Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

WIP video I've been working the kinks out of. Sorry not all the scenes are consistently detailed. It's getting there when I've got downtime, but works picked up so this projects updated when I've got time. SOON it'll be done! Get it? :D

[@phyricquinn2457]

This is the most optimistic interpretation of this song that I have ever seen! I used to always get kinda bummed when i heard this song, but now I have to crack a smile.

[@Axodus]

@phyric quinn This is the interpretation I think of whenever I hear the song, it's one of my more favorite songs because of that.

[@phyricquinn2457]

@Boston Turner WARNING THIS IS A MALWARE SCAM!!!!!!!!!!--------- THIS IS A PHISHING SCAM AND THE SAME PERSON! Don't use a comment of mine to try to infect foolish peoples computer with malware.

[@phyricquinn2457]

@Braylon Ray THIS IS A PHISHING SCAM!!!!!!!!! DON'T USE MY COMMENT FOR YOUR ATTACK YOU STUPID BOT!!!!!!

[@lunch96box]

Beautiful

[@gregneeley9183]

You obviously were never the nerdy kid in school. With an unrequited love interest. I always loved this song.

[@flinko99]

I like the portrayal that her running away is just for fun!

[@samueljeremica4432]

Yes

[@beatle4-117]

Still watching this in 2019, this is one of the first animations I ever watched on KZbin, and I have always remembered this song because of it ♡♡

[@Xeamesh]

Same! I've waited since 2012 for a finished version but this is still an amazing representation!!

[@levirhoden]

Glad to see I’m not the only one nostalgic for this video!

[@aplimsollpunk2738]

2022 here. I found it right after discovering portal in 2011. 9 year old me loved it then as much as 20 year old me does now.

[@MrLegendofLP]

I... I never thought that this song could somehow be improved. I thought the dark, over the top humor was perfect, but this... like, how? How is this so cute? The original intent of the song is 100% about this kid being obsessed to the point of fantasizing about sending a robot army to take over earth while he becomes more machine than man just so he can force his crush to marry him. The protagonist is 100% the villain in the original song, but this interpretation somehow works just as well???? The only part that’s slightly clunky is the end of the last verse, but even then making her act all coy and teasing instead if being actually suspicious and angry and making the protagonist a genuinely good person who didn’t follow the laws of robotics and became a cyborg out of necessity... I don’t know, somehow it all works. And none of it is creepy or forced. I wish there was a final product for this, I’d love to see it.

[@billvolk4236]

I dunno, he's still a creep even in the first verse, as early as "turns out she's smarter than I thought she was."

[@TheGreatAtario]

How can you be a villain when all you're doing is fantasizing

[@Prodmullefc]

Dude, it's just about boyhood fantasies. It's not "creepy", every boy did it and few of them actually became crazy cyborg guys.

[@DrAmazing]

@@Prodmullefc He's fantasizing about building an army to start a war and take over the world so he can kidnap a girl and force her to marry him. He basically listened to skullcrusher mountain and thought "yeah that would be pretty good."

[@shookings]

7 years on, and I stumbled on your interpretation of "Future Soon". Such a lovely story from you, and you did it with just a few changes that aren't out of place. I hope good things happen for you

[@abrahamstudios]

I like how this animation makes Laura sympathetic and nice, all other interpretations I've seen make her mean.

[@TheTetrapod]

Yeah, and it actually makes sense, when you consider the end of the song. EDIT: I actually finished the video. Might have went a little far the other way. This isn't a happy song.

[@GuyFieriayylmao]

TheTetrapod Can u gibe de video pls b0ss?

[@greatgamegal7223]

She's supposed to be mean I think, everything beyond the beginning of the song is just a fantasy of his really so any action she takes towards the end of the song is also part of his fantasy. How I understand it is that he left a note on her desk that said "I love you -Anonymous Friend" and she figured out it was him and told the whole class, after that it's to couples skate where she shoots him a look of pity as she skates by with some other guy then then he's fantasizing about the future so he doesn't have to be sad about the present.

[@vurrunna]

That may be how the original song is, but the video reinterprets it--there's the girls current boyfriend who tells everyone, and at the end she leaves him a note saying she likes him too. Makes a really cute story.

[@YoungSavage]

Well this video also makes the nerd seem like a good guy when he has the robot warriors cuz in the song he makes them to take over the world, but in the animatic when they go out of control he tries to destroy them. and not to mention the "she'll scream and try to run" goes from him abducting her to like a playful sort of flirty thing

[@ArcanusEst]

Whoa... holy shit... I was... I was not expecting you to turn this into a beautiful love story. This was a completely different take on the song and really moved me. I actually got a tear. Was really not expecting that. Well done!

[@ArcanusEst]

It's been a few days since I discovered this and I keep coming back to watch it again because it's so good! I hope you come back to finish it one day, but until then it still stands as an amazing video. I still can't believe how you did a 180 on the interpretation of the song and transformed it from a kind of pessimistic (but amusing) song into a positive and heartwarming story. That is true creative talent on your part.

[@DelightfullyRaging]

i love the difference in the way I interpreted the ending and how you did. Yours makes it more of a secret love and a romantic win. Mine makes it a stalkerish chasing with no hope of freedom for the target.

[@bubblegum1366]

Which is also a romantic win. Kinda.

[@ezrablock3218]

+Delightfully Raging I don't think any part of the song is about stalking. After the first chorus, the whole thing is inside the protagonist's head.

[@rudeboyzippo]

The song is def more cynical than this animatic, but that's why I adore it so much. It adds this extra layer of heart, that Coulton didn't put in there.

[@meghan______669]

Yikes yeah I’m conflicted by this guys music. The melodies are bangin but he is very much a nice guy™️. Animation is nice though

[@AleksanderHryniewiecki]

Yikes, were you the one that made the other animation for this song? The one where they take wedding and Laura carrier small robot with blinking light that he made? I was searching for it recently but couldn't find it, did you take it down?

[@GunnarClovis]

I felt compelled to share this with my primary Discord, this is what I wrote: "Okay, this is super silly and personal, but I just discovered this adorable 7yo animatic music video of the song The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton. Coulton has been my favorite musician for the majority of my life (one of the best live performers to ever live), and The Future Soon has always been one of my favorite songs. I've always had the standard interpretation of it as a dark, tragic, yet silly song from the perspective of a young nerdy boy fantasizing about the future after his elementary school-crush rejected him. I actually used to perform this song live as a singer, emoting with this typical interpretation for comedic effect. However, this woman has completely reinterpreted the song as a rather sweet, optimistic love song. You can see from the comments of the video that everyone else was equally surprised by this interpretation of it, yet it makes complete sense. It's really silly, but this rather moves me. I have such a personal attachment to Jonathan Coulton's work and this song in-particular due to my history performing it and listening to it over and over and over and over for 15 years. I'm shocked I'm just discovering this now. It's a cute, silly little video that means a lot more to me than it will to you, but I still felt compelled to share it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHXdfoxrfM6GqKs"

[@dasawah]

Wow man! You made me tear up. Thank you for writing this, I'm really happy it reshaped an old favorite song of yours! I felt the same way hearing the song, the last verse didn't sit right with the story at first for me. Someone who made so many humanitarian efforts wouldn't turn someone into a slave bride. And maybe the girl he had a crush on was a bit smarter than anyone else realized besides him. It felt more like a series of misunderstandings and bad timing. Idk, it can be interpreted so many ways but I am so flattered that this animatic portrays the version I felt was right - and it brought you joy enough to share with others! Thank you! You and so many others making comments on my stuff really is encouraging. I just wish I had unlimited time and money to keep doing this sort of thing. I've been in a huge rut lately and this was so nice to read.

[@GunnarClovis]

@@dasawah I'm really glad to hear that. Yeah, I completely understand all those emotions and being in a rut. I always really appreciate it when people comment on my work telling me how it moved them if it did, so I try to do the same. And while I didn't explicitly say it in the Discord post so as to not completely embarrass myself, this video did make me tear up a little bit too, so please don't feel alone in that. I had to go rant about it to my partner. I hope you can continue your creative efforts in the future. I've subscribed so hopefully I'll see when you make anything else going forward ❤️

[@KaaCroy]

@@dasawah I gotta agree with this fella. This song is amazin'! Can't wait to see that fully animated piece... Or at least, whatever you have! You're an amazing artist, I loved what you did here!

[@UncannyLuck]

@@dasawah I really enjoy the spin your animation puts on the song - it's lovely even though it's unfinished!

[@GunnarClovis]

Oh my god! This is SO GOOD! I've performed this song for many years, and I've always had the standard interpretation of it as a very tragic song, but this is so sweet and so adorable. My heart~

[@callumwest5653]

I think this is a more romantic telling of the original story :P

[@HugBot5000]

how dare you turn one of my favorite angtsy songs into something so adorable (even if you never finish this it's still a lovely piece of animation)

[@colcoction6072]

Wow, I love this. I never interpreted the song quite the way you did, especially towards the end. I love the song even more now that I've been enlightened to this other layer of depth it might have. That's what I love about JoCo's songs: discovering their depth. Regarding the video, your visual style is really nice, and your creativity with interpreting the lyrics into events and characters is really great. A+.

[@James-gs5sw]

The movements were jarring, but I couldn't stop watching. The characters models and plot were beyond perfect. NEVER STOP!

[@littlesnowflakepunk855]

Oh dear. Right in the feels. Finish this, please. Dear God, finish this.

[@zanlich784]

This is probably my favorite to second favorite version of the song. In most Laura is portrayed as a mean girl. Here she was just in a bad series of events. And in most the robot wars are his cause but usually goes outta control. Here it was a straight rebellion he had no intention to use against the others. Absolutly amazing.

[@amohotepv]

Still holding on to hope that this is finished

[@namesareoverrated4626]

This is amazing! I'll never hear this song the same way again. Great work in this. The end was so adorable :)

[@Taldoz]

Gosh dangit why did this not appear in my search for this song until *now*? Damn you, KZbin, I needed this AT LEAST TEN YEARS AGO

[@zaxmann8446]

At least you're here now eh

[@outtagoodnamesdangit]

Adorable... but it does kinda change the dark humor of the song. Still, a great envisioning of the song anyway. Very creative. :)

[@michaeloffner8515]

I love this! The ending of the song always bummed me out because it showed the protagonist was a selfish person who cared more about getting his way than his crush loving him. I like this interpretation a looooot more.

[@SauceyRedHN]

Man I just discovered this guy through a comment on a reaction to Stay Alive from Portal, already listened to Re: Your Brains and then got here, also this animatic was done 10 YEARS AGO!? And it’s COLORED!? That’s epic

[@jeremyaster7470]

that door opening in the very beginning was smooth as frick

[@eggsamillion]

An interesting take on the song. I definitely prefer how dark the song actually is, but than again someone's viewpoint could be objective. Good job.

[@Radien]

This little animation (animatic? Key frame demo?) was just so adorable. Rather than going from some rejected adolescent's fantasy into a slightly dark projection, it's like Laura (who is, as mentioned, “smarter than I thought she was”) found out about his nerdy fantasies, and simply joined in on them. Perhaps she said to him “don't worry, I'm a little weird too. And I may be smarter than you thought I was, but you're cuter than you think you are.” Boys have such a tendency to put girls on a pedestal because they think they're pretty, not understanding that being nerdy and weird is an equal opportunity business. So many nerdy boys go all the way through public school not realizing that some pretty girl on the other side of the room finds their quirkiness cute as hell, and just hasn't had the courage to tell him. Anyway, I'd love to see this become a full animation, but I recognize it's an absolutely enormous amount of work, even with the simple stylized coloring and wonderful sketchy look you used. I've made 20-frame 112x112 animated emotes for Twitch, and even that takes foreeeverrrrr...

[@ossomysteriossobutyoucanca9472]

I really hope it’ll be the Future Soon, so that we can see what the fully realized version of this masterpiece will be

[@ossomysteriossobutyoucanca9472]

Oh feck, I just saw this channel was made 2 months after the original launch of KZbin. One of the earliest, one of the first waves people, and still here.

[@doggonemess1]

This song is high school for me, and hurts a little to listen to. Except the skating part. Nobody does roller-skating around here anymore. Maybe it's a Midwest thing. I love the ending of this animation, though. Makes it better.

[@AlphalanceVO]

Much cuter and less creepy telling of the story. Well done

[@TheOneTrueOfficialLordGod]

I was waiting for the threatening robot transformation but this was really cute. I'm glad he got a happy end in this version of the story.

[@hewhocommunes]

I come back to this vid every couple of years, makes me smile every time.

[@ShallowTeal]

Same here

[@restionSerpentine]

I love the way this animation makes this song so wholesome, in the end, she doesn't mind the Bionic eyes cause she can still see him.

[@Wezla]

This is adorable, I love it!

[@emlmm88]

Head canon: This guy grows into the Skullcrusher mountain master.

[@vsgfilmgroup]

Ha! You WISH. This turns into Shop-Vac.

[@Zibani]

I still regularly check this video in the hope that it's been completed.

[@deathstormer]

I wish youtube showed me stuff like this more often. This video cheers me up before shifts.

[@theemmjay5130]

I'd forgotten about this very sweet interpretation of the song! I watched it years ago, and it's just as touching. Most would interpret "She knows I wrote it, now the whole class does too" as meaning Laura poked fun at fun at him for admitting his feelings, but I love your interpretation of that and her being with someone else at Couple's Skate as being the result of some buttinski, and that it turned out that she returned his feelings.

[@NaoiseTsang]

I watched this amv almost a decade ago and it still makes me smile. I never noticed the song's message since this video was so sweet - Guess it's the future now!

[@orsonzedd]

this was rather heart warming, I always thought of it as a song extolling internal gratification rather than getting your happiness from outside but still!

[@gnaskar]

In fairness, it's not like we know whether the last scene is real or just another fantasy starting up.

[@orsonzedd]

I doubt it. Mostly because it doesn't improve the meaning or purpose of the animated story

[@derfman]

this is actually one of the more positive video interpretations of Coulton's song

[@thatoneguy1574]

OH MY GOD THAT WAS ADOREABLE

[@IdoBido]

agreed

[@Mar_Marine]

Funny thing is that I can't see this without thinking of ArcadeFox's version (which is now an unavailable version) and I can't think of his without thinking of this, because they're sort of opposite, yet the same. Both were done excellently.

[@jeremyaster7470]

There's no reupload of that one? did I miss my chance to see it?

[@mytransfriendbobbie7308]

Loved it. Much better interpretation/ending than I had in my head. Your facial expressions are amazing.

[@Nikkkkkkkkkkk]

The ending was extremely adorable!

[@TexMitchell]

Really sweet twist at the end on an already really funny song. Joco is a fave. Now you are too!

[@TheCocoYouKnow]

I really wanna see this fully animated! Thank you for posting this anamatic! It's awesome!

[@ExhaustedElox]

I absolutely love this take on JoCo's song. Very well done. Also, after checking the comments, congrats on the baby! :)

[@HamCubes]

I can't believe I haven't seen this until now! It's MAGNIFICENT

[@Axodus]

If you ever do finish this (you don't need to, this is enough) I'll rewatch that version as many times as I've watched this one, your animation style is really good and I've always favored your interpretation over the others, it's the reason I like it so much and it makes the most sense to me!

[@cherryanimates7384]

For the past 8 years, I keep checking this video and the channel, hoping for an updated version haha! Its still one of my favorites!

[@HiterLit]

I just found this completely by accident because I wanted to look up the WoW machinima version (which you've no doubt seen). Really good job. I'd love it if you found the time to finish this someday or other; it has a lot of potential and the genuine romantic spin on a dark, comical song is truly outstanding.

[@adambailey7932]

I never would have imagined this kind of interpretation, I love it!

[@MakakunaruLoco]

Wow! Really liked it. Somehow you managed to make a happy ending with the song.

[@puertorrriquena]

I love this animation and how it slightly changed the story I imagined with just the lyrics themselves!

[@andrewmat]

Wow, just wow. Great story. This should be fully animated.

[@sjadow97]

I love it, it changes it to a much less serious more playful song and it fits perfectly

[@polomarco8773]

Wow this is a fresh way to hear the song

[@reddir]

Been some time since I watched this - still gets me teary about halfway through and actually crying a bit at the end.

[@loneronin6813]

This song is great! It's a wonderful thing to be able to envision what you want your life to be and what you want to do with it. However, if there's anything in life I've learned so far it's that the future is never something promised. That's why it's important to do all you can to work towards the goals you set for yourself in order to get there.

[@disky00]

Aw, I love this. Definitely took a more positive turn than my interpretation of the lyrics and the character design is really great. I'd love to see more than an animatic though!

[@alexanderkratzig7865]

Wow, that songs interpretation was a lot darker in my mind. But I kinda dig this version

[@heybro8845]

I love this song specifically with this interpretation

[@DrAmazing]

This is so much sweeter than the way I always took the ending verse.

[@blimblam7]

this is adorable i love this song so much

[@Hero_DZN]

yaaa im 9 years late- but this is genuinely amazing and a such a nice and sweet interpretation of the original song :")) youre really talented :DD

[@TheDoomgrasp]

So beautiful. It changed my view of the song. For the better.

[@xxProjectJxx]

I've never seen this song be interpreted so positively, and I think that's kinda cool This is a really unique take on the song, and even if the animatic is a little janky at points, I still really enjoyed it.

[@artreyes2267]

Spent all past week trying to find this only to find it in my Playlist lol

[@Xeamesh]

Awwww, I love this. It's really sweet and well made. Also, you chose an awesome singer/songwriter to do a video for.

[@elementalgames1865]

OMG! I have seen this is Spiffworld's light of being so dark and this...This is just adorable! BRAVO! Simply bravo.

[@Filouspara456]

You managed to turn the song scenario into a much more brighter and cheery one. Respect, man.

[@DTE420]

I truly hope you return to us one day, and keep making animations. Truly great work. Come back soon.

[@davidpanikian8829]

this deserves so many more views. This music video is like deep memory access, I love it.

[@andrewbartmess4705]

All right… I’m crying now.

[@galennikus3762]

Though it may be in anamatic form, this is by far the best video I have seen for this song. I just realized that this is almost four years old. I am very late to the party. Still you put a huge smile on my face. Thanks for sharing this.

[@1goofydude]

this is very cute and I'm glad I watched it to the end, your interpretation of the lyrics made me tingle all over, very nice.

[@RandomLettersAndANumber]

I had a completely different interpretation of the lyrics, but I like the animation and concept. Hope to see a finished product in the future.

[@loreleishannon]

This is completely adorable!

[@doublepinger]

waiting on that future

[@SkullBuddiesStudio]

I've been listening to this song for YEARS and honestly really needed this wholesome interpretation of it. Cried a little. Need an extra boost finishing this? if so I'd throw my hat in for collaboration?

[@reddir]

This ending still brings a tear to my eye.

[@javaPhysician]

I really like how your video takes an alternative interpretation of the song! Less humorous and more heart-meltingly sweet.

[@ivanmicheli539]

Quite an interesting, romantic and adorable take of the song, very different from Spiffworld's video (incidentally, around 10 years ago his vdeo of The Future Soon made me discover Jonathan coulton) Still, it's really adorable and cute, and it's heartwarming to see a much less "Angry, vengeful and soul-shattering" version of one of my favorite JoCo songs.

[@GRx3]

2023!! Still Awesome.

[@TanteiRotana]

This was a pleasant surprise to run into while looking up JoCo songs, kinda shocked I haven't seen it till now. Lovely animation :)

[@killknife1]

i love the story u made to this song

[@ossomysteriossobutyoucanca9472]

I really do hope that this animation can get finished. I love it, it's super adorable and amazing!

[@jptan6947]

Please finish this animation when you have time, it's really beautiful. I also actually interpret the song this way. I'm still waiting for my "Laura" to call me home...

[@vsgfilmgroup]

Ain't gonna happen. Time to turn your attention outward. Go forth from the Core, crush the xenos, burn the heretic!

[@StalePasta]

I really like the different take on the ending. Can't wait to see this finished.

[@annetteainsley651]

Oh my goodness. I wish I would have seen this a long time ago! You did a wonderful job on turning the feel of the song into something much more positive and adorable~!

[@jimmychu0807]

This video is indeed nice. It gives a kind interpretation to the lyrics, and Laura.

[@tekphnx]

Gosh this is such an adorable interpretation! Subscribed, and hoping you finish it.

[@lillasagna5487]

I actually discovered this video like six years ago and forgot to leave a comment then so I'll leave one now: Cool and good video

[@davidtison3737]

Brilliantly done. It's a shame you never had the chance to finish this, but it still stands well as is. I'd love to see what you would do with JoCO's "I Crush Everything"./

[@doverndptc2839]

Certainly not what I expected, but a welcome change of pace! This whole thing is adorable. :D

[@SilverLeguim]

This different interpretation of the lyrics is awesome. It literally sent shivers down my spine. And the style is quite nice ^^

[@whaleinever8513]

I really like your style. So good with facial expressions and the acting! GREAT JOB!

[@glanni]

This video is so cute.

[@sifuculreif6448]

So much better an ending than the one I always pictured!!

[@ossomysteriossobutyoucanca9472]

Happy new decade, Dasawah!

[@PerEdman]

You HAVE to finish this!