Critical Role Animatic - Heel Bot

[@NWolfsson]

"And you... you were never alive!" to Laudna was *so* unnecessary hard, I feel like it helped more than anything to show how easy he can cut others down with words and how well he knows them. And how important it is to rectify what is causing these crises.

[@itsaredvine]

He can cut them down and leave em like fresh cut grass

[@petervillent5573]

Dude, Sam literally studied psychology as his prep for the character and he's meticulously noting every detail that he can use / can be relevant to other PC's. I love his dedication.

[@tyllua]

@@petervillent5573 *reminder to never on sams bad side* damn that send a chill down my spine

[@Marauder_Danger]

Love how FCG's eyes are narrowed in their "red mode". It's like the Iron Giant when it went "battle mode"!

[@cmrobbins88]

Same. Or like Baymax in destroy mode.

[@Taneth]

Number 5 is Angry

[@romxxii]

"Fresh Cut Grass, activating Instant Kill mode"

[@uwuowo214]

@@romxxii Fresh cut grass cutting flesh

[@jefrosiers8880]

Laudnas rage and the shock on fearnes face gave me chills for a sec

[@biddle2944]

I'm crying? Seeing FCG go from scared and quiet to the murder bot and then everyone's reactions just...oh my gosh. I've been waiting for someone to animate this and you did such and amazing job!

[@youngmultiverser9311]

Now THIS is what I was hoping for in a animatic

[@lumberluc]

It was The Care and Cull initiative.

[@seanpeery7780]

I knew something was coming because the new intro never features Sam as FCG. Meaning Sam built this character, expecting it to end up splitting from the party in some way or another.

[@alexgregg1058]

I think all the things said by him to the other's were things said to him by Dancer before. Think about it

[@Dorokill]

this campaign 3 went from being the most funny of the campaigns to the most heartbreaking in a heartbeat

[@isaacgraff8288]

Oh just wait for ep 33. That is a fun one "Is this one your favorite?"

[@adriannaranjo4397]

_If only you know how bad things really were_

[@juliagoodwin9510]

These past few episodes have been hell on my anxiety...

[@greyscaleadaven]

@@juliagoodwin9510 And it only spirals in the best way from here lmao

[@martyperdue2872]

o7

[@tomawen5916]

Chetney saying, "turn him off! TURN HIM OFF!" is the best line of a PC about to die. Well done!

[@redch0pstick]

"To be clear, I hit you with a wooden mallet, okay? All these other people came WWE." - Chetney/Travis The animation really highlights that point, all under 6 seconds (by dnd combat status).

[@eternasapphiremoon81]

"I will behead you." Wow....yeah, that escalated WAY too quickly!

[@askthepizzaguy]

"I will behead you." - FCG

[@Roguekriger]

I love that the insults FCG uses like "your parents don't like you" and "you were never alive" because they could easily be insults FCG heard against him in the past that he's basically reusing as a form of projection why also doubling as fitting insults for those he's directing them towards

[@arturoreyescortez2476]

Everyone in this group has been harmed by someone. Fresh Cut Grass was made to be an assassin without being aware of it, Laudna was killed by the Briarwoods and has Delilah in her head, Fearne was left with a witch that basically gaslighted her for most of her life, Orym's husband was killed by villains, Ashton was left behind by his former group, Dorian has problems with his parents, Imogen was given powers by an evil god that is causing her psychological damage and Chetney has problems with his former boss. Also, this animation is good and shows how sad this scene was.

[@mathybrain8]

And Bertrand's dead.

[@Cragified]

The source and nature of Imogen's bloodline powers are still very mysterious. Could be an evil god, could just as much be something entirely different. Given Matt's world building I'm leaning on different.

[@kappakiev9672]

CR 3 is a story about healing

[@ciaranmcguinness8900]

@@Cragified well now we know Imogen's powers come from a God Eating Eldritch abomination trapped inside of the red moon

[@Garaman257]

To be fair, Chetney did try to KILL his old boss… if you know you know

[@roriksavant]

The impact of this animation is incredible... FCG's sudden switch, Ashton keeping him grappled, and FCG's expressiveness are so, so impressive well done

[@a-shanda-productions]

We really can’t go one episode without having a “I’m gonna tear your heart out and eat” scene can we?

[@mikeski8827]

I love how you've got Laudna's reflection in FCG's lens as she's saying "This isn't who you are"

[@darklord884]

Seeing Laudna, who is normally such a nice person, suddenly grow a deep intent to hurt, shows how quickly she grew attached to the group and how much it hurt for her to hear what F.C.G. said. She might be the most optimistic member of the group but when she falls, she crashes hard. I like that detail. She isn't naive due to the life she led, but she gets hurt easily when her friends are being angry or mean to her (which based on F.C.G. and Imogen, might actually happen a lot).

[@MycoArsenic39]

The emotions you conveyed in these characters are really impressive, especially Laudna and FCG. You could really see Laudna’s inner-turmoil/conflict through her face and through Delilah, and at 1:51 when her reflection is on one of FCG’s lens. That’s a really nice element, paired with the quote, “This isn’t who you are.” It’s like she’s fighting herself on who she is as a person, whether she is alive or not, or if her friends are going to betray her or not. Also, I really love how FCG started from looking like a small child who doesn’t know what they did wrong, to blind-rage. Honestly, well done. :)

[@cybermadness2503]

Amazing!!! Such an emotional moment for FCG, Fearne and Laudna!

[@1rotzy]

I love how fast it goes from bonk to murder. Caught me off guard.

[@sniclops15]

The attention to detail of you having Laudna crack only one of his ocular units...

[@rhylin26]

Holy crap! Best one of this scene yet! You’re ability to depict the non dialogue moments is amazing! You really captured the timing and emotion of this scene as it would have been in real-time. Bravo! 👏

[@doomdaddy6935]

I love the fact that when laudna said "This isn't who you are " was directed at herself more than fgc

[@sbeve4841]

Fresh Grass Cut

[@candyh4284]

@@sbeve4841 fuckin' great cyborg

[@TakeWalker]

this being the scene everyone's doing, it just gets more heartbreaking every time on the other hand, this is easily the best animatic for this seen that I have seen, well done! :D

[@OttersDen]

Everyone's talking about your animation skills - as they should be - but I just wanna give shout-outs to the sound work you do, too. The dialogue editing, the music, and the EXCELLENT Foley you add in... just brilliant, all of it. Well done. 😁

[@claired2452]

Was emotional enough the first time but damn, this made it feel even more emotional this time. Excellent job! Loving it!

[@egguu69]

Man, you do the best FCG characterization in your design! This was absolutely phenomenal, and the tiny flashes of Fearne's trauma to accentuate the severity of the harmful comment? Brilliant.

[@morbidnumbskull]

Welcome to the League music users club absolutely fantastic!

[@DreadPirateElla]

AHHH YES!!! I never realized how quickly everything was happening in this scene, you put it together so well!

[@dragonicdoom3772]

Omg you can't just show me baby Fearne crying without warning me! Also, can we take a moment to acknowledge that Travis' joke about there being something inside FCG wanting to be released actually kinda came true. What is with Travis this campaign making all these 5 head predictions!?

[@Starhartdeer]

his wisdom score is pretty high

[@Dragonfire-486]

Travis is incredibly smart, more than people give him credit for. otherwise he wouldn't be the CEO

[@TomElliottJackson]

Travis spent that entire episode shouting "I told you!" at Laura, I feel like their drive home is where he lays out his theories both weird and wonderful

[@candyh4284]

Apollo's Kickball gift of Prophecy has been given to several of them this campaign, definitely Travis, but also Liam literally made a joke when Chetney came around that Travis could've been a gnome werewolf

[@Hallowoct313]

That emotional intensity from fcg. Fearne’s shock. Luandas anxiety and Ashton’s concern for his at this point best friend. Makes this one of the most emotionally driven parts of this campaign

[@BaronRathorne]

It's been said before, but your ability to translate the non dialog parts into pacing and action... excellent. Bravo! You really captured how quickly things turned once Chetney conked FCG and how fast it went down.

[@invaderzam]

Wow! That made it so much more intense with the corrosion and how Ashton was holding back FCG.

[@Jonaegh]

The redaction of most of Matt's descriptions makes this feel really real and impactful! It allows the viewer to extrapolate on the deeper meaning of FCG's fall to madness, well done! 👏👏

[@jefrosiers8880]

this is truly a masterpiece

[@finn9707]

This animation is amazing, the character expressions and little personal touches with Laudna and Fearne's trauma kicked ass.

[@demiurge2763]

This is one of the the best animatics I have ever seen!

[@Strix182]

I feel like this is FCG unintentionally parroting back insecurities and fears he's picked up on from the party. We've seen them get mixed up with their identity before, muddling the troubles of those closest to him with his own personal thoughts. Letters has a drive to experience empathy, to understand and help the people around them through their troubles, but as an imperfect creation, I wonder if he isn't internalizing those troubles in a much more direct way than we can see...

[@abaddonarts1129]

YES!! That's what I love about animatics and stuff like this. It takes what was a ten minute scene when everyone was deliberating or talking in session and only shows the results in world, so FCG was *way more responsive* than Sam made him seem. I suppose that makes sense with robots thinking faster than everyone else. Ashton with the fucking dive tackle though, wonderfully done!! Also holy shit I didn't catch Fearne being her younger self for an instant as she was listening to him because what he said hit home. (Also I know this is a long comment but those sound effects!!!! Love the one FCG made when he whirred up and spun around to attack)

[@thefinalfrontear]

ohh fuckkkk i loved watching the cast freak out so much i never knew how badly i wanted to see this scene uninterrupted. the quickness of fcg turning on chet is so much scarier than i first imagined how that i see it in real time

[@simonbirrer958]

Damn your storyboarding is amazing, espcially the action sequence of FCGs attack on Chetney and then Ashtons tackle had great movement/sense of space

[@rileymorris7230]

wow at first I thought this animation was going to be a bit choppy but dam that was good the rust and cracks are scary cool, nice job this showed everything really good.

[@GXwayne_Gaming]

When I saw this moment in the episode it gave me chills. Sam is so evil OMG. This animation was so awsome, it portrayed the moment so well. FCG in this scene reminds me of Iron Giant. Legit good freaking job 👏 👌.

[@dragonicdoom3772]

The only thing that could've made this better is the meat tongue coming out, like when FCG's eyes turn red the tongue just flops out of his mouth

[@jabisdumb]

oh my god oh my goodness oh my god this is so good holy bell’s hells this is so good ahhhh!! I absolutely love the echo when Dancer says “you know what you did” and I love the static and I love the reaction from the rest of the Hells, I love love loove the quick motion and rapid escalation after Chetney hits FCG, I f*cking _adore_ the way you did Ashton’s grapple like holy sh*t that is so cool and so Ashton and oh my goooood!! It’s so awesome how you really captured that this moment was actually incredibly short in universe, sharp and dangerous and painful yes, but over very quickly. Sorry for gushing lol, was saving this vid as a nice treat for myself at the end of the day and it payed off big time, scratched like every possible itch I had about this scene in my mind theatre, Pardon me while I watch it like six more times 💛🤖🔪

[@tstymctst]

Oh, wow! You really made this scene so impactful. The audio, the characters' expressions, the details like the growing corrosion and the flash from adult Fearne to young Fearne and back... absolutely wonderful interpretations of what happened. Lovely work.

[@dreamy_kiwi2780]

I’ve been waiting for someone to animate that scene, this is more than I could’ve asked for, nicely done! Really nicely done!!

[@shmee123ful]

I await the deluge of episodes 33 animatics with a mix of dread and anticipation because holy Mother of ravens. That was a lot, it was a lot a lot

[@hatandhistea6334]

Oh damn. That laudna at 2:15, dayum. Well done. The atmosphere, tone, art, amazing!

[@starstriker1792]

AND I THOUGHT THE ACTUAL MOMENT WAS CRAZY!!! Holy crap I just watched this on the vod cuz I'm behind, but you totally captured how I envisioned this moment, and actually made it even better than I could have imagined. Thank you for this, and absolutely amazing work!!! 🖤

[@karisschoon7066]

These are some of my favorite character designs I've seen for a BH animatic, I love them. I especially love the way you did FCG, they feel so alive and real. Also, super cool how you incorporated their verbal sounds and sound effects into the clip. Great job!

[@martinteece8983]

Grate work on this sceen even the extra touch of laudna tilting away when fcg in rage mode says you were never alive honestly brillent choice really emphases the moment

[@Sweetrad]

i love how fast the animation is. makes it feel more impactful considering rounds are only 6 seconds each

[@ajogden1940]

Oh, bless. You did SOOOOOOO GOOD on this. Emotional animation, flawless editing, solid pacing, omg. Got chills just like I did watching this in the game. The way you cut it together really nails in how SHARPLY FCG changes from one moment to the next. Sam’s sweet little timid voice talking to Dancer, and then moments later his growling/screaming at Chetney? Unrecognizable. Awesome.

[@SelkiesSong]

omggg the inner eye cover things making his eyes smaller was such a cool touch o_o

[@audriant]

what the hell.. what the hell that was so good?? This really put everything together and showed us how fast it went in real time. Wow. I love the expressiveness in all the characters, the body language in FCG and the terror in everyone's faces... Holy crap.

[@elbruces]

Thank you! The players were having so much fun doing this scene that it could be hard to see through to how emotionally hardcore it would be in-game. I don't blame them for that, but this was really needed.

[@fanrulerjynx5665]

This scene hit so hard and I’m so great full of the work you have put into this with your drawings and audio edits!!! As soon as I listened I had hoped you would make this, thank you!

[@theawkwardpotato1973]

The sound FX of the buzz saw and the metal crinkling and cracking was absolutely perfect.

[@josecaceres5658]

You almost got me in tears with that last bit there

[@kagemarunl]

Genuinely and honestly: Thank you so, SO very much for animating this scene. Everyone's emotions and expressions, the sound effects you used, reliving the whole scene but now actually seeing it in stead of just the mind's theater...amazing. Simply and truly amazing! Chills and goosebumps ALL OVER when Delilah appeared and Laudna get the red eyes at the end! Said it before, can't say it enough, thank you for this! ♥

[@klausmuller9791]

I love that his murderbot eyes are the same as the ones of the iron giant

[@kagemarunl]

YES! EXACTLY! I noticed that as well, amazing! ♥

[@brentage5000]

Between this stuff and last night's events with Orym and Fearne, I can not handle all of this.

[@Toporshik]

Wow, even if it feels a little rough, this animatic really enhances this moment with all the editing and expressions and music.

[@vonhinrick2521]

this is such a good moment! i love ya style and the animation!

[@Mel_the_Pirate]

This is REALLY good, it gets the tense scene amazingly

[@fryguy8544]

Welp this scene will haunt me. Thank you for animating it, I love your work.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

M'thinks this, on top of Bertrands death and Dorian leaving, is going to go down as one of the seminal moments of this campaign

[@enwarrior8163]

I love your design for all the characters!

[@junelondon1703]

This is my favorite animation of this scene I´ve found so far! :O Love the smoothness when FCG turns to cut Chet and when Ashton jumps in. :D

[@RinSyuveil]

YEEEEEEESSS I am so happy someone animated this part it was so emotionally driven and amazing

[@evancarson1895]

Man, and I though THIS epsiode would be the one to hit us in the feels for awhile…. Hahahah…

[@user-cy8li6xt3s]

I haven't seen it yet and I feel nothing but dread

[@evancarson1895]

@@user-cy8li6xt3s good.

[@joshuaroovers8828]

the expressions, the music, the movement IT'S ALL SO COOL AMAZING JOB

[@UmbraticForest]

I think this is my favorite C3 animatic so far, it's so expressive!

[@crazebear]

Never thought I’d think FCG was intimidating… well done!

[@underthependulum3484]

I was cheering for this scene from the pure excitement but this actually puts the darkness of it into perspective.

[@rollergalaxy9997]

Possibly the best portrayal of this scene, this is AMAZING!

[@taylorbateman3219]

Really like that you show Ashton tackling him and restraining him. Most cuts I’ve seen only focus on Laudna or FCG yelling at the group.

[@RisingRose]

okay there are many things that are amazing about this animatic, but can i just say out of all the depictions ive seen this is probably the most appropriately terrifying design for Fresh Cut Murderbot I have seen. those fucking _eyes_

[@Carbadonia]

Holy prime deities, that was haunting... Like I thought it was tragic enough described in words, but put into visuals... I'm scared for all of them.

[@FuzzyBacca]

This was exceptional. I love watching Critical Role animated, and this is one of the best! Well done!

[@DMingThoughts]

Oh wow, that was awesome! So mich cool moments in one animatic. Great job!

[@jackiethegiant]

This is so good! I love this!

[@TheFowlWitch]

Your animatics are so amazing, great music placement, wonderfully atmosphere driven. Can't wait for your next ones.

[@nickrussell8279]

What a horrifying battle that was. Love the animation you did, thank you.

[@channelx8254]

Love how I just got that heel boy joke because of they way he talks to others when he’s in that mode

[@BearWith_You]

God I love all these and this one, idk I can't stop watching. The entire sequence of FCG going berserk is exactly how I envisioned everything. I loved this one too, despite not being the typical funny bits like Mike Hunts and How Hard Are You

[@trevorwilliams6362]

Hoooly shit! You absolutely killed it! All the sound design and details and the pacing made me cry! 🤩

[@danielbrinton9716]

Can’t wait to see episode 33 with so much emotion

[@derpyderp2270]

I love this scene so much. Simply because it’s so different from everything thus far. We’ve had players vs player before but this stands out to be something entirely different, because normally that’s due to differing opinions or wanting to solve something. This is done purely out of newly lit hatred and piling stress. And the way FCG insults and burns the party with his words makes you clearly feel the emotions and difference between how he normally is Whag also helps is that the mood around this party prior to this was just fun and happy, even the action of Chet hitting FCG was just funny and had no hostile intentions, until it makes a full 180 to complete murder

[@derpyderp2270]

Something that definitely helps is that Sam is the player here. He knows just what to say to help people, but he also knows just what to say to burn people

[@Chapel85]

This fucking animation was on point! You did an amazing job!

[@truthseeker3704]

Wow what a way to capture so much emotion and great animation too.

[@lumthemad3220]

This is such an amazing animation that captures the moment perfectly

[@razgriz2276]

Amazing job! And i can't wait for what you do for episode 33!

[@DParkerNunya]

Jesus Christ, Sam, why do ya do this to us. Now I'm about to cry because of an amazing animation of a horrifying moment

[@apino9754]

Great Sound Editing!! That paired with the visuals really brought a sense of immersion to the scene, Well Done!

[@MastaRhee]

This campaign is freaking heavy... And the last episode!! Omg... What a cliff hanger ahhhhhhh

[@voidjockey82]

Imogen using Detect Thoughts gave me the image of mind-melding with a Dalek.

[@tyllua]

i just watched that moment in recap but dang you animated that one well.

[@ludwigvannormayenn8657]

Best quote of this episodes scene: Imogen: "there was a lot" I only listened to this episode via the podcast. Loved the acting of evil FCG done by Sam. So cool and interesting. Seeing this scene animated was so intriguing.

[@kevlarforweeksanddays4086]

Felt even more powerful animated good job

[@brendanhart517]

This scene was incredible and this animation is amazing and just adds to it

[@stalhein62]

That's really good work.

[@Blizz3112]

despite the shocking things that happened... the way Laura says "Letters" is so darn cute...