RaggedyLand ROMhack

Collaborative project - 2022

ROMhack of ドナルドランド (Donald Land), based on Raggedy Ann (various media)

From the ROMHacking.net page:

"The world’s favorite Rag Dolly comes to your Nintendo system in an exciting and challenging video game adventure. Join beloved children’s characters Raggedy Ann and Andy and their friends for twelve stages of fun. Take on pirates and monsters on the high seas. Explore the frozen ice caves of Looney Land. Travel through the sky to take on the voracious Greedy. Battle King Koo Koo in the haunted forest. Venture into the mysterious and maze-like hidden castle. But watch out! General D, the personification of death and destruction, has clouded everything with darkness. You’ll need to rescue your friends, and even fight some of them until they come to their senses. It’s a magical adventure you won’t soon forget!

Raggedy Ann is a character created by American writer and artist Johnny Gruelle (1880–1938). Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair, a triangle nose and a candy heart that says “I Love You.” The character was created in 1915 as a doll, and introduced to the public in the 1918 book Raggedy Ann Stories. Her brother, Raggedy Andy, was introduced by 1920. A 1977 animated film directed by Richard Williams and a 1986 Broadway musical featured songs by Joe Raposo."

romhacking.net page

Gallery

Caption

Process

Garrett's comment from his tumblr:

"It’s Raggedy Land with Ann and Andy for your Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom) and you can play the game right now! Brooklyn did final or semi-final designs for these characters:

Scottish Clem
Raggedy Ann and Andy
Grampa
General D
King Koo Koo (inflated)
Snoopwiggy
Suzie Pincushion
Raggedy Arthur
Mr. Twee Deedle
Cynthia
Shooting Star
Barney Bean-Bag
Maizie Moo Cow
Sunny Bunny
Mouse Ghosts
Angry Oven
Red Fang Wolf (final has striped suit)
Clown Doctors (final is taller)
Scrawny Bonnie (final is taller)

And contributed significantly to these characters:

Topsy Clown (first pass was similar)
The Pennies (walk cycle)
Beloved Belindy (final is larger but similar)
Tweety Bat (including ears and attitude)
The Greedy (concept)
Willa Witch (concept and shading)
Hoppy Toad (concept)
Captain Contagious (concept)

Also these enemies:

Mint candies
Mini Loonies
Bear enemies
Balloon Wolf
Walking rat

Brooklyn did at least half the artwork / design, and kept the project focused on fan-favorite ideas.
I did the rest and the technical ROMhacking."

This was such a spontanious project that came from Garrett's idea. I had done some pixel art work in the past but knew almost nothing about ROMhacking, so it was certainly a learning process as he taught me about pixel and pallete limitations, and what tricks could get around them. I applaud his patience. Work on many of the sprites was a back-and-forth collaboration, tweaked either directly or through comments. We wanted to insert as many characters from the movie, musical, and books as possible, which is where I could contribute. I'm still incredibly impressed by all Garrett managed to acomplish behind-the-scenes, as I saw very little of the coding and understood even less at the time.

Top row, left to right: Raggedy Andy, Raggedy Ann
Bottom row: Uncle Clem

Top row: Bat, Wolf in balloon, early Wolf concept
Middle: Penny dolls or Baby doll variations
Bottom row: General D, 70's Belindy

Top row: rat ghost concepts
Middle: Maisy Moocow
Bottom row: Cynthia, early witch sketch, Topsy

Top row: Snoopwiggy, Mr. Twee Deedle, rat, looney toy
Middle: Panda and Teddy concepts, Barney Beanbag
Middle bottom: Arthur, blanket
Bottom row: clown doctors, shooting star, Sunny Bunny