'Frankenstein: The Musical' Animatic-"The Modern Prometheus"

[@jacobbelow]

QUICK UPDATE: I originally uploaded the video with an age restriction due to some of the graphic imagery. I was uncertain about how it would go over with KZbin's guidelines, but recently, I decided to try lifting the restriction to make it more accessible to some people, and maybe increase its viewership.

[@sgauden02]

Another thing. I actually like to think that Victor was using Justine's body to make the bride in order to bring her back to life after her wrongful execution.

[@darthknuxward3220]

In the musical he does use Justine’s body

[@sgauden02]

@@darthknuxward3220 I know that now.

[@danninmatthews5640]

0:36 Adam: I turned into this by more the lack of nuture, not nature.

[@jacobbelow]

Yes and no. Yes, Adam has been treated very cruelly ever since he was brought to life. He was rejected by his creator and everyone who set eyes on him for simply existing, not by anything he did to deserve it or for anything that was in his control. And he did accidentally kill a guy with the super-strength he was made with. He did not awake "murderous and vile within" like Victor claims, and was basically born into a living hell. No, he was not turned into a monster automatically by nature. He willfully decided to murder William and frame Justine for it so that she would be executed, in order to get to Victor. The minute he started knowingly and willingly killing people who had nothing to do with suffering, rather than going straight for Victor or revolting against those who inflicted harm directly upon him, is where he lost his sense of innocence. It's been an ongoing debate over who is worse, Victor or Adam. But I think the common consensus is that neither one has the moral high ground. Victor did bring his creation to life without teaching him or taking responsibility for him, and leaving him alone in a world that only knows how to hate and fear him did contribute to Adam's perception that any attempt to convince anyone he was good might prove futile or even useless. But there's only so much blame that Adam can lay on others for the lengths that he went to make not just Victor, but his entire family suffer, for his own misery. If people find themselves in a world where they are abused for simply existing, that is not their fault at all. However, if they go on to inflict that same abuse on others, that IS their fault.

[@danninmatthews5640]

@@jacobbelow Yes

[@Jesperthecook]

Not only that, but the ending where the "Bride of Frankenstein" jolts to life was powerful and very creepy. Wonderful!

[@markcobuzzi826]

I really like the Creature’s voice, along with the visual design you went with. I think it fits well with Shelley’s original vision, where Adam was intended to be eloquent, handsome, and physically fit, only for the uncanny valley to take effect and make those qualities all the more creepy.

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you once again, Mark! So glad you were able to catch this only shortly after it went up! Yes, I think Steve Blanchard brings a MARVELOUS interpretation to the creature with his voice. (I found a video on him talking about his performance from about a decade ago when the show first came out, and he said that the role was painful, not just interpeting the creature from a phsycological standpoint, but also to hit all emotional and physical beats with the acting AND the singing.) And one thing I have to confess is that the fact that the general populace has always tended refer to the creature as "Frankenstein" has always been on my list of personal pet peeves. XD. Although it does actually make sense when thinking about it, since he is technically Victor's son. So even if he does go with the name Adam, he's still technically "Adam Frankenstein".

[@the-ma-an]

@@jacobbelow I also relate with Frankenstein's Creature being called Frankenstein being a pet peeve, especially because of the way Victor treated him. Also, really loved the animatic! The way everything played out was so natural, especially the ending.

[@trollanlord85]

3:05 Dude, that looks like it would be a scene in a movie, like if the musical was made into a movie. You did the killing of Henry so well

[@jacobbelow]

Thanks so much! I love receiving this praise! (Although I definitely also accept constructive criticism if anyone has something they think I could improve upon for the benefit of my products!) And admittedly, I do have a very cinematic-like mind. Like if ever there's music I listen to that I can really get me invested, my imagination just runs like a machine in imagining just what sort of imagery would accompany it!

[@chatsmeow2997]

The emotion!! The action!!The movement around the space!!! THE ENDING?!! WOW!!! This kills!!!!

[@emilylike-the-soup2502]

This is an insanely beautiful animatic! I especially love when Henry is trying to rip the papers out of Victor's hands at 2:50. It almost looks like a waltz!

[@klikssiikubra314]

That's so well done, the bride's jolt to life is especially good

[@sgauden02]

Such great work! "The question is not what you CAN do! The question is what you SHOULD do!" Powerful line...

[@markcobuzzi826]

I find it very fitting that it sounds like Ian Malcolm’s line from the Jurassic Park movie, seeing how Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is also known as The Modern Prometheus, while Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novel has been interpreted as a modern retelling of Frankenstein.

[@sgauden02]

@@markcobuzzi826 Exactly. You can do it, but the real question is, SHOULD you do it?

[@KumaoftheForest]

I was once a dreamer, now I’m man’s redeemer, such a powerful line

[@jacobgeist4175]

Thank you for the video it amazing I'm happy that the musical is getting more attention

[@nataliespada2721]

This is so well done, wait a sec, I need to collect my jaw from the ground

[@Doctor_17]

This has such grandiose gothic goodness in it, I gotta put this in the playlist!

[@Jesperthecook]

Excellent work! I love your illustrations, they really suck you into the story! Keep up the great work! Can't wait for whatever you decide to do next.

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you so much for your comments and support of my work! I don't know what my next task will be, but I defintiely promise it to be nothing less than the best I can put out!

[@Jesperthecook]

@@jacobbelow Good to hear :)

[@fillerschreiberfamily5213]

@@jacobbelow looks like a Disney animation, looks awesome

[@IsRickIV]

Your the only animator I’ve found who’s nailed this scene, I love the designs for your characters and how they move about the room. It feels realistic and theatrical. Can you do Another Like Him? I’ve haven’t seen many touch that song even though I felt it had a important character moment for Frankenstein and his Monster.

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you so much for your praises! They mean so much to me! I have done another animatic for 'Angel's Embrace', but alas, my life is currently very busy with a lot of other projects and tasks that are preventing me from committing to making KZbin animatics (and figuring out how to learn and deal with KZbin's constantly-changing policies). It's more than I can fully commit to making more animatics at the moment, much as I would like to. There are other animatics of 'Another Like Him' on KZbin if you type in the search bar.

[@shadowldrago]

There's something to be said about the juxtaposition of "Adam" killing Henry and the Bride coming to life.

[@jacobbelow]

It really is when you think about it. And considering the track that follows is Victor panicking at what he had done in creating a bride for his creation that had murdered his best friend...and in turn killing the bride in a desperate attempt to avoid any further damage. They both retort to each other: "What have you done?! You've murdered her!" "YOU are the murderer!" Both Victor and "Adam" are completely at fault in this scenario...especially since Henry's death seems to be the result of him developing an impulse to kill anything he feels poses as a potential threat to the sense of future happiness that he was so desperate to have (considering that Henry was about to expose the Bride and bring her to an end)!

[@shadowldrago]

@@jacobbelow Victory Frankenstein may be the protagonist of our story, but he is NOT a good man. He will, if the book is any indication, do anything he can to avoid negative repercussions.

[@jacobbelow]

@@shadowldrago Absolutely! In fact, another one of my favorite songs from the musical, "The Coming of the Dawn", is Victor reflecting on how he brought all his suffering upon himself AND his family (and by further extent the creature), by continuously acting upon his own self-interest.

[@shadowldrago]

@@jacobbelow Self awareness from Victor Frankenstein? Damn. Never thought I'd see the day.

[@echo4257]

I love this animatic so much, it’s so well drawn and made for the gothic story and musical! Thank you so much! I also like how Henry told Victor he will not allow him to destroy himself but then turns around to say he will expose him like... wouldn’t that also just destroy him as well?

[@hypo.critter]

Woah, what an animatic! It’s really well done, and I’m surprised that there aren’t many views, considering the fact that this musical is slowly getting an attention again! You added a pretty amount of a goth vibe and creepiness (especially at the end, the resurrection of the Justi-, I mean, the bride, my wig was blown). I especially liked the part from around 2:45, these drawings are great and Henry trying to stop Victor from his mad experiment that is driven by Victor’s hellishly big ego, that scene is just *chef’s kiss. I have no words, really. I can only say a fun fact about me, that in every musical I love, the main character has “I’ll play/be God! complex” and I think it is beautiful to see their downfall or reformation from their mad ideals. Anyways, great job! And good luck with your next projects :D

[@alexandersean4708]

I’d say it’s flawless, but that’s not nearly enough to describe how AMAZING this is! Adam’s eyes, the realistic art style, the intensity, the process of creating a monster, ALL FLAWLESS!

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you! Your praises mean so much to me!

[@alexandersean4708]

@@jacobbelow Not as much as this video means to me. I read Frankenstein today, and it is already my favorite book of all time, and all because your video gave me the resolve to read it. Thank you.

[@synstylae4748]

This is a fabulous animatic!! It fits very well with the song. You can really see the amount of work you put into this!

[@rachelle5169]

I didn’t know this musical existed before now but I will definitely be checking it out! Your art/animation is as glorious as always, but the lighting in this one was especially fantastic !

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you very much for the praise! And I'm also glad that I piqued your interest in checking out this musical!

[@knightbird2697]

Excellent animatic, I especially love the staging!! Also very good gestures and body language, and you show 3d space really well.

[@avery2862]

This is incredible! The way you are able to visually tell the story, with such fluid and smooth movement is stunning! I was riveted watching this, completely blown away! I haven’t watched anything on KZbin near your caliber of skill in a long time. Just incredible!

[@jacobbelow]

Tremendous thanks to you for the high praise!

[@shadowm2k7]

I love the little electricity animation you did in the background! Lovely touch, I love this musical and its so good to see it still being appreciated in new ways like this xxx

[@cjhudson393]

Wow this was released on my birthday and I love the original Frankenstein novel and the musical is awesome also awesome animation

[@LikeThemPies]

This is incredible-- what can I say that hasn't already been said! I wish this musical was more popular, but you did it justice!

[@jacobbelow]

Why thank-you! I agree, it is a musical that does deserve more attention.

[@Houndnwolf]

Dang this is super good! Well done!

[@MarioSMG64]

I've watched this so many times. My favorite song from my favorite musical, done perfectly. The part where all 3 of them are singing still gives me chills. Amazing job!

[@jacobbelow]

Thank-you so SO much for the praises!

[@AsdfAsdf-mi6ks]

Yo this is so well done!!!

[@jayjacob3789]

Ive waited for someone to do this for so long. Thank you.

[@jaemelancholy1684]

This is amazing. I can tell you did lots of hard work

[@jacobbelow]

Indeed I did. This took me a whole month to do, working on it from anywhere between two to four hours a day.

[@aquariusrose5621]

I have to see more of this play from you! This is amazing!

[@jacobbelow]

There are at least two other songs from this musical that I would like to make animatics to (if my schedule allows for it, we'll have to see)!

[@nataliapanfichi9933]

Great video.

[@gavinwright7076]

This video doesn't get enough credit I move it gets at least a million views ;-;

[@jacobbelow]

XD

[@kimberlyalessandroni9767]

Do “Another Like Him” PLEASE!😬😬😬😬😬😬

[@alice5195]

Porque esto tiene tan pocos likes? Es estupendo y grandioso 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@jacobbelow]

Muchos graçias!

[@KingNazaru]

This was pretty good. But I think Victor looks too old. He looks like he’s in his mid 30s instead of being in his 20s.

[@joshualowe959]

Why is this age restricted???

[@jacobbelow]

The main thing that had this age-restricted is because Justine (the bride) is nude when she's lying on the table, and there is a brief moment of showing blood at 0:30. They are minor in the grand scheme of age-restricted content, but I did it to avoid getting into trouble with KZbin's terms and services.

[@joshualowe959]

@@jacobbelow OK then. This should be made into a Disney movie one day. This song has a bit of Disney formula. If not Disney, an animated movie or just a drama or horror movie. This is actually a bit mature.

[@jacobbelow]

@@joshualowe959 Yeah. The original Mary Shelly novel is really long AND really gruesome at points!

[@joshualowe959]

@@jacobbelow well Hunchback of Notre Dame was also mature and yet it is made into a Disney movie.

[@jacobbelow]

@@joshualowe959 That's true. But trying to adapt the Frankenstein novel into something "family-friendly" would be a fair bit more challenging I think. (Not to mention how 'Frankenstein' is generally more recognized in pop-culture via the Boris Karloff movie, to the point where it's become an endless source of inspiration for parodies and satires.)