"Friendly Shadow" | Dystopian Animated Short Film (2020)

[@DeadSound]

I've been working on this project for over 10 months now. It's one of the most ambitious projects I've ever attempted and I love this thing to bits. It's one of my favourites of my films, if not my absolute favourite. I REALLY hope you guys like it too! :D CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE AUTODALE SERIES HERE!: kzbin.info/aero/PLZ5VEKOKH8PCjZJYvjlinBtjjmKV_-dk1

[@joywatson5522]

You did it this time, this is freaking AMAZING!!

[@Sparkle8205]

I’m so excited for the next video of this!! This one was amazing!!

[@uhhsophia6047]

Amazing, thank you for putting this out for us

[@fra604]

Pin the comment, I almost missed it!

[@damiel8342]

The friendly shadow was a human that new to much so the "hive" made him in to what he is now.

[@DeadSound]

Well, after a pretty stressful two days, the "Friendly Shadow" is finally back up! :D I still have no idea why it was removed but I think that the fan outcry over it's deletion sped up KZbin's unblocking of the video. Can't thank you guys enough for all your support. MAKING OF VIDEO: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmWan56rgrKDmZo

[@dawiuwu]

Nice

[@TheJfluffy]

The Friendly Shadow shall rise again!

[@thefifthfrequency987]

That's good to know, I hope it stays up from now on. If not I will actually just die, like I'm not kidding, I will die of sadness and grief.

[@rolo9903]

Thank goodness. This video is too good to not be viewed.

[@ewakowalska4532]

It's quite ironic how the film which tells a little about censorship and manipulation (the whole shadow story was changed in Autodale news and comic so that ,,freaks'' were shown as the worst beasts and it tell that the girl was scared of the monsters, when in fact she never wanted this ,,help" from the Shadow) was censored by KZbin...

[@doggone2842]

Anyone else interested that the woman during the interview said “You look less scary without the coat” and the hive at the end repeated “the coat, give him the coat!” Does the coat represent the loss of his humanity and compassion, and instead resembling more of an unsympathetic detective? Also, the commercialization of Shadow showing how he’s used as a puppet? Idk lol

[@Meow-ow6oh]

that's the point

[@stillpixel9233]

Get atta my head

[@averydae1810]

No no meaning

[@stephenstarr9045]

As an English teacher i can confirm that's exactly what the coat represents, and you are in no way reading into it too much.

[@sophiaredwood5825]

Yeah, I want to see what happens with that too

[@Knife_ToMeetYou]

“And he disobeyed” *AUTODALE BECOME HUMAN*

[@daisyjoy242]

deviant become human!!

[@15rachana58]

Ayy

[@nikooo1794]

This needs more likes

[@uuitsmeyeees8516]

I laughed way too hard at this

[@weirdlemur9478]

They stole my life, can't have shit in autodale

[@itssj974]

The mothers emphasis on “You’re a lot less scary without the coat” makes the Hive’s solution to “Give him the coat” at the end all the more chilling. As if she picked up on the subtle hints, even as a child, of how he seems to have less empathy and individuality when he’s wearing it. Phenomenal job with this!

[@wheelspinproductions9214]

The “freak” child and the human child are both the same story from their point of view. The child had a parent killed by the other side, and so did the “freak”

[@andiworld]

But the girl see her parent as a monster so, they don't do the same

[@Zucchini05]

@@andiworld in the video it shows/says that the younger monster drew the people of autodale as the monsters.

[@andiworld]

@@Zucchini05 I though this girl was from the "children toys" episode

[@yeetpea5302]

@@andiworld That's a different girl.

[@roebear]

I liked the parallel between the adult monster and Shadow where they had both lost an arm yet continued to fight to protect their little ones

[@shogunpug4071]

Everyone is forgetting about the "coat" the mother mentioned. She said he's much scarier with the coat. And in the pp tower we heard majority of the council come to a conclusion and say "give him the coat!". The coat could perhaps erase all human emotion and put him in a "shoot first, ask questions never" mode. The next episode we might see him wearing the coat and hunting the girl down.

[@strawberrygoldfiish8606]

Saeed Smith AMAZING THEORY

[@synstylae4748]

Saeed Smith This comment legit made me gasp. That would be so chilling to watch!

[@nataliad4378]

Pp tower LMAO

[@hsmacaraig]

*pp tower*

[@cringe_shattles69]

*pp tower*

[@violetroyal5898]

“Hello Citizens of Autodale...” is both the most comforting and terrifying thing about this.

[@generalgrievous7203]

The freak will come to your nightmares

[@disappointedmess209]

I agree for the reason that its comfortable that nothing has change but its terrifying for the same reason

[@codyjohnson6427]

It's weird how that is the most fearful part, while the freaks are the good guys

[@bigboyart1]

I feel like that's the point of the phraze. It's meant to feel just off enough to put us on edge, but still comfortable enough to be believable as Propaganda media.

[@kodicore]

The most Terrifying part is the enunciation

[@Connection_Error-px7bn]

0:17 only after three/four years of this existing have i just realized that the moon's placement within the clouds here looks like a giant eye observing Autodale, with a second gap a little to the right forming the appearance of another. Absolutely astounding.

[@lochness5524]

reminds me of a similar observation someone made in Rise of the Decayed, where they pointed out how the moons of Sauria looked very similar to the eyes of the Great Ones

[@alexargueta5775]

One of the better details was when the “friendly shadow” referred to the girl and “freak” as both kids and both having parents, meaning he does humanize the freaks despite the matriarch referring to them as creatures the whole time Edit: thank you everyone for the likes

[@sheenaattwood9434]

another interesting thing is at the start hive said not to kill the adult freak because they could use it for research and at the end she starts gushing about how much they could learn from the kid because she doesn’t care about the girls death like shadow does or the freaks inevitable death in testing.

[@dapugloaf5999]

Also, in the behind the scenes of "don't feed the freaks" David says that the freaks represent normal people, and in my opinion, they don't just "represent" them.

[@joseisme1367]

Y’all think that the “shadow” was human before. Edit: nvm he was a human at one point.😂

[@joseisme1367]

Da Pug Lord you think the freaks were people at one point?

[@dapugloaf5999]

@@joseisme1367 No, I think they are people, but everyone who lives in Autodale has been "assimilated" so much that they can't help but see them as freaks. Not literally, it's more metaphorical, but there is some evidence against this theory. The small freak was still shown as a freak even after the little girl accepted him, and the friendly shadow still saw him as one, but I'm still sticking to my theory.

[@jennyduong2466]

“There is no war in Ba Sing Se” has such a similar tone to “And Autodale is Safe.” Both terrifyingly ignorant to reality.

[@suntastesgood8782]

THATS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT!

[@zerotohero884]

Dude, soo true

[@annazeidman5187]

Not ignorant. Ignorant implies an opinion based on an incomplete fact. These are deliberate

[@psychedelic5263]

Oof ya

[@loolanshy]

What?

[@hvhhvvguhbj.jhbhjjbjh1480]

this would make a sweet game. A robot detective in a post apocalyptic world where he’s programmed to think the freaks are evil and he slowly realizes that they’re not and that the robots that are made to protect, are.

[@AVALT-sq3wq]

It would be like a cousin to the Fallout games because this gives me major fallout vibes with the robots and in fallout the synths and the city is reminiscent of many cities in the game. If you haven’t played a fallout game I’d recommend it if you like the idea of this in a similar game version

[@boowilcox9858]

Detroit: become freaky

[@nataliad4378]

Reminds me of connor from detroit become human

[@Cynthianwings]

Nick Valentine.

[@MonaFlowers__]

Kind of like Detroit become human plus fallout

[@destructionfad7928]

It’s interesting that when Shadow was in “kill mode” he dropped the human mannerisms, such as moving his mouth while speaking and using facial expressions.

[@Banana_Judge]

Would does make sense as they are portrayed as robots, they don’t need to do any of that so any energy spent of that should be put in for any extra mobility and attack predictions etc. But that’s more literal rather than metaphorically

[@EvaEstera]

​@@Banana_JudgeBut I thought he was half human? Like, once human but now mostly robot?

[@emmamurray6299]

I loved how the girl saw through the creature's appearance and looked for humanity in it.

[@nightradiance7287]

It’s ironic how the humans show animosity and the animals show humanity in this dystopia

[@nas1055]

@@nightradiance7287 ^is it really ironic or thats how it really is

[@mieshahalemep3165]

YEAHHH SAMEE

[@renamcvicar]

@@nightradiance7287 but isn't that the way it really is? the word humanity does not necessarily equate to humane.

[@Vosik_Splicer_Archpriest]

The thing is that they might be humans. The citizens of autodale and the audience see them as monsters but some in autodale see them as people.

[@gretch23yearsago74]

Funny how she's actually safer outside of Autodale than on the inside.

[@jenprochazim]

we dont know...

[@creativeusername4605]

@@jenprochazim Yeah. See "Don't feed the freaks"

[@pa9030]

Why would she be safer? The outside could be even more dangerous

[@teabird7262]

p A watch the other short films

[@silvercat18]

The further one gets from the wall, the weirder it gets, to the point where she may, herself become a freak. Autodale is bad to us, but in the context of its world, it may well be the only safety left.

[@aecholapis]

"Hello, citizens of Autodale..." _bursts violently through a wall_ *_Whomst'd've summoned the prettiest one?_*

[@mightypurplelicious3209]

*Whomst has chosen the chosen one?*

[@szarywilk986]

Its so comforting to see someone so humane like Friendly Shadow in Autodale.

[@AJSSPACEPLACE]

It makes sense they’d create a vigilante, if they want to depict someone being a bit outside the rules, but still doing what’s good for society. You can’t have a regular citizen in this role, because you don’t want the average person thinking that they can operate outside the system. Yet you also can’t have a Handyman in this role; imagine how scared people would be, if they thought a handyman had the ability to disobey, and do whatever it wanted. So a cyborg is a nice middle ground, to settle on

[@ShankaDaWanka]

True, but clearly he was also too subversive for the matriarchs' liking.

[@Preposter]

Big brain

[@rehdit2306]

Vs more brain

[@RyanWithaZ]

enough humanity to relate to him, but enough robot as to distance him from a citizen

[@guyincognito3530]

I'm the 1k like!

[@MariSantarem]

These stories are a masterpiece. I know they will probably erase shadows humanity or something horrible like that, but i hope we can see him again

[@conjurerofcheapthrills4750]

Maybe they erase his humanity, but he gets it back after getting the 'coat' ripped off? Like, he's chasing the girl and the part of his personality that wrote in got damaged so he looks at what he's done in horror, makes amends, and tries to help them? That'd be cool.

[@joshuae5935]

Mari Santarem I agree

[@iplaygames8090]

@@conjurerofcheapthrills4750 not dystopian enuf. If something he will realise that after he shoots em both.

[@bravepart13]

Well it will be hard cause those disembodied people would turn him into another handyman

[@owlxle4794]

@@bravepart13 I think we can safely say that the 'coat' has something to do with his humanity, maybe some kind of suppressant

[@carterhofer9306]

I like how they gave more personality to the people and the monsters

[@bituin5908]

You can see it shine through too! I’m really glad he added such

[@AlphyYT]

Hello there

[@andyfog7444]

B R U H M O M E N T general kenobi!

[@carterhofer9306]

B R U H M O M E N T You are weak and I have the high ground

[@ShadowComet82]

I too am a bruh

[@Unknownplayer_0117]

I’m amazed Netflix or another streaming service hasn’t tried to sign a contract with the creator. This is an amazing film and it could serve as a pilot to an entire series.

[@Icetastesgood]

yes it definitely could and should

[@manglegamer6496]

Funciona mas como una pelicula

[@sordesmax6238]

nah, netflix will make disgusting garbage from this wonderful masterpiece.

[@liddumananayo1070]

@@sordesmax6238 Arcane and Nimona were big, so I doubt that.

[@erickpena1617]

!!!

[@darkstock5103]

Ironically, it seemed like Shadow was more human than anyone else. I mean when hive didn’t send him into terminator mode

[@cancerwoman7669]

Y E S

[@marsoop]

That terminator mode seems like a plausible reaction from a human to a life or death situation. That's just fear and adrenaline to me.

[@desmodius205]

That wasn't Hive. It was simply Shadow's robotic, ruthless side taking over when the Freak ripped his arm off

[@maxgamer553]

why does he look like nick Valentine a bit if nick was fixed up.....

[@springygamer6993]

@@maxgamer553 THATS WHAT I WAS THINKING

[@jovanekiii]

*_I like how they made a kid friendly television show about the incident to make everybody feel safe._*

[@starman7773]

What a bold statement

[@deadaccount5427]

@Starman 777 why did this make me laugh

[@ThatWolficorn]

Lol yeah

[@jovanekiii]

@@starman7773 Lmao

[@sankyumiku]

@@starman7773 Lmao

[@bloodsugar24718]

"There are no monsters, citizens. Not in Autodale." gives off the EXACT SAME ENERGY as "There is no war in Ba Sing Sei."

[@SivaExperiment]

that is because it is ba sing sei but isnt at the same time

[@librarianseth5572]

Freak Avatar confirmed

[@jibbs_aim]

"nothing gets through our walls"

[@taylorn.7087]

exactly what i was thinking

[@joshuarummage9643]

Yes

[@rpcsa8]

Love the detail of the grass - in the beginning opening shot of the crack in the wall - looking like people crawling out from the ground; or grasping for life as they die. The grass strands on the left look like a person lying on the ground, while the grass strands on the right look like a person reaching their hand out to the sky. Truely even the smallest details are given extra care! A classic and amazing film series.

[@jaelyyymar8071]

The robot women at the ending were screaming about “the coat.” The mother said, “you’re not scary without the coat.” I smell foreshadowing.

[@moonsystem2041]

Yea, at the end I heard them yell "give him the cloak" I think theres more to that cloak

[@samcalliber4629]

"BIG COAT!" i heard one of them say that i cant unhear it

[@Hi-ul2gc]

And he only looked up when they said that I dont think he likes the coat. I think he likes his humanity, but what choice does he have? The hive probably sees all his thoughts anyways

[@hamburgerdog25]

Foreshadowing? What is this, continuity?

[@santaraposa4263]

It’s not a robot it was a exceptional citizen

[@noahs.6209]

This is the first sueccessful act of Rebellion we ever see against Autodale. And i'm really hoping it won't be the last.

[@silvercat18]

Need to be cautious though, remember what happened to "Town" in the previous episodes. They seemed to have gone down fighting their handymen and there isnt anything or anyone left.

[@notad-class3899]

The creator also sait that there will be no uprising in autodale because everyone's "happy" there, the adults do their roles and the children will mildly be brainwashed by being reassured everything is fine

[@chrislabs6216]

@@notad-class3899 i mean the only logical way a revolt could happen would be if it happens within like we just saw with friendly shadow

[@bellringer53]

@@notad-class3899 if he does do a revolt, because stories are organic things that ever change, I see it more realizing the world is so broken and desolate they were 'better off' staying ignorate and blind. A very pyrrhic and hollow victory

[@jrs_12435]

Definitely agree, I hope that David armsby will continue with this theme! (Wow I sound like I’m in school)

[@Liuhuayue]

To be executed for something out of her control just underscores how twisted and punitive their society is. Shadow's design as a flawed hero is really cool. Although his role is ultimately an exterminator, he is drawn towards benevolence and has a sense of morality. His cyborg status reflects his balance between puppet and protector.

[@mrreyes5004]

Indeed. Not to mention the Freaks as well; even though they appear monstrous, very rarely do any of them actually show outright malicious intent unless attacked first (the adult one didn't attack the Friendly Shadow until *after* he threatened to shoot the younger Freak), much like any animal simply living its life. It's safe to assume that the father saw his daughter chilling with the Freak, screamed and attracted the Handymen who attacked the Freak under the biased assumption that weird = bad and the father was accidentally killed in the crossfire while the Freak merely defended itself. Funny how Autodale expresses disgust for monstrous things when the city itself is controlled by unnatural, inhuman monsters.

[@TheyCalledMeT]

the nature of authoritarian rule in a stark contrast to our western world .. even if it seems like that freedom is crumbling lately (hate speech laws, cancel culture, abolishon of rights, ..)

[@pluto3194]

@@mrreyes5004 I think it's more likely that the Handymen killed the father because he'd seen too much. Seems to be a pretty popular theory

[@ascottishgamerx9728]

We live in a society

[@just-a-bro]

@@ascottishgamerx9728 love how every other reply is serious then there's this

[@AndromedaGaming2248]

I love how when he shot the mother you could hear clear, human, feminine screams under the animalistic, pained screeches.

[@NatjoOfficial]

When the most human person in autodale is another robot, then you know this place is screwed

[@silver_sour]

the human just cant do anything agains them, i havent watch the whole series but that what i see correct me if i'm wrong

[@NatjoOfficial]

Silver_ Sour oh they can, they just don’t because they believe it’s normal life to be killed off for disturbing the machine that is autodale

[@silver_sour]

@@NatjoOfficial holy shit

[@tezlaactual6582]

Well technically cyborg the hive talks about how there's still organics in the friendly shadow

[@weremerp]

"Cyborg detective cowboy" Yeah, a cyborg.

[@kaitlynargo6702]

The part of the Hive that suggests that The Friendly Shadow only needs a rewiring is the same one that was once the Exceptional Girl in the "No Monsters" video. You can tell by the moles on her face.

[@sandcat2383]

I thought she looked familiar.

[@alexkei3490]

Maybe she'll be the "key" for rebellion? For shadow to keep his human emotions?

[@sleepydragon9510]

The mother of the girl also had moles in the same place.

[@daveroll6463]

When you look at the “No Monsters” video you can also see that after the exceptional girl is killed, the hive is shown, where “she” is shown to be in there.

[@Mischa3456]

You can also tell by how the wires go into her forehead - they're in the exact same place as the exceptional girl's

[@4our31]

the way the friendly shadow just “auto piloted” when he was attacked it was disturbing, like a brainwashing but since he’s a robot you can tell he was purposefully made to do that yeah it worked.. kinda. offense was not the only option and it was kinda important that he kept the creatures alive. it’s primitive and band aid sort of approach especially in a “perfect” society this is sadly very real

[@raynehebert9265]

That wasn't auto-pilot. He was ordered to take the "monsters" alive. That seemed more like... the adreno-cortisol response

[@kyleaegis5613]

Take note of how they wanted to remove more of his humanity. I think the friendly shadow is moreso a cyborg. Like robocop. A human turned machine.

[@greatestcheeseofswisinswit3932]

Well he could have a human brain downloaded into the robot sense the motherboards in guess said that he has little humanity in him so yeah it guess

[@tamonk9054]

that made him more human to me because it was an attack out of anger and it was clearly emotional maybe when he was attacked that actually freed him up a bit

[@raynehebert9265]

@@tamonk9054 Detroit: Become Human

[@ZonaLol0000]

"nothing gets in and nothing gets out" the little reminders they give us about how the city is like a prison but they dont yell it out just makes it so much more creepy

[@kercollin1]

I love the detail of the girl giving the “Freak” a piece of cake like the drawing that started “Being pretty”

[@pokechatter]

"Don't Feed the Freaks"

[@hsmacaraig]

ikrrrrr

[@LadyArithia]

It was modelled to look just like it so lol

[@the_hanburger]

It's called a "freak"

[@thehogusha4342]

That was probably them grown up. Did anyone notice the freak in the original drawing had a scar on his shoulder, like where the baby got shot?

[@L0V3_JJ]

Who else felt bad for the baby freak literally it was like “daddy?”

[@autumnthepumpkinwolf]

Me

[@sho.thatsit]

"DO I LOOK LIKE-" I'm sorry

[@sofula4693]

That made my heart throb

[@shaynabarnhard2274]

I got more of a "Mama?" vibe. But that works too.

[@chikarahaber9107]

@@sho.thatsit Lol

[@NTYohan]

*Clicks video:* "This video is probably going to be 4 minutes long...." *Looks at how long it is:* "OH MY GOD YES."

[@indublick8568]

Dude same its soooooo goood

[@meese3690]

So true

[@medical-cyanide1526]

What?

[@NTYohan]

@@medical-cyanide1526 I meant that, when I clicked on this video I thought that the film would be about 4 minutes long, but when I looked at how long it was it was 18 minutes long. (I was happy about it lmao

[@NTYohan]

@@indublick8568 Nice pfp lmao

[@Cherno35]

Finally skilled artist who doesn’t use their skills for *UNSPEAKABLE THINGS*

[@nox.7146]

p*rn or racism ?

[@Cherno35]

@nox.7146 well it was 2 years ago so not sure what I meant then but probably porn

[@leemoonlmao]

art is art

[@Cherno35]

@@leemoonlmao true.. i have grown and changed as a person since. im a girl now

[@roselavanda]

The little girl offering the “freak” cake is reminiscent of the drawing that inspired this whole thing. Also, when the hive asked Friendly Shadow “what a warped perception of reality, right?” I think it’s interesting how he doesn’t respond

[@hammer1349]

The only one with allowed to have a modicum of humanity is able to see through the facade that is forcibly blinding everyone else so that they can maintain their power

[@ninnikins4768]

Think about how that applies to us. Humans always think they're right, whether it be the military or terrorist.

[@CarinaWestling]

the monsters see Autodale as Autodale sees the monsters

[@sophiaredwood5825]

He didn’t respond because he’d clearly been having doubts. He didn’t just believe what Autodale tried to portray; instead of taking the lies at face value, he chose to look deeper, and that ended up being a fatal mistake in the hive mind.

[@stillpixel9233]

Its also ironic

[@tomatobruv76]

The sad part is that the Freak was simply acting how a true mother would. Defending their child till the end

[@santiagocortez9554]

It's because they're actually just humans too, but autodale tells everyone that they're monsters and that they should be killed

[@mikemagnus9447]

Did... He/She *just* say "Help me?" Edit: I've been wanting to cry whenever I remember this...

[@protagonistakun2407]

@@mikemagnus9447 you could just have used they

[@ishakedice2212]

A true human *needs* to kill A good human doesn’t need to kill A pure of something, is the death of other.

[@mashedpotatoes5176]

@@ishakedice2212 fax broo

[@allisonthefox9900]

Friendly shadow really said: "The hive has elected a dicision but seeing as it's a stupid decision, I have elected to ignore it"

[@Arctic_and_The_F0X]

_give him the coat_

[@mr.potato2223]

AND GET THIS MAN A COAT

[@isarki09]

The only not stupid thing they have said is “give him the coat” cause he would look cool in a coat

[@ellal3554]

@@isarki09 The coat is what takes away his humanity.

[@isarki09]

@@ellal3554 understandable, coats make everyone look like a god

[@seagoddess9937]

Yoo the "Sometimes there are no good endings." marks Shadow's story really well. Such good foreshadowing.

[@ewakowalska4532]

I love how Shadow slightly changes after killing one of the freaks. His eyes are glowing more and are more robotic, his face is darker and he starts to speak without opening his mouth. It makes him far more scary than the freaks and more soulless. Then, when he realises that he just became a robot she was so scared of, his face turns normal and more human again.

[@agavini1]

Ewa Kowalska I love that detail too

[@guitarfrog3674]

Idk if this is just me, but when the Friendly Shadow was shooting the adult freak, his eyes were glowing just like the handymans’. He was ruthless with no emotion at all and then he was about to kill the child freak when his eyes returned to normal and he let them both go. I just though that was a really cool detail

[@Maieveryday2]

Yes it was, It seems like they took a human and put various robot parts into him, or maybe the other way around, point is they made him so that the citizens of Autodale could feel safe with a human like figure with emotion around. And it seems to have worked but not like they expected.

[@idhamhakimi4948]

Nope not just you

[@superru7438]

@@Maieveryday2 I agree. supporTed by the chatter in the matriarch tower discussing the fact that if they replace anymore of his broken parts with machine then he is hardly human

[@bazzel1059]

I think that effect is either there to symbolize that he is controlled. Also he shaked a few times with lightnings around him as someone is turning switches.

[@barabajagal]

Gacha n chill yeah the shadow that was cast across his eyes made him strikingly similar to the monster kid’s drawing of a handyman, showing that in that moment he was not acting like a human would, but rather, like a handyman

[@hamsandwich7496]

Can we just appreciate that the girl giving the freak a slice of cake is a callback to the original artwork?

[@paxthebiarooaceer]

I also wanted to point that out I think it's a great detail!

[@apossessedwarlock-4386]

Yeah I was really excited when I saw the little girl and the cake!

[@saurosthewise7371]

Why not turkey, why waste.pig meat on ham instead of bacon

[@savonnaharper1266]

I was looking for this for awhile now.

[@nerminiskenderli4656]

5:24 the pain in mothers voice when she kindly said "I know"😢

[@JeffrevinYT]

"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to break your promise." "Right." The whole film beforehand shows his humanity slowly breaking through, and then he's given a decision between keeping his promise to the mother, or to the dystopia which he's supposed to serve. You knew what he was going to do. Not specifically what, but you knew it was something he'd do on his own, not what the Hive wanted.

[@mysticalkeyblade759]

I hate the society. You can’t kill someone for having a dead partner or being gay or anything unless it’s actually harming others. I wanna kill the hive!

[@blissfulnotes8179]

Mystical Keyblade wait what?

[@nathanzimmer859]

Mystical Keyblade I’m watching this at 2:00 am and I guess it’s time to binge

[@chilldemonlad2241]

The mother was scared for her child’s life. She knew that her child was going to die at the hands of the people she trusted. That’s horrific.

[@arsonhycan]

And morbidly fascinating. She wasn’t brainwashed, despite her society. Rlly odd

[@minibat7169]

@@arsonhycan not necessarily, it was like she was but she was disillusioned when her husband was killed and her child was taken

[@SmilingSmores]

@@minibat7169 I agree she was in shock and grief

[@hsmacaraig]

Shilah Morris yes

[@avalonsignoraalmas6150]

I would say that maybe she always knew what their reality was, but it was the only thing she knew, so she didn’t really have much of a choice. She had to trust it, or at least follow the path laid out for her, because that is what she knew they expected of her.

[@krismilstead4107]

"This isn't one of your cartoons, Shadow." _Ironic._

[@nopo9602]

I’m your 666 like :D

[@N1CKT00N]

Reminds me of fallout new Vegas and the synths of of fallout 4

[@joeybradley4352]

@@N1CKT00N Right? I was getting some serious Nick Valentine vibes from him.

[@shadowarmd9530]

Yah

[@monicaburke3638]

Lol

[@hydrashade1851]

i find it horrifying and amazing that they turn real events into fiction just by making it a cartoon and comic series. entertaining the masses and not scaring them, but people cant say they aren’t giving news about events

[@hllyenaylleth9576]

or, probably the main purpose is to stifle critique. Someone could be like, I heard this real story, what do you think, and a response could be, "Oh that comic story, that wasn't real!"

[@zombiewarzunter4703]

I feel like the ending is in complete opposite to “Don’t Feed The Freaks” because at the end it is seen as freedom and hope as in DFTF the person attempts to find Autodale and get out of the same ‘freedom’ that the girl and ‘Freak’ receive in the end.

[@professionalshitpost4443]

I think she’ll have to be exposed beyond Autodale for a bit before that happens

[@jameslamberton7671]

I want the girl in the end to get an army of freaks and will kill everyone in autodale

[@hypermaeonyx4969]

@@jameslamberton7671 thats quite dark eh?

[@astronic9979]

@@hypermaeonyx4969 This world is already VERY dark so not too far off.

[@hypermaeonyx4969]

@@astronic9979 Point taken...

[@kiio1291]

I think the handymen killed the father and then the “Freak” attacked the handymen, given the differences between the man’s body and the handymen’s bodies. Also, the way the man seems to have been killed. If you remember one of the other films, they are killed by being knocked on the head and fall into a pit. The screaming was probably from the little girl after the handyman killed her father, and then the freak killed the handyman. Two more come to the scene and damage it, but the freak kills them. The freak retreats and shadow is sent to find the girl.

[@uknown1016]

True, you know the pit that the handyman hit the citizens over the head and they fall. The man was bleeding from his head. This theory is a theory I like a lot!

[@samuellee178]

This theory is underrated, I love it.

[@lazywibuuwu8467]

Cool theory but i don't think its true since handymen is robotic and thus does not do stuff like that. They follow order like everyday and don't have intention to kill since they have the pit for "the ugly"

[@SergieXD]

@@lazywibuuwu8467 Maybe the Handyman were ordered to kill the father because he saw the freak.

[@lazywibuuwu8467]

@@SergieXD but we have the pit such are what going to be the same with the mom. They have the pit to take away the ugly so why the robot have to do anything at that moment?

[@TheRealBigYang]

Give this man an oscar. We ain't even need a ceremony, just mail the damn thing to him. It's the least we could do to appreciate this masterpiece

[@claudiag.9307]

I second this

[@dominiclarratt9968]

I concur.

[@someoneridgeson3020]

YES

[@justsomedudehere4676]

Yo I will help pay for that! Get a PSVr for my 12th birthday on July 24 from my mom: ❌ Get the money that it would’ve cost (so about 400$) and buy or help buy an Oscar for one of my favorite animators: ✅

[@creativeusername4605]

Agreed

[@mrfrog0913]

I love how this series uses colour, normally red symbolises death/danger while yellow symbolises hope/curiosity, that's why there is so little of it.

[@egalegal7138]

I can't see any yellow.

[@skeletonbuyingpealts7134]

​@@egalegal713816:00

[@EdinoRemerido]

Nah yellow symbolises where they have to go.

[@mrfrog0913]

@@EdinoRemerido I think both ideas work though, unless you can find a scenario where yellow is used that doesn't fit my ideas.

[@EdinoRemerido]

@@mrfrog0913 it was a joke...

[@lorenzoamos7214]

Can we just appreciate that he put this masterpiece for free

[@scottmcdonald6201]

It definitely surpasses much of what I've seen on Prime and Netflix.

[@scottmcdonald6201]

It definitely surpasses much of what I've seen on Prime and Netflix.

[@HiHello-cw9vc]

@@scottmcdonald6201 same

[@HiHello-cw9vc]

The animation, shading, and design is absolutely stunning. I’m glad they have a patron

[@MAX_DJM]

Ye

[@JellySims4]

The ending is everything. I really like how the " friendly shadow" give up everything. For that little girl and her best friend even if he does get punished for helping her at least she still alive.

[@gerard935]

In the end he did keep his promise

[@honeywasp7839]

Right! Its like he would rather do that and be a hero rather than have "the coat" and be seen as scary (he probably saw the pictures, and with what the mother said, thought how the system hes helping are actually the monsters through everyones eyes no matter how much they fill it with family friendly facades)

[@taintedmyth0s636]

@@honeywasp7839 Yeah. When whoever was talking to him said "see the world through the monster's eyes" I think he realized that who he was working for isn't as good as all the propaganda would make them seem.

[@xunk16]

@@gerard935 I always thought the promise he would have to break was his fealty to Hive... He basically told them all he would disobey, but they still didn't see it coming fast enough. That is how often someone resists them.

[@battii5255]

I love how the scenes in Autodale are shown in black and white, but when they travel outside of the walls, there’s color, it’s so creative✨

[@ethanklimenko5065]

What? Theyre outside at lik 16:05 amd its blak and white

[@mightypurplelicious3209]

16:59

[@pisunhrttopa444]

+

[@Phoenix2.5D]

The sepia around the candle in that one scene is 👌🏼

[@pisunhrttopa444]

@@Phoenix2.5D symbolically

[@AshlynShannon-w7u]

Can we just appreciate that he put this masterpiece for free. Can we just appreciate that he put this masterpiece for free.

[@harronus7758]

Jesus that “freak” death was brutal and excessive, you could tell “Shadow” had completely lost touch with himself. So far I’m really invested in his story, hopefully he’ll be an important character in more future stories!

[@Space_Man909]

Well e had to or else he would have died

[@MrJavier1223]

He was controlled by the Hive. And yeah, hopefully we'll see more of him.

[@nathanb8820]

I feel like the death being that excessive just hit home the point tbh.

[@xunidraws]

indeed..... . . . . .. . .. .. .... .

[@meganlodon]

I hope he destroys the Hive and takes control in their place.

[@Ami-eu6nk]

Nobody is talking about the end where the "hive" is discussing about friendly shadow's punishment, it appears that they agree to "give him the coat," maybe it's a metaphor on how he is dehumanized when he is wearing the coat. Refering back, the mother continuosly says that he "looks less scary without the coat". 15:50

[@cormmal538]

Did you also notice that many of those hive exceptionals were in the poses they "died" in? Clutching each other, stabbed, etc.

[@ludwigvanbeethoven5176]

@@cormmal538 *Oh my!* OWO :O

[@Zicolie]

I assume when Shadow loses his arm he puts on his “Coat” the lifeless, killer robot activated and he lost his humanity completely. Then the girl takes off his “coat” when she stands in front of his gun to save the monster.

[@ItsMeCharkey]

... what do you mean? In the scene he has no noticeable changes (except the eyes, I will give you that.) but even when his eyes turn “coat” when he goes in to kill the freak kid, he still talk to give with humanity in his voice, so the eyes would be no noticeable change in his “coat” or no coat personalities.

[@Alzter0]

I have a theory. Notice how the shadow covering Friendly Shadow's eyes goes from grey to pitch black from 9:48 to 12:02? Now notice how the all the Autodale artwork depicting Shadow wearing the coat has the same black covered eyes. Maybe the black eye shadow signifies when the robot part of Shadow takes control. Maybe Shadow wearing the coat ensures it stays that way...

[@charby5875]

"You're a lot less scary without the coat." Coupled with the reveal of the rulers of the city the 'hive'-mind of the prettiest coming to the consensus of 'giving him the coat again'. Methinks they have a tool to correct our resident Friendly Shadow's behaviour, when he's being all too human.

[@paxtonstewart8042]

Charby my guess is that it will probably take away his more compassionate side which will cause more of the citizens of autodale to fear him which would break the illusion the hive has over the people partially causing them to remove it which will repeat a cycle of him allowing some to escape. It is implied he had the coat before so that probably means this isn’t the first time he’s acted out.

[@aliahpersonous2893]

I think you are definitely on to something

[@Stellamoth]

The warm glow of the sun at the end, I love it, how it represents freedom from the cruel, gray society the girl once lived in, and how she is now safe outside of the walls of the city.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

"There is no war in Ba Sing Se. He we are safe. Here we are free." "There are no monsters here. Not in autodale. Autodale is protected, Autodale is our home, and Autodale is safe.

[@stuffedcrust4441]

Joe has invited you to Lake Autodale

[@ludwigvanbeethoven5176]

@@stuffedcrust4441 And this Joe, would he happen to be JOE MAMA?! -Dorothy Zbornak

[@thenohacksandmoneyspending2210]

And it has a giant hole in the wall

[@beedrinkinghoney]

Oh damn

[@ishaan2216]

Judee

[@AmjadDRs]

“Hello citizens of Autodale.” you know its gonna be good when you hear it

[@jubusch]

Amjadam but every episode ha- oh I get it

[@aivilo9892]

Can I just point out how *creepy* the hive mind lady argument is. The whole thing is so unsettling about how they're arguing about Shadow disobeying orders and seems split on weather on nor being human is a good thing for him to have or not. Plus, the mother says "You're less scary without the coat" and that scene ended with all of them caterwauling "Give him a COAT!"

[@jelfishery]

Olivia Waggoner that ending scene was hilarious

[@matheusm.santana6527]

Give him the coat!

[@ostapolkhovskyi3427]

Absolutely great. Watching this is like to breath fresh air in these times, when boring filler-shows just trying to copy each other. Fascinating. Love it.

[@Da-choppa]

THAT POOR BABY "FREAK" The noise he was making sounded like "daddy?" Also notice that the little guy is holding a pencil in his tiny arms, showing how he is drawing

[@Thirty-Two]

also, at 16:38 it seems to say "Come.. On.." to the girl

[@garycarpineta5628]

Or maybe it said “help...me..” (I am talking about the big creature)

[@AllTheHorny]

Daddy ...

[@PsycheClops]

Remember those freaks aren't actual monsters

[@Da-choppa]

AHHHHHHH

[@J101.L]

Something I noticed while watching: When the Mother speaks to Shadow she apologised for her children being scared of him, stating she was scared of him when she was younger too, but she also goes on to say how he’s less scary without the coat, at first I thought this was just a comment on how maybe his coat made him look bigger and scarier. But when Shadow is getting judged later on, we can hear one of them say “give him the coat” and they also speak about taking his humanity away or reducing it. My theory is that the coat takes his humanity away or suppresses it. And other people (or at least the mother and her children) find him scary with the coat on saying that they’re afraid of the robot side of him, the side with no humanity. Also when we see the mother speak about how he’s less scary without the coat and with his humanity, the children are still scared. I think this could mean that the mother has grown to understand that the ones she should be afraid of is the Handymen, the robots. With this I think it could be that the “coat” is actually some sort of metaphor for Shadows humanity being removed and how he’s less scary with his humanity. I’m not sure if I’m right, and there’s probably a lot more to be built on from this observation but still kind of interesting to think that these people are afraid of him when he has the coat on (no humanity) but when he doesn’t and has that human part of him they are less afraid.

[@evilbadger34]

I just thought of it as a morale thing, wearing the coat makes him the protector of autodale

[@Para0234]

You should watch Dead Sound's video on the design of Friendly Shadow. He explains what the coat represents, and why Shadow doesn't wear it.

[@zhaikvial]

ALSO THE AUTODALE HQ LOOKS LIKE A SOMETHING.... 14:32

[@aniyakipa2675]

@@zhaikvial ok

[@gsc0rp10n9]

My man just wrote a thesis

[@gwendolynsnyder463]

The "Friendly Shadow" truly is friendly. I feel so sorry for him. He merely wanted to fullfill the mother's dying wish of letting her daughter join her brothers, just letting both kids out of town was the best thing he could do. And he's being punished for doing the right thing.

[@verti3213]

He is being punished for doing the right thing of HIS believes. Every person posses different morality as seen by the behavior of the Hive

[@itsmrbigsmoke862]

The right thing doesn't exist to a hive mind, it simply wants to create a perfectly functioning society with no flaws. Morality ruins that ability

[@verti3213]

@Alex Munz the Hive is composed of people.

[@JustT0N3]

1000th like

[@verti3213]

@Samyar It was right according to him. Besides drop this condascending tone because it only shows your lack of culture.

[@anonam0us328]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING - The parallels between this and Society today are...noticeable. And how the Monsters were actually the citizens of the city and all the artwork was from the perspective of the little creature...just wow. 10/10

[@LoverOfStuff]

“Hello, citizens of Autodale” I’ve been watching this series so much, that just that sentence alone gives me chills.

[@ShinoriDelfrim]

Same 😅

[@dr_lubaba]

Relatable

[@jaiyapapaya]

come on, you know you say hi back

[@danithefiend6167]

Me too.

[@beholdnonsense5100]

My favorite little details: - the parallels of the silhouettes of two freaks looking toward the city in the beginning compared to the silhouettes of the girl and young freak leaving the city at the end - how Shadow moves more like a handyman and less like a person at 9:43 when he's damaged - at 10:13 when the young freak cries out with the same kind of sound as the terrible hound in Merry Madness (doubt that's actually story relevant but I like it regardless) - Hive's comment at 11:52 about a warped perception of reality, which is met with a pronounced camera tilt on Shadow, followed by a realignment of the camera on the picture of the handyman, implying a comparison of the two. After this, Shadow immediately regains composure and stops moving and acting like a robot, and chooses to disobey orders

[@trucetruce335]

If I may add - 13:57 they warp the story to enforce a happy ending

[@odessygaming4967]

The first one is a bit sad because the big one could have been like a mother and the small one saw it’s mother get murdered

[@kxl309]

I have a theory: the mother controlled shadow and took his humanity from then gave it back

[@beholdnonsense5100]

@@trucetruce335 ah, I knew I was forgetting one, thank you for adding that

[@sleepydragon9510]

What if the brown city the one with the hound and rat becomes the this city afther the colors have been drained

[@ChibiGeeBee]

"Promise she'll be joining her brothers, and NOT ME" chilling.

[@phosphrite9981]

I dont get it what does it mean?

[@lnept]

Welcome To Auto Dale My Friend... *evil laugh*

[@varietyaspens]

666th like

[@fireradier1090]

Phosphrite watch model citizen that should help

[@taylorfireflame]

Why are they gonna kill her?

[@botanybayful]

I've recently discovered the Autodale series. Shadow is such an incredible figure, but the freaks are absolutely amazing. Maybe it's because I'm a cat person but a creature with claws, a tail, a growl and glowing eyes makes me want to go "pspsps" 😂

[@9ightdreamer]

Cat-Person instincts.

[@legokarateman]

Interesting note- at the beginning, when they show the clip of the hole in the wall, the close up, to the right of it are what looks like two grassy/vine covered bodies that were trying to get into/climb the wall. And they seem to be human shaped rather than ‘Freak’ shaped. Just an interesting detail I quickly noticed

[@13physc]

Yeah someone on the other video where that dude got in the city and he looked like a freak and he said that they dont look like human because the robots brainwashed them into thinking outsiders are freaks

[@leod.v.3854]

@@13physc i thought the same but after this i dont really know as there clearly not human as they have super human strength like taking on 2 robots, grabbing shadow by the arm and throwing him so hard his hand breaks off and surviving for a long period while losing blood from a missing arm or being able to take laser shots

[@ninjatuna3917]

Ok cool! I'm not the only one who saw that!

[@koraiko]

@@leod.v.3854 I think the superhuman powers are there to symbolize the survival instincts of being in the wild (if youre living somewhere where you don't need to fight you don't know how to fight - if you're living in the wild you must protect yourself and know some tricks to use) But it's just a theory so 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@rubyharding7095]

@@leod.v.3854 but remember in the video "making of Dont Feed The Freaks"dead sound said the "Freaks" are actually outsiders. Also dead sound said in the video "Making of Childrens Toys" that the outodail videos are in the perspective of the children. Plus everyone's brainwashed so the outsiders look like the "Freaks"

[@raphy3402]

The way the girl draws her parents more like monsters in the beginning and the freak more friendly could indicate a changing in perspective.

[@kyletzzff125]

I thought it was concluded that the freak drew those?

[@jondw]

@@kyletzzff125 the ones in the tunnel were likely drawn by the young freak but the ones in the beginning... I don't know if we can conclusively say

[@marcelinekrims2947]

@@jondw They looked very very similar. I guess she could've copied his but idk...

[@betenoire757]

@@marcelinekrims2947 or perhaps she taught the little monster how to draw? I think it said they've only been meeting each other for a few weeks, that's probably enough time for the little guy to catch on

[@jpvthegamer1209]

"Imagination, such wonderful and dangerous thing"

[@freezingsn0w_]

I know that the detective robot guy is properly gonna get his emotions erased or worse but I hope that nothing bad happens to my favorite character.

[@Agyrius]

The Ladies in the end said that they can't remove his Humanity because it defeats the point of having him in the first place and he would just become another Handyman Also I'm not sure but there's something about "Mother's dying wish"

[@monethwow]

the coat makes him scarier so mayhaps its a control mechanic

[@tiffany15O5]

@@Agyrius they're going to give him his coat back, which makes him seem less human and more frightening (according to the mother)

[@zen8233]

@@monethwow Yup. The coat might be the thing that controls and regulates his emotions, thus giving him a seemingly cold and ominous presence. There were too much teasing about the coat, so there's a high chance that the next time we see him he'll be wearing it.

[@neegas3490]

😂

[@SpammingY]

Yellow shows up twice. Once when the girl is bringing a candle to the young freak. And again when they leave together. Grayscale is the model of Autodale, red is what they don't want you to see, and yellow (at least... so far) is joy, discovery, genuine love, or otherwise just the unrealized positivity of these supposed "monsters". Edit: After having seen the next one, "The Immortal Machine", I realize more what yellow is. I see it now. It's the girl walking off with the freak. (Spoilers ahead) It's the withering world of the "Forbidden Fairytale". Forbidden. Yellow is forbidden. Yellow is exactly what society and its overlords are avoiding. The girl isn't supposed to leave forever with a freak, it's something to be avoided. In the next one, the world wilting away like that is a horror seemingly worse than feeding the blood of the deceased to... that. It's something to be avoided. Yellow is the natural which they go out of their way to prevent, eliminate, and forget about.

[@jennyduong2466]

The continuous and needless shooting afterwards was the most terrifying thing of all.

[@desdemonaclaire4176]

AGREED, I thought that was chilling.

[@rebeccachaplin9721]

I think he was trying to scare the other creature

[@ak47tg93]

I mean I'd probably do that as well if it ripped my arm

[@zenkikjuice150]

and in front of the kid nonetheless

[@dcaede]

It is just double tap

[@bitty29]

The voice actors are amazing when “the friendly shadow” was talking to the wife / mother you could hear the fear in her voice even though she was trying to be brave

[@blocked9129]

When was this

[@skeletonbuyingpealts7134]

​@@blocked91295:00

[@masayuki2454]

Friendly Shadow is somehow the most humanoid being in this series.

[@Pinkmimty]

Real

[@raptorgaming5479]

The "monster" looks adorable, 10/10 would hug

[@lemon_the_spider]

The sound of the Freak parent crying in pain from being shot and sounding like a human was amazing. They still wanted to protect their child though and kept pushing forward to keep Shadow from hurting them

[@noahharden5894]

The lady’s in the pp tower took control of him when he shot the beasts. You can tell because sparks came from him before and after shot the beasts, as to symbolize that they took away his humanity and gave it back.

[@stevenmarley3734]

his mouth also wasn't moving when he was speaking when they had control of him.

[@kasakro9829]

pp tower

[@priestoffern1608]

thanks captain obvious

[@criesinalternative8097]

pp tower

[@vendetta7x]

@@kasakro9829 nice

[@Stupisms]

Honestly the thing that amazes me the most about this is how well integrated Friendly Shadow is into the worldbuilding despite him being such an out-there concept.

[@popfox2195]

Reminds me of nick valentine from fallout 4

[@jexelbur6872]

Pop Fox I noticed that too

[@ADAJ342]

Indeed

[@SnoriSnorison]

OMG! "There's a lot more to these creatures than we thought..." ?? THAT'S CUZ THEY'RE PEOPLE!!!!!!! What a terrific series this is--absolutely incredible and full of truth, pathos, even hope (though not for the citizens of Autodale!) Just amazing. 💗

[@snitterdog7276]

in love with how he's literally referred to as the 'shady protector' also that baby freak??? PRECIOUS big movie studio better pick this up before i die or I'm becoming immortal out of spite

[@georgogiannakis6123]

snitterdog hopefully if so they allow the creator to keep full control. I’d hate for this to be picked up by something and changed to “fit consumer demand” or the like.

[@edoardo1342]

Netflix. Just netflix. I think netflix would make a tv series or a movie about this.

[@wong_bwong]

Better not be Disney or I’m uninstalling life

[@twigkin3056]

@@wong_bwong honestly? Yeah same.

[@BigBreakProductions]

I feel like this would be a cool video game as well. The aesthetics and animation just matches it so well rather than a movie screen. Honestly anything works for me as long as it stays close to David with the writing and directing.

[@alexkei3490]

I think creating "shadow" is the "exceptional" girl's idea (no monsters, imagination), she doesn't want to take away his humanity. Maybe she's hoping that somebody will take notice what is wrong in autodale and break it.

[@lordofshades9852]

I think the main one we focused on was the "perfect" girl from that other one

[@mushroo2453]

After all they were freed.

[@VampireQueenAmy]

we’ve missed you, the ‘friendly shadow’ has a unique personality, can’t wait for the making of video

[@baconultimate6045]

I wouldn't say finally but I am deeply glad to see him back!

[@VampireQueenAmy]

There’s probably more to come, should I edit?

[@baconultimate6045]

@@VampireQueenAmy sure if you changed your mind I don't think its insulting so it's your choice

[@VampireQueenAmy]

Done

[@ra_khvc]

The friendly shadow is now my other favourite character, the first favourite being the freak who ate the cake, because he seems like a viber

[@joannecunliffe8067]

David - this is absolutely fabulous! I just want you to know that. The characters, story and animation are brilliant.

[@BN-zv7tn]

I dont know whats worst, the mother being aware that they'd kill her daughter for being in contact with the freaks, how the "shady protector" stories are highly far from reality, or the fact that they never talked about what happened to the girl's orphan brothers

[@iloverats1469]

well, the female voice told shadow, that the little girl will NOT join her brothers, but die. so, at least they won't die. maybe they'll go to another family?

[@wilmagregg3131]

@@iloverats1469 nowing how f up this universe is the probably sent them to a work camp or a brainwash center or something equally bleec

[@SavCorp]

Also, the mother had very similar birthmarks to the exceptional girl a while back. Perhaps they are related in some way?

[@BN-zv7tn]

@@SavCorp bloodline? 👀

[@whiterflippy4540]

Her brothers will be going to a foster family as the female voice said the girl would not be joining her brothers “no fosters for this one”

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

It seems the freaks are more human than the citizens of autodale. Although, given the mother's dying wish, it seems the citizens are not the problem. So fascinating, the similarities this holds to the present.

[@_SUPERN0VA_]

The "monsters" are actually humans

[@jovialmonster757]

【 กøงด 】 the monsters are the machines in charge, pursuing endless efficiency and obedience. The humans are just caught in the shockwave

[@pyropegasus3484]

@@tthung8668 And the mother was going to be killed anyways, so she had nothing to lose by showing her emotions to Shadow. The only thing she had to worry about was her daughter

[@sailormenji]

Just Some Jersey Devil With Internet Access I’m sure that’s it’s just the citizens are kind of brain washed. So they act weird. But of course, they’re still human. Good point.

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

@@sailormenji indeed

[@bookwyrmofthenorth]

"What little humanity he has left" So he WAS human. Once. There is no indicator the handymen were. And... there's something terribly distressing about the fact that he doesnt say anything in his defense in the "trial". Doesnt so much as raise his head to look at... the exceptional ones. I do wonder why they are all female. But... he only waits. He does not apologize and he does not express regret. But neither is he doing anything more than listening t ok them determine his fate. Gahhh.

[@ultmateragnarok8376]

The Handymen don't have the problem-solving skills or empathy of a human. That's what the Shadow is for, to go into situations that require such characteristics with a human mind while retaining the safety of a mechanical body. The Handymen are mass-produced and, relative to a human mind, simple machines which cannot think for themselves, however while Autodale's production can merge a human mind with a machine (shown in the Shadow, in Hive's various parts, and some other places), they cannot easily change that mind from what it is. Psychological manipulation would dull Shadow's needed skills, he does what he does because he doesn't have any other choice and cannot merely revolt against the city alone. Hive likely wouldn't listen to him anyways if he chimed into her conversation. As for why all of them are females, Hive as a whole is an originally female mind split among multiple comparable bodies, so having one be a male likely wouldn't work well with the initial mind, as the original one would also be human and combining those would not be good for any of them. Not sure what they do with the male ones though.

[@anjaliguitaristpenguin9578]

They aren't all female, the hive mind just had a female voice

[@gixmis2351]

It isn't only females, it's both males and females

[@glenrice6880]

There is a moment where he does look up at them from his position on the floor. At 15:49 he lifts his head to look at them, with a look of ... contempt? Hatred? He despises them and what they have made of him.

[@akduckwithm16gamingandoutd40]

@@glenrice6880 I saw that 2 I can just Envision him going ham on the hivemind with a flamethrower here pretty quick

[@Zordyn]

"There are no monsters here." Meanwhile, in the totally not foreboding spire outside the window:

[@weemotheveemo8070]

*”There are no monsters in Autodale.”* Mhm, and there is no war in Ba Sing Se. Edit: I keep getting people saying I stole this- there are surely several ATLA fans in the comments who had the same idea, folks. A lot of us probably thought the same thing; even the ones who didn’t comment. Please don’t bicker or start anything.

[@hamsterana7672]

Omg I was just thinking that

[@caitlinmchiupka420]

YES

[@sandmountainsam9287]

Weemo The Veemo don’t call the “freaks” monsters they are just trying to live in peace

[@weemotheveemo8070]

J Kiddo dude, it’s a quote from the video...

[@lavender6313]

OMG. I THOUGHT THE EXACT SAME THING

[@thnunes2908]

Am I the only one who noticed that the "leader thinking brain" in the "council" is the exceptional girl from "No Monsters"? Like, she has the same two moles.

[@chrono-glitchwaterlily8776]

Like the mother?

[@veronicaariandy1673]

I guess so, the exceptional girl also ended up in that room, it's possible that she still kept her rationality and path a small way through the the others in the room to create the shadow, since she herself cannot run from the handymen.

[@irishash-2001]

Yeah, I was looking for her in the part in the tower

[@hsmacaraig]

I-

[@beholdnonsense5100]

If I recall, it showed her as a part of (what I assume is) the hive at the end of No Monsters

[@tractordaddy4223]

13:58 I just realized something. In the comic, the father is not dead but injured. But in Autodale, being crippled is considered "ugly". So this can mean two things. Either the father is considered ugly in the comic and he is later taken by the Handyman, or this can mean that citizens can be given off time from work if they are injured but able to recover.

[@TrelliessRose]

I think "ugly" means _unfit for further duty;_ an injury shouldn't turn you ugly unless it permanently disables you from working or, in this unfortunate instance, kills you.

[@anormalhuman266]

@@TrelliessRose Yeah. They probably have advanced medical technology if they're able to keep a damn goddess alive, so there might be a way to help accelerate the healing process.

[@shalev.]

@@TrelliessRose I don't think so because in the first video we can see that people in the pit also have the labels "gay", "sick", "divorced", "sterile", which doesn't affect their ability to work in the long run, or at all. I think "ugly" people are just people who don't fit neatly into the mold that autodale thinks is "normal" i.e men need to be masculine, have a job, have a wife and have a kid, women need to be feminine, cook, clean, have a husband and have a kid and anyone in-between doesn't have a place in this society.

[@apifructusest2401]

@@shalev. I agree, plus, that's pretty much the basic stereotype for dystopian societies. "fit in."

[@apifructusest2401]

Let me correct myself, that IS the base for a dystopian society.

[@sutomuarashi]

we need the freaks as marketable plushies.

[@AAA-cg5vw]

There’s something disconcerting about how the “Friendly Shadow” doesn’t have a friendly appearance, not even an approachable one. Also the fact that he doesn’t have a smile on his robotic, “puppet” face.

[@heyitsboredom4263]

Ashia he was human, my best guess is that hive “rewired” him and turned him part robot so that he would be under their control. That’s why he seems so cold, because the hive is forcing him to do things for them!

[@calmdown5559]

@@heyitsboredom4263 But you can see bits of his humanity clawing their way back. He let the Freak and the girl go.

[@owlxle4794]

I wanna say that Dead Sound explained that Friendly Shadow is part machine, part human and he actively suppresses the machine part of his being Meanwhile, the fully-human citizens of Autodale suppress their humanity.

[@lordtoademort8124]

Hes called a shady protector for a reason I guess. Emphasis on shady

[@demono6708]

my guess is that the handymen were too robotic and not able to adapt to new scenarios like a human can. so they found an alternative. friendly shadow is the only one to not act like a "uniformed officer" and act more like a detective.

[@lillywerk4642]

"A rather warped perception of reality, don't you think?" yeah there seems to be a lot of those around.

[@platinumgames1314]

7-7

[@soysource3218]

I'm thinking that girl who escaped with the young "freak" are going to bring down The Hive. Edit 16th June 2021: When “Immortal Machine” released I the “mayor” running Autodale is just an engineer trying to keep humanity alive. Just realised how much elbow grease David Armsby puts into his film making, I really respect that.

[@entybunty_12o42]

The girl: We must rise against autodale!!

[@Ionel714]

I hope so

[@eigilherskind3112]

Im just thinking of a girl and behemoth guardian type relationship between them

[@someguy6627]

I’m guessing cases like this is why other towns ended up dead and abandoned

[@mayonnaise2396]

They won’t. If they do, they will be assimilated, and die, respectively.