Appointment in Samarra

[@hcanl2419]

The title is a reference to a ancient Mesopotamian tale. In short, the servant of a merchant sees death on the marketplace of Baghdad making a threatening gesture. He flees with a horse to Samarra to escape his fate. Later the merchant meets death on the marketplace and asks why it scared his servant away with the threatening gesture. Death replies that it was not a threatening gesture but suprise at meeting him in Baghdas because he has an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

[@DonPatrono]

Fun fact: this tale was adapted into a song by Italian folk singer/songwriter Roberto Vecchioni, except for some reason instead of the original town of Samarra, he chose the city of Samarkand (probably because it felt more "mysteriously oriental") Also the Mesopotamian tale was used as prop device for a novel, called "Appointment in Samarra", and became famous to the point that, until the 60s, "Having an appointment in Samarra" was an euphemism for saying "going towards death, knowingly or not"

[@Lonely.King31]

what you two read usually? yall are knowladged about those type of things

[@DonPatrono]

@@Lonely.King31 I'm Italian and that song was pretty well known in Italy for quite some time (it was the debut album for Vecchioni in the 70s). The nod about the Mesopotamian story and the noir novel was written on the third cover of the collector's edition of the album's vinyl, so that's how I knew about it

[@hcanl2419]

@@DonPatrono Intresting

[@hcanl2419]

@@Lonely.King31 I heard the story at some point, it was even told in one episode of the BBC series sherlock. Maby that was actually the first time i heard about it. But i really like the tale and the city name of samara was enought to remember it.

[@Lonely.King31]

i swear this guy makes the best 2d animation content on youtube

[@HideousUPloob]

Massively underrated.

[@The_Solar_Duck]

He has reached a level of the storytelling and art that I crave more. I want to know what story he is hiding

[@german_ukrainegaming2965]

Same

[@AptMatrix]

33 seconds and yet a masterpiece, you've done it again ghost nice to see you again.

[@Person-xr5hz]

Another masterpiece

[@5UserName0]

The Appointment in Samarra" (as retold by W. Somerset Maugham [1933]) The speaker is Death There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was Death that had jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there Death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the marketplace and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threating getsture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

[@derfisch06studios]

Fantastic as usual! Here's to another year of peak quality!

[@littlesuperred]

Master piece 👍

[@hcanl2419]

Almost forgot: fantastic video as always

[@jchrs3546]

Love it

[@shipmcgree6367]

Short, sweet, and intriguing. Love it. 🥲👌🏻

[@lesvideosbananes4849]

This guy need so much more views

[@paperdollwizard]

Another beautiful animation. Nice work!

[@Otto-tt7lg]

Nice one

[@sonofjack6286]

Is this the same guy from the statue one? If so, he looks like he's become a rather decorated soldier. Not to mention, he's survived until July of '44. The Allies are pushing through France, the Soviets have reached Poland, Italy is being lost inch by inch, and the Polish Home Army fight tooth and nail for Warsaw. Despite all of that, he's gotten the chance to join a party in Berlin.

[@frankmg4250]

I have an idea for a video/art, in an Italian song there is this phrase, generals with their chests full of crosses, so an allegory about medals and dead soldiers

[@Ragsta]

Ohhh my

[@Kontus-w1k]

Video name: "Appointment in Samarra" Me: "Apartment in Samara"

[@Just_A_Simple_Time_Traveller]

Nice

[@MsPaintDrawer]

peak

[@kramman.]

DAM

[@grégoirelegret-r4q]

Toujours de bonne qualité cela représente la mort ou les retrouvailles ? Ou les morts inutiles sur le front ?

[@DogeickBateman]

Someone already explained it above as an old Mesopotamian tale but in a way it’s probably Death coming to let the officer know they’ll be meeting soon. This was in July 1944 so either this officer is part of the July Plot or he will be purged in association with the members of it. That or he dies on the front.

[@ForFluffsake]

Is it possible to get that frame with dead soldier with glass of wine in high resolution somewhere? Please say that you publish somewhere else, I would love to have it as a wallpaper

[@Lonely.King31]

my good sir, please stop making animations on youtube and make a full movie on some platform already!