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Greetings, people of deviantART! Andrew Mantynen here! It's good to be back after a long Christmas break! And boy did I have a good Christmas! Well, 2012 is almost over, and so is a long string of years that have matching digits in them. And with the year coming to an end, I feel like I should tell you all my top 20 favorite things that I have done this year. I did a LOT of stuff and I narrowed it down to a good 20. If you don't agree with my choices or think I shouldn't have placed certain ones in certain ranks, please don't be disappointed. I liked doing everything I did the whole year. Now, it's time to begin my top 20 favorite 2012 projects. Let's get started. This is my top 20 2012 projects.

Top 20 2012 Projects

Number 20
My poetry
Having taken a Shakespeare class back in high school, I read a lot of Shakespeare's poems and really felt entranced with his work. He didn't work on just plays. He started off with writing poems here and there each of them having deep meanings. And I felt like taking a cue from him there and it shows how much of a writer I've become on here and I also wanted to embrace my poetic side. You all really enjoy my poetry as I try to make it sound philosophical and original. I don't mean to toot my own horn here. I just really like writing poems. And with something coming up or an event that has occurred, I feel the inspiration to let it out and see what I can do to make it rhyme or put it into any form. I like poetry, I like Shakespeare, I hope to continue doing stuff like this till the day I die. Let's move on.

Number 19
The requests, art trades, and commissions I gave you guys
With all the stuff I gave you guys upon request, I am happy to see that you liked what I gave you. But I can admit I wasn't too pleased with doing some of them. I had a little trouble of pulling a few of them off, mainly the ones I wasn't too familiar with. Those are the ones I often have the trouble with. If I had to pick a few favorites, I can say I liked doing that one where Rod and I end up in the video game universe and meet the stars of Wreck-It Ralph, a few of the ones I did for Myles, the ones involving Ruben's original series that's a Blue's Clues reboot, The Thomsons for Tanner, and anything else I can think of. I just wasn't really keen on some of the ones I wasn't familiar with or felt like I've done a few times. But I am just happy that you enjoyed what I gave you and I hope you continue to read on, and I'll be sure to give you more next year.

Number 18
Andrew and Theresa: A Heartfilled Day
Now I'll admit, I wasn't sure if I wanted to put this one on here because I thought it was just one of those specials that are just there, but I can see that I think it deserves a spot here now. I don't really have much luck finding any girls out there, and it is a bit disappointing for me. But I know I'll find that special girl. I just don't know when. This story really helps me feel good about at least being there for a friend on a certain day. This was a Valentine's Day story I did that involved me and my friend Theresa who is a very close friend of mine and she and I get along great. I made it so that we could spend this day together and show just how strong our friendship is. I would hope to meet her and the rest of you in person someday so we could all have a good time together. But this one was just a special Valentine's thing I wanted to do for one of my closest friends on here, and I see a lot of people liked it. And you know, I think it can encourage me to do a special Valentine's Day project for next year. You'll see when the time comes. But overall, I enjoyed doing this one and doing all the stuff Theresa and I did in it. Nothing will tear us apart.

Number 17
The Mario/Phineas and Ferb crossovers from this year
I wasn't sure if I called these my best ones here this year, but it did have some moments around here. There was the Tanooki suits for instance and a few moments with Bowser and Doofenshmirtz of course. There was that one where Norm was a human and I even had Julian's OC Melissa get in on one set with Bowser Jr. falling for her. And there was also that Monty Monogram and Kongs working together shtick I worked with like with that mysterious hacker being one of the Sammer Guys. I don't think I'll be doing this kind of stuff forever. Just until I run out of material for it or the show ends. In a way, I do think Phineas and Ferb should find a way to end their summer vacation by going out with a bang, and I also know there are the specials that take place at different times so they shouldn't count, but summer is the show's main basis, so I'm just curious how it'll end. And before it does, I'll have to think of how to end this set of crossovers. I'm sure I'll find a way, and if I can't, I'm all ears to hear what you guys have in mind.

Number 16
The 1,234th Deviation Roast
This one I am a little impressed and embarrassed to have on here. Impressed because I feel like it can help me make a few changes with my approach on these stories and embarrassed because I'm trying to learn from this, but some of it I just can't learn right. It's true that I have done a few things a few times too many and I'm hoping to either cut back on it or quit it cold turkey and try to make something new out of it. That's what this roast was teaching me. And I was making sure to keep everyone in character as possible and when we beat up the narrator was a good fourth wall breaking moment. That's something I don't think I'll have to worry about. 4th wall jokes can work at times so that I don't have to worry about. But the lessons from this roast I am learning from will kick in soon enough. I just have to find the right moment and make some new tactics.

Number 15
The Commercial Compilations
I always did have fun seeing Doug Walker do these in his Nostalgia Critic days and these are no exceptions. Some favorite commercials I did are the Jennette back-to-school lessons, the one with the Game & Watch, the 80's Pac-Man cereal dance, all the Halloween themed commercials I did, and I just feel like I should probably do one more of these. I just can't get enough of them. The only problem would be finding some newer and fresher commercials to go with in future compilations. But I just know I'll run into one whether it be on TV or on YouTube. Just as long as they're not overly disgusting like that Yoshi's Island one that could make anyone sick. I always feel like that one was one of the worst ever made because of how different in marketing games we are from Japan. Sure, they had that strange breakdancing Legend of Zelda one there, but that Yoshi's Island commercial was just a little too much there. Sometimes, we should try doing what they do and make it match as much as possible is all. But I'm sure I'll see another commercial or two worthy of putting in another collection.

Number 14
Hanna-Barbera Month
Yeah, I sure had some good times with this one. Did I make some good picks on what to put in there or what? I really enjoyed the Jetsons Movie one because I just felt disappointed that the Jetsons were reduced to making an environmental awareness movie and I felt the visuals were the only impressive thing to go with it. But what really ruined the film for me was that music video with Judy and that guy she met in the film. I just felt all those different art styles seemed out of place in Hanna-Barbera. But what are you gonna do? The Pac-Man cartoon I wish I could have talked more about, but there wasn't enough online material for me to use. I just had to go with the Christmas episode. I can give HB props for at least trying to make something out of a simple Namco Bandai game, perhaps the company's cornerstone, but it still had quite a few problems with it. And with The Man Called Flintstone, I did enjoy watching that film when I was a kid but still felt that maybe it seemed a little dated. Sure seeing Fred take on a style like James Bond was pretty cool, but I felt like there were too many musical numbers even for an animated film, mostly the ones Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm sang. The first one seemed like pointless filler, but the second one seemed to be more about how Fred about Pebbles when she grew up. That I can understand. But all in all, the film is pretty okay, so I guess I can recommend it. My favorite one though had to be the Arabian Nights review because, come on, they really modernized the hell out of those stories. Sure, Disney tried it with their telling of Aladdin, but they still managed to keep it as close to the actual story itself. Their version of Aladdin was gender bent and the Sinbad one just got really annoying and felt too modern day with how they made it go. And Scooby and Shaggy probably never got to leave the palace at all, so it's like an idea of what happened after they retired solving mysteries. I just wonder what happened to Fred, Daphne, and Velma in those films when they're not around. Oh well. And the Swat Kats one was fun to do with Kyle and I was glad to wrap it up on a positive note. I was just hoping they could have at least finished it so we could have had a proper resolution to the show. But sadly, it got turned down by Turner for being too violent and dark. What are you gonna do? Still, this was a great month and I hope to have a new theme next year.

Number 13
Season 14 Telethon
This one was pretty simple to do. I just made it seem like that if we didn't get enough donations in there, we'd have to quit altogether. Of course, I wouldn't let that happen. It was sort of like just how telethons can be serious with how if they don't reach their goal, then that's the end with what they're trying to save. And it can be major at times. I understand that. And I hope the acts I chose really catered to your whims and you had fun reading it. Those of you who got to be in it, I'm glad I gave you some parts. Those who weren't in it, don't worry. You'll get your time. And that last moment where it seemed like we wouldn't get the last coin added the suspense there. I felt like they should make a moment where they're just one cent away from their goal and at the last second, someone donates it and they make it. Something like that on a TV show. That would be amusing to see. But nonetheless, this was a fun way to end my 14th season and I can't wait to see how I'll end the next.

Number 12
Creepier By The Dozen
This one sort of has an inside joke about being ranked here and how it ended my twelfth season. Because as we all know, dozen means twelve. This was a pretty interesting way of having more of me than we really need. Each one with a different emotion. One was an old man, one was a loudmouth, one was a coward, one was miserable, one was lovestruck, one of them was a cool guy, the other was lazy, it was just a lot of fun putting in multiple personalities. And of course, there was the evil one that was causing the most trouble for me and we all pitched in to put a stop to him. And of course, with my fear of roller coasters, he couldn't stand that ride that we got him into. And they ended up getting their own jobs and everyone was happy. Definitely a worthy inside joke.

Number 11
My Gravity Falls stories
What can I say? I'm really into this new show that Disney Channel has aired. Gravity Falls is a really great cartoon. It has hand-drawn animation that looks like something out of the 90's in a way. Plus, it has some really spot-on jokes and an intriguing story that builds it as an arc. Two kids go to their great uncle's cabin in the woods and find out the town they're in has something about it no one else knows. This is just teeming with all sorts of mystery and excitement. I like all the characters they have here and how their personalities are different from each other, like Dipper's Genre Savvy seriousness, or Mabel's Cloudcuckoolander style hyperactivity. They all have different traits but seem to work well as a team nonetheless. And the stories I did for it were that summertime Thanksgiving one about vengeful turkeys taking on the people for eating their brethren, and how their leader was supposed to be a caricature of Christopher Walken. If they can have wax figures of Larry King and Coolio, they can have a turkey portrayed like Christopher Walken, trust me. And there was that Christmas in July style one for the holidays. That was a pretty fun one there and I liked having Pacifica in on this. She's usually a pretty hated character for making fun of Mabel, and I can agree that she deserves some comeuppance now and again, but I just have a feeling we'll see more of her anyway. And I'm thinking of writing a few more fan-made episodes myself. Not mainly holiday ones, but you'll see soon enough. This show really got a lot of fans in from the moment it premiered, and I think it'll be a great show through and through. Some of you I know gave it a try but didn't get into it and prefer Phineas and Ferb or just don't like it as much as PnF, but if possible, why don't you give it another try? You might like it then. If not, well, I can't change your mind. But you don't what you're missing.

Number 10
Psycho Psychiatrist
This series was definitely one of my favorites to do when the year started. It's about me starting a new career as a therapist for familiar evildoers who have been trying to make a heel face turn in their lives and try something new to do than what they're usually doing. It really feels like this is what it would be like if they did decide to rehabilitate themselves. I look at some of their history, see what they have thought about putting their skills to good use, all that stuff. I liked helping Bowser, Gargamel, Eggman, Boris and Natasha, Ganondorf, Darth Vader, Swiper the Fox, Mojo Jojo, Doofenshmirtz, and the Red Guy the most. They were some of my favorite patients. It's been a while since I did another session, but come next year, I'm gonna wrap it up for good. How is it gonna end? You'll see soon enough. After my 50th patient, that will be the end of my time of helping the evilhearted in need.

Number 9
The JUMP Arc: The Mirror Of Malice
I sure had a lot of fun writing a ten episode arc in my hit series JUMP, the Justice Upholding Missionary Program. You know, last year, I wasn't so sure if JUMP would be all that popular, but I can see that the people loved it, so I just continued making more episodes. And we're already into the second half of the series, and I'm impressed. Anyway, this arc about the mirror of malice is one of my favorite things from this year because it not only had a big threat here, but it also had something to do that we don't often see in action shows in America. And that is cults and churches. We don't often see those, and that is just to keep the religious and cultist sides unharmed. I don't think it would be that bad to show it as long as they're done right if you ask me. And you all seemed to enjoy the arc for that. Seven pieces of a mirror, one on every continent, and they had to go and retrieve those pieces before the Purifiers did. Of course, the pieces got stolen and the evil god Stolas was reborn. And everything literally went to hell. That's something we can see, but only referred to as something else. This was a really good threat that was written into the show, and I even liked how I didn't have my agents get a piece every time, they just got beaten to the punch somehow. But they still managed to save the day in the end and the Purifiers redeemed themselves and were brought to the church. I really wanted to think outside the box on this one, and I thank you all for your support.

Number 8
My Christmas Themed Stories
It's obvious that you'd see these on the list. Christmas is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. Not just for the presents and candy. But because it just has that magical spark going around. I see everyone so happy to be together. All the houses and streets look so beautiful at this time of the year. I feel like waiting for Christmas is more fun than Christmas itself. And I managed to pull off 12 stories around this holiday this year. Like a poem about it, a story with Gravity Falls as I mentioned earlier, one with Mario, one with Sonic, even one with Wreck-It Ralph just to name a few. They all had their charm that still managed to fit into the holidays. Some of them I know have been a bit done before, but I did try to make them more original as much as possible. I didn't want it to be too cliche. Like that whole thing where villains make good people appear naughty and cash in on good presents and such, or traveling to the North Pole to see Santa, but if you can make it work, go for it. And I went with it and made it work. I even made another JUMP Christmas special like I did last year. And it's much better than last year's I can say that. I personally liked my Wreck-It Ralph one with the game characters having Christmas themed features in their games and Calhoun's childhood about Christmas. And there was also the Mario one and Gravity Falls ones. They're all my favorite things from this year, and next year will have a bigger haul.

Number 7
JUMP Arc: Cameron's Father
I felt as the show was getting deeper and deeper, it was time to introduce Cameron's father, the man who put Cameron in charge of JUMP in the first place. And it even had his old business partner trying to seek revenge on him. I really wanted to bring him in through mysterious ways and their chase for him all across the world was definitely a fun way of doing it. They went to all sorts of places: India, London, the Himalayas, and we finally got to meet Cameron's father after all these seasons. I wanted to show them the backstory to how it came to be, and I was more than happy to keep everything in check. There was nothing that could keep those two apart, and I felt like those people in the mountain village were a good way of showing how Curtis survived all those years and I don't know if I'll bring Hugo back, but if I do, who knows what will happen with him? But I'm sure we'll see Curtis again in the series.

Number 6
Top 20 Worst SpongeBob Episodes
MoBrosStudios would probably be happy to see he's got some people who enjoyed his countdowns and wanted to make their own. And I'm no exception. I did as best as I could to make as many good jokes like he could make on these really bad episodes our favorite yellow sea square has made after his movie. The old episodes are classic and they really had to try to write them better or at least bring some of the old writers back. I feel maybe a couple of them didn't belong here, but about every other sure did. I had to explain what was wrong with them in anyway, shape, and form. And I think I might take a cue from MoBros and try to have a fan edition countdown where you guys vote on which 20 episodes should qualify as runners-up and what you think are the worst out of a selected list. Just none of the ones MoBros did on his two or the ones I did on this one. Just don't wanna have to go through them again. The problem I have with doing it on a poll is that you could see which one is in the lead easily, and I should make a new way of voting on this one. I'll figure something out. Just don't think the poll will work. I would be looking forward to see your opinion on what some of SpongeBob's weaker episodes are.

Number 5
Time After Time
Rod, I think you really got me something to work with this year. And thank you for that. What we did was make a sequel to The Amulet of Prognosticus and turn it into an RPG based adventure. I had all the people who were there before help us fight a new threat: Ghetsis from Pokemon Generation 5 in both his past and future selves. They were hacking other peoples' accounts and stealing their artwork for their own. And we all know stuff like that isn't allowed here. Rod and I were the stars of this story so we couldn't really leave the party like how in RPGs the main character has to stay in at all times unless there's a reason for it. And everyone had their time to shine. I made sure of that. I liked having all the different artifacts being guarded by various foes and such from past games. Okay, they were Mario games mainly, but they were still memorable bosses overall. The final battle, I'll admit, wasn't too creative, but it still managed to fit the intensity that I was making this go with. Also having my future self appear was a nice touch. It happens in some movies, and I made it work with the story ending in peace. And I know this was a request like in number 19, but this one gets a special spot here because it was just so much fun to write. I couldn't resist. I just wonder what we'll go through altogether next.

Number 4
Isaiah in Eye Of The Viper/Yellow Fire's Alternate Universal Crisis
These two I just really couldn't decide here. They were birthday gifts for my best buds Rod and Adam. First Rod's. I had his nephew Isaiah in his boxing lessons take up a boxing tournament for the big prize and to see if he can go the distance. Sort of like Rocky and Punch-Out!! there. All the opponents were knacks to what Mac faced off against in the tournament and Sandman Jr. was definitely a take on Mr. Sandman from the games, but we know how tough he can be. And I made Isaiah come back a champion and make his uncle Rod proud. That is how a champion should fight. Now Adam's. His OC Yellow Fire teams up with Wonder Peach and my OC Jennifer who he really likes and they travel to some alternate universe where Wario, Bowser, and Nefarion rule. It's sort of like a post apocalyptic world built in their image and the heroes have to stop them from it ever happening. Of course, it wouldn't be like that forever. They just had to fight the baddies and get back to their world. It wasn't easy, but I was sure able to pull this one off. I had fun doing both of these because they were birthday gifts and they let me try to make something for them without being told exactly what they wanted. It helped me think of something more creative in the end. I just hope I can think of something for them for next year, but I doubt they'll be as good as these two.

Number 3
The guest appearances in JUMP by my friends and Jennette McCurdy
That's right. I was happy to put you and Jennette in the series for an episode. Since you guys help me co-write the show, I figured it would only be fair to give you all a special guest appearance in it. They went to Texas and met Rod when an oil monster attacked his home, they went to Denver to stop a foggy fiend from fogging up the city and help Myles out, Tanner came by and they had a little fun and terror at Thrill World, and they met Adam during number 7's arc and how they stopped the gargoyles that Hugo tricked. And he showed some action and met Jennifer his favorite of the agents. And of course, the one with Jennette had to be a birthday present for her. Some girl from her childhood comes back and tries to get revenge on her for stealing the fame and popularity and star life that Jennette has right now. That was a pretty fun thing to have her be in. Now, it is said that she might not sing anymore, I had her appear with her country music career going, and I don't know if it'd bee too late to have this episode as it is if this series ever did get picked up, but I'm sure she'd love to guest star either way. She still has the great voice for it, so I don't think she'd mind. And it's safe to say that my agents meet some very nice faces around the world.

Number 2
JUMP's 100th Episode
Man, oh man, where do I start on this? Every fan of my series saw this episode and just couldn't get enough of it. It was to bring back the evil counterparts of JUMP that they had taken on before thanks to STUPID's little thing they got in the Halloween episode. They were more powerful than ever and even had some new allies with them to take them on. It was a real hassle for both sides and the heroes were 1-up'd in every corner at first, but they soon worked together and got more powerful and took on DUMP again. This was also the episode where they got the jackets that my friend Terry gave them back when they were still being designed officially and it shows how they have become higher ranked agents in the series. They'll have something new coming their way with these. And I hope this second half opens new opportunities for them and me.

And my Number 1 2012 Project is...
1000th Deviation Showdown Special
That's right. I consider my 1,000th deviation ever to be my favorite thing from this year. It was definitely a ground breaking point for me for finally reaching such a point, and I couldn't believe it at first that I had gotten so many. I thought I should have just quit at times, but I kept going, and here it is. It's basically similar to the Robot Chicken sketch that was for its 100th episode. You see, a lot of my friends were kidnapped, so Rod, my JUMP agents, and I all went to the rescue to save them from Nefarion. But every time we got up to another floor, there was a familiar face I worked with in my series at the time we took on. We fought them in many different and effective ways to keep it going and have the drama and suspense pumping. Robot Chicken did it with the chicken fighting off all of the original sketch characters that were made on the show, and that was sort of what I was going with on how all the different characters I worked with had been and we fought them all off like how the chicken did and the final showdown seemed to have us finished off, but at a last second save, we defeated Nefarion and saved my friends. I really wanted to make an homage to that sketch because I felt like it was one of the most memorable moments in TV ever and everyone really loved my take on it. It's safe to say I enjoyed making it this far and I hope to just keep on going for generations to come.

And there it is, guys. That's my Top 20 2012 Projects. Now that that's settled, it's time to get ready for the new year and who knows what I'll be inspired by? Whatever I get, I hope to have it ready for you all to enjoy. So, that will be all and happy new year. Take care.