Site News

Hello, everyone! It's time for our monthly newsletter!

General updates

It's time for our annual Halloween event! Our species anniversary is also this month. We have two new staff members, SunnsetCadett (Programmer) and Zunteur (Permanent Artist)!

We've decided to keep staff applications open for Moderator and Social Media Mod for a while, so please apply here: https://forms.gle/3VgQXFurfEBxMtUC7 

Thank you to Hack for the banner!

Halloween Event

The Halloween shop is now open! You can buy a selection of normal items and special items, as well as Spooky Candy. This shop will close on the 17th.

We have a total of 8 event prompts for this event, with 2 being special raffle prompts. 

1. Pumpkin Carving - Decorate and color a pumpkin, lineart made by Yellow00f, to be entered into a raffle for a mystery design made by Perjantai. Ends November 1st, 11AM Pacific.
2. Draw or Write to Adopt - Create a work featuring the "Slime Baby" design will enter you into a raffle to win it! This design was made by Hack. Ends November 1st, 11AM Pacific.
3. Share Event - Share our forum post to get 5 spooky stardust (our Halloween event currency.) Ends November 16th, 11AM Pacific.
4. Costume Time, and the 4 Week prompts - These 5 prompts allow you to turn in themed artwork for spooky stardust. The first week prompt is out now, but a new prompt will unlock for the next 3 Sundays. All 5 of these prompts end November 16th, 11AM Pacific.

Notice: Please keep in mind that the timezone will change from Pacific Daylight Time to Pacific Standard Time on November 3rd. If your area does not observe Daylight Savings time, the prompts that end on the 16th may end an hour earlier or later for you. PDT/PST = UTC-7/UTC-8

Monthly Updates

As we do every month, we have new guest artists, new featured mantlas, and a new monthly prompt!

Guest Artists

This month, we have new monthly guest artists! If you applied and didn't get accepted, don't worry, you're always allowed to apply for future openings!

• Bloodmawz
• ecstasei
• neomblue

Featured Mantlas

Our two featured mantlas this month are Vixvie (MAN-0747) and MAN-0686, owned by Elysian-Waltz and SirBasil0 respectively! You can make one submission every week for the featured mantlas at the Featured Mantla prompt. Due to technical limitations, only one character can be featured on our homepage at the moment; the display will switch halfway through the month, but both can be drawn for the Featured Mantla prompt any time during the month. If you want your characters to have a chance of being selected to be the next Featured Mantla (or subspecies!), set them to "Yes" on both gift art and gift writing! "Ask first" is not counted.

Monthly Prompts

Our new monthly prompt's theme is Undead! October is the month where the lines between dead and alive get blurred, and the spirit world gets closer to the world of the living... It's more common to run into someone who has passed on or become something inbetween. You can view this month's prompt here.

Thanks for reading! Here's a prize code: October2024
If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here! You can also help by favoriting Slime Baby.

General Updates

All MYOs have been restocked!
We're opening a whole bunch of applications today! You can apply for as many as you would like. They're open from now until September 27, 2024 at 8:45 PM Pacific Time!

Monthly Guest Artist applications: https://forms.gle/7eNnWLksvq5LKkv8A
Staff applications (all positions): https://forms.gle/H3SDW9Rofvc9GzhHA
We are primarily looking for Moderators, Programmers, and Social Media Moderators at this time.

UI Artist Project

We're trying to get all traits to have images by the end of the year. To accomplish this, we're creating a new temporary, non-staff position, UI Artist. This role will last until the project is completed.
Compensation: We're offering 10 coins per on-base trait image and 20 coins per off base image, and for all contributors, an additional 50 coins and an item/MYO worth up to 65oc choice box.
Credit Policy: You will be credited on our credit page by your on-site username.
Terms: Please note that we will use these images indefinitely for display on our website, but they will not be used for merchandise or anything like that. We will continue using these images even if you leave the community. If this is not okay with you, please do not apply.

https://forms.gle/9UYg6vku3Kc2mrUNA

Daily Wheel Overhaul

The price of the daily wheel is being increased to 20 ocean coins. The wheel item is being removed from the store, and the odds of the wheel have been adjusted to be harsher (more like it was when we launched the site) so it's more of a gamble. With this adjustment, we hope to prevent the species economy from becoming too inflated. If you have any suggestions, please let us know in #community-suggestions!

Thanks for reading!
If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here!

Hello, everyone! It's time for our monthly newsletter!

General Updates

The rules have been minorly updated to clarify some things and update some outdated information. A rule about mantla trading cooldowns was removed as it was never enforced. Please review the rules when you can!
We have a new CSS theme, made by Nyxoom_draws! If you are encountering any display issues, please let us know!

Website Additions

The following have been added or updated on the website:

• About page (footer)
• ToS page (footer)
• Community Rules page (footer)
• Gallery and Prompt submission guide page, as well as an incomplete design guide page. (new "Guides" section in the navbar)

Monthly Updates

As we do every month, we have new guest artists, new featured mantlas, and a new monthly prompt! We also have a second monthly prompt this month, where participants will be entered into a raffle for a few designs!

Guest Artists

This month, we have new seasonal and monthly guest artists! If you applied and didn't get accepted, don't worry, you're always allowed to apply for future openings!

Seasonal

• doctorbacch
• DECEASEDBEiNG

Monthly

• wanwan
• Heartcorset
• LucaDoodleDoo

Featured Mantlas

Our two featured mantlas this month are MAN-0756 and Clover (MAN-0427), owned by Sodacat and KandiAppleDrawz respectively! You can make one submission every week for the featured mantlas at the Featured Mantla prompt. Due to technical limitations, only one character can be featured on our homepage at the moment; the display will switch halfway through the month, but both can be drawn for the Featured Mantla prompt any time during the month. If you want your characters to have a chance of being selected to be the next Featured Mantla (or subspecies!), set them to "Yes" on both gift art and gift writing! "Ask first" is not counted.

Monthly Prompts

Our new monthly prompt's theme is Sleep! It's the perfect time to draw your mantla taking a nap or wearing your favorite pajamas. You can view this month's prompt here.
Our special monthly prompt is themed around Minecraft! This visual art-only prompt is to draw your mantla in Minecraft, using one of the screenshots we have provided. We have 5 choices, and you can view them at a previous announcement. You can view this prompt here. This prompt awards the usual coins, but also enters you into a raffle for one of the three designs below:

• https://www.mantlas.com/character/SER-1144
• https://www.mantlas.com/character/MAN-1145
• https://www.mantlas.com/character/MAN-1146

Thanks for reading! Here's a prize code: September2024
If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here!

Hi everyone! September has a special themed prompt in addition to the normal monthly prompt! This prompt is to draw your mantla in one of the minecraft backgrounds below. More info will be released tomorrow on the prompt!

Hi everyone! August's mid-month update is here!

Regular Mid-Month Updates

All MYOs have been restocked! Guest Artist applications for both Seasonal and Monthly GAs are now open from now until August 25, 2024 3:00 PM Pacific Time! Please apply at the link below if you are interested!

https://forms.gle/7eNnWLksvq5LKkv8A

General

You may have noticed the new currency "Shells." This currency is intended to be used as a generic event currency, so we can have event shops that use a special currency without making a unique currency for every event. The name of the currency will be changed later to include an adjective.
The #faq channel on our Discord has been updated to be accurate to the website! Sorry it took so long.

Trait Changes

Several traits have been changed for clarification. These were changed at different points in time, so I unfortunately don't remember all of them (some were changed at website launch!) but I will go over a few common ones. Feel free to ask about any not mentioned below in the #staff-ask channel on our Discord.

1. The fin size traits "Small Fin Size" and "Giant Fin Size"/"Big Fin Size" have been changed to "Undersized Fin Size" and "Oversized Fin Size" respectively. This will hopefully make it more clear on when they are supposed to be used, as well as allow for more diverse designs. If your mantla has the wrong fin size trait and was created before this announcement was posted, you may submit a redesign request with the fin size trait adjusted to whichever one is correct without using any items. Just put in the comment section "Correcting fin size trait."
2. "Teeth Mask" has been renamed to "Teeth on Mask" to reduce confusion.

Trait Additions

Most of these have been around since the site was created, or were previously "Unlisted," "Exclusive," or "???" rarity, but some have been added more recently.

Regular Traits

1. [U] Seal Ears: These ears are little flap-like ears, like a seal has.
2. [L] Unusual Spiky Mask: This mask is basically for any spiky mask that isn't like the normal Spiky Mask trait. (Spikes on top, different shape, etc.) It is intentionally ambiguous.
3. [L] Unusual Spiky Fin: This fin is similar to the Unusual Spiky Mask trait in that it's for any spiky fin that isn't like the normal Spiky Fin. (Spikes on top, different shape, etc.) It is intentionally ambiguous.
4. [U] Seal Tail: This tail is the classic seal-flipper-tail shape (although in real seals, this is their feet.) If you want a tail that's more accurate to a seal's actual tail, use the Bob Tail trait.

Mutations

1. Droopy Mask Sides: This trait adds drooping to any mask. They are like the sides of Bunny Mask but they can have a different shape.
2. Horns: This trait adds a horn or horns to the mantla's head (on top of the fin/mask, like ears). They can be any shape. They do not replace ears.
3. No Eyes and No Fake Eyes: These traits remove the eyes or the fake eyes from a mantla. Previously these effects were both under "No Eyes." If your mantla has No Eyes for no fake eyes, please submit a redesign request with the trait adjusted to No Fake Eyes, with the comment "Trait correction." The mutation "No Fake Eyes" is distinct from the halloween trait "Eyeless Mask" as Eyeless Mask is a mask trait that has its own unique mask shape as well as no fake eyes.
4. Object Head: This trait makes the mantla's head into any object. The mantla may or may not have facial features.
5. Real Fake Eyes: This trait makes the mantla's fake eyes into real, functional eyes in the same place.
6. Shaped Fake Eyes: This trait allows the mantla's fake eyes to have any shape. The fake eyes do not need to be the same shape.
7. Tusks: This trait gives the mantla tusk teeth. This trait is distinct from the "Biter" mutation as the Biter pseudoteeth are outside the mouth, next to it on either side, rather than being inside the mouth.

Rainbow Cornet Traits

Rainbow Cornet will be the only item I am covering in this section since it was basically completely overhauled, and is a bit confusing.

1. Body Spikes: This trait adds spikes anywhere on the mantla's body.
2. Nose Horn: This trait adds a horn onto the mantla's nose, or where the nose would be.
3. Long Tongue: This trait gives the mantla a long tongue.
4. Transforming Markings: This trait allows the mantla's markings to transform. This used to be used as an alternate palette trait, but we have added an "Alternate Color Palette" trait that is given from Super Gel for this purpose instead. Older mantlas with this trait are still allowed to use it in this way. Alternate Color Palette and Transforming Markings are distinct because Transforming Markings allows the mantlas markings to shift shape and pattern completely, not just change color. For character lore, a character with this trait shifts their markings and coloration in real time in response to their environment, emotions, and other stimuli as a way of expressing themselves.
5. Chameleon Eyes: This trait makes the mantla's real eyes look like a chameleon's eyes. You can view a chameleon's eyes here. If you would like to have color changing eyes, you can use Transforming Markings for this as well.
6. Helmet Mask / Ears: This one is hard to describe, unfortunately! It is also currently listed as "Helmet Ears" as there is a different, unrelated Helmet Mask trait… The updated item reference is still pending, and this trait may be changed in the future. A draft made by PotatoBunsu can be seen below.
   
7. Curly Tail: This trait makes the mantla's tail have a curled, chameleon-like shape.
8. Chameleon Ears: This trait replaced the "Horn Hood" trait, as this is more accurate and less ambiguous. They are short, curled-back ears. I feel like this name is unintuitive, so I'm trying to search for a new name for this trait. This is why it was previously unlisted.
9. [U] Seahorse Tail
10. [M] Horns

That's all for this month's mid-month update!
If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here!

Event Updates

Our Artfight event is now over! Thanks to everyone who participated! Remember to claim your MYOs here if you did 5-10 attacks, and you can still submit attacks for ocean coins here for a few more days in case you forgot any.

20 designs have been added to the mysterious pearl shop!

Monthly Updates

As we do every month, we have new guest artists, new featured mantlas, and a new monthly prompt!

Guest Artists

This month, we have three new monthly guest artists! Next month, applications will be open for both seasonal and monthly guest artists. If you applied and didn't get accepted, don't worry, you're always allowed to apply for future openings!

Our August guest artists:

1. BuggleBurger
2. Cacciatore
3. hart

Featured Mantlas

Our two featured mantlas this month are Drain (MAN-0856) and Silver (MAN-0537), owned by Seleris and MinTea respectively! You can make one submission every week for the featured mantlas at the Featured Mantla prompt. Due to technical limitations, only one character can be featured on our homepage at the moment; the display will switch halfway through the month, but both can be drawn for the Featured Mantla prompt any time during the month. If you want your characters to have a chance of being selected to be the next Featured Mantla (or subspecies!), set them to "Yes" on both gift art and gift writing! "Ask first" is not counted.

Monthly Prompt

Our new monthly prompt is Meet a Mascot! Have you ever wanted an excuse to draw your mantlas hanging out with Ponyo? Here's one for you! (You can also draw two mascots together instead, if you'd like.) You can view this month's prompt here.

Thanks for reading! Here's a prize code: August2024
If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here!

Event Updates

The website launch event is now over! Thank you to everyone who participated and showed their support! You are greatly appreciated ❤️

Just like last year, we're doing an event to reward people for participating in Artfight and drawing mantlas! You can earn an uncommon and a rare MYO, as well as 10 ocean coins per attack. You can see more details at the prompt.

Monthly Updates

As we do every month, we have new guest artists, new featured mantlas, and a new monthly prompt!

Guest Artists

We're now incorporating seasonal guest artists alongside our monthly guest artists!

Our summer guest artists:

1. Zunteur
2. ecstasei

And our monthly guest artists:

1. Bunnyteef
2. wanwan
3. hart

Featured Mantlas

Our two featured mantlas this month are Zep (MAN-0099) and Zag (SNU-0790), both owned and designed by Eathrid! You can make one submission every week for the featured mantlas at the Featured Mantla prompt. Due to technical limitations, only one character can be featured on our homepage at the moment; the display will switch halfway through the month, but both can be drawn for the Featured Mantla prompt any time during the month. If you want your characters to have a chance of being selected to be the next Featured Mantla (or subspecies!), set them to "Yes" on both gift art and gift writing! "Ask first" is not counted.

Monthly Prompt

Our new monthly prompt is Beach! It's hot outside, and going to the beach is most land-dwelling mantlas' preferred way of cooling down in the summer! You can view this month's prompt here.

If you'd like to help us out, please bump our forum thread here!

Guest Artist Applications Now Open

Guest Artist applications are open from now until June 22nd, 1 PM Pacific Time! Please apply at the link below if you are interested!

https://forms.gle/7eNnWLksvq5LKkv8A

Pride Adopt Batch

We have a 15 adopt batch today! 10 BTA and 5 OTA. For more information, please check out the sale post! Offers/Bids open in half an hour.

Partnerships Now Open

We would like to officially announce that we're looking for closed species to partner with! For a long time we've only been partnered with Squiblings, but now that we've finished creating the Squibling x Mantla crossbreed item and launched our website, we're ready to partner with other species. If you or someone you know is staff on a closed species that may be interested in partnering with us, please check out our partnership criteria in #server-affiliations!

Squibling Crossbreeds

We now allow crossbreeds with our partner species, Squiblings, using the special item Squid Charm! This item is only available through special events, and is not currently available for purchase. Sadly, we have no ETA for a Squibling crossover event at this time, but one is in the works. Aside from Squid Charm, staff members are allowed to make squibling crossbreed adopts without using the item, so there may be some in the future!

Site Updates

Item trait examples and item icons have been added to most items. Unfortunately, most older images did not have their attributions recorded. If you or someone you know made an image that has an incorrect or missing credit, please let us know! We would love to properly credit every artist who has contributed to our species.
We have begun working on a guide to creating mantla designs. There will be another announcement when it's completed.

Shop Updates

All MYOs have been restocked!
The Strange Seller has left town again and their shop is no longer available. They may return sometime in the future with new wares.

New Reward Codes

New reward codes have been hidden! 3 more mysterious pearl codes have been hidden, each starting with M and ending with P. 4 more prize codes have been hidden as well. This time they each have "code" in them so they are more easily spotted. Here's one: snupuffcode 

Sorry everyone! I didn't announce it when I made this change because I did not realize that so many people would buy the item I silently added to the store. I didn't think people were checking the item shop frequently as the redeems on the code in the item store description are very low. Shifting the wheel odds was also generally not announced in the past, and I was too tired to write an announcement at that time. I'll keep this in mind for the future.

The odds for the wheel were changed to have failure to be about 7 times more likely (~7% to 50%) two days ago, but I have now adjusted it to 25% due to the feedback we've been recieving. My goal was to make it more of an actual gamble, but the odds were a bit too harsh. The odds for all items were adjusted and some of the prizes were removed because the wheel was simplified to make it easier to update and adjust in the future.

As I implied earlier, I also added an item to let you spin the wheel as many times as you wanted (provided you have the coins) to the item shop. This is mainly aimed at impatient people as the regular daily wheels will remain. Keep in mind that you are never guaranteed to win!

When Daily Wheel 2 and 3 were set up, there was an error that caused them to have abnormally high levels of failure. This issue has now been fixed. Please enjoy this code to make up for it: wheeltime6