A Story Told [SFM]

3 Months, 300 Hours, innumerable cups of tea; and it's finally complete.
A Story Told - From 'The Count of Monte Cristo Musical'
performed by Patrick Stanke, Mathias Edenborn and Mark Seibert on the Concept album released in 2008. Written by Frank Wildhorn.
This animation is adapted from the fabulous animation by Ink Potts:
(check it out here • 1/6 A STORY TOLD (anim... )
A big thanks to them for creating the material in the first place and being supportive through the animations development.
The scene is from The Count of Monte Cristo, and depicts Twilight (as Mondego), Applejack (as Danglars) and Rarity (as Villefort) plotting the downfall of the poor Edmond Dantes. (If you haven't read the book, it's worth a read; or you can watch the film instead!). The musical was showing in the US this year (2015) in January, but you never know; could be somewhere else soon!
Featured on Equestria Daily :D www.equestriada...
The video was rendered using Source FilmMaker: www.sourcefilmm...
Base Pony Models by Nahka: sfm-ponies.devi...
Pony Skins by me: mmmpie136.devia...
Maps: Degroot Keep Dark and the Character Lighting Map
All other models were from other source titles
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and its characters are owned by Hasbro
Special thanks to 9joao6 for his critique and assistance in learning how to use SFM!
To answer a few questions:
- For lyrics, turn on subtitles!
- I won't be animating the other Ink Potts animatics. This one took a lot time and effort; it was very fun, but it's time for a change!
- I will be animating other projects, though nothing on this scale for a while
- The skins were made by myself using VTFEdit and Photoshop, and can be downloaded via the DA link above (they're not perfect, but they look alright!)
Thanks for watching. Enjoy!

[@kcphilosophy2130]

"History is the story told by the people who survive." my favorite line right there.

[@saya_0358]

Nobody will notice 3 ponies singing about a master plan to put someone in jail...

[@allisonthefox9900]

What happens in the musical, stays in the musical

[@ChasoGod]

Musical Physics. Even if you are singing out loud your plan to commit a crime, no one can hear it even if they're sitting several feet away from the singers.

[@JazzyWaffles]

Non-diegetic.

[@IronycheinPain]

Musical logic: do they realize everyone can hear them?

[@jonathanwallis3300]

Dreamer Dawn The singing and music in musicals often reflect the emotions and psychological development of the character(s) in the current scene. Just to let you know on why the people several feet from the three can’t hear them singing out loud.

[@InkPotts]

THIS LOOKS AMAZING!!! sorry for not commenting sooner BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY! You've just done such a great job on this, it really shows. (Love the ending, RD is so cool and it's a great idea what you did!) Something that I really love all the way through is the lighting, it just works really well for the scenes and fits the mood perfectly. Congratulations on a project well done and good luck for any future projects of yours as well :D

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Thank you very much! The lighting was quite fun to set up; there are 12-20 lights in each shot to get that effect - I'm glad you like it! The RD shot was a last minute edition, I'm so glad I put it in though, it definitely adds to the animation. If only I could have added the brilliant exaggerated expressions of your animatic to the models too; but you can't have it all. Hats off to you guys for a quality animatic in the first place; and I can't wait to see your next set of videos. Keep up the brilliant work! :D

[@CountMonsparkle]

That was just as amazing as I expected it to be. You did a fantastic job recreating all of the scenes from the original animatic. And that ending was especially awesome. I just submitted this to Equestria Daily, I hope you don't mind :-) Oh, and make sure Ink Potts sees this, I'm sure they'll love it as well.

[@MmmpieAnimations]

When I started I didn't plan on matching the scenes quite as much as I have. Putting them side by side actually looks pretty good! Ink Potts were the first to be informed (they got a full day's sneak preview!). Thanks a lot; the ending was a last minute addition. The music kind of ends abruptly leaving you wanting more, so i added the BWAAA from inception at the end with Edmond in jail. And of course I don't mind you posting it there; thanks!

[@Communist38]

Ink potts made me cry several times, it is so wonderfull.

[@juninhoartes807]

Count Monsparkle its cool but in story you died

[@phoenixcosplays8810]

I love the ear movement in this.

[@crimzon2774]

1:24 That blue one behind the lawyer looks like she can hear it.

[@TotalNoobAtEverythin]

"The enemy of your enemy is your ally."

[@DanielLCarrier]

When you conspire to frame someone and have them imprisoned for life, it's probably best not to sing about it at the top of your lungs in public.

[@maddymiller4146]

That's what I was thinking

[@yesirod7027]

"ill be a comfort in her time of grief and anguish!" cross that off my list i was there for her

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Absolutely right! this is the only real scene which deviates from the inkpotts animation but I though it for well enough. I agree, I'd feel angry if I was sentenced to what would be the rest of his days in the darkest cells of the Chateaux D'if. Man, I love that book so much; if you haven't read it (and don't mind the fact it's a long read) it's undoubtedly the greatest story of revenge ever told- would recommend!

[@marroemin7595]

Nice animation

[@MmmpieAnimations]

+Princess Rainbow Gaming I believe it's an option enabled by default. I know in each video which has captions I usually have to disable it. this is the I my video I have with captions though so I've not got much to compare it to!

[@dr.atmospherehide830]

Me too

[@franksmedley8619]

i read the Count of Monte Cristo back in Jr High.... lo, these many decades past. :)

[@SilentReaperOFC]

This looks like a cutscene from a video game. Like if you agree.

[@keanankinman1508]

Agree, sort of.

[@Parkman3614]

Yup

[@JazzyWaffles]

Eh, maybe a mid/late-era PS1 cutscene.

[@Riley_King_]

Damn.. 8 years. And its so awesome.

[@StellaStarfall]

I've watched this a million times, but never in full 60 FPS, it is BEAUTIFUL.

[@Aurelleah]

3 months. 300 hours. I loaded up SFM, took one look at how insanely difficult it looked to even move the camera to a different location. Alt F4'd uninstalled and wept at the sheer work that mustve gone into this. Well done. Subbed, I look forward to the next part of that new video

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Nobody blames you, apart from blender blender maybe, this is the most complex software I've ever had to learn, and it was only best patience and cups of tea that allowed it to happen at all. I cheated a little by completing the 10 or so tutorials on cameras, animating, lipsyncing and lighting a few years before, but it was actually mlp that got me back into it. I saw the inkpotts animatic and thought it would look great in sfm. I learned to use the software for that task alone, but I'm still having fun so let the work continue! You never know, you might find a funny quote or scene and it's a pretty neat way to share it!

[@melodyrequiem7035]

Mmmpie Animations thats 2 animators that started because of her. i wonder how many she has inspired.

[@Aurelleah]

Yeah I was thinking of it, but I realized how much additional effort it actually requires. I was hoping to make music videos for the music i make, but I'm already busy as hell with it already so I guess I'll have to live with boring(yet pretty) art backsplashes :P

[@GIAP11977]

It's goo but the thing that really makes inkpotts animatics stand out, in my opinion, are the over the top facial expressions that sfm just can't do. Still not a bad aproximation.

[@tigerlilly94]

This was FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!! You should do the other videos to this series. It would look awesome!!!

[@InvisiblesilenceA]

OOOOOOHHHH! This is good. It's GOOD! Nice little animation matching Ink Potts' work. Well done! Also, love the Mind Heist brass hit at the end there. ;)

[@colemac]

I'd like to see how "Hell To Your Doorstep" gets animated.. Should be as masterfully done as this one.

[@Grannatz001]

Wow, you put this out a lot faster than I had anticipated. Good way to start my day. That was great, I loved the ending.

[@SugarsnapCaely]

That was just fantastic!! I loved it! I wish you would animate the other Ink Potts animatics though, but you have your reasons

[@MrTankHill]

The only thing that is missing from this is definitely Ink Pott's facial expressions but overall you did a great job!

[@crimsondusk2312]

this was amazing its 95% identical to the animatic, stunning job, u my friend have earned you're self a subscriber, also love the ending. DRAMATIC HORN!

[@thathorsethatdrivesasherma7003]

Man, this is a good SFM! It matches the animatic while keeping it's own, and the lip sync is fluid. Rarity's design as Villefort is really cool, and the animation at 1:20 for some reason makes me shutter... It's impressive, overall!

[@EpicLuko]

More SFM-animated videos need to be lip synced like this! I don't know what it is with other videos, but they always seem lazily made when it comes to this feature (most that is). This one is SO good at it! Not just that, of course; it's animated beautifully and fits the music so very well. I also love how you were able to make them move so fluently as well as give them great mannerisms that just add to the mood. Ok, enough words. Just.......SO GOOD!!!

[@MmmpieAnimations]

My my, that's very kind of you to say! The lipsyncing took up a huge amount of time in this project; way too much for my first full animation! I'm glad you thing the investment was worth it, I'm pretty pleased with it :p

[@queenwilfre]

I loved that ending With Rainbow squinting and epic, Micheal bay music Good job!

[@theloneomega574]

Press 3 for awkward laugh, 8 for EEEE, and 9 for a devious stare.

[@SleepyDemonHiro]

Niice love the animation you did. :D

[@nickobregon6709]

Inumerable cups of tea xD good video

[@Molecular99]

PLEASE do Hell To Your Doorstep next! This is magnificent!

[@widowpeak6142]

Oh, you've got to be kidding me... *Watches* No, that was no kid. That was frekkin' awesome! :D

[@RaptorNX01]

Very well done. Excellent job. Especially loved the custom skins (especially rarity's) and great lighting as well. :D

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Thanks a bunch! I need to find a template for the bodies for Photoshop or gimp. It was basically trial and error to get them looking like that. Glad you like em! (See the description for a link if you want to use them)

[@RaptorNX01]

Mmmpie Animations Cool. thanks. :)

[@delsucksatgames4926]

Very well done. It's a shame you're not going to do "Hell to Your Doorstep" as that's my favorite, but I love this one all the same.

[@GrayFur]

That's super awesome to see it animated! You put so much effort into this and it looks very high-quality. And I MUST read that book!

[@MsPandacakes]

Thank you so much for this owo I know its hard work, but I am in love

[@LostInPhilly89]

This is simply amazing! The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my all-time favorite movies, and you just paired it with one of my all-time favorite shows. Well done!

[@adamata64]

For a first time project, very nice. Been keeping an eye on it from Reddit and such. Better than when I first started when SFM was released. To expand yourself if you continue to work in SFM (do it you've clearly got ideas that you want to show), I suggest focusing on shorts and smaller details. Characters in the background being frozen at times for example. What I do is animate them first before I split my clips up and just have them cycle movement. Body language, get wacky with it. Twilight's long hard pitched parts could have been more exaggerated and fast paced, think 4-6 frames from the table to chest out head high. Keep up the work dude! This is really entertaining and I'm sure a lot of people are going to love it when they stumble upon it!

[@AzureWaning]

Congratulations for the awesome animation, I am looking forward for you next videos! :D

[@navybr0wnie]

Rewatching this almost 4 years later with better expirence, I can definitely see what could be done to make this even cooler.

[@dr.atmospherehide830]

Love it

[@tabtoons6471]

I LOVED IT! I can see this in the Top 10 MLP videos of Feb 2015! It's so awesome!

[@InBreadDragon]

Very well done. Nice and smooth. Oh and the darkness is just right. Kudos

[@Patrick-pq3dx]

Utterly fantastic, loved every moment of it! The ending scared the crap out of me though, due to headphones turned up and simply not expecting it, but fantastic way to end the animation! Again, loved it.

[@pickles3128]

The only thing I don't like about this version is that it lacks the original expressiveness of the animatic. But that's just due to the medium itself, not much one could have done animating it in this program with these models.

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Pickles Kind of you to say so, but it has more to do with my inexperience with this medium than anything else! It was my first complete animation using SFM and after 300 hours I just wanted it to be over. The expressiveness (apparently that's actually a word) is something I still need to work on - there are some incredibly expressive SFM animations out there; just not this one!

[@Jonny11890]

Pickles I have to disagree with you, in that there are quite a few videos in SFM made with these models that are absolutely phenomenal. It can be done. It just takes a lot of patience and even more practice. That being said, this video shows a ton of potential and there were several scenes done incredibly well. I really hope that Mmmpie keeps going because I can certainly see improvement being made just in this video alone. It makes me really excited to see what else this animator can accomplish.

[@sometimeslemons]

+Pickles yeah the animatic was sharper and more fierceful with the movements. But due to the way it was made it was softer and slower. Now I'm not saying it wasn't good, in fact I loved and hope to see more, and I was so happy to see everything in full color and 3D. I love both and think they each have their own perks.

[@animeveteran]

Oh, a splendid animated rendition! This is so cool! That ending was a great add-on, too. I almost feel bad for these three, considering what's coming. All in all, I really enjoyed it. Nice work! ^^

[@Warhorse26]

Very nice! I love the skins you made for the models. I actually have someone making the Mondego and Dantes clothes at the moment for my part of the animatic. And just to let everyone know, I am making the third episode, "Everyday a Little Death" and will be the next one after "I Will be There" So there's more to come for all of you!

[@taliagabrielle4765]

Anyone else notice the bartender looks like Pinkie Pie, and that in certain scenes ( 2:20 ) it looks like the mare is looking directly at the camera?

[@roymustange4666]

Damn this is great please continue these

[@Acernis]

Wow, that was lovely done. I saw the one done by Ink Potts, and this was great addition to their work. Fantastic :)

[@flutterarts2527]

Wow just wow can't express because so good!!!!!! 😅😮 Beautiful keep up the good work 💕

[@Wissle]

NICE!

[@yazoo_kazoo]

How the heck does no one hear how their plans are going in the tavern??

[@Silver_Warden]

+Yasmin Quiambao That's a musical for you. Nobody notices people randomly singing into each other faces at the top of their lungs :D

[@yazoo_kazoo]

Inspector Javert Still so strange, like they're deaf or something. They're singing LOUDLY, for the ponies' sake!

[@Silver_Warden]

***** Well, it is a bar, maybe everyone else is just really, REALLY drunk! :)

[@yazoo_kazoo]

Inspector Javert lol; they must be super drunk not to hear it XD

[@tylerharris7081]

+Yasmin Quiambao Probably because they all have schemes of their own or simply don't care. Schemes of revenge are kind of the norm in seedy taverns.

[@Flowerbarrel]

Wow, that was amazing. I love how into the whole video I was. I had a little inkling it was about The Count of Monte Cristo. I watched a couple times before I commented. I think I'm hooked. Lovely job on the animating, costumes and atmosphere. I was drawn in by the lighting and sinister feel to the whole thing. It was awful about what happened to the Count, but the way the song went, I kinda wanted to be a conspirator along with those three. Villain roles are fun to get into sometimes (and villain songs are definitely fun).

[@justanotherface6695]

Wow, I loved the animatic and this was beautiful too. Great job! :D

[@mechasaurus]

You'd think Berry Punch would shout "KEEP IT DOWN OVER THERE!"

[@FlopiMorningstar]

“What if the cost is one young man so three more men can survive?” They are dark words but I love this line

[@BT405]

I like the design and the animation was pretty fluid, but they could use more expression on their faces when they're singing. It just looks a bit stale when your whole video is a musical number and most of the time the characters look bored or uninterested. Sometimes it was there, but it just felt a bit awkward most of the time. Keep up the good work though.

[@ArtistTouch3]

That's the main reason why I love the animatic one, made by Ink Potts.

[@BT405]

Artist Touch yeah it's easier to make expressions more prevalent with hand-drawn than SFM, but it's not impossible

[@Girl-Supersonicboy]

Very impressive. I greatly enjoyed this video, your talent with SFM is stupendous. Only thing I see that maybe could have used some more work was the facial expressions (just a bit though). But over all this is a very good video.

[@twilightsparkle8096]

This was really good! Subscribed Liked Good job :)

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy my other stuff too :)

[@dash-n-scoots-sisters4life507]

That was awesome!!!!!!! Great job!!!!

[@imapenguin2527]

I'm amazed that you can animate 3d ponys! :D

[@MrTrevorrMC]

It's SFM, to be honest, it's a relatively widely held skill to animate SFM (among other animators). I myself can't animate for shit, but you'll find that most animators can easily animate stuff like this.

[@MiningWithStix]

OH MY GOD THAT WAS AWESOME!

[@midnightillusions9550]

wow that was amazing, you did a awesome job

[@ashley-dantesalmon8175]

i can so see a megaman parody of this with megaman, bass and blues

[@13BloodyDragons]

Please keep going as this is so good!!

[@pcdeltalink036]

I was going to ask if you were doing the others especially the 2nd song, I Will Be There (so beautiful!), but I can understand you not wanting to spend that time on it and move on to other projects. Thanks for doing this and it's really well done. In the meantime I'll just continue waiting for someone to do I Will Be There

[@shabbbsy]

Yay! You got it on EQD man! Congrats!

[@MmmpieAnimations]

"Oh, good for you!" Thanks man, well done to you too!

[@shabbbsy]

Everyone's a winner! :D

[@GUILLE832]

Excellent job, my friend.

[@nakedpeach3077]

Awesome job my friend!!

[@BLADESTIDDIEMILK]

I LOVE IT

[@SkyPaw122isawesome]

Mmmpie Animations Are you going to continue with I will be there, this man is dead, and hell to your doorstep? THIS ONE WAS AMAZING...

[@fluttershy4930]

I like Rarity's voice it's manly and i love this song it's evil. And it is more detailed this one then the cartoon version sfm is my favorite kind of animation

[@MysticalSky1]

hi fluttershy it's tree hugger

[@AnimatronicPony]

AWESOME ANIMATION DUDE

[@sherlocksparkles465]

0:58 look at Twilight's right eye...

[@sherlocksparkles465]

You'll see something...

[@jkjjkjuobguiuyhbnkkk]

Sherlock Sparkles :3 theres nothing :(

[@maximusw01]

That last bit scared me

[@cherryroseberry2811]

This song is so cool I love this song i can't stop listening this song👍🏻👍🏻😍🤘🏻😎❤️❤️😘

[@cherryroseberry2811]

I can't stop listening to this song i like this song🖕🏻❤️🤘🏻😍😎😍😘❤️❤️🤘🏻

[@sternenglocke5394]

Woooow amazing *-*

[@ellaharmony3385]

OMG!!! It's finally here!!!

[@Darthzim950]

This was really impressive! Although the constant jump-cutting bothered me a bit, I really enjoyed this and am amazed by your work.

[@aymanmawassi04252397]

I LOVE THIS SONG.

[@sournote5798]

I love how Rarity casually pushes the paper off of the table XD

[@rkiwi9485]

You did a really cool job with the animation. I feel like there could have been more head movement and certainly more blinking, because otherwise it seems quite unnatural. However, you have a lot of talent when it comes to modeling and texturing, so, kudos there.

[@DarkGamerrr]

This is Awesome!

[@alyssanguyen3038]

I got chills u should animate more of this

[@princesstwilightsparkle9585]

Can u do the "I will be there"

[@hayleyyeager8008]

You did a good job recreating Ink Potts! I kinda want you to recreate it using the mlp 2D style if possible

[@bartoszstrzelczyk829]

So 3d version of Ink Potts idea XD Looks nice

[@RealPrinceoftheNight]

I love how Twilight's wings spread while Mondego holds that note at 1:58 (and others).

[@TheTigerdragon001]

OMG!!! THIS'S SO COOL!!!

[@arsenicflask]

Realy awesome animation

[@MirageVitae]

I love it~

[@YourLocalPelican]

1:18 finally spotted pinkie pie

[@maximusw01]

When are the other parts going to be released?

[@ProMonarchyGenius]

PURE AWESOMENESS!!! :D

[@hordebronyfurness1832]

I love this so much

[@LoKoSFermincho]

AMAZING! I'M SO SUBSCRIBING TO THIS! :D

[@sammieastin7769]

I would hurt them for doing this until they give up

[@misshappy1009]

I LOVE THIS

[@CaptainSpycrab]

You captured the 'wtf twilight personal space' look at 1:48 perfectly. Edit: Are there going to be more of these for the other songs?

[@maxtoan216]

That poor Headcrab... :(

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Someone noticed! Good job man :D (as it turns out there's no small insect models I could find)

[@AnimatronicPony]

Dude! You been ignoring me ;(

[@MmmpieAnimations]

Aww come on man, you're so loud and prolific with your comments that's impossible haha :)

[@maxtoan216]

Mmmpie Animations A Fast Headcrap.