Too impatient to wait for next week’s batch of digital download releases, Nintendo of America rushed out the North American edition of Flipnote Studio, DSiWare’s completely free and totally boss animation software.

The company also launched its accompanying Youtube-like service Flipnote Hatena. Interestingly, you can set whether you want your Hatena page to display clips from just Japan, the Americas, Europe/Oceania, or the entire world.

So, grab the app for your DSi, make some animations, upload them to the community site, introduce yourself to Flipnote Hatena’s frog mascot (it’s one of the most adorable mascots the DS has to offer; he makes loading fun!), and watch thousands of adorable Japanese clips like this one:

Also, check out this Flipnote Studio introduction that Nintendo has planned but hasn’t published yet:

• Flipnote Studio Overview
• Create your own Flipnote
• Upload & Share
• What is Flipnote Hatena?

This is where I grabbed the skateboard cat image from. Skateboard cat is my new hero.

[Update: Nintendo just published those pages!]

Buy: U.S. Matte Black and Blue DSi

Import: Japanese Nintendo DSi (White, Black, Pink, Red, Lime Green, Metallic Blue)

See also: Moving Memo Pad’s derivative animations, An odd animation I found on Ugomemo Hatena

tags / flipnote studio / hatena / dsiware / frog / ec