Ares - A Caleb Widogast Critical Role Animatic

The Mighty Nein will always be beloved by me, but none more so than this stinky wizard.
I'm glad I finished this in time for Cirtical Role's 8th anniversary! And I got lucky that it was also the week after Calebs appearance in campaign three!
Song is Ares by Winter's Island
Caleb created by Liam OBrien
Characters belong to Critical Role

[@TheBlackSquirrel]

You fit Caleb's whole arc, his struggles, his wins, all the important people and all the important moments in one single song. And you did it perfectly. The pacing is on point the whole time. The lyrics dance with the images gracefully. I'm so glad Liam saw this, and shared it for the rest of us to find. Caleb was (is) my favorite player character from Critical Role, and his story has been such an incredibly journey to follow. 🔥🧡🔥

[@cakes37]

Pain doesn't make people; it's love that makes people. The pain is inconsequential; it's love that saves them

[@DefilerWyrm]

DAMN. I got chills. My love for Caleb Widogast knows no bounds and seeing his story-the horror, the tragedy, the triumph, the bittersweet aftermath of facing a life of healing from so much trauma-condensed like this is a loving knife between the ribs. 🧡💜

[@perigrin6]

All the cast are crazy talented, but Sam and Liam bring so much life and emotion to their stories. Sam's S1 counterspell and Liam's epilogue were probably the two most heartbreaking moments from all the years they have streamed this game.

[@deathbykonami5487]

Caleb is like Eliot from Leverage. He has a big heart and will go to Gehenna and back to protect those he holds dear, but he's made peace with the fact that he we ill never be redeemed.

[@fallforever8967]

I've lost count of how many times I've watched this now. Just amazing, so many perfect moments - I really hope Liam sees this!

[@janteo1]

"light them up pretty"

[@devilsadvocate6381]

This one animation made me just wanna rewatch the entirety of Campaign 2 all over again, now that wizardry!

[@darhak_art]

That's incredible how you put all his life story in 3 minutes. I love the drawing/palette! And what a great choice of song!

[@theodorehazel6920]

i dont know if any other song could really capture caleb like this it just feels like the song was ment for him in some weird way and i think this just proves that even more

[@logancrow9514]

TEARS at the Molly Kiss.

[@dragonanimekid8662]

I've never found a better Caleb song and animation that fits so well

[@fuze858]

I've been commenting on a lot of critical role stuff as to what it means to me butni just want to say

[@phylion6067]

This is an absolute beautiful creation, and I'd like to list all my favourite details...

[@geethenerd]

THOSE ANGLES ARE JUST BEAUTYY!!!

[@critterish]

Returning to this BEAUTIFUL animatic for like the fifth time to ramble on the use of red in this. Caleb's red hair does a fantastic job of drawing the viewer's eye to him, setting him apart from the other characters in a scene even when he himself is just in the background. BUT while also having some pretty strong red elements in their designs (compared to the cooler blue palette of the animatic as a whole), Astrid, Eodwolf and Ikithon have that darker red that serves to unify visually them while not drawing the eye as strongly as caleb's and just GRRRRRR i'm caffeinated and in love with this

[@argi_a]

I have no words for how amazing this is. Truly amazing job, this is the one of the best animatics I have ever seen in my life! I'm crying😭😭

[@m.t.443]

I did not know this song before watching this and it is astonishing how well this fits him. Caleb is my favorite character ever because of how beautifully crafted his story is, and you managed to capture it so well! The pace so in tune with the music and animatic was so well rendered! And I'm so HAPPY Liam saw this, you put a lot of work into it and it's so easy to see that! <3

[@jabisdumb]

Gorgeous?? Incredible??? Your style is really unique and I loooove it. The colour palette happening here is amazing? with everything shifted to be either purple or red/orange? Favourite part is the quick sequence of all the in-campaign events, you did a really fantastic job of conveying those moments and their feelings in rapid succession. And that ending was so beautiful and touching, with the tears dripping onto the book and all, just, chef’s kiss. Also randomly I really like the way you did the notebook sinking into the ground? Like he’s putting it in water or something? Love it. Sorry for the long gushy comment, lovely animatic 💛

[@DMingThoughts]

OMG, that one is fire!