A DISTORTION'S TRIAL [the magnus archives MV] (FLASHING WARNING)

finally after hours of waiting fro my pc to work and rendering issues its finally up!
who wouldve thought going absolutely ham with glow effects and rgb twitches would mess the encoding up so bad
also if you havent noticed i mightve developed a slight TMA problem over the past couple months,,,
UPDATE:
now with some HD renders of loose frames for your background and layout pleasure!
just remember to credit me in your bip if you use them on social media (akidachi on both tumblr and twitter)
LINK:mega.nz/folder/zlMWCRaB#CLwzA...
song:
• Vane - A Crow's Trial ...
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socials:
art tumblr: / akidachi
main tumblr: / akibakka
twitter: / akidachi
art only twitter: / akidachi_png
twitch: / akidachi

[@comicgeek1870]

Raise your hand if you're new to tma and avoided this video until the final season to not be spoiled, and then learned you could've seen it since you were at 101

[@dodonixx953]

I recently started watching and watched this shortly after the first episode with Ellen but had to go to classe so stoped mid animatic. I get beck to it 3 days later to realize that it had spoilers for the episode i watched just before refinding this on yt.

[@EmilyTod]

Im up to season 3 mag 113 so yeah perfect timing im guessing Not too late or early

[@swisscoda_TH]

This was actually a video I saw- along with two others, before ever starting Magnus Archives (or even knowing *what it was*) which got me into the series. One of the others was an animation of The Watchers Crown from 160- so I had absolutely zero context but really loved the content a lot and it ended up pushing me in the direction of watching it. This was almost two years ago now and i immediately caught up to the series in time for the start of the second(?) act of Season 5. Since then Ive relistened to TMA a dozen times lol

[@69_pigeons_in_a_trenchcoat]

I avoided it for spoilers because I'm still listening to the podcast I only opened it today out of curiosity But then I see your comment I literally finished 101 half an hour ago

[@prismatic9836]

suppp

[@rana1614]

I'm going to print this out frame by frame and eat it I love it so much

[@olivarfrench7035]

ok graham

[@illusiveaxeman9164]

I know, right!?

[@cristinamotta4471]

Eat the computer while your at it

[@SamLawren]

Rana wait a minute, who are you Tell if you got the meme cuz of the profile

[@rana1614]

@@SamLawren Kazoo Kid: Avatar of the Stranger

[@fyrefrost1898]

Someone help Nikola, she needs a loan to pay her cab fee

[@fyrefrost1898]

Joking aside, I love your designs for Michael and Helen, I’ve seen people portray them in crazy clothes but from Sasha’s statement we know they look mostly human when you look at them straight on, and it makes sense for Michael to have a big furry coat since they were in a cold place when he joined with the Distortion

[@imogenasenath9669]

wait can u explain the joke haha

[@dane4422]

Imogen Asenath 0:35 “the mannequin’s calling for a taxi // with a fee of 20,000 yen”

[@fyrefrost1898]

Dude I just realized in the one shot of Michael Shelley his hair and the fur on his jacket looks normal but Michael Distortion has the little spirals in them and when Helen becomes the distortion her hair looks like that too

[@northsun9514]

Oh I thought this was OCs-

[@lottie1316]

'In a _web_ of lies' Ho dang. This song got even more relevant.

[@aadenclark6394]

Oh, oh no, oh NO

[@Kharci]

Naah, that mf of an archivist has NOT seen the web of lies

[@Manicies]

I honestly think one of the coolest things I've noticed is how different their hair is when they're Distortion VS when they're Michael or Helen. Even when michael is pretending to be a human to lure Helen into the door, his hair looks normal, but as soon as the guise is dropped it gets very stylised and has those cool blocky loops. And once Helen takes over right at the end, her hair does the same thing. It's an AWESOME detail!

[@cevichegrace]

When the distortion hits they turn into Minecraft

[@whitesoul1.1.09]

Oh wow , i am impressed how you spotted that detail ,i noticed when read your comment 👏🙌👏

[@sishere7768]

NOT TO MENTION how at 0:44 it looks blocky, but turns back to normal asduuasdsd

[@aadenclark6394]

YEEEE

[@tinywhale1836]

How we feeling lesbians, wife was a tory 😔

[@eppigraceless4240]

dont remind me :(

[@possessedpeach4455]

top 10 anime betrayals 😔

[@Liz-lq8hw]

For me it was when I heard that Jude Perry was a stock broker

[@cascharles3838]

My theory is she was one of those LGBTQ Tories (look em up, they have a website and everything), and that's why the spiral targeted her in the first place and why she was able to survive, because she already doesn't make any fuckin sense

[@totsheh1207]

Heart- broken

[@alicepersson9568]

Okay-- but this is EXACTLY how i imagined helen. Profesional skirt? Tie? Clipboard? Hair band, darkish curly hair, orangey eyes? What. The. Hell. Are you an avatar of the eye because i think you just read my mind

[@calimorales9880]

That is v much tru, but I'd also like to note that your pfp confused me very much for a good few seconds lol

[@dodonixx953]

"Are you an avatar of the eye cuz i think you read my mind" Sonds like i pick-up line.

[@fellowship9253]

literally same

[@alicepersson9568]

@dodonixx953 Are you an avatar of the flesh? Cuz I want you to reorganize my guts Are you an avatar of the end? Cuz you can bone me anytime R u an avatar of the vast? Cuz you can make me feel like I'm flying Are you the being that terrorized Michael Crew? Cuz you're so electric, you make me wanna take a leap of faith Are you an avatar of the web? Cuz you got me ensnared Are you annabelle cane? Cuz I bet you'd be really good at tying me up Are you a wasps nest in my attic? Because a little voice in my head is telling me you love me Are you an avatar of the corruption? Because id love to let you inside me Are you an avatar of the spiral? Cuz I can't get you out of my head Are you the distortion? Cuz your laugh keeps echoing in my mind Are you an avatar of the desolation? Cuz I feel like I'm burning up Are you an avatar of the hunt? Cuz you make my heart race (haha, "race") Are you an avatar of the dark? Cuz I keep thinking about you late at night when I'm in bed Are you an avatar of the lonely? Cuz when you're with me, I forget anyone else exists Are you an avatar of the slaughter? Cuz you make everyone in your presence go crazy Are you an avatar of the stranger? Cuz youre a doll Are you an avatar of the end? Cuz you make my heart miss beats Are you an avatar of the extinction? Cuz I have a feeling that when the world ends, it'll be just the two of us (Or: are you an extinction avatar? Cuz youre the bomb) Are you using compulsion on me? Cuz I keep finding myself unable to say no to what you ask of me Are you an avatar of the buried? Cuz you take my breath away Well, call me a buried avatar, Cuz I love it when you choke me

[@AHorrorFanatic]

​​@@alicepersson9568You are awful and I love you this is perfect

[@tinydancer6767]

bruh this song is literally MADE for tma, the lyrics are nonsense and yet they fit so perfectly it's insane. THE ART IS LITERALLY GORGEOUS the design for every character is perfect and the expressions UGH and how Michael and helen change when they become the distortion - you are actually my favourite person thank you for your service

[@rodrigosoto5035]

I know right!!! I never had imagine Helen with dark skin, but now that I saw this it only feels natural this way.

[@icepelt1001]

not to mention that "paramnesia" is a condition involving "distorted memory or confusions of fact and fantasy, such as confabulation or déjà vu."

[@kieransaul2711]

I looked it up online: vocaloidlyrics.fandom.com/wiki/A_Crow’s_Trial The big takeaway is that the crow offers the girl a deal and then traps her in a world of madness, but the girl “eats his heart” and takes his place in the end. So... lines up pretty well with Helen and Michael, yeah.

[@7OwlsWithALaptop]

Also the fact that the lyrics sound like english, but the vocaloid makes them pretty much incomprehensible.

[@catwhiskers4885]

HENRY JEKYLL FROM THE GLASS SCIENTISTS??

[@chespresso]

Took me a couple watches to realize the guy at 2:03 isn't Michael (Distortion), but Michael Shelley. Poor guy just wanted to save the world for his work grandma :(

[@avet9413]

I know… poor boy :(

[@_spilled_milk_pro-champion3871]

@@avet9413 I don’t even think Michael Shelley knew about the supernatural. He didn’t know Gertrude was a badass, he thought she was a helpless old lady. Poor boy had no idea what was going on, but he trusted her completely.

[@avet9413]

@@_spilled_milk_pro-champion3871 I know! He just wanted to take care of little old lady Gertrude. :( it sucks. Episode 101 was my favorite and least favorite episode at the same time

[@snowfire321]

well it took me until like the end of the animation to realize the person in the video was Helen and not Sasha cause I'm silly

[@midnights2631]

Michael Shelley is the sweetest guy :,(

[@Catsafari25]

I love the way the eyes are done. Like how we never really see normal people's eyes (even Helen's eyes are marked as being singled out by the Distortion, starting with small orange spirals and then growing as she gets further lost) and the different glowing styles of the different avatars. (Also gotta love how TMA artists are always so good with keeping the worm scars from S1; it's just such a nice little detail!)

[@desolatemess9612]

From what it looks like to me after she sees michael for the first time her eyes do the thing but at 0:55 they dont

[@ilexdiapason]

whoa 2 year old cat comment spotted in the wild

[@Catsafari25]

@@ilexdiapason hello it is I! *waves*

[@mochigreen8687]

God I didn't notice this before, but at 0:54 her eyes are target shaped, perfect circles. Before she Becomes but after she's spiral marked at 1:55, her eyes turn into legitimate spirals like Micheal's. What amazing attention to detail.

[@dodonixx953]

Omg...

[@MeowHearts]

oh my god?? this is so insanely good?? the symbolism?? the character design?? JON’S character design?? aaaaah just amazing- I can’t express how much I love this.

[@MeowHearts]

I've watched this four times and I still can't get over it. I just love the glitch effect during 0:49 and 1:49. and the subtle characterization is so good too? like with Jon's defensive posture, crossing one arm over the other while he talks to Helen? I just. love this. aaah

[@immapoisonyou5218]

void AND AND ALSO The design of Martin laying down on his desk cause he's depressed (because he's been bullied by like a worm lady monster I mean), Sasha with her face being blacked out because IT'S NOT SASHA and like the symbols on who I think is Tim that reminds me of turmoil and things because like anger issues and after there's the portrait of who I think is Jonas, who keep his sight on Helen as she walks by, because Jonas is Elias and we can safely say that he was watching while Helen gave her statement

[@jwr1309]

i’ve watched this on loop and keep getting the chills from “takes the devil’s heart a n d e a t s s o m e m o r e”

[@feraldruid_png8045]

SAME UGHHH ITS SO GOOD N SCRATCHES MY BRAINN

[@-S.L.]

@@feraldruid_png8045 Would you say it ... cuts you when you try to think? :D

[@MagnaFae]

2:43 free replay button

[@aadenclark6394]

@@-S.L.nice 👍

[@liolokk5248]

for some reason human michael at 2:03 makes me so sad :( really brings home the point that he once was just a person lost in the corridor just like helen

[@artimessnow3950]

I love how at the end before Helen replaces michael, when the door is open and we don't see her face for a moment. It's like, for a few seconds you can easily mistake the back of michaels head with his hair as some sort of dress before registering whats happening. Like he's just another outfit that will be tossed aside for the business suit that 'Helen' wears. Unintentional and probably over analysing it, but I thought that bit was neat like the rest of this mv!!!

[@ftgihf467]

Sorry to nitpick but it is Helen just as much as Helen as Jon is Jon

[@abunchofrandomstuff4106]

@@ftgihf467 gotta disagree there chief, Jon (despite going hunting) is still human enough to care and to se the world through “human” eyes but Helen is an entirely different being to the original Helen you could say that she’s just been distorted. Not to mention that several avatars make the point that the isn’t a hard line between avatar and human it’s more of a sliding scale with Helen and the NotThem at the far end and Gerry and the bug guy Jon makes into an Avatar on the other

[@ftgihf467]

@@abunchofrandomstuff4106 yea that’s true, I kinda just meant that if u we’re gonna say Helen wasn’t the original Helen then u would have to say the same for John

[@rebeccathatcher9419]

@@ftgihf467 ...According to Helen. And even if she can't outright lie without getting CEASELESS WATCHERED, "the throat of delusion incarnate" is probably not telling the whole truth.

[@404fearnotfound]

No because I thought it was a dress until I rewatched a few times and was like no that’s Michael’s hair

[@lucywilliams5043]

Holy shit. Sidenote: I have watched this at least ten times over already. Cannot comprehend how much effort and love must have gone into this animatic. I love every frame Helen is on-screen. Michael looks like the little bastard he is.

[@applesource8261]

*looks like the little bastard he was.

[@amefuraggamuffin]

someones probably already said it but i love how micheal is wearing a winter coat, and how you put spirals in the insulation

[@amefuraggamuffin]

wait also its kinda weird to make helen black when she's a Tory, arent they the white supremacist party?

[@safyakhan7857]

@@amefuraggamuffin Most people see Helen as black, it might be canon but I don't know for sure- Wait Helen's a tory?

[@Vampirecrypt]

​​@@amefuraggamuffin I'm from the UK and can tell you that while they aren't a white supremacy party, they are a conservative one. Widely hated too. Helen can still be apart of them while being a poc, especially as some of their real life members are poc too. Conservatives have a way of indoctrinating people and tories aren't any different lol

[@Vampirecrypt]

​@@safyakhan7857 yeah it's mentioned by spiral Helen to jon at some point,they describe her as "a secret Tory" or something

[@mothknight7050]

tories are just conservatives in the uk so not necessarily white supremacist but more like anti progressive and probably homophobic

[@moony8760]

2:06 michael looking so lost and holding a map in what is/should be his own domain breaks into my home and shoots me in the chest 3 times everytime i see it

[@charteon9092]

I know that this is two years old, but that is Michael Shelly, not Michael. It was him with a map after being tricked by Gertrude Robinson.

[@EvelynnEleonore]

Can I just say the way you made the lyrics fit TMA is absolutely fucking beautiful. Avatars as Crows to whose songs the city folk dance????? The imagery of her becoming one of them working out in the lyrics as well as the imagery??? LIKE???? IF THERE WERE CLASSES ON MAKING MV'S THIS SHOULD BE THE LECTURING MATERIAL

[@dwell7315]

Underrated part of this AMV is the Archives staff. The distortion (haha) hiding Not!Sasha's face, Tim being the "zombie" crying "I hate you," it's just sooo good for such a short bit of the video

[@lunammoon8503]

how did people discover new music before artists started to make animatics to songs I'll never know,

[@SorchaSublime]

actually it was a remarkably similar process, that's what music videos and MTV were for.

[@aadenclark6394]

Honestly human? No idea

[@fatoush977]

This is absolutely PEREFCT. The MV is well done and the song fits so well to the Distortion vibes. This is WONDERFUL

[@faded1390]

There’s no such thing as a perfect M-

[@gwendalynnwatkins1296]

Love how the spiral just yassifies you

[@corvidkhaos]

Holy shit the art direction here is gorgeous

[@tuna7279]

i don’t know shit about the magnus archives except for the fact that i get kinsigned that evil dude with the slicked back hair on uquiz a lot but i’m a friend of the woman the myth the legend who made this song and god damn is it good,, it’s just all so lovely!! catch me gushing abt this to them for months straight and probably getting into tma just because of it HAHA good job 👏

[@Akidachi]

the fact that you got kinsigned elias is so fucking funny to me im so sorry

[@someonewho]

YOU GOT KINSIGNED ELIAS JEHDSJSJ I LOVE THAT-

[@archibaldholmer9920]

Have you started listening yet?

[@tuna7279]

@@archibaldholmer9920 NO HAHAHA

[@xxgirl101xx]

Elias kin (derogatory) Jk

[@otter502]

HOLY SHIT SHE MADE A MAP And when she came back she followed it ... That is so cool the attention to detail holy shit

[@arloolson3286]

The not!Sasha at 1:33 is so perfect. We've already seen real Sasha earlier, but now she's got different hair and even the body language is not pointedly not Sasha. Also it's tricky to see through the part obscuring her face, but I'm pretty sure that she's got a massive wide white smile. Odd, given that the other two are suffering. Just what is she smiling about?

[@Kagomai15]

She's enjoying gaslighting everyone in the archives lol

[@abunchofrandomstuff4106]

Must be happy with her boyfriend in the wax museum

[@juliapazosmaidana2929]

Worst part is that I did notice the Chan but I didn't pay enough attention to remember her well xD I was like "Gosh durn it, I know you are not her but I can't remember her either!"

[@juliapazosmaidana2929]

@@abunchofrandomstuff4106 btw, was she going out with one of the Breacon and Hope Co? I was never sure

[@rileyrose5166]

@@juliapazosmaidana2929 That. Would be really funny but no, the boyfriend was just a cover story I'm pretty sure

[@imatiredstudent2081]

Okay, so I have to tell you youtube recommended me this animatic ( I hadn’t seen tma) and i saw and I didn’t understand a thing, but i was so intrigued i started watching it and i finally reached mag 101. And omg this is so effing perfect i loved every second of it. Tldr: this animatic got me into tma hell and i regret nothing. So thank you so much for introducing me to such a wonderful show :D

[@taidko376]

I can't express how much I love the moment at 2:47 and the glipse at Michael expression when for a moment u can see his fear and confusion. Chills. Also Helen and Michael deserved better😢

[@TheWilderCat]

1:22 The distortion of the background lined up with a real scratch on my phone and freaked me out for a second.

[@dodonixx953]

Omg...

[@fenixh2945]

POGGERS THIS IS AMAZING. HELEN SUPREMACY

[@lag4959]

Hellen is the best chartor and no one can convince me otherwise

[@justabeholder4753]

I mean I liked michael...

[@malaizze]

Femboy king Michael > Cringe Tory Helen

[@zoe7007]

jon is so.,.,jon is so pretty this is incredible and jon is so pretty

[@oz_the_archivist]

I NEVER NOTICED HELENS EAR RINGS WENT TO PEARLS/STUDS TO PAPER CLIPS/SPIRALS WHAT

[@refrigeratorhandle1974]

WAIR HOLY SHIT I NEVER NOTICED UNTIL YOU SAID THAT

[@HalStrider]

i think this is without a joke the best thing i have ever seen in my entire life

[@applesource8261]

Reminder that this exists.

[@FlyingStoryBook]

This is my new “gonna loop this for a week” song. The visuals are great and I love the Helen design

[@thorny_aloe2263]

i love how all of the avatars have glowing eyes- we can see jon’s eyes in about early season 2 (judging by the worm scars and length of his hair) and they look pretty normal and then in season 3 (longer hair and trapped in nikolai’s place) he has glowing green eyes (also elias has glowing yellow eyes which is just *chef’s kiss*) and how helen’s eyes slowly become more of glowing orange spirals i also love how michael and helen are opposites in many ways- michael has blue eyes, helen has orange eyes, michael is mostly yellow, helen is mostly purple, michael is white, helen is black, michael was male, helen was female, etc.

[@jwr2141]

Your art style here is so visually appealing and friendly, but at the same time you were able to convey the eery vibes from the podcast! And you didn't resort to just dark colors all the time--the bright colors work wonderfully here!! I love this piece!

[@maicey_t.]

The small parts with Tim and Sasha are stabbing me in the heart thank you for this exquisite pain

[@lemmetalkaboutthis]

Full offense, this is _the coolest fucking thing?!??_ Like all the symbolism, and character designs that made it immediately apparent who is who, and the expressions??? Masterful portrayal of nuanced emotions, and the fucking takeover was so cool! Plus, JON, gods, I replayed the parts where he glitches to the eye so often - also the "glitching" parts were so well done, like _holy shit_ I've watched it 5 times now and it still amazes me, best video in my subs feed in probably the past month

[@karpcrossing7192]

god now that i'm finally coherent again after watching this so many times: i fucking love this chief!!!!!!! the way you matched up the lyrics thematically with every character is so damn good (web of lies and tim's 'i hate you' are personal favorites) I love your designs for literally all of them, but helen and jon's designs esp holy SHIT. this is probably one of the cleanest pmvs i've ever seen and i'm so glad TMA is getting Good Good Content like this

[@sunnyluna5042]

You look into my brain and it’s just this video on loop

[@Akidachi]

UPDATE: since someone on tumblr asked me i exported some of the frames of this MV in hd and put them on MEGA (link in description) just remember to credit me in your bio if you end up using them as icons or layout! let me know if theres any shots that arent in the folder that youd like an hd render of and ill add them

[@onering20]

I cant get the Mega link to work

[@Akidachi]

@@onering20 hm... the link works just fine for me on other devices where im not logged into my acc so the problem is propably on your end... google i guess

[@InfiniteAnvil]

Thank Jon's face in shadow and full of eyes is a fucking iconic background

[@spawnofheck504]

the frame at 1:55... OUGH that whole bit actually is just so good. and the bits inside the doors ooh! and 2:03.. and the cuts between Michael and Helen in door land as it ramps up to the last bit are so cool.. and his FACE at 2:40.. you're so good with expressions I swear.. and OOOH the 'woman ponders if she enjoys the gore' to 'eats some more' is just.. her FACE it's so GOOD! And at 2:52 her hair's gone all blocky even though she's still a sillouette that attention to detail GOD!! And the bits in the archives, and the COLORS and the VIBES. I've watched this animatic so many times by now I can sing along to all the lyrics

[@spawnofheck504]

I have already watched this three times today.

[@spawnofheck504]

!! I JUST REALIZED- Helen's earrings get spiralized too!

[@spawnofheck504]

back again. should i just keep the tab up?

[@spawnofheck504]

Have I mentioned how much I love the opening credits?

[@fairywww]

@@spawnofheck504 dedication

[@fairyhill5232]

2:48 i believe in helen supremacy

[@e-mail2673]

omg this is actually incredible i dont even want to THINK about how long it took you to draw and edit all those frames!!!

[@Akidachi]

drawing was surprisingly only a couple days editing though,,, lets just say i put my poor underqualified computer through hell and i should propably be keeping a fire extinguisher next to my desk

[@ryneaaskai9805]

@@Akidachi If tma taught us anything at all than that fire extinguisher are always a good thing to have close by....

[@steohim]

@@Akidachi ljfsgnjfdsljln may be an unrelated question but where did u edit this? i know nothing of editing and this looks top tier!!!!!

[@thaumaturgy.]

@@steohim SUPER late response but i’d like to know too! it looks amazing

[@sol6645]

Lyrics: Guests line up to leave their moldy bedrooms In a dimly lit, moonlit, motel The turtles are dancing with raccoons A zombie joins, but gets a firm "no thank you" The mannequin's calling for a taxi With a fee of twenty thousand yen A familiar voice calls out to me A feathered creature I have never seen The crow offers me a smoke He says "It'll take you for a joyride" No sir, I think I'd rather choke Oh I'll be fine "You're in a web of lies" "On a busy street You'll see the cityfolk Run at the mercy Of the singing crows. The raven ponders If he enjoys the gore, While he takes The frontal lobe and eats some more. Little miss, Don't sit, come join the fun! We've only got 12 hours till the party's done. Paramnesia Rules this world, so fake a smile! Take a shot, some scotch And wait until your trial." Crows line up to greet the local mushrooms Sticking flyers on their spotted head The turtles are eating the raccoons A zombie sits alone and cries "I hate you" The mannequin's calling for a taxi For a crow who knows we have a deal A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature, and he's come to see me The crow offers me a smoke He says "It'll help you kill the third eye" My, my, you think this is a joke? "I swear it's fine!" He's in a web of lies. The clock takes shots as the dolls relax under the morning sky They wonder if time would still proceed if they were to die The devil's work life, suffice to say is comedy at best He wonders if there will come a time when he can leave the nest In a burning town around inferno's court The crows are laughing with a glass of port The woman wonders if she enjoys the gore Still, she takes the devil's heart and Eats some more "Little miss? This isn't the deal we had!" Oh did I mess it up? I guess it's just too bad Paramnesia Rules this world, so fake a smile! Take a shot, some scotch I'll see you at your trial.

[@dodonixx953]

"Paramnesia rules this world, so fake a smile"... That is so on point for the spiral. This song really fits, hun...

[@crownclowncreations]

This is beautiful! I think it might be a good idea to maybe add lyrics for the people that don't know TMA or the song. I loved the visuals, but I couldn't understand a word that was said, so I also felt quite confused ^^'

[@Akidachi]

i was actually in the middle of adding subtitles when you posted this! thought it might be a good idea after a couple ppl in the tumblr notes mentioned it as well

[@blackspringbird]

@@Akidachi To be honest I didn't understand the lyrics either but that gave it even more of a Spiral vibe!

[@necrobotanical7047]

Guests line up to leave their moldy bedrooms In a dimly lit, moonlit, motel The turtles are dancing with raccoons A zombie joins, but gets a firm "no thank you" The mannequin's calling for a taxi With a fee of twenty thousand yen A familiar voice calls out to me A feathered creature I have never seen The crow offers me a smoke He says "It'll take you for a joyride" No sir, I think I'd rather choke Oh I'll be fine "You're in a web of lies" "On a busy street You'll see the cityfolk Run at the mercy Of the singing crows. The raven ponders If he enjoys the gore, While he takes The frontal lobe and eats some more. Little miss, Don't sit, come join the fun! We've only got 12 hours till the party's done. Paramnesia Rules this world, so fake a smile! Take a shot, some scotch And wait until your trial." Crows line up to greet the local mushrooms Sticking flyers on their spotted head The turtles are eating the raccoons A zombie sits alone and cries "I hate you" The mannequin's calling for a taxi For a crow who knows we have a deal A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature, and he's come to see me The crow offers me a smoke He says "It'll help you kill the third eye" My, my, you think this is a joke? "I swear it's fine!" He's in a web of lies. The clock takes shots as the dolls relax under the morning sky They wonder if time would still proceed if they were to die The devil's work life, suffice to say is comedy at best He wonders if there will come a time when he can leave the nest In a burning town around inferno's court The crows are laughing with a glass of port The woman wonders if she enjoys the gore Still, she takes the devil's heart and Eats some more "Little miss? This isn't the deal we had!" Oh did I mess it up? I guess it's just too bad Paramnesia Rules this world, so fake a smile! Take a shot, some scotch I'll see you at your trial.

[@crownclowncreations]

@@Akidachi Oh, that's awesome! I don't know why I never saw your reply, but I'm definitely gonna watch it again with the captions on. Thank you.

[@clayxros576]

The lack of lyrics draws you deeper. Deeper. Deeper. Keep looking, keep turning, lose yourself in this wonderful -

[@flowerchild2496]

This is so perfect!! Nobodys mentioned it but i love how confused Helen looks when shes taking over Michael, like she doesn't want to or doesn't know why its happening. its just so goooood!! I could seriously do an entire presentation analyzing this

[@artpotatoe2566]

tma and vane lily... I AM LIVING FOR THIS

[@pihkabottomtext4628]

Fun fact! This video is what finally got me into TMA!!! I didn't even watch it past the spoiler alert back then, but I thought the thumbnail itself was cool enough to push me to listen the podcast.

[@nyranna_]

I’m here to mourn

[@Crazy37231209]

OH THIS IS SO COOL I LOVE ALL OF THIS. i will say when helen entered the office and jon's face was entirely eyes.... i loved that so much. all of this was so good

[@x-ca1iber]

eternally fascinated by tim appearing every time the "zombie" is mentioned in the song,,,

[@yasminaustwick4138]

Honestly, this really made me fall in love with both Micheal and Helen so much. the art is so cool and has such a cool unique style that fits The Spiral so well!

[@apxllo8734]

listening to tma for the first time and my friend sent me this video after I finished episode 101. THIS COOKS. THIS IS SO GOOD. You cooked an entire 5 course meal with this video. I cannot express in language how much this video supremely KICKS ASS. Thank you this is dope

[@maquekenzie]

I watched this before getting to 101 but having spoiled myself on a few parts of it, and I thought it was great. Then I listened to 101 (literally in my car on the way home from work) and I was instantly like I NEED TO REWATCH A DISTORTION'S TRIAL. And now I did and there's just...SO MANY DETAILS I never picked out not having listened to the episode. The mannequins! The location! The fact that it was Pre-Distortion Michael there in the maze of doors with the map! The reason John shifted from the eye behind him to being filled with Eyes. AAAAAAAAAH! ALL OF IT IS SO GOOD! I keep showing this off to friends as a way to get them to watch TMA lol

[@chicky6471]

We love creepy jon designs in this house.

[@Fisherman___73]

HOLYYYYYVOH MY GOODNESS THIS IS FANTASTIC MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR

[@theduckscp]

I dont know what originally sent me down this rabbit hole. I think it started with me watching another video using this song and youtube randomly recommended it to me. When I saw 0:22 I then proceeded to google The Magnus Archives and became insanely interested. So youtube recommendations did something good. Amazing video by the way.

[@maicey_t.]

Ooh have you listened to it yet? What did you think?

[@aetheremin]

fly high queen

[@annapascal8652]

Why is Helen SO CUTE IN THIS???????

[@atelierr_]

THIS HAS ME HAPPY FLAPPING SO HARD??? the editing and art??? CHILLS, LITERAL CHILLS AT THE END. FANTASTIC.

[@klltsun_2576]

Holy hell I’ve been rewatching multiple times and reading comments and wow, the amount of details you put in that can be missed at first watch! Other people already said some stuff on said details (spirals on Helen and Micheal’s hair, Sasha and not-Sasha, etc.) so I’m just gonna draw attention to a thing I noticed that nobody else mentioned yet: Jon’s hair was shorter when he met Helen and then later it got longer! It’s a small thing, but I’m impressed you included even a little thing like that. Oh, and also that bit with normal Micheal standing in the corridor and was then replaced by Helen, to signify how similar their situation was, being lost in the corridors. And then later turning into the Distortion. (Cant remember if someone already mentioned this, oh well) I love your designs, especially Jon and Helen! And your art style, wow! And I love how in time with the music this is and how much it fits, not to mention the clean drawings and colors and effects just- *chef’s kiss* EDIT: I’m back to say I love the way the avatars’ eyes glow

[@BonseyJonsey]

mICHAEL AT 2:03 I WANT TO HOLD HIMMM TMA MAKES ME VERY SAD MORE THAN SCARED

[@curseofcrows8080]

wow!!! i'd love to do a blood sacrifice to this i love it!!! the colors and animation and everything are Epic and this is all around just very great

[@pj-yh2cj]

Me: ill just watch it *one* more time [7 hours later] ***one*** more.....

[@yokubhw8024]

Same

[@camus694]

I can't believe this song isn't literally inspired in The Spiral. The similarities are just to much

[@projectflowersong7402]

MORTAL WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR ART STYLE SO MUCH AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@Sleepy-lt8mt]

THIS. IS. SO. GOOD.

[@sarahdeel3553]

RIP Helen

[@SweetWitchNerd]

i'm fucking hooked on this video! it's so perfect, the lyrics are just crazy enough to fit the Spiral and the TMA universe and the animation is gorgeous! love Michael and Helen

[@tinydancer6767]

i literally have been watching this religiously. i used up my data listening to it on repeat. every SINGLE time it gives me chills at how good it is. i am obsessed. i am dependant. i can't stop. help i-

[@9brightshiners]

I've had this song stuck in my head for the last three days, and I've shared this work of art with all of my friends who are even remotely interested in TMA. The art is lovely - I love your designs for Michael and Helen - the way the doors distort on the long shots of the Distortion's corridor, and the fluid/jarring/distorted transitions between each of the shots in time with the music are just perfect.

[@mallicek3477]

Okay so this beautiful piece of art is what got me into the magnus archives. The thing is, because i understood absolutely NOTHING in this video when i watched it, i started listening to the podcast, trying to identify everyone. I don't know how, but i managed to confuse that helen with SASHA until ep101 (yes even after the end of s2). So now i'm stuck with two characters looking exactly the same and I have no idea what to do. But thank you nonetheless for throwing me into tma !

[@sirspadille]

I watched this when I was on s2, also thinking that not!sasha will somehow replace Michael, lol Like "He will help them by trapping her, but she will kill him for that" Sometimes spoilers out of context can become funny afterwards

[@starapture]

WHA TTHE HELLL THIS IS SO GOOD IM FROTHING AT THE MOUTH I LOVE THIS!!!

[@cosmoknott4451]

This is beautiful. I've looked at this for five hours now. When Helen becomes Distortion!Helen at the end, I get chills. This video kicks so much ass.

[@agnieszkasalach4395]

Everyone apparently has that one TMA video that got them hooked. This one was it for me. I mean, I've heard about TMA here and there, but it was this video that finally pushed me over the edge

[@wilderneyes]

I'm absolutely obsessed with the animation here, it's simple with the moving parts but flows so smoothly, and fits in perge t time to the music. The art is also absolutely gorgeous, what a beautiful and clean style!! I've never seen anything like it in an animatic before! And, the colour coordination? How the Spiral hallway matches the colours of Michael's jacket and scarf, but the ceiling matches Helen's purple suit?? God it's just so beautiful. I also adore all of the character designs here It's also a perfect music choice.. I honestly though the song credits at the end were a misspelling because I was convinced it was made just for this video, it fits so well! I've since checked out the original too, but just wow!! It's a beautiful video that's had a ton of effort put into it, and I don't often leave comments on yt but I needed to gush about how well-done this one is! You should be super proud, and on behalf of the TMA fandom, thank you so much for making it!!

[@asterin8785]

Is this video an artefact of The Spiral?? I can't stop watching it, is this making me an avatar????? WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS IS SO ADDICTIVE

[@alphalilly8207]

I came back to this after getting through most of TMA. and I'll gladly say that this is the video that got me into TMA in the first place, I had no idea what it was about but the moment I saw your rendition of Jon's design I immediately fell in love XDD thanks for getting me into it lol, best decision ever.

[@alphalilly8207]

I pray for the day that I can make something as half as good as this. I still think this is amazing!

[@feraljayce]

YOOOOOOO THIS IS SO COOL !!!! i love your helen design and the very subtle stretch of the doors really fits with the description of the hallways. the colors are incredible and your smooth editing really make this video all the more pleasing to watch. your elias design is also SO GOOD

[@Isaac-bm2mm]

By far the best TMA fan content i've found

[@chikalaranja4629]

This hits different after mag 187,,,,

[@sackfire2986]

I want to reiterate how good this is! Also I'm coming back to this video for... Unrelated reasons... Yeah...

[@clayxros576]

Spiral spiral spiral spiral spiral spiral spiral spiral down down down keep turning keep searching find your way to the center someday

[@bluecreator7779]

I just saw this on Tumblr, liked, reblogged and left a comment. Had to come here and leave another comment. Words can't express how good this is!!! The music is wonderful and the mechanical vocaloid voices work great for the spiral. This just evokes such good emotions I wish I could explain better. 💙

[@heartheater07]

i don't know anything about tma and i don't intend to listen to it but this severely fucks

[@heartheater07]

helen is so pretty though augh i love the art

[@oracleiscool]

id highly recommend it man, dunno how much a random comment will persuade you but yknow 👍👍

[@khazel8757]

the PROPORTIONS the POSES the ART STYLE AMAZING I'm so inspired right now

[@KraisonFrameworks]

It's not every day that I find a good "Magnus Archives" MV, but when I do, it's a grand occasion!

[@shinigamijack4208]

For 2:03 I realize you're probably trying to go for Michael being terrified in the corridors as he seeks his way to the heart of the distortion, but I can't help but read it as Distortion Michael reading a newspaper about the fact that Orsinov is about to kill the archivist

[@visitorfromnowhere1966]

Anyone else here after [REDACTED]?

[@spareribbs2304]

Yup, thought this was going to be a whole different video actually

[@sknfmsmr]

Uhmm what does that mean? I feel like I'm missing something really important.

[@spareribbs2304]

@@sknfmsmr depends, on what episode are you currently?

[@sknfmsmr]

@@spareribbs2304 I've caught up with the episodes

[@visitorfromnowhere1966]

@@sknfmsmr I was referencing MAG 187 - Checking Out. Redacted to avoid spoilers for those not caught up.

[@princeramblerose]

i have no idea what the plot of tma is, but that creepy dude with the long hair....hello sir

[@minty_drawer6925]

you should listen to it..the dude with the long hair has a really amazing backstory... and overall the entire plot is just really really good!!

[@mxxnlight111]

listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it listen to it :))

[@XeyDoStuff]

yeah his laugh in the podcast surely didn’t awaken anything in me at all…

[@rileymisha3737]

That’s exactly how I imagined those characters!! It’s so well done! The music, the animation, how it connects to the actual story line - all perfect!!

[@elisabethvictoria5324]

we have a michael distortion fictive and all i could think throughout most of this animatic was 'look it's our boi'

[@Liz-lq8hw]

Okay theres so many wonderful things in this vid, but I need everyone to take a moment to appreciate muttonchop Elias at 1:38

[@fishwiki_]

ok i’ve watched this about 3 times and i still can’t get it out of my head hshsgabsggs i love (fear?) the spiral sm and i love The Distortion with all of my heart AND YOU DREW THEM SO WELL IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY

[@esd3765]

anyone here after ep 187?? :')

[@m.lilian]

OMG!!!! THIS IS AMAZING I AM??? FREAKING OUT?????? THE VIBES ARE IMACULATE!!!!!!! dude all ur designs are amazing???????? jon with all the eyes???? helen asking if he thinks it's a joke??????? and the scene where helen is fighting with michael is so good too!!!! god i love this WAY too much!!!!! it's amazing!!!!

[@dragonlord9_743]

This is so lit I may need a fire extinguisher. Jokes aside, this is absolutely phenomenal! The amount of time and effort you've poured into this... Wow. Just wow.

[@kn004]

I'm SIMPING for your Michael NOO!!!!!!!! this is by far the best animatic ive ever seen??? amazing talented incredible breathtaking oneof-a-kind!!!

[@rowanlastname9878]

Have no fucking clue what's going on here but holy SHIT this is FANTASTIC

[@Nice__vibes]

Ik! Did you watch it with the subtitles?