Ran out of better title ideas, feeling like my english skill is going backward :(
Finally done of my layout update! I was struggling with design the art gallery page, then "Doujin/art gallery indie web" hits my mind, plus after learning about Ukagaka (One type of desktop buddies),
I got interested with japanese artist webpages, such like tiny images on gallery which links you to the artwork, even uses ◼ symbol instead of thumbnails, which is my tiny part of websurfing childhood.
Because of indie web and ukagaka, I also curious with 90-00s doujin culture, when everyone making fanworks just for fun, people got their own websites etc......
Although I have zero knowledge about how these works, so I tried to find these old indie webs, even I know nothing about japanese.
Fun fact: Even in Taiwan, people also used to make indie doujin/artist webpages (Before they move to WIX, or social medias), but for some reason, it's harder to find these kinds of websites than japanese indie web.
How to find these old websites?
Sadly, I suck at explaining, some of "guides" may don't work if you want to search deeply. My memory skill is also bad, which end up I have no idea how did I find these, mostly I just websurfing
Gifcities is one source, you search random things, then it shows ton of gifs which links to it's source, then click it, but for some reason, I found out most japanese artist are using other hosts which from japan, or rather to host their own website, gifcities only collects gifs from geocities, so only works when you're looking for artists who have geocities page.
Communities like fandom is a good source, especially medias which used to popular in 90-00s, like ukagaka and Ecoco Ice-Chan (アイスちゃん, who is a short-lived adversite character, I don't know it's a mascot or nah), some still-alive websites will show on search results about these medias, these websites' link page is the goldmine, which links to more artist webpages which no longer exist, wayback machine is a good tool which you can check these old pages looks like.
There's many ways to find old era artist websites, I even found an artist website called "CHIRU CHIRU" on pinterest, which will be mention after.
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Also warning about my crappy and short as freak "introduction", again I bad at explaining, don't mind me if I keep repeating same words such like "Adorable" and more craps.
ZAN's homepage/Nekotama
First is my personal favourite website, which recommended by my one friend Mousecky when I talking about how to design the art gallery
on neocities feed, seens like it started at 1997 from the website's gallery page.
The warm colour ZAN uses, the artstyle of girls and cats are charming and adorable, love how ZAN sets "Slice of life" as artwork theme,
ZAN also is a Figure artist who makes wonderful fan figures!
Haruiro Hanakago
Another recommention by Mousecky, なか ちひろ (Naka Chihiro on their twitter @username) is an artist who gives me nostalgic vibes by lineless, gradient-focused artworks, also currently focuses on themes like school outfits. They're creator of one graphic program called PoCo, which I never used since it only works on Mac.
RoseGray Society
Started in 1999 (As website banner writes), creator of desktop buddy program called MaCoPix, a cool computer buddy when your character sits on your window! His artworks are mostly yuri-themed I think?
His pixels of chibi characters for MaCoPix are nice detailed, try MaCoPix if you're interested with desktop buddies!
Kuronyan
Since 1999, the artist got cel-shanding artstyle, their toony artsyle of chibi artworks are so cute, reminds me of superflat pop!
Mahou no Kotoba
Since 1999, focuses on fairytales, nature and magical girls, super talented artist ever I seen, which is my another favourite artist! such like their artworks gives me watercolour and coloured pencils feeling, the colours they use and more.
S.T.’s home page Hatesate Club
Since 1997, school themed website, their character artstyle are adorble!
Msxtr
This website got very stylic menu buttons, seens like they also good at draw pixel art, but sadly most of their images are down on internet archive.
Visit their website in Internet Archive!UNSC
Since 1998, their artworks are mostly chibi, I love how they took their plushies during travel, which mentioned in diary page from this website.
CheAp sWEeTs
Since 2001, nice detailed artstyle, the website desgin also looking clean (?), love how the art gallery already at homepage.
Short Circuit
Since 2002, pretty semi-realistic, detailed artstyle! Although their artworks are suggestive and kinda-adult themed.
EXTRA STAGE
A very simple website design, as like CheAp sWEeTs, their art gallery also already at homepage, most artworks are oekaki (Message board but you can draw instead of texting).
Visit their website in Internet Archive!Wonda
Since 1999? Another my personal favourite!
By an artist who is "Tough guy who loves femmine hobbies", their warm and soft colours are really matches artstyle of girls they draw,
they also created ugakaga based on a series "Floral Magician Mary Bell".
湖上の月
Since 1999, they made pixel icons of character from medias!
Tamagoya
Since 2000, LOVE the website design sooo much! Another artist who uses soft colour and adorable character artstyle, which is my other favourite too!
MIYA's world
Since 1996, totally oldest artist website on my collection, more warm and soft colour artstyle! The artwork on homepage is reminds me of fairytales.
Tales of little fairies
Speak of fairytales, this artist is focuses on draw fairies, which gives bright and soft feelings.
Re-T's
Seens like since 1998, an artist who focused on magical girl medias and ぷに (Called puni, looks like it's about cubby-faced and cutesy style characters, I have no idea......),
such like Ojamajo DoReMi and Fun fun pharmacy.
Also have English version of the website.
Paco's room
Adorable chibi-like artstyle!
Also is a creator of ugakaga called Teruno,
which is their original character, is kinda famous in ugakaga community I think?
Tana Puni
Another puni artist I guess, their artstyle seens charming but sadly most of artworks are down on internet archive :(
Washi
Runned by two person, ultra adorable chibi artstyle! Recommend to people who love chibi and feel nostalgic of 2000s anime artstyle.
CLEAR
Since 2000, not too much artworks in gallery, but every artworks are detailed.
Zenmai-chan's KaRaKuRi House
Since 1996, another oldest artist website ever, also is one of my biggest personal favourites.
Actually when I check this website again during writing this, I found out it's not just an artist's website, it's more like an artists collection about a girl character with
winding key on her back, my personal favourites are this one by Momorou Kulihara and another one by
Minakami, sadly most thumbnails are down.
CHIRU CHIRU
Most cutey chibi artstyle I ever seen, also create a ugakaga although it doesn't work on my laptop......
