Customer Reviews

Animusic- A Computer Animation Video Album

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This day and age, it's very difficult for something related to music to be unique. If you've heard one song, you're bound to hear something like it again. The same principle applies to animation; big-budget blockbusters loaded with special effects are becoming boring and tiring. But "Animusic" outshines all of this bloated blandness by giving us a completely new and unique experience unlikely to be found anywhere else.

Essentially, "Animusic" consists of seven music videos that, back to back, run for 33 minutes. Sounds boring, doesn't it? But it isn't. Though it is a little short, the presentation of the "Animusic" videos more than make up for it. Each music video is a computer-generated movie in which instruments play music. Interested yet? Then hear this: each and every instrument plays each and every note precisely and exactly. That's right. It's obviously easy to make perform the same illusion and do a sloppy job of it, but "Animusic" goes through great lengths to create a visual and musical masterpiece of sight and sound that is, to say the least, perfect.

Visually, "Animusic" rivals a lot of today's Hollywood blockbusters. Each video on the album is unique with different kinds of instruments to play the music. For example, "Aqua Harp" uses a harp combined with chimes, chellos, and pan flutes, "Future Retro" utilizes robot hand-played electric guitars and drums, and "Harmonic Voltage" plays using electronic lasers. The variety found here is so amazing it's difficult not to find something to like. And, as mentioned earlier, each instrument plays each note heard.

Musically, it's phenomenal. Each song accompanies each set of instruments perfectly. All music is played using MIDI sounds, but they sound so crisp and lifelike it's magical. And again, it's difficult not to find favorites.

Extras-wise, there's quite a bit here to find (if you have the DVD). Each video can be played indepedently, as a whole, or as a whole in a loop. There's also the option of listening to the entire thing with commentary by Wayne Lytle, the creator of "Animusic", who explains how "Animusic" was created and other things like that. A viewer can also watch a single video using a "Solo Cam", which focuses on a single instrument of the piece. Finally, a viewer can see galleries of early constructs of each video.

With all that said, is "Animusic" worth it? Answer: without a doubt, yes. For someone not to like this video album, he either has to be cranky or very limited on taste. Anyone who sees "Animusic" will be captivated by it, and some people will even want to see it again right afterwards. Despite its unfortunate length of 33 minutes, the lasting appeal will more than make up for it. I can only hope that "Animusic" will get the attention and respect it deserves and that Wayne Lytle will impress us again with another video album.

A quick piece of advice -- buy two. Otherwise the one you buy will never be home because you will loan it to everyone you know. This is simply amazing.

It's a video album. The music drives the whole affair, and the computer generated graphics depict instruments from simple drums to lasers, plasma tubes, three-necked guitars, and things I can't even describe in words. The instruments play what you hear. It is a truly amazing spectacle that captivated me and my two boys, ages 15 and 8. We sat speechless through the first view/hearing. Both boys have watched it repeatedly since.

This is the wavecrest of the future of multi-media. It's the "Dark Side of the Moon" to audiophiles, and the early "Synergy" efforts to computer music types, and the "Fantasia" of the modern world, all rolled into one.

Don't be put off by the 33 minute length. It's a short VHS, but worth every penny. In addition to the seven diverse tracks, the DVD version carries solo camera angle footage and still shots, and an incredibly accessible commentary from the director with tons of technical info on production methods, instrument construction, and something about "algo-rhythms." Check it out.

"Animusic" stunned me the first time I had seen it! I kept seeing the "Future Retro" being shown over and over on TV along with the "Aqua Harp". I was amazed. My favorite music video on this DVD is "Stick Figures." There is the bass guitar with arms playing itself as you see on the front cover. It makes an awesome sound. As Wayne Lytle said in the commentary on this DVD, at first you might laugh and then say "Wow, that's pretty neat." He also said that some people called that "Mr. Bass Man." It's more than neat! It rocks all the way baby. Such neat details in all instruments. The instruments play themselves with such unbelievable realism. Neat colors, lighting, score, rhythm, and syncopation all the way! Here is how I rank the music videos with 1 being the best:
1. Stick Figures
2. Future Retro
3. Drum Machine
4. Pipe Dream
5. Acoustic Curves
6. Aqua Harp
7. Harmonic Voltage
If you agree with me or not on my choices you will agree they are all splendiferously superb! I reccommed this to anybody who loves computer animation and music, and to the people who don't and see what they think! This needs more recognition. Thank goodness for Animusic!

The moment my Animusic VHS tape arrived in the mail, I popped it into the VCR to watch it.

I was already familiar with Animusic's Wayne Lytle's work, from a short I had seen entitled "More Bells and Whistles", created in 1990. So I had a basic idea of what to expect.

The video started with "Future Retro", a very nice piece, in which mechanical instruments play the music. The creativity in the instruments was stunning, with a guitar that had 3 ends, a flute-thing, and more. The drums were played by moving arms holding drumsticks. The composition was incredible, and the perfectly-timed animation made the piece come alive; it seemed as though the animated instruments were actually playing the song.

Next up was "Stick Figures", in which the instruments play themselves with their arms. A very interesting concept, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece.

Then came "Aqua Harp", in which a unique harp stands in a pool of water, under a starry night sky. The harp is actually four instruments: the harp-strings, tubular bells, air-flute-thing, and strings. The song was soft and slow, and matched the scene very well. This piece was incredible.

Next was "Drum Machine", where the instruments are played by sticks attached to gears, which rotate to hit the drums. It was impeccably well-done, where even the gears attached to the other gears turn, and at a different speed. If you've ever wondered if a machine full of gears can create music, this will answer your question.

Next was "Pipe Dream". This piece takes it's concept from one of the original instruments in the first production, "More Bells and Whistles", in which balls would shoot out of a central machine and hit the correct note exactly on time. Pipe Dream extends this, with every instrument being played by small metal balls shooting out of pipes, hitting the instument, and then re-entering a pipe. The timing was incredible, and seeing thousands of balls all creating music was an awe-inspiring sight. This animation was probably the most interesting.

Then came "Acoustic Curves", which is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard. The instruments are all arranged in a circular shape, (thus the name), and they play together with incredible timing. It all adds up to make a very exciting piece.

Last but not least, "Harmonios Voltage" sizzles up my TV with it's slow and futuristic music. Lasers, plasma, and switches all come together to make this piece come alive. An excellent piece to end the video.

I would recommend this video for anyone who enjoys any kind of music, it's totally awe-inspiring. I've watched it 3 times already and there is always something new to be seen. This video truly is a 5-star production!

This DVD is an amazing achievement. Seeing that the credits list all of three people makes this even more amazing. It is awe-inspiring to think that just a couple of people can amass the creative, artistic, and technical hurdles to assemble this DVD. I have seen this disc countless times now and my two year old son is enamoured with it.

Your first viewing will leave you slack-jawed. (I wonder if Disney's Fantasia had such an impact at its debut.) I have followed computer animation for quite some time, but this is the first time I have seen a truly successful marriage of music and computer animation. For me, "Drum Machine", "Pipe Dream", and "Acoustic Curves" are particularly appealing because they appear like machines that could exist in reality given a NASA-sized budget, much like Rube Goldberg inventions. The others are more fantastical, with floating drum sticks and string picks that appear to be operated by ghosts, and pretzel shaped laser beams. Although there is some duplication among the fictitious musical instruments, there is enough creative range between the pieces that no one is likely to complain about repetitiveness.

The appeal of the music itself will vary depending on your current musical fare. If you have listened to early John Tesh or mid-career Jean-Michel Jarre, the music will strike you as unoriginal. In fact, most of the music will feel very predictable - a solo instrument that is joined by additional instruments, rising to a climactic symphony of instruments. If you don't regularly listen to "New Age" music, this will be a fresh exposure to purely instrumental pop music.

This is a unique fusion of technology and art and I look forward to the already announced sequel.

My whole family sit transfixed to this DVD time and time again. The animation is of high quality and is full of interest. The music is well chosen and offers a varied orchestration, through the seven pieces comprising the album.

The animation of the instruments is fantastic, being dynamic and fluid. You can see drums 'thump', strings vibrate and horns and pipes 'blow'. Other instruments are altogether more 'imaginative', and everything is fun to watch. On most pieces, the instruments belong to recognisable families, perhaps with one or two interesting 'twists'. The final piece however, being a more 'ethereal' musical number, dispenses with most of the ties to traditional instrumentation and allows itself a little 'experimentation', but with great effect.

Animusic mixes the fascination of watching 'complicated machines', the musical contraptions, with the appeal of watching good performance art. While there are no human 'players', the machines have a wonderful grace and feel completely organic. The whole thing possesses a definite beauty and leaves you wanting more.

I was introduced to Animusic through watching 'Pipe Dream' on the web (after it had featured at SIGGRAPH). This piece alone was compelling enough to buy the album as soon as it became available, but in the end three other pieces from the album feature as my equal favourites - a tribute to the appeal of the album both musically and visually.

I thoroughly recommend this DVD and I'll be looking out for future Animusic albums!

Animusic IS the current state-of-the-art for musical animation. It is absolutely worth every penny. Take this DVD to a party. Young and old will be amazed. The folks at animusic have creativity beyond belief! The rendering is silky smooth. The music is engaging.

This DVD is absolutely awesome. This video album is truely great. Words cannot describe the workmanship gone into this production. I would recommend this to anyone.
The special features really make watching this DVD fun with 3 different angles per animation called "Solo-cams" This allows you to watch a single instrument.
Then the directors comments on why certain things are the way they are in the animation. I found out the "Pipe Dream" is sequel to "More Bells and Whistles"

Mr. Lytle, keep up the good work. I'm already looking forward to the next DVD.

Animusic is fun to look at and fun to listen to. I wouldn't say it's worth the entire price, but it's OK. If you don't like techno, don't get it. For more info on this wonderful DVD, go to animusic.com

Animusic truely is a masterpiece. I've bought the DVD, and the Soundtrack (The soundtrack has three more awesome songs). When I first saw "Future Retro" on "Eye Drops", a show on Tech TV, I fell in love. I got the DVD and watched other great videos such as "Pipe Dream","Drum Machine", as well as "Stick Figures". This is a very exciting video Album and I encourage you to get one!
I have used music from this album to perform with my Diabolo and the audience loves it! (I recieved permission to use it of course.)