Demeter | Cats musical human AU animatic

[@matiiih6260]

Hi everyone! It’s now been about a year since I published this animatic and I’m so glad so many of you have enjoyed it! This was the first animatic that I have ever put basically anywhere so all the kind comments mean a lot! I decided to do a little run down of this video since some of you can be a little bit confused on what is happening and who character is who. First of all: this video is really heavily about headcanons surrounding Demeter who is my personal favorite character from Cats the musical. Nothing about this is really canon since only a few things about Cats in general are, but Demeter’s possible backstory and her heavily implied character are very interesting so I wouldn’t say that all of this is only from my head either. We start with Grizabella and her two young daughters Bombalurina and Demeter (Demeter being the younger one) in the jellicle ball. Grizabella, who misses her lost youth and glamorous past, finally snaps and without warning leaves the ball and her daughters behind. The other adults in the beginning are Old Deuteronomy, Jennyanydots, Jellylorum and Asparagus jr. (you also get a glimpse of Gus, Deuteronomy’s wife who doesn’t have a name and little Tugger and Munk). I imagine Jenny and Skimble taking the girls in and being kinda like their adoptive parents, though they never call them mom and dad since they were already old enough to remember their biological parents (their father is dead, gone, I don’t know??). Flash forward to Deme and Bomba’s teen years when they are spending time with their childhood friends Munkustrap, Tugger and Macavity (Old D’s three sons). Demeter has a huge crush on Macavity since he is a little bit older and a more rebel guy, they become very good friends and there starts to even be a blooming romance between them. One day Macavity is nowhere to be seen and Munkustrap tells Demeter that his brother has had the biggest fight with their dad ever and has now left their home. Demeter is really upset, because like a young naive girl she still is, her whole world collapses if a guy she likes leaves her without a word. She is also reminded of her mothers leaving so she doesn’t hesitate when Macavity suddenly appears to her window and asks her to run away with him. Flash forward again. It’s been years since Demeter left with Macavity and their initially perfect seeming relationship has now taken a more violent turn. Demeter is being abused mentally, physically and sexually by her boyfriend and it doesn’t help that she finds herself pregnant with his child. She is numb and doesn’t know what to do, Macavity is involved in some criminal shit. One night Macavity and his gang’s hideout has been tracked and the yard is full of police officers. Demeter sees her chance and flees from the house to the surrounding fields where she is found by two officers: Alonzo and Demeter’s old childhood friend/ Macavity’s younger brother Munkustrap who is now an adult as well. They take Demeter back to the other jellicles (by the way, I don’t know what jellicles actually are in this human au context, I was kinda joking to myself that they are some kind of cult but I never gave it another, maybe more sensible thought so that is left unanswered) and she is reunited with her sister, adoptive parents, friends and community. Jenny cleans her up and Old Deuteronomy (the cult leader??? If it is, it’s a nice cult) comes to meet her, Demeter begs for his forgiveness for leaving her family and being young and stupid but Old Deuteronomy says there is nothing to forgive and takes her back with open arms. Flash forward! Demeter gives birth to her daughter Jemima and though the way she was conceived wasn't ideal in any way, Deme couldn’t be happier and loves Jemima very much. Demeter has also grown closer with Munkustrap again since he has been helping with her healing progress alongside with others and he’s just overall very kind, gentle and acknowledges her boundaries. As Jemima grows, Deme and Munk start to have a very careful and sweet romance and they start to resemble a family with three of them. Demeter is still, and probably will always be, haunted by her past with Macavity but Munkustrap will always be on her side and support her. Couple of years passes again and it’s time for the annual jellicle ball. This is probably one of the only few balls Demeter has attended after she came back since she is still a little bit wary of everything. Therefore she feels, in a way, like an outsider when everybody else is having so much fun and enjoying life. Victoria (I interpreted her mating dance with Plato to human au as the ball is also meant to celebrate their engagement/marriage idk) however comes to invite her to the fun being the empathetic, kind and young person she is. Victoria kinda represents Demeter’s own lost youth and what she could be if things hadn’t gone so wrong back in the days. For a moment Demeter forgets about everything, enjoys life and “starts to get her own color back”. Literally in this case. She remembers all the good things that came after her dark years; Her home, friends, Jemima and Munkustrap who has proposed to her. The ball gets disturbed by an old ragged woman. Grizabella has come back after all this time. Everybody is pretty hostile towards her since she left the community for very selfish reasons. Bombalurina is the most aggressive one because it was her and Deme that Grizabella left behind, her own young daughters. When Bomba was young she felt like it was her duty to care about her little sister, even though they did have a lot of other supportive adults in their life. She was forced to grow up too early. She also blames their mother for all the things that happened to her sister. Maybe if Grizabella hadn’t left, Demeter would have stayed home and avoided everything? Demeter, however, doesn’t feel the grudge towards her mother anymore. She herself has gone through so much pain that seeing her mother’s pleas of forgiveness makes her have empathy towards her. All those bad things, in the end, did make her more compassionate and understanding. It kinda mirrors her own actions: Demeter too left the other jellicles for a better life and later came back with a tail between her legs. Demeter was forgiven so why wouldn’t Grizabella be? Afterwards Demeter stands in the garden watching the moon, in the exact same place Grizabella left her and Bomba million years ago. Jemima comes to her but instead of doing the same thing her mother did, Demeter takes her own daughter in her arms. Demeter’s color changes back to her very original bright gold after closing the circle. I mean! I did make more notes on this when I was actually making the animatic but I can’t find them anymore! Feel free to ask if you are still confused or want to recognize a specific background character (or if you just want to talk about Cats musical headcanons, fine by me!) Though, bear in mind, that not all of them are any existing character. I posted some illustrations of this human au to my Instagram (link in desc) like a year ago so if you want, you can also go there to see how some of the characters are supposed to look. I hope this helped and thanks once again! ❤❤❤ //this really ended up being a whole goddamn essay

[@dhiibvulk9036]

I love this so much!! You're so creative

[@keeyahmeyy]

hello, is this the scene of Demeter from The Cats musical theater?

[@matiiih6260]

@@keeyahmeyy Yes, it's about Cats' Demeter but it isn't any actual scene from the musical, just a lot of headcanons!

[@Ari-yy7pm]

You know you are a Cats fan when you know who is who

[@keeyahmeyy]

hello, is this the scene of Demeter from The Cats musical theater?

[@savikelly5023]

I cannot believe the audacity you have to make me cry over goddamn Cats.

[@matiiih6260]

You're welcome :,)

[@ilikericepudding5575]

I know i pass the test Cats fan when I reconize all the characters at first sight

[@ashfur2375]

I can just imagine all the heartbreak Demeter when throu. And how much bombalurina loved her and did what she could to protect her sister even if she knew their is no chance to mend the broken pieces of her mind and heals her pain.

[@matiiih6260]

Yasss, Bomba is really strong and confident but I could imagine that in a situation like this it would be even a little bit too easy for her to blame herself. She feels responsible of her younger sister and there for she thinks it's her fault that she couldn't protect Deme, even thought she too was really young when the whole thing started. Demeter of course doesn't blame her sister at all, but Bomba still does. I headcanon Grizabella as the mother of the girls and I think Bomba blames her as well. She's bitter because Grizabella left them, made Bomba grow up too fast and maybe Demeter would have been alright if their mother just had been around. That's why especially Bomba is so hostile towards Grizabella while Demeter has gone through so much shit that she just can't hold the grudge anymore. Just headcanoning, but I guess that's what it is all about :D

[@emilymoran5389]

Truly the worst crime Macavity committed.

[@niamh4613]

I? Am? Sobbing? The talent in this is incredible, the way you showed the backstory and everything is beautiful

[@matiiih6260]

Thank youuu

[@CloverLH]

Thank you for sharing your talent in this beautiful work. How strong you showed us Dem's life jist as i thought it too but so much sadder. So much more real hard but resilient. Thank you 💕

[@matiiih6260]

Aaaah thank you so much ♥ ♥ ♥

[@yourworstnightmare6950]

I stumbled on this video and thank god I did, the way this storyline was told was absolutely amazing, showing us a side of the story that we don’t see in the original source material. Very well done

[@matiiih6260]

Thank youuu ♥ ♥

[@fallforasong]

I'm watching it for the fifth time and I still can't believe that something so beautiful exists. Wow

[@matiiih6260]

Awww thank you so much 💕 I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@jocelynportillo3059]

Man I wish I was allowed to like more than 50 times 👏👏👏 This is AMAZING! The way I knew so many of the characters and the way you drew Munkustrap 😫👌👌👌 This is absolute GOLD, the story, the art, EVERYTHING!!!

[@taste.of.ashes.]

I have no idea what’s going on here but it’s very beautiful and sad

[@nickiito5201]

Wait I never knew this backstory is it mentioned in the song I need to go back and listen to it

[@matiiih6260]

Well it's not actually said anywhere but it's heavily implied that Demeter and Macavity used to be a thing until he became abusive and she left (for example; Demeter is paranoid about Macavity through the whole musical and Macavity tries to kidnap her before the fight between him and Munkustrap). I have used a lot of figurative colored pencil with this animatic and basically I have just put all my favourite Demeter related headcanons together so don't take everything in this animatic as a canon :D

[@FlowerFae11]

I'm not sure just how many times I've watched this at this point. I wish I could just show this to everyone when they ask me why Demeter is my favourite queen from CATS, because this is just so unbelievably stunning, both visual-wise, and and in the meaning. I just cannot properly express to you how much I love this. It completely sold me on the idea of CATS The Musical, and made me interested in hearing about the different takes that people had on the other characters, in the sense that I realized just how much depth there really was to it as a whole. I'm involved a lot in the CATS Fandom, and just between you and me, this is my favourite piece of fan content out there. Thank you for sharing this beautiful masterpiece with us, and I look forward to watching it another fifty times

[@matiiih6260]

Omg thank you so much for all the kind words ❤❤ I'm glad you're enjoying it!! Demeter's really interesting character since there isn't really anything out right about her in the show, but sooo much implications! She's my fave too (if you can't already tell :DD)❤

[@spacecat_scribbles]

oh this is SO good. She Used to be Mine is such a perfect song for Demeter!!! also I love how you made everyone INSTANTLY recognizable even though they look nothing like their musical counterparts. Really amazing work, I'm going to rewatch it like 20 times to catch all the little details

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you so much for such a nice comment! ❤️ I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@kiarathehedgehog1]

wow, this is so incredible! i can really tell how much love and time you put into this, the art is INSANELY well done. not ashamed to say it made me tear up a little ❤️❤️

[@matiiih6260]

Awwww thank you very much ♥

[@rocioreyes6695]

What a lovely a story of cats

[@gracehoneycutt3557]

This is SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!! You should do more, these are breathtaking and I cried, the song and story was perfect!

[@matiiih6260]

Aww thank you so much ♥ we'll see, maybe not Cats right now but I have some other animatic ideas in my mind that might happen if I just get myself to work :>

[@bandanar1321]

It was...oh god I'm crying There are so many efforts in this and it was so touching Really, I hope you are proud of you because it was one (if it is not THE) best animatic I have never seen Oh god 😭😭

[@okannnnnnn]

I LOVE IT really hard tryin not to cry. This should have way more views omg

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you

[@toriholden4952]

this was so lovely! i teared up and everything :") wonderful artwork and i can tell how much work you put into it! :)

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you :> ♥

[@foxtatertot]

Oh my gosh, the way I knew exactly who was who. This is so gorgeous.. man, Demeter is one of my absolute favourites in the whole character cast..

[@prxckedradiolove]

Demeter is my favorite cats character and I reflect so many of your head cannons here. You did her characterization so much justice. I am fully sobbing

[@4r1g00]

OMG!!!!! JUST A MASTERPIECE!!💕💕💕💕💕 THANK YOU ❤️✨

[@flerkencat]

MY HEART. THIS TALENT.

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you 💕💕💕

[@B1A4heechulcat111]

This video is so beautiful and perfect! ❤ It deserves a lot more praise and a lot more views!

[@matiiih6260]

Aw thank you so much!!

[@lfd546]

This is amazing! I'm crying!

[@matiiih6260]

Aw thanks 💕 💕

[@idealisticcynic06]

my eyes have truly been blessed

[@coffiell]

This is so beautiful in all aspects like the art? 10/10 I loved this a lot 💞

[@matiiih6260]

Thanks 💕💕

[@bandanar1321]

I can't stop replay it For real, it's a masterpiece I'm crying it's incredible

[@matiiih6260]

Wow omg thank you, that means so much, glad you liked it ♥ ♥ ♥

[@bandanar1321]

@@matiiih6260 I think it's more than it I just reaaaaaally hope you're proud of you because it's really incredible I think I will watch it really often ❤

[@matiiih6260]

@Bandana R God I really don't know what to say ♥ I gotta admit; I'm one of those people who struggles to be proud of their own work even when there is reason to and that's why I'm also really bad at taking positive feedback. But still I can't believe so many people are being so nice and and it really motivates me even if I always don't notice it consciously. So thank you thank you thank you! And I'm really happy if my work makes you happy because that's what art is about sometimes 💕

[@bandanar1321]

@@matiiih6260 Oh ok I see. I reaaaaaaally hope you will understand how much you should be proud of you. Maybe you could try to make a critism of your own work or accomplishments etc, judging like if they were not yours, to know if for real it's good or not. I don't know if it could work, and I don't know if it's clear. Anyway, I'll be here if you do others videos (and you already start to have a community hehe) and just keep on going, because even if you don't realise, it's really a big and beautiful work!

[@matiiih6260]

@Bandana R Will do and thank you once again ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[@weirdo18xd56]

This is incredible good job ! You should another about Jemima but in a cat version .. it would be amazing .. anyways I love this

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you 💕 We'll see, I really don't have that much particular headcanons for Jemima that would make a another full animation (she's Demeter's daughter/the little girl in the very end of this video if you missed that). I do have a desire to make more Cats animations but that really depends on my time and motivation :D

[@ashfur2375]

This is so sad and buttiful.

[@matiiih6260]

♥ ♥

[@chromiumman8453]

aaa??? AAAAAA????!!!!! WHY IS IT SO GOOD I'M IN PIECES

[@matiiih6260]

AAAAA THANK YOUUU!! ♥ ♥ ♥

[@AnimatingGoatGirl]

Why did this hurt me so much-

[@matiiih6260]

Aaaaa I'm so sorry but thanks 💕💕

[@dhiibvulk9036]

AAAAAAA I love this!!!!!

[@matiiih6260]

Thank youu!!!!! ❤

[@finleyforevermore]

Is it just me, or do Bombalurina and Demeter kind of look like Peggy Schuyler and Mariah Reynolds from Hamilton? You can REALLY see it at 1:28!

[@matiiih6260]

Totally not intentional, but they kinda do :D

[@finleyforevermore]

@@matiiih6260 :D

[@anyahr.8572]

Seriously beautiful I cant even🤧

[@matiiih6260]

Aw thanks ❤❤

[@KonnaroTaro]

Omg yes

[@matiiih6260]

♥ ♥ ♥

[@princessofstars7882]

OMG I love this!!!! Just wondering who the short dark haired person is in the doorway is at 3:21?

[@matiiih6260]

Thank you! That's Cassandra! She apperars in a couple of other frames as well

[@AngieEstanocheestaslocacomoyo]

😍😭❤❤👍 new sub!

[@matiiih6260]

Thank youuu 💕💕💕

[@markkusaari1679]

Hieno!

[@maddy3081]

someone plz explain im dumb and cant figure out whos who

[@matiiih6260]

Hi! I made a pinned comment about this if you still want to check that out! Sorry for being so late!

[@maddy3081]

@@matiiih6260 omg thank u for the reply this animatic was really good!

[@keeyahmeyy]

hello may i know the lyrics of the song?? or it's available on google lyrics? thank you very much

[@matiiih6260]

Search "She used to be mine lyrics" on google, it should come up :)