Set Me Free || Rain World animatic [by 我先简单喵两句]

[@CosmiaNebula]

Please turn on subtitles! Some notes on the song. FulushouFloruitShow is a Chinese band with a strong influence by Chinese Buddhism. The song is both a love song and a Buddhism song. The title of the song literally means "Release me [from the cycle of rebirth]". It is a specific Buddhist verb, for a kind of ritual where the Buddhist monk would perform to release the dead from the cycle of rebirth. [1] Some of the lyrics are directly lifted from the Diamond Sūtra. Tathāgata is the name of the Buddha in his previous appearance in our world. It is said that the Buddha will appear again sometime in the future, under the name of Maitreya. [2] In Buddhist logic, there are 4 possibilities for a statement: A, not A, both A and not A, neither A nor not A ("Catuṣkoṭi"). For very specific statements, the Buddha specifically denied all 4 possibilities. This is particularly true when it comes to the nature of existence: Not empty, not existent, not both empty and existent, not neither empty nor existent. The point is typically that fixating on one of the possibilities is clinging, which leads to more rebirth. One cannot escape the cycle of rebirth with clinging. [3] The red thread is a reference to the concept of fate and destiny in Chinese folklore. Legend has it that the red strings connect fated lovers, but can be cut and rebound, to change who the fated lover is. [4] In contrast to nirvana. The singer does not go into nirvana after all, and returns to the cycle of rebirth. [5] Chinese idiom 破镜重圆. Literally: to repair a broken mirror so that it is whole again. To be reunited after a long period of separation (said of a couple).

[@CosmiaNebula]

More translation notes: I used Buddhist words when appropriate. So for example "arising" corresponds to "动念" because it is one of the 12 Dependent Arisings (Vijñāna, the arising of consciousness). "dharma appearance" sounds awkward, but it is just what “法相” means. Roughly it means "the superficial appearance of the world, arising from the fundamental laws/dharma". The Echoes shown are screenshots from the actual Chinese version of the game. I got the translations from the game's official Wiki.

[@allko614]

@@CosmiaNebula Thanks for this upload and the explanations! I love learning about different cultures :D I just woke up but if I understand everything they want to go to Nirvana but can't becasue it's clinging to something (love?) and unwilling to let it go?

[@CosmiaNebula]

​@@allko614 The song? Yeah, the singer cannot let go of old love and returns to the cycle. And Saint, of course, is attached to the world. Like Kṣitigarbha, who have vowed to never reach Buddhahood/Nirvana until hells are emptied.

[@BinahHess.]

I made another translation based on yours.I think it's more inline with the rhythm of the song.

[@CosmiaNebula]

@@BinahHess. That's nice. Did you upload it anywhere?

[@angsty_saint]

Saint is all powerful and yet is the most miserable being in all of rain world. A creature cursed to live forever until all else has become dust

[@lightlecreator]

Such is those that seek to become powerful and free those around them, you become that of a god, and your duty is to be that god... Forever...

[@fishyfish201]

Nonono, there is no "become dust". Not " until the end of time", not any of that. Saint is infinite. There simply is no end, saint will be alive and repeating their life always.

[@angsty_saint]

@fishyfish201 I suppose that entirely depends on your interpretation of saints campaign If he does infact just keep continually looking you would be correct If you follow the dream interpretation than saints real body is still floating through time just like the other echos even as the planet crumbles repeating the same day he became one My personal interpretation is that the looping is helping him maintain his physical form but the day he eventually gives up and stops attempting ascension his body will degrade into the more divine looking echo state

[@the_blue_jay_raptor]

​@@angsty_saint If you took a being out of Rain World's universe, would they not obey the Cycle anymore?

[@angsty_saint]

@the_blue_jay_raptor I can't say for sure. However, according to what we have to go on about echos, they don't seem to be a part of the main cycle, or even universe for that matter. which might explain the unnatural phenomena that happen when we encounter them, but even among them, saint is unique.

[@TheSandwhichman108]

If Saint is possibly the last of his kind that just makes it even worse. Imagine him just going around and ascending each of his kind one by one going to what is essentially the equivalent of Heaven in rain world while he’s forced to stay behind… Doomed to wander… Doomed to watch… Doomed to be alone… Doomed to repeat the cycle over and over… Waiting until all become dust… Then…AND ONLY THEN…Will his work be done and Saint can finally rest…

[@blackcat2333]

saint is in a loop though. nothing it does matter and it can never be free itself

[@iosis9324]

​​@@blackcat2333We don't know for sure. It may well be that all those whom the Saint ascend, they ascend for forever, even in a new cycle, since after the ending we cannot continue to understand at all whether this is a perfect time loop in which the same thing as before Ascensions or the Saint simply returned back to the world without time shenanigans.

[@Someperson12532]

I mean there's gotta be somewhere else. I mean maybe the entire planet isn't in eternal cold.

[@TheSandwhichman108]

@@Someperson12532 Unlikely considering it’s stated the iterators screwed up the planets weather patterns and said rain was the primary source of humidity so…While not a frozen wasteland the world is most likely in an ice age. But with the iterators gone and given time the world will eventually thaw out possibly leaving behind a warm moist temperate climate. But I do think me saying Saint might be the last slug cat might be a bit ridiculous as there’s very likely pockets of slug cat populations spread across the globe. Most likely originating from the colony Gourmand led in the past outside of Moon and Pebbles citadel.

[@Someperson12532]

@@TheSandwhichman108 Yeah. You're right. (why did i end up writing almost the entirety of my slugcat oc's story after this? I removed it since I'm guessing you're not interested in some random oc cat's lore)

[@raven.petrichor]

I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE PUT THESE TWO TOGETHER THIS SONG IS LITERALLY PERFECT FOR RAINWORLD

[@mildlymarvelous]

Using a Buddhist song for Rain World (and specifically the way this one ends for Saint) is so perfect, and the artstyle is so cute and pretty! After watching a couple of evil Saint AU animatics today, it’s refreshing to see one closer to canon. Just a little guy, trying their best, burdened with such a huge power in such a cold world. But I’ve never seen an interpretation quite like this… where the reason Saint cannot move on is because they love the world and its creatures.

[@blackcat2333]

That's firmly what I believe for Saint too. After all its starting Karma is the second one, which is typically taken to mean sexual lust but I don't like narrowing it to just that. You can lust for anything immaterial, love even. Maybe that's why Saint couldn't let go.

[@mildlymarvelous]

@@blackcat2333 I like that interpretation. Love.

[@aRoundPyramid]

0:46 i really love the idea of saint not struggling in their journey, but thriving, quick to befriend all they come across ❤ love the colours and art, keep up the good work

[@breadybeans5427]

Fr fr

[@Silksong_in_2077]

Saint goes "i have no enemies" and actually make no enemies route

[@CelestialityRW]

Can someone help this fluffy little guy already? It been an eternity of this!

[@blackcat2333]

If it serves any consolation, I'm told Rubicon is based on the buddhist Naraka. Unlike christian Hell the stay there isn't permanent, although it is incomprehensibly long. So it is entirely possible that given enough time Saint - and the other Echoes by extension - will be free one day.

[@CelestialityRW]

@@blackcat2333maybe when every remnant of the ancients is gone, they'll have no more ties to the cycle and finally go on.

[@nixDrgnslyr]

I like to think once all life is extinguished, Saint will be let free, for he is bound by his need to help those from the world.

[@PasseveClairvoyant]

The saint went against the system. My version is that he broke some rule by trying to get back into the world from Rubicon. He is cursed, his cycle is closed and when the day comes, I think he will meet another Saint, but as an echo. I went through the company of the Saint, lifted up the Moon and Pebbles. These are their words at the end of the company...: FP: Maybe the answer was always right in front of your nose? Does the question mean anything to us since we are here? Suddenly it was completely impossible to resolve it using our initial premises... BSM: The question was not clearly formulated. If, while searching for answers, we accidentally stumbled upon the correct one, we would not be able to distinguish it from the false ones. In addition, there was no reliable way to check the correctness. FP: We tried to understand, what lies beyond the point of no return, without going there. BSM: Only those who have seen the other side can tell the answers, but by definition they cannot come back and tell us. FP/BSM: Apparently, that's why it's time for you to wake up, *little guest* .

[@ravenschippers8267]

if you look into the lore, it wasn't saint they were talking to but rather Us the player controling saint. Apparently we ourselves are an unseen entitiy whose fate tangles with the fate of all whom we possess.

[@PasseveClairvoyant]

@@ravenschippers8267 if we talk about a saint as a _controlled carrier_ then your version is closer) This comment is something like my version of the Saint's lore

[@Katwhoshere]

Sad triple affirmative, literally god, is forced to just chill (pun intended)

[@kingalls3514]

Wow, this is magnificent! I especially love the back to back scenes of Silver with the Saint in their lap and then the Saint with Silver in their lap. The music is really fitting, the pacing is exquisite and the drawings are gorgeous. Great work!!

[@Someperson12532]

It's a repost from a Chinese website

[@Emperor-Quill]

My broken tablet says thanks to the original creator! I heard this song a while ago and thought it suited Rain World, but haven't been able to create anything, due to aforementioned broken tablet. I love FulushouFloruitShow's music. Some fun insights: Abhūtaparikalpa, the concept of something existent and nonexistent, closely regarded alongside Ālayavijñāna, which is one of the Buddhist (Yogacara/Vijnanavada Schools of thought) "Natures of the Twofold Mind," and is the "Absolute Consciousness". Ālayavijñāna is unchanging, immortal consciousness. It is the perception of something after it is sensed or imagined. Once you sense or imagine something, it is thought about unconsciously, but when you perceive it fully, register it, that's Absolute Consciousness. The mind does this to everything, and in turn, it perceives the external world, which sometimes is referred to as tathāgatagarbha. The mind did not craft the perception of the world, it only took the information in, but Absolute Consciousness (Ālayavijñāna) is what made sense of it.

[@Emperor-Quill]

At least! This is my understanding of the subject. While I'm vaguely assured in knowledges, if anyone has a stronger understanding of it, I really hope it's shared.

[@BinahHess.]

Glad that my favorite work is reposted to KZbin.Much thanks because if no one post it I would do.The uploader said that she forget a detail:The final karma of Saint is empty,not 1,like"乙".This means he has reach the realm of nirvana.But his attachmet keeps him in circle,not for himself but for other creatures in circle of rebirth.What a benevolence.By the way,I thought if"如果你留我在梦里"be translated to"If you leave me in dreams"would be better.The Bodhisattva with closed eyes does not save the world; the Bodhisattva who saves the world does not close their eyes. Vowing not to attain Buddhahood until all sentient beings are liberated.

[@XPCVLT]

Every single frame here is wallpaper worthy

[@rabies_baby]

This is one of my favorite animatics, this is fucking beautiful.

[@namelessnavnls8060]

What a beautiful video. Saint's story always puzzled me and fascinated me at the same time but I think this ties it all together very well.

[@thejewelstonequeen]

KZbin recommended this to me an I'm so glad it did

[@CosmiaNebula]

I found the MV on Bilibili and was very intrigued that I actually played the game myself. I'm always up for some Buddhism (I'm kind of a heretical Buddhist myself).

[@zwei-jabfellow4603]

this was absolutely amazing using the sounds from the game for the assentation made it so much better

[@woofdadog]

This hits me hard for some reason maybe because I relate to Buddhism a lot not Chinese myself so I tried to learn and understand song Thank you for making this it’s healing my broken heart And for the singer who made this too

[@noideawhoiam3855]

I love the ways the echos are drawn, they look so faithful to the echoes!

[@noideawhoiam3855]

just refound this comment and it is kinda funny seeing the way i worded this lmao-

[@blackcat2333]

I think they're edited screencaps

[@SyrupedWaffle]

This has to be the most beautiful animation that ive seen in a very long time

[@Bubblegum-Cupcake]

2:08 OH MY GOODNESS I JUST REALIZED THIS SCENE PARALLELS SPEARMASTER’S ENDING 🥺

[@ghostcorpse3016]

god's most depressing little guy

[@maxversLn]

This animatic is one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen, amazing job

[@ADerpyBlobfish]

This is beautiful. I love the animation and the feeling that the video gives.

[@cloudsnow7164]

Скажу честно, это игра реально заставляет задуматься. Меня пугает эта безысходность... С чем то похожим я столкнулся когда играл в "SOMA" Я рад что "RainWorld" стала культовой. Красивая анимация :3

[@Mr.SparrowXZ]

Oop i caught this when it came out:)❤❤❤ love your content❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@KyvenTheWarPine]

1:00 lamtern mose :)

[@Amin-ADHD]

I love the animation and the music it’s just perfection! Big W for me you deserve the likes :]

[@truchronoreaver]

Profound. Really good work, thanks for bringing this to us.

[@Honeypiesstuffx3]

Saint’s campaign is just restarting everything you did in the campaign

[@Monkmain]

This is beautiful. Great work!

[@QuakeSomethingUnique]

”那由谁超度我呢“

[@CosmiaNebula]

什么都超只会害了你

[@QuakeSomethingUnique]

@@CosmiaNebula 我还以为这是一个外国账号转载哔哩哔哩视频😭

[@QuakeSomethingUnique]

超度我可以翻译成“acend me"@@CosmiaNebula

[@wilczus222]

Absolutely stunning!

[@popatsot1]

Man i really wanna play this game again

[@skysunbloom1347]

THAT'S SO AMAZING!!??I LOVE IT!!!

[@Noketh]

Woah! That was beautiful!💚

[@Sepi-chu_loves_moths]

Oh my god this is incredible

[@jeremiasgabrieldujaut3040]

It's beautiful 🥺!!

[@decidueyezealot8611]

Beautiful

[@ИмяФамилия-в5я1т]

Ты можешь спасти всех, но кто спасет тебя? Когда другие уйдут?

[@MohdAhmad-gp9kb]

1:00 saint can get alugpups

[@Artificer_]

that's a lantern mouse

[@blackcat2333]

That's a lantern mouse. Only Hunter, Gourmand and Survivor can find slugpups without modding.

[@TheSealThatWillDestroyTheWorld]

выглядит очень красиво!..

[@Someperson12532]

I can't speak Chinese or even understand it, but I still think this song is beautiful.

[@rakeshbharania2203]

my take on saints campain: saint has been here all along, appearing as different slug cats. they are everything and nothing. Saint I believe also is supposed to be a direct representation of US, the player. if you look at the campaign as a grander scale, its very similar to survivor flipped upside down, the inability to throw spears represents how we all felt at the beginning of our journeys in the rain world, helpless. survivors story is starting in a naturey world and ending up in the void sea while trying to get back to their family. saint starts in a region with a similar palette, and their goal is to get back to the void sea but ending up back where they started. saints story is about descending. survivors story is about climbing above your struggles. most of the saint dialog for echoes mention hearing their voice before, and they have, 7 times.

[@blackcat2333]

I think Saint has nothing to do with the previous slugcats, but its journey being meant to resemble the player's makes sense. We return to Rain World again and again, too in love with everything it offers to simply finish the game and move on. Likewise Saint is forever bound to the world and to eternally relive its journey, because it grew too attached to let go and ascend.

[@notveryartificial4486]

RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME!!!

[@FoxWithBrainDamage]

Saint animatics are just better XD

[@stellanovaluna]

This animation is so beautiful. Does the artist have a channel on YT or does China prevent that?

[@Lincyna]

Sometimes I just wonder, are the Red Lizard and Centipede truly Yellow or Golden there in Rubicon? It kinda confuses me a bit...

[@cherrybomb797]

Oh my

[@sebotte]

this is so fucking cool

[@Mapleshade123]

Ficou top o vídeo

[@stepblch999]

Man, hes literally me

[@alesio2946]

So sad 😢

[@Matildathedemon]

0:51 no

[@vix__ivi]

❤❤❤❤

[@Loaf_da_scug]

Helping creatures is more of a monk thing Saint just ascends everything

[@blackcat2333]

Ascending isn't a necessarily bad thing, besides its up to the player if you actually ascend anything. For all we know Saint's only target is that void worm.

[@Kycok_K]

Можно ли попасть возносящей меткой святого в отголоски (эхо)?

[@jaredcasas1006]

Hi

[@antonhymoreno5735]

i dont undertand saint lore i really new in the game

[@blackcat2333]

Saint is trapped as an echo, forced to relieve its final cycles up to its failed ascension forever. It is presented in a purposefully confusing way but once you analyze it properly its rather simple.