a group environment.

An Aquarius is a person born between the 21st of January and the 19th of February.

Famous Ninjas: LeoGregory

Viki Contributions: Aquarius are known as truth-seekers with innovative and progressive minds. As they are honest souls, they don’t have any trouble with changing their opinion about something instead of insisting on it until they grow old gracefully. For instance, they wouldn’t point at an apple and insist it is a chair no matter what others say or do. In a discussion, Aquarius are always able to see both sides while being neutral. That is why they are such great Ninjas and make good CMs, segmenters, subbers and editors, as they appreciate and welcome everybody’s input. Because of their broad minded and unbiased nature, it is always a pleasure to work with them on a project. Aquarius’ main goal is improving things or certain routines so that many can enjoy and benefit from the improvements. They would be the first to come up with ideas or suggestions in order to prevent a certain wrongdoing from being repeated, such as the addition of fake (nonsense) subs into segments. Any team member can only benefit from their creative ideas. In addition to this, their perseverance is also their strength. Once they start a project, they will do their best to stay until all the work is done.

Teamwork: Aquarius are quite popular with their friends as they treasure friendship. They are great and loyal teammates who always make sure to give back what they get. However, all CMs out there: don’t be too pushy as Aquarius like being independent and going their own way as well. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t great team players! Moreover, Aquarius respect all humans even though it might not seem like that in the beginning because of their sarcasm. [Well, some sarcasm a day keeps the doctor away. Kidding. ;-)] Apart from that, their sense of humour can be unique. But once you understand their humour, you will be rolling on the floor laughing. Red segments and failed-to-save subs should not even think about getting in the way of Aquarius. Their stubbornness is no joke when it comes to red segments and any other Viki bugs they come across. The final “score” will alway be: Aquarius: 1; Bug: 0. The same goes with Viki trolls... Aquarius won’t sugarcoat their comments but will just be frank.

A Pisces is a person born between the 20th of February and the 20th of March.

Famous Ninjas: cgwm808

Viki Contributions: Pisces are known to be generous, friendly, creative and emotional souls. For them, contributing is just fun work and it is possible that they become absorbed in an episode they like while segmenting or subtitling. Moreover, because of their willingness to help, it is not that easy to refuse a project. Therefore, a persuasive Gemini or Scorpio won’t have any troubles convincing Pisces. As Pisces tend to be quite empathetic, projects like revenge dramas or sad dramas might upset or distract them while working. Because of their imagination power, it might be possible that Pisces will get lost in a daydream about a hottie while segmenting, subbing or editing. So it would be wise to keep the posting of some “eye candy” (in the team discussion) in moderation. But no worries, Pisces are reliable and will make sure they finish the work they started. Pisces are also very patient, but red segments and Viki bugs can't have their way with them.

Teamwork: Pisces have a patient and kind nature and like to help their friends. They accept all kinds of teams or CMs and either decide to go with the "flow" or rebel against it. In case a Viki troll bothers someone, they will deal with it in a calm and rational way. But they don’t like confrontations with Viki trolls (well, who likes that anyway). They are not greedy.

[Credit: Ninja Images by BlueLela at Deviantart]

10:01 PM | Category: fun | 2 comments