How I Started Late and Still Became an Animator

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Why Animating on Lackadaisy Was Different
• Why Animating on Lacka...
My first Animated film, "Memories For Sale"
• MEMORIES FOR SALE | Aw...
In this video I’ll show you what led to me working as a 2D animator on Bleach, Boruto, Lackadaisy, Disney Descendants, Gawr Gura’s first music video, and how I conquered the obstacles of learning animation on my own.
This is the story of how Toy Story’s “We didn’t aim for the truck” changed my life and pushed me to try and make a Gobelins short film on my own.
I hope you too Don’t Aim for the Truck!
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Remember: "Every line you draw, you are one line closer to your dream!"
Thanks for watching!

[@ManuMercurial]

Why Animating on Lackadaisy Was Different kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGa9dXqEh6mNhJY If you enjoyed the video, consider checking out my Patreon and its perks: www.patreon.com/ManuMercurial Thanks for being here!

[@oamioxmocliox8082]

;)

[@MattPin]

Truely another great video, thank you for putting all this effort into making high quality content, I hope you reach 100K soon!

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

I'm honestly pretty demotivated. While on one hand being derivative is this big black mark on your work, actually good works like Star Wars THRIVE on their derivation, and that's essentailly what reference is. But you know HOW Star Wars gets popular? By mass audiences hating or ignoring all the source material it's derived from, dismiss the giants on whose shoulders George Lucas stood, and act like he's some decorated genius for coming up with such creative worlds "all by himself". Now fans want the derivation to come, not from a body of great works like Buck Rogers and Buster Keaton, but all this Legends content, which actually IS just paid-by-hour grunt work, paperback novel writing, that isn't rooted in ANY sort of artistic reference but simply stuff the writers came up with on the toilet. Rule of cool, and for fans by fans, who will outright get offended if you infer anything GEORGE LUCAS seems to have been trying to SAY through the work. Listening to the auteur gets you CALLED making up stuff that was never "official" (but what IS official, is money moving those paperbck novels, in publishing cartels adn their magazine stands). What does this tell me if I want to make MY art and have my word HEARD? It will only get popualr, if it gets backing by this huge industry of ECONOMICALLY legitimized fan-fiction, that DOESN'T know anything about 100 year old films or 1000 year old poems, and does't WANT to. They want to knee-cap the giants. THEY want movies that HATE the book, for being "only" a book, and "deserves" to be a 1:1 soulless recreation in film form, prioritizing the film MEDIUM. Or, you get the opposite end with Alan Moore and Frank Miller, who think the story s too sacred to adapt. The only way to make art, in THIS society, is to rob the graves of your predecessors and rely on the credit never being known: but dance like a maniac around all your contemporaries, who are screeching about their "creator's rights" about this or that Twitter art, "my own original chracter, do not steal". The hypocricy, is not something I WANT to get recognition from. I want to carry on the ideas that inspire me, but all it does is generate IP so that mass audiences can only watch stuff FOR the IP adn ignore the soul. For example, Spideverse ONLY is given the opportunity, because they made this fantasti Four or octro Strange kind of story, into a vacuous Spider-Man vehicle for the brand recognition and transforming exploited animator labor into profits. And the "fans" HAE you for not agreeing it's one-sidedly falwless, a thing you are ONLY allowed to have positive opinions on. Fans like that would be my death, as an artist.

[@aaronhoward646]

Looked up Twitch. You last streamed 5 years ago? Any plans on picking that up again?

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

woah!!

[@SATURNATIC]

I mean it when I say, this video is the best thing you can send to a fellow artist struggling to move on. Thank you for your work and for showing many that everyone can reach the top of the mountain.

[@ManuMercurial]

Thank you for the huge compliment! 🙇 I'm so very glad my emotions came across! As you can tell I'm extremely passionate about this craft we do, and was worried it could come out as self-centered, when what I wanted to make was a video that we can go back to when we're feeling down or demotivated. So your comment makes me so happy! Thanks for being here!!

[@Darth_Bateman]

Anime saved SO many lives, because remember the last time someone got kicked out of art school???

[@YumegakaMurakumo]

​@@Darth_BatemanYour try-hard edgy unfunny comment is not appreciated here.

[@peakdartpl7580]

@@YumegakaMurakumo 👏🏅I agree

[@topcatninjahousepetsdigian9336]

​@@ManuMercurialI'm Sorry If This Sounds Rude But If You Failed Art Then How Can You WORK Om The Anime In The Thumbnail🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨?”

[@C0rnFlakess1]

“And the answer was suddenly very clear, every day of my life when I laid in bed, when I listened to music, when I took a bus, I was thinking of characters and stories that will never see the light of day unless I make them myself.” This was enough to keep me motivated about starting my own journey and making more progress as a small artist who just started making 3D animations

[@rachelmckelvey5938]

You have no idea how badly i needed to see this. I'm 20 years old now, nearly failed my last semester at college, and feel the same sort of intimidation when I go online and see people who are even younger than me already at a professional level. I struggle to do something even every day, but recently I've been trying to push myself, even if it's just a little bit of drawing/practice every day. I feel really alone in my journey, but after watching this, I feel much less alone. Thank you so much for making this video.

[@soku330]

Same here I’m 22 but I feel like you’re one of those people too who’s at a professional level

[@quit3118]

I’m 16 and I have a dream to start a series, have it well known, and work on a fan fiction of comic/animated series of my fanfiction that is about my favorite franchise, Sonic I had a spark of motivation after I Binged watched Sonic Prime and I will try everything to reach my dream I had faced bad art block and creative block

[@vickypedia1308]

What I find comforting is that even those who draw at a "professional" level often struggle with the same things beginners do. As someone who gets told that my art looks professional at times, I know that more than half of my work doesn't meet the same level as the art that I get those compliments for. And yet, the value of those "better" artworks doesn't diminish because I don't always draw that good. You might even say that makes them more special. I think I'm an intermediate on the artist growth scale. A lot of the people whose art looks professional are actually just intermediates like me, and we still struggle with anatomy, perspectives, composition, and all that hard stuff. There's a lot of things that I'm afraid to attempt drawing because I know it will look worse than my other work, due to my lack of experience in depicting that specific object. But it's only in taking that plunge and accepting that it will look bad, that I gain the experience needed to perfect it. When you're at that stage where you start to take art more seriously, it often stops being fun, because you're so caught up in getting better and catching up with those professionals. It's incredibly important to take a step back and examine what made you want to draw in the first place, and what you find most fun about the process. And when I do this for myself, I always remember how much I like experimenting, trying out new things instead of making myself conform to one specific style or theme. So not only was my fear of making bad art keeping me from improving, it also took the fun out of drawing. So when art starts to become stressful, exhausting and embarrassing to you, take a step back and ask yourself, "Why?"

[@annoyingwitch6769]

Simmilar here, i'm 20, went to study Logistics cause it's "useful". I passed my egzams and realised how misrable i am. Then decided to sign for art school. I had to made portfolio from a scratch in 3 months. Non of them wanted me. I have last interview next tuseday i Hope they would consider.

[@jojoiguess]

Keep pushing forward, you can make it bro 🔥

[@leonardmcspazerton8912]

I always wanted to get into art but every time I thought about starting I kept remembering all the inconstancies and failures I had made with my art in the past and decided to put it off. This video has been my equivalent to "we're not aiming for the truck." Thank you.

[@soku330]

Toy Story?

[@leonardmcspazerton8912]

@@soku330 yeah. I'm just saying that this was inspiring to me

[@ManuMercurial]

So very happy to hear this! Wish you the best of luck in your journey! 💪

[@redpanda6497]

Same. I was the "little artist kid" growing up and I didn't care about being professional, I found new techniques and that's how I became better with time, but after taking it seriously and comparing myself to people who have much more knowledge than me I kept sabotaging myself and eventually gave up. But after finding this video I'm thinking about grabbing the pen again. I don't know... I'm basically having a battle with myself right now. Well, good luck, I hope you can make it.

[@AviBenhaim]

@@redpanda6497 don't compare yourself to others! the way you improve is unique to only you and if you must compare, then see what you can learn instead of how far behind you believe yourself to be lacking.

[@ThrowableOwl]

I`m genuinely crying right now. I`m not even an animator, I`m a pedagogy student. I`m horrible at my tasks, my lessons for kids are terrible and everything falls out of my hands. I watch my groupmates doing this so easily and feel so worthless. But I have a goal, and I see where I`m now. I just need to understand what to do, so I can achieve it. Thank you.

[@HumperJumper69]

I too am a medical student

[@pakretto]

No matter what profession, seems that we're all facing our weighty weakness haha. Wish the best for you. You'll be a great pedagogy student on your own, keep it up!

[@firemani]

knowing where you are now, and where you want to be is just the beginning, finding truth is essential to grow in any part of life. Sadhguru's words: There is no such thing as failure for a committed human being, if you fail 100 times stand up and take 101th step. Success is like cooking - Starting fire of efforts to adding your leanings by understand truth and practice, and the time it takes to achieve something can be totally different for each person. but everyone is capable of doing something great. God did't say everyone must do this and that, if you pay attention to the creation, even ants can teach great things if you are sensible enough to learn from them.

[@Luluskuy]

same man, I am an Math teacher but.. It's just so hard.. the most hard part is how to motivate students to learn.. and I suck at that..

[@bingeable3]

​​@@Luluskuyif you become blissful and joyful you would find ways or you don't do what you don't like to do. Most people are doing what they don't want to do that is really hard. To earn money you can find ways. Basic math is enough for the majority of people.

[@xueicchi]

I can't believe I'm sobbing in the middle of the day right now. I only draw as a hobby for the longest time, like really really long, and looking back I don't feel like I made any progress at all. This was like a reality check and it hit me like bricks. When you said "Whatever amount you put into it, you're going to get that amount of progress in return", I felt so guilty about how lazy I am about something I really love. But at the same time, it's very inspirational and it moved me to tears. Thank you sir for sharing this video. I will put more effort into my art!

[@drifty2921]

What really helped me to see if I improved or not is checking your oldest to latest art

[@Wise_Llama]

I appreciate this video a lot, and I agree with everything you say on an intellectual level. But on an emotional level, I just can't compute. I'm a 23 yo animation graduate and I feel like giving up. I drew so much lately that my arms constantly hurt now, and yet I feel like I've got nothing to show for it. I'm not creative or anything, I don't have a good story to tell. I just like animation. But I'm losing motivation. Man, it's hard not to feel like a failure, yknow.

[@dziankolack9331]

You don’t know what you don’t know. Sometimes I spin my wheels practicing and getting nowhere. Idk if this is your issue, and I constantly struggle with motivation, but I can say this: I improved the most when I started taking classes at Concept Design Academy. They have online classes and all of the teachers are pros. A lot of schools aren’t great but this one is.

[@DuckinMyHat]

This advice might seem weird, but it sounds like non-artistic problems of yours might be affecting your artistic growth. Personally, when I feel the way you described, I can usually get out of it by improving my mental state. Going for a walk, meditating, sleeping, etc. I find that creativity is mostly subconscious, so no matter how much I focus myself and consciously practice, if my subconscious is a mess then I won't have anything worthwhile to express. I mean, you said it yourself. You get it intellectually but not emotionally. Maybe what I'm saying is obvious. Everybody has a story to tell. Your foggy brain is just getting in your way. So clear your head! I hope I'm being helpful here lol

[@YVZSTUDIOS]

I think that everyone has their own personal things they are good at and things they aren't. I for example felt very confused when I saw that allmost all my fellow artist friends already have 20 OCs and full on saga of a story in their head. I couldn't grasp to any of that and respected them for that. I tried to learn how to write stories with all the theory in the world but nothing really sticks in my brain. Like I can tell what is a cool story is and what is a Deus ex machina moment but that's ok. That means that I'm still in the process of finding my artistic voice - what I want to tell. On the other hand now I'm pretty ok at drawing, colors and digital tools. And if I think about it.. it seems like it's the opposite with a lot of artists I know 😅 and yeah that's what led me to choosing a UX design as my profession and teaching the art side of things I'm good at as my passion project.

[@Rays_K]

Watching anime, cartoons, any sort of animations are the ways I get my motivation back. Don't stop improving, it's a struggle.

[@moonflower8968]

Don't give up! Everyone learns differently, for some they can pick it up very easily and others it takes alot longer to understand things. Thats ok, we are all unqiue and special and have our own storys to tell, i feel you should enjoy the journey of exploring and creating your style, enjoy learning how to animate even if it very hard, if you love it you should enjoy it and feel happy your creating artt! Ive been through many ups and down and ive still got do much to learn but im enjoying it and trying to be patient and kind to myself ❤ Good luck i believe in you:)

[@koniru2008]

I don't know what to say I was losing hope in myself cuz of ai and the community that I'm in that doesn't care about artists But now I'm crying remembering why i wanted to be an animator at first....i want to be someone who gives others hope in themselves just like how you did to me Thank you for reminding me .

[@nicks4727]

3 years sounds like a long time but a very short time to become extremely skilled at a trade

[@pikaxuls]

I loved this video. I started drawing at 18, now 22. I've always had this feeling like I'm behind. I've started many projects, but stopped halfway because I thought I wasnt good enough. This video resonated a lot with me, thank you! I'm gonna keep on working! And also, congrats for your success, well deserved!

[@britt_ninja]

i'm not crying you are shut up In all seriousness, your passion and hard work is seriously inspiring. I literally have your Clip Studio Paint Animation tutorial in another tab right now; I've been watching it religiously in an attempt to force myself to learn to animate (a dream I've had for over a decade now and only just got the courage to actually attempt.) I too failed art school, and finally decided to try and chase my dreams again. It's almost a relief to see that almost every artist struggles at some point in their lives, and the only difference between a failed artist and those who make it are the ones who keep going. Seeing all your passion and hard work pay off in the end brings me absolute joy. Thank you for putting yourself out there, and allowing yourself to fail. Who needs a truck, anyway?? Keep doing amazing stuff, Manu!!! You deserve every win you've worked for!

[@nekorina9011]

This is really comforting, honestly. I'm about to be a senior at SCAD and I honestly feel like I haven't done enough at all. Videos like this make me realize that I just need to keep pushing and that my dreams will come true, too if I see to it.

[@elokin300]

As someone who’s applying to art schools for animation this year, what do you think of SCAD? I hear wildly different things about it all the time but it’d be nice to see the perspective of someone who’s currently attending

[@_Zushi_]

Currently I’m a very young artist who has a dream that’s probably way too big. I’m a sucker for one piece. That anime changed my life in ways you cant imagine. I want to create a life changing story like one piece. But right now I’m stuck. I don’t have any motivation to improve because no one seems to care. I’ve been looking at videos like this but this one really opened my eyes. This video gave me to hope to continue on my journey. Thank you so much for that!

[@ReiseLukas]

I'm in my late 20s and I've grown to love art and animation more and more every year. I have so many stories I've wanted to share with others but I've always procrastinated from putting them on paper. Recently I've thought about creating my own comic or manga and the more I think about it the more I know that's the medium I want to tell my story. Only problem Is I'm not good at drawing. I haven't drawn in years and It seems like too big a mountain. Your "We're Not Aiming for the Truck" analogy is really encouraging. I actually have been collecting references recently so I have some understanding of what I needed before, I just need to take that leap of faith at work on my drawing every day.

[@spaceocelot35]

This is gonna be one of those videos I regularly return to for motivation when I'm feeling down.

[@jiemileng7745]

As someone who's looking to write stories, this is God send. Thanks for sharing you story and hopefully one day, I can as well

[@bankai786]

Bro for bleach, mad respect❤...hopefully in a year I could create a single frame

[@Brokamatic]

Man, I literally needed this video. I have a really hard time staying motivated to keep working at my art. But while I was watching your video, I started crying. I’ve only cried from artists’ stories twice - once when I watched the director of Elemental discuss his journey and now, after watching you. I’m 28 now, and I just started drawing for the first time about a year ago. Your video and story motivated me to start climbing the mountain. Thank you.

[@TOTU]

"Everyone wants to be on the top of the mountian, but nobody wants to be seen climbing" Such a heartfelt scentence! I just woke up from bed, but I'm already feeling motivated from this quote.

[@ashtonphoenyx]

I cant even begin to explain how much this helped me. Thank you for sharing tour story 🙏🏽

[@-mixu-]

Just one sentence : Thank you

[@PurfectChef]

This gives me so much hope for people and this is so damn comforting I don’t know what else to say but thank you and to all other artists I say we aim past the truck too ❤

[@venttsur2021]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, i've become inspired I'm also 20 yrs old now and was drawing but lost interest 5 yrs ago due to depression, pressure and like your struggle "what are you gonna do now" the pressure of other people might judge you negatively on your art affected me so hard like a brick, that made a domino effect and made me depressed for years, scared and feels like im losing interest and inspiration Im scared of what im gonna do.... Im actually lost I want a hard restart, for a long time, and watching your vid makes me wanna go and draw again Again, Thank you ❤

[@Bopsterjazz]

This is so good! I’ve found myself chasing animation as a career very recently, but I’m struggling with my drawing skills. I have always doodled, but I never took my art seriously until 3 years ago when I entered an animation program at my local college. I’m 32 now, and I feel like throughout this animation degree I’ve been pursuing, I have picked up most of the top recommended books for learning how to draw and animate. I feel so behind, and it doesn’t help that I can look over at my classmates drawings and they are insanely good, every single one of them. But as I study, I tell myself that these are people that have been doing this for years. They have always focused on their art. I’m just learning to walk, and seeing Olympians racing around the track. It’s often motivating, but it can be disheartening on a bad day. I love seeing stories like yours because they show me that I’m not alone, and being behind at any stage, isn’t the end of the world.

[@princepeterwolf]

"What if I gave myself the chance to fail?" Dude that was so powerful

[@Imagiworld]

This made me cry.... This is my passion this is what I want to do with my life.... Animation is my dream

[@StarIings]

This video brings me tears, its very relateable and to some extent sombre. My art journey it feels so similiar, i too was scared and enrolled into 3d because i didn't believe i could do 2d, i and made a terrible animatic. But the biggest failure that day wasn't the animatic i still believe it was myself. After the grades were out my animation teacher took me to one side and said he gave me a pity pass in hopes i would go to 3d modelling and not waste time restarting the course. I told him i wanted to learn animation not 3d and he said this to me "I've worked in Sega for 10 years... and your work its bad... i can't teach you and if you want to learn animation, you will have to leave this school but take it from me. I've seen a lot of people over the years and some people can't do it, and that includes you..." I had a lot of respect for him, my teacher did a lot of work in the sonic franchise and i grew up on that. I trusted him and i left the school and went into finance. Its been a decade now i just celebrated my 11th work anniversary a few weeks ago. But its always been on the back of my mine. Could i have really done it? Was he wrong? And as i get older the more i believed i allowed my idolization of him to make me walk away from happiness and a meaningful career. There is no color and no life in finance, i have not smiled or cried or felt anything in years now. I am as emotionless as the price delivery algorithm, the kind of ideas and dreams i had seem.. incomprehensible, looking at archives i can't believe i could ever think or come up with such things i did in the past. In the past 2 years, i've been working on and off to see if that might change if i could somehow correct that terrible decision that day and for that your channel's videos have been a great help. Its a great window on what could be a happier career.

[@PeachyyCatt]

I believe that your unique experience could spark an amazing and emotional story - even though you lost time changing career paths, its not too late to start. I believe every life experience gives us a unique outlook on the world, like what manual was saying. Practice hard and use it to create something only you can!

[@nile1528]

“Walk away from…” “No color, no life” wow, thank you for sharing this, it may help me not doing a dumb mistake.

[@StylizedKitsune]

You have potential to turn your actual life journey into an emotionally fueled animated piece. I'm sure a lot of people would relate.

[@cheesydawg371]

It's crazy that I got this video recommended to me DAYS AFTER I had the same realization. Before the summer of this year I got overwhelmed by my art class. I actually really liked it but so much was going on and I was so intimidated and confused that I decided to stop and look for something else. I never even drew a full rendered piece with color before. So I went like 3 months just working and focusing on helping the movement for Palestine (I don't regret it in the slightest) but while I was doing other things I would still daydream at work about the silly stories in my head. Like maybe 4 nights ago it hit me: "wait a minute... I like this." I started drawing, getting excited like a kid again, and I told myself I'm not quitting again. I'm 21, not only ready for my journey but already on it. This was nothing but a brief setback. I mean, we all know about that low point at the end of act 2, right? These struggles will only make our stories cooler!

[@PityMauArt]

I genuinely have tears in my eyes after watching. I'm already 28, very close to 29, failed my first attemp with my graduation film in university had to go again the next year and even then it wasn't that good. I've been struggling a lot, even more after the pandemic, because getting into the industry in a third world country really feels impossible sometimes. But this year an animated videoclip we made with friends got nominated to its first animation festival and it brought back the hope I had for my future when I was 18. I know I'm considered pretty old for many, but this video truly helped me to gain the energy and focus to go back and practice and learn so I can comeback with new strenght! And as you said be able to tell the stories we all imagined we we were kids. Thank youuuu!

[@RoxyBane]

Same like... all of these puppies in the comments claiming they're so old and close to giving up when they just turned 20 🤯 I'm 27 close to 28 so yeah, I know how you feel. The video was encouraging, it's the comments that make me feel...old and like a pensioner. xD

[@PityMauArt]

@@RoxyBane It's so true I think a lot of it has to do with the perception of age on the internet now. People start their "careers" online really young and burn out super quickly because of it. And you have people claiming they're old when they're on their mid 20s. After going to meetings irl this past year I've gotten the comment that I'm still very young by a lot of people and professionals so it's good to have that reminder when you end up so chronically online lmao

[@juligeetee9813]

Ill be coming back to this in 5 years, really needing to hear this again.

[@llynhunter]

Thanks Manu. Great inspiration, and the way to set definite goals was a wonderful reminder of what I should be doing in my own work.

[@dachi_art]

It's so nice to see your growth overtime. Thank you for sharing it with us Great storytelling!

[@raqktranjan]

its a demonstration how great story telling a bit of great music can affect every cell of our body. it filled me with joy and satisfaction and motivation that won't last long as it is now, but the thing is via this i can keep myself go... just a step more...and one step is all that matters.

[@shusfootfungus8277]

i quit art school before i even started it. i have always wanted to be an illustrator or a storyboard artist, but i chickened out badly because i thought wasn’t good enough. now i’m going into an english major, but this video taught me something so wonderful, and something i feel was missing: i shouldn’t think about being a professional. i should just think about what stories i want to create myself. and from the bottom of my heart, i thank you for this. i hope one day, i could animate and reach my own goals.

[@slong5931]

You did not fail at art like you said. That would entail much more than what you described. You did not get insulted for your work growing up by family members and other people around you through school, you did not feel ashamed for what you enjoy and for your goals and you did not have art professors agree to meet with you and then leave, you made your dreams happen and that’s something that I will never do. I don’t mean to be rude or anything but seeing art-related videos fills me with dread and self-hatred knowing that I won’t ever make my dreams come true because nothing cuts so deeply than having your self expression completely struck down. I’m glad you had all your successes and I apologize for being like this. People like to say that they’ve hit rock bottom when they’ve never been there in the first place. I don’t like commenting on things but I’m just depressed enough to do it so who cares.

[@LordMountbutter]

I also can't really enjoy creating art since art school, cause my dad insuslted my skill constantly. After school i broke away frome it through animation and cartoons, since it wasn't directly classic art which my father criticized. For a year it was an absolute bliss, i even almost didn't care after my first relationships broke up, i had art ...Then in film school head master insulted my ability to even create stories. I gained a lot of weight, broke my pancreas, got apathetic and only do stuff for others. I'm gradually getting over those insults, but still am very critical to myself. Though no one can surprise me with rudeness now...

[@Purpie_Slurpie]

sounds like a you problem and not a manu problem 🤡

[@Ransa31]

with this type of perseverance and determination at hand, i'm glad they didn't think of becoming a dictator

[@spacenoodle8207]

I think this video is useful not only for artists, but for everyone who does or wants to do something creative. I sure hope this motivation is enough for me to go work on my videogame, at least... This is still so much better than a normal job.

[@okhadraws]

5:09 This drawing is so cool. I love it! 🥲

[@richardmachadodesa6373]

Part of that story it's happening to me right now! I've never thought about animating until a few weeks before I finish school, I have zero skills at drawing, I got in college, I was too shy at showing anything I did there and I have made a horrible graduating movie because I had to do almost 3 minutes of animation in a week. Somehow they accepted and I graduated it this week and now... I don't know what to do

[@lounak8561]

I'm twenty. I spent two months of my vacation not improving and studying animation, since, it is difficult and hurting. I thought about giving up just this morning when I saw this video just now. I'm a fan of bleach also. It moved me so much

[@Loreage]

Literally my story but I’m starting first year of art uni at 19. OMG YOU MADE MEMORIES FOR SALE!?!?! This video gave me some hope that i could reach this level. This means a lot to me, im actually kinda welled up RN. Thank you for making this video

[@otakughost1814]

I felt like Deku...and you were all might when he told Deku "you too can be a hero" I needed this...I needed this so fucking bad....im in 3D animation course on fullsail, im miserable, and considering on quitting but I have a passion to make a 2d animated series or short film and rn taking steps to make it happened....I needed this....i really....really needed this....

[@legionarmatay4399]

Just stumbled upon this video. The world is not ready for the ammount of motivation I found thanks to this

[@gamesse9437]

I can't stress enough how much I relate to your experience in college (though I didn't go to school for animation, it was a graphic design program) I did draw a bit growing up, but not nearly as much as my peers. So by the time I got to college, I felt inadequate when I saw all the cool things my classmates were churning out. Not even that but I also failed my classes and had to take them multiple times. My instructors even said my worst skill was drawing. Though one thing that instructor said to me kinda changed how I thought about it. He told me that I didn't have to be an illustrator to be a graphic designer. Sure, it's an additional skill that could give me leverage if I'm being considered for a job, but he explained how he's not a very good artist either. And how essentially, if I needed an illustration to use for a graphic, I could just commission an artist (i.e. pay someone that already has the skills) The entire time I thought it was a skill I thought I NEEDED to develop or I wouldn't be good enough as a graphic designer/artist. I thought that I needed to be able to make everything I do completely from scratch, all by myself. Of course, though I do wish I was able to draw better than I can now, I've accepted the fact that I'm not going to be a professional (and that's not something I want to aim for anyway). Seeing how artists are constantly drawing made me realize that... so I began pouring my time into things I'm already good at and trying to improve those skills instead.

[@rorzachi]

IM CRYING this video felt like a movie i was bored looking for a video to watch while im eating and NOW I WANT TO CRY SO BAD AJFNEKJFNKJAS

[@chJohnJobs]

I feel as someone with burnout, that this is a good video to watch in the morning

[@Nevermore941012]

I just turned 29, I feel like I’m letting my chance go, but this video filled me with motivation, I’m never giving up

[@Aidenillu]

This moved me to tears And Im not usually the emotional type of person Before this video. I was filled with doubt, uncertainty and fear. Because I am pessimistic. I would always have this thought :"what if I fail?, your family will be disappointed in you". I had chosen my path two years ago. I want to make stories see the light of day too. I knew how hard it will be. But I kept on pursuing this path. My only problem was fear of failure. And thankfully, this video helped me clear up all my doubts and made feel a lot better. So thank you...truly. I wont be scared of giving my all now because I know that it's okay to fail. And that when I fail nothing will happen

[@1stGarden]

Not sure if you remember me from Twitch, but last I remember someone (might've been BearTheMighty) who told me you were going on some kind of animation learning journey. I'm really glad to see you so many years later having made good on that journey. Keep up the great work and I'll be rooting for you!

[@kotoa_sou]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Like many, this moved me to tears. Truly inspiring Manu, thank you!!

[@imchasevi]

i watched your short film about a year ago, i really love it so much and now, while watching this video, i was shocked to see your film again suddenly. You are a great example of not giving up!

[@Margeeese2]

Your journey and ambition is so similar to mine..... thats crazy.... your an inspiration...

[@Shizkeb]

Bleach, Boruto, Lackadaisy AND Gawr Gura!?! Oh my god you really are starting from zero

[@lucasjuliusfrederiksen7882]

You Are truly lifting my spirit as an artist thank you so Munch

[@fugosfork7907]

you say from zero but that painting you did was insanely well made..

[@subboytris8946]

There are a lot of challenges in life that are required to be passed to achieve your own happiness and success, practicing and trying to do what you love moves you one step closer to your dreams, NEVER quit

[@WhenTheVoidCalls]

Bruh made me cry so much that I'm dehydrated now

[@DOCTOR.DEADHEAD]

I think my biggest hang-up right now is that I have a strong want to tell stories but there isn't one that's inspiring me to push forward. I'm good at making up characters and thinking of surface level ideas for their involvement in a story, and ideally want to make a comic using them to then make animated shorts from, but I'm struggling to figure out what story I want to tell with them at all, what I want people to get from it.

[@felix.1783]

This has to be one of the best motivating videos I have ever seen ❤❤

[@Space_Pencil]

Dude. This is a beautiful video. Before 2023, I wasn't all that confident in my art. When I was signing up for my 10th grade classes last year, I'll admit, I was nervous to do so. I thought that, because I was in 10th grade, and it took that long for me to sign up, I would embarrass myself with my skills. But, I did it. I got in the class, and I was consistently happy with how I did on my little pieces. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I honestly had fun making them, just thinking about random things to myself, slightly inspiring the next project I did! Next semester, I'm taking Art II. I'm still nervous, but I still have confidence in myself! I've posted some of the stuff I'm most proud of! Hell, I'm more than likely getting a drawing tablet for christmas, where I plan to draw more than I already do. I now want to say, this video inspired me just that little bit more to have sympathy for my least-proud works, as they still helped me grow. P.S. Also, "We're not aiming for the truck." is now my favorite quote.

[@Raskal_VT]

Thank you for making this video. Obviously I am a struggling vtuber in med school but I always lean to the arts. This lesson in a fun and enticing video really helps lessen the pain of creating as well as really bring back that lost motivation I’ve had when making and hating my art. I do yo really know what to say other than thanks for this insight into you

[@sinceremedley5414]

Now sir that was good you just answered all the questions i needed answered

[@ieuansmith518]

I... Really needed this, thanks man, I won't aim for the truck. I promise that.

[@monicatello1086]

Thank you for this video, I literally start my drawing journey at 21, in this year 2023, before I felt that maybe some people burn with this talent and I never will be so profesional like them, so thank you for sharig your history it helps me to feel that everybody have they own journey and that not a lot of people just draw like a profesional in a few months

[@harppen1928]

This made me cry. I was studying and practicing drawing very hard in order to get into my dream art faculty, which is one of the best in our country. And what i got is a rejection on my birthday. Instead, i got accepted by animation major at unpopular uni. I realized what should i do is stop feeling disappointed and practice harder :D

[@LordCaninuss]

This helped me a lot. Thank you. I’m lost in life right now.

[@nyuszmeanimations760]

Bro the way this video gave me so much motivation and a peace of mind knowing that im not the only one who has to come over hardships while learning animation is so good

[@NeroTheBoop]

This was beautiful to watch and as someone that has loved animation for all his ife it's amazing to see your journey, it teaches us an invaluable lesson, that's it's never too late to learn and to never give up our passions, cause without them life is so boring and devoid of what makes it so beautiful.❤ P.S. OMG, i didn't know you animated for Gura ahhhjj

[@DoughnutDragon]

9:32 I can't imagine having people being there for me or supportive of me. I've always had to be there for myself. Everyone else is busy or has more important things to do. Or worse just trys to tear me down. Even though being lonely sucks it's better that being around those that don't care about you. And maybe I've just only ever met people who don't care but i find it hard to believe that anyone would care about me. If I'm to make any progress it's got to be on my own. Because anytime someone else gets involved it just drags things backwards.

[@stAzkrunchyinmilk]

This issue has literally kept me from working on my art and writing for decades. When I was younger I idolized animators like Don Bluth, and the old-school Disney animators, as well as anime. But when confronted with the massive gap between my skill level and those around me I basically gave up after highschool. At least in any serious way. I lost the fun/relaxation of creating art. Recently I started again with digital art and it really has brought back that feeling I would get when I would lose myself in drawing. And that has come from youtube channels like yours and others have really allowed me to reconnect with art as a hobby. Thank you!

[@ambitadraws]

I needed this so much. I was fortunate enough to study animation because it was something that i really liked, but i did it because i HAD to study something, be someone, there was pressure because of personal issues. Ever since i graduated and i got to work on a studio with a very toxic supervisor i haven't be able to animate or relearn. No motivations, no dreams, no goals, i convinced myself that it wasn't for me after all. This gives me the validation and that extra push to give it another try.

[@MJC09Z]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! It’s so inspiring seeing that you went through the same feelings and worries I and many others went through with art. I’ve always had confidence issues with my work, especially when looking at what my classmates were making compared to me. It impacted my confidence and created a nasty habit of me procrastinating my work because I was scared of failing. However, because of your videos and showing how you overcame your fears. You’ve made me realise why I even started to draw in the first place, for me! Thank you so much man, you’re an amazing artist and an inspiration!

[@barbarabenito9582]

Thank you for this, i really want to animate, its the only passion that seriously know i have. Im doing an administration career at eighteen, but when i turn twenty and have some money i will dedicate on how to learn to animate like the best animators in the platform like you. Keep doing this videos you are an inspiration!

[@NM127]

This video, your story, speaks moutains to me. I studied animation way back...around 2009~2012 and to this day, it's still something I would like to do for a living, drawing in general. Nothing worked for me, today i'm 31, and still haven't reached that.. step, that I wished I had reached long ago. Even if feeling lost, I don't want to give up, I can't give it all up, I wish/need to learn more, and understand where my mistakes are, and your video showed me/us some good points to where we could have and receive some help. Thank you sharing your journey with us :)

[@sergiodiferro1593]

Manu, vengo hace años dando vueltas con dedicarme a la producción musical/diseño de sonido de manera muy inconsistente. Pero, hace literalmente 3 días empecé una nueva etapa con una nueva mentalidad y orden donde estoy aplicando la mayoría de los consejos que citas. Resumiendo, estoy conmovido, casi shockeado, porque has usado la imagen de la montaña varias veces en tu video y "casualmente" en estos últimos años, las únicas 2 obras musicales que hice y terminé durante mis estudios se llamaron "montaña". Te agradezco a ti y al algoritmo porque de alguna manera todo tiene sentido y estoy más motivado y seguro que nunca a seguir adelante

[@Strawberry_Faun]

I really needed to see this. I'm happy I clicked on this video. I'm 19 and I've been drawing for a long time but I've been pushing myself to be as good as the people I see online, sometimes even burn myself out to the point I wanna give up art entirely. But, this video has really opened my eyes. I realise now that what I'm doing isn't the correct way. I haven't been drawing for fun or to learn at all, all I've been doing is just pushing myself and telling myself I'll never be good enough. One thing that this video has tought me is to not reach for the top of the mountain but to walk a part of the mountain at a time and not push myself to the point of giving up. Thank you for this video, and giving me a new outlook on how to start again but better and healthier this time. I appreciate it! ❤️ And, I won't aim for truck anymore. 🚚🫶🏻

[@lavenderprod]

Thank you so much... Ever since I was a kid, I have been the "art kid" in school, always drawing on the corner of my table, at recess, I have been out pages and pages for as long as I can remember. But I was also the smart kid, always ahead, amongst the very best, congratulated by teachers, I even graduated high school 3 years early. And after that came the decisive moment : what path do I choose ? The art route, or the "normal" route ? After months of searching, crying, and anxiety for my young 15 years old heart trying to decide what I would give my next 40 waking years to, I gave in : I would take the normal route. This made sense money wise (I had been accepted in an animation school, but it was 5000 euros a year, and neither I nor my family could afford it, and taking up a student loan at 15 for a job industry that felt so unstable felt too scary), it felt more realistic, it felt more adult. So I did it. I watched some of my friends go to art school, while I spent 7 years earning many diplomas in social sciences in college, and I loved learning about all of these subjects that are also dear to my heart. And now, at 24, I made it : I'm working a "normal" job. I go to the office from 9 to 6, in a field that recruits a lot of people, and I earn my life quite well for someone so young and who works with engineers without an engineering diploma... And yet, I never stopped drawing. I keep illustrating friends' stories, I keep thinking all day, everyday, of how I could animate this or that, even as my laptop crashed a few weeks ago and I had to go back to filling out entire notebooks. And a few weeks ago, for literally no reason (I think I was just fed up with not catering to this part of my life, to this hope that never went anywhere), I thought "fuck it. I will probably fail. But I don't care, I can try, learn, I can do it anyway. Who the fuck cares. In the end, we all die." And today KZbin recommended me your video. And it made me tear up. Thank you so much, for sharing your struggles throughout this unusual journey into the animation world. Thank you so much. I wish you all the best ❤ And by the way, Lackadaisy is a gem.

[@megadunsparce3672]

I loved animated movies as a kid and naruto and dragon ball Z Kai in middle school but in high school I finally wanted to be an animator. But it only took two years before I wanted to drop out. I felt inadequate amongst my peers. My art style didn’t feel like it progressed, and it made me feel lazy to draw. If I were to go to the traditional industry, I knew I’d be letting people down if I was still like this. And hearing upon the overtime induced by companies as the norm, I felt it wasn’t right for me. I studied English instead as my new outlet for creativity. However years later an artist on Twitter I truly respected retired his online presence and focused on his irl. It made me want to make my own stories regardless of success so I got a new tablet and bought SPC and started drawing again. For the first time in a while I was enjoying it. It no longer became about my results but the progress and what I’ve learned. My classes on perspective and anatomy paid off finally. Sometimes it’s better to learn at your own pace. You don’t need to be the Twitter artist that gets 1000s of likes. The only like that truly makes a difference is your own

[@KyleAlexJohn]

There's a manga called Beat & Motion that follows a forsworn animator learning to rediscover his love of animation after encountering an online singer. It's worth a read.

[@KariALaTarii]

Holy shoot I'm taken aback. Bit of a storytime here, but I'm about to be in my 20s and I've always loved 2D animation. However, right now I'm doing computer science in a state where there's no art industry and I'm at the point where I feel like I'm choosing the wrong path. Too many things you mentioned are hitting hard for me, like not having drawn as much as my peers and not knowing what I want. While I feel like I'm at the point in my life where art school is sadly not an option for me due to money, I still want to forge my own path. A few days ago I originally thought that I was going to settle for a career as a pipeline TD, but after watching this video you know what? I think I'll try going for for animation as well! I might start rewatching this video a few times over and over again, but as a fellow beginner artist who has had this dream for a loong time yet never knew how she could get there, watching your journey was more than inspiring. It was the (for a lack of a better term) kick in the boot I needed to see that my dreams ARE possible. I don't want to look back on my life and regret never going for my passions. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU MANU!! 🧡

[@kayjay1909]

Thank you so much for this! I'm tearing up, this video is so beautiful and inspiring, exactly what I needed!

[@kbenai_drink]

As a fellow artist, I needed this so fucking bad. Thank you!

[@v1talitylol]

I cried while watching this, as Im really struggling with motivation rn I think this video will give me some hope to get over it. Thank you!

[@sheikhsadab]

I'm not an artist, I've been working on making a game, it has been almost 3 years now (and will take a few more probably), and I definitely felt every word you said. I'm still "climbing" everyday just with the dream of seeing the view and feeling the breeze after reaching the top of the mountain... your video is really motivating. Thanks a ton for sharing. I wish you all the best (tho you already pretty much are :D)

[@kylerules1311]

thanks manuel, your words inspire me

[@ourEkaf]

This is actually great inspiration because I also want to be an animator but I lack the drawing skills to do so but just like you, I'll never give up. Thanks very much :)

[@TacoBear_Studios]

For some of us it's not that we can't climb the mountain it's that we can't find the support to start making the climb. So, we're swept away by the rain that comes down from that mountain, and we're carried off into the stream to wherever it carries whether we like it or not.

[@juanferr01]

this video definitely change me in a really good way, thank you very much for it, I was needing to hear watch u said, I've been struggling about my artwork recently and this helped a lot. Congrats for everything u have accomplished

[@Coldene]

This is making me tear up man... Thank you for sharing all your exeperience with us, may your journey into the art world continue

[@emptyvoid_]

Such a great video, Manu! I didn't realise that you've gone through the path somewhat resembling mine. I was failing miserably at drawing during my teen years, while my friends were improving with every year. I felt like an amateur permanently stuck, and had some progress only at 23 years old, when a colleague helped me out with a life drawing. At 27, no art school finished, but skill still acquired. It costed me one full year of making myself drawing and animating through mental pain and depression, but it paid off greatly in the end. I wish you all the best! I'm glad you didn't give up.

[@Yokawa436]

I never comment on Videos but I fell like your youtube Video reflects my current state in live, your Video released a lot of pressure from my Shoulders and Im realy happy that I saw this Video and It makes me keep moving. All I can say is thank you so mutch Manu Mercurial for making it.

[@itniya4]

im 22 couldnt afford art school but kept drawing anyways, im a mom now and while i still do art and im even hired to illustrate a children’s book i still dont feel like an artist. ive been trying to teach myself fundamentals so that my art can finally reach a level im proud of but its soo hard alone. it feels impossible even. im writing a graphic novel because comics and animation have always been my passion but despite my literal decades of drawing experience my art still feels like it’s missing something. i can tell the difference ive been beating myself up for not being able to go to college even if its not my fault i feel like i’ll forever be behind because of it. this was incredibly inspiring but i wish there were success stories like these coming from people who were self taught without any schooling

[@hermionegeary8616]

I'm 20 at the moment, and just going into animation university. I've been struggling so much for years to try new things with my art. I feel so intimidated by other artists and the industry that my brain shuts down. Its got to the point where I'm in a prelife crisis, thinking what the hell am I even doing... This video has been the most relatable one I've seen and so inspiring. I always beat myself up that I can't draw at all but I can and this video has made me realize that.

[@lawmakerdesp9611]

This is the most inspiring video i have ever watched. Thank you very much.

[@zephyrartch]

Ah this is so emotional and motivating. Thank you so much for sharing! I'm in tears. I know this makes me and many artists out there want to keep doing our best. I hope this video reaches more and more people! Congratulations!

[@sonoio869]

My man, improving this much in 3 years is either made up so you can call others lazy if they do not or because you were born in better circumstances to let you improve this easely.

[@aruuart]

this is so inspirational , you weren't good in art but you improved beautifully and got what you worked for. so happy for you that i almost cried. Good luck for the upcoming challenges.

[@SSinnamonn]

This really feels personal to me on some level since i'm going to university to study media production in hopes that one day i can work on a great story. Even tho i'm not an artist the way you explain the words "we're not aiming for the truck." motivates me to start my first year with as much as i can. Thank you.

[@jacrossiter2097]

Really inspirational and excellent storytelling. For every story of inspiration there is a 1000 people who experience the same thing but never find the words to share.