Soldier, Poet, King - A TAZ Balance Animatic

Let me clarify: BIG MASSIVE SPOILERS. Spoilers for anyone who has not listened to TAZ Balance!
Happy New Year, everyone! I'm so excited to kick this year off with a bang! I've wanted to make an animatic to this song for months now and I'm glad I got a chance to do it! I had no Idea it was a meme, I just thought "Oh, what a great song to draw to," and here we are! I hope you enjoy this video, and the year to come!
"Soldier, Poet King" - The Oh Hellos
The Adventure Zone" - The McElroy Family
Work/freelance inquiries: [e-mail]
Social Media: linktr.ee/jocjames

[@teaerrors360]

I've never even considered Merle wearing anything other than cargo shots and Hawaiian shirts but it's wonderful

[@treyatkinson7564]

Wait, he wears other clothes WILLINGLY?!

[@justinknetzer2690]

Bold of you to assume he wears any clothes willingly.

[@jesterpng]

me: *realizes what they’re building* my heart: hahaha, i’m in danger.

[@jjjm7322]

sspaceyy hey, I saw a photo of your comment on Instagram and that’s what brought me to this video! Thank you!

[@jesterpng]

@@jjjm7322 no problem! i'm glad my fan account is actually doing something other than just sharing memes!

[@kayleehix6521]

sspaceyy went to like it but saw it was at 420 likes

[@halplease]

SAME. I realized at 0:48 and started crying ;;;__;;;

[@girIonIine]

what’re they building?

[@Ray-hk1zm]

"Because that was the ending you earned."

[@wormpng]

CUTTING THE CAKE WITH A SWORD UGH YOUR MIND!!!

[@morganmetcalf9259]

i literally have tears in my eyes and an effusive grin on my face from how absolutely utterly beautiful this animatic is

[@sloth7ds]

Glad it’s not just me ❤️😭❤️

[@misspurrheart]

me tooooo!

[@c0re889]

This made me so unimaginably happy, also yes Taako *SNATCH* that bouquet

[@iwantadonutbadly]

Fancy seeing you here

[@c0re889]

Donut Please O.o

[@datamancy138]

stealing it from lup, even better

[@iwantadonutbadly]

Btw C0re and I are now getting married so this is ironic

[@mangoisee]

the sheer JOY radiating from this animatic made me break into a grin! this is amazing and must have taken so much work! amazing job!

[@somethingaboutbutterflies2059]

TAZ:B? In my 2020? It's more likely than you think. Although in hindsight, this story is timeless.

[@SpicySoulsa]

At first I was like: "Oh cool! A taz animatic, this is going to be awesome!" And then I realized what they were doing, and I started tearing up. Even as I type I'm basically crying at this point. This was so well done, the song choice, the style, the pacing, and especially what the story is focusing on, all of it made my heart swell. You can really feel the love that was poured into this, thank you for making this and sharing it with all of us 😍😭💕

[@TheOnlyRealIRONicMAN]

Saw this and became intrigued about this thing called "The adventure zone"... And now I'm caught in an unhealthy binging marathon to catch up.

[@shanefioritti3406]

TheOnlyRealIRONicMAN good luck mate it’s a hell of a ride.

[@TheOnlyRealIRONicMAN]

@@shanefioritti3406 Just done with balance (excluding the some of the "One-shots"); it was quite the ride indeed. An intriguing story, told by a great storyteller and filled with very interesting characters. Looking forward to the next arcs. Edit: spelling.

[@christyre6742]

2:29 Taako snipes that kill

[@ratwitch]

I really like this! I love how you keep coming up with very original uses of concepts that have been done before. Also I was listening to the end of story and song when this notification popped up and so I was very startled when I started watching. Oh, and also I love your character designs, they’re all so pretty! You have made a terrific animatic.

[@scootinloaf]

The 2 people who disliked it are John and The hunger

[@emmettawardz4943]

And any others are different parts of the hunger

[@stormtheninja]

Oh heck one of the first TAZ animatics of the decade! Looks great, good job!

[@easternCriminal]

Lol sorry to comment again but usually I see this song with an animation meme and while i adore those something done with the full song in a fresh way is nice!!! The dancing parts were so detailed. Your lines are so confident and goregeous with each frame detailed with such lovely care. I smiled so much and laughed every now and then. This is so tender and sweet thank you so much for taking the time to create it and then share it with the world ❤️❤️❤️

[@mirasheikh4717]

my heart is full of love and my eyes are full of tears holy shit what a way to start the new year!!!!!

[@infinitescarf3736]

This song is already such a moving one for me, major major props for being able to match the emotion of the song with drawings that can make me feel the same. You can tell a lot of care and love went into this, the little details with background characters and everyone’s expressions looking so genuine. Fantastic work and much love ❤️ ❤️

[@GippyHappy]

Oh my look they’re all happy and safe this is a first

[@kd9066]

DHDJHDHDDH THIS IS SO STUNNING MY HEART HURTS BRO I WOULD LITERALLY DIE FOR THIS ANIMATIC

[@gracthedestroyer9253]

Hey, fun fact! I just wanted you to know that this was the reason I got into TAZ and started listening a couple weeks ago, and now I’m finished with balance. I didn’t watch this while I was listening in case there was anything spoilery that I would recognize but I appreciate this so much more now that I know who all of the characters are! Slight spoilers if anyone hasn’t watched it yet . . . . I kept waiting and waiting for this scene, and I think it’s fitting that it was at the very end. My first exposure to the balance arc was also the last scene, and I think that fits the very poetic way that the balance arc played out. Thank you so much for creating this BEAUTIFUL video, and thank you for exposing me to the boys.

[@mayalikescandles]

this is done with such love and emotion!!! your character designs are impeccable and i love how you show everyone's personality through their actions and expressions. you are a STORYTELLER MY MAN (also this song always makes me think of taz so thanku)

[@nyranna_]

I WAS PRAYING THAT THIS WAS SET DURING THE WEDDING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED YOUR ART STYLE IS ASTOUNDING AND YOU CAPTURED SUCH GOOD EMOTIONS IM GONNA CRY

[@allakadamn]

I saw the title and immediately thought Magnus, Merle, Taako and looks like I was right

[@amycraig4024]

The dance sequence!! Magnus dancing with Lucretia! She looked so happy I love her! This is amazing

[@DefaultFonts]

Ugh this was so beautifully done it actually made my heart ache. Absolutely incredible work. I loved the detail of Taako snatching the bouquet and offering it to Kravitz. So fricking cute, man :)

[@Heyhay13]

That was the most adorable version of this animatic I have ever seen!

[@mo482]

i can't watch this without being brought to the verge of tears. There's such a feeling of joy and love to the whole thing, and it so well encapsulates the energy of the finale. I just love it so much

[@isa8633]

That transition to the party... i GASPED this is so good!!!! It's just so beautiful and left me feeling all giddy inside. Thank YOU for this!

[@taakotuesdays]

1) this is very wholesome and is the least you could do after making me cry with your last two animatics 2) AKSJSKSJDJDHDHSH THIS IS SO GOOD 3) I’d never heard this song before but it’s so 100% taz and also very good

[@MikiEsco]

This is honestly the sweetest, most heartfelt animatic I've seen for TAZ.

[@thecalciumkiller5340]

God, this makes me miss campaign one again. my first introduction to d&d. I fell in love with the story, drew inspiration from it, wrote a world from it. The balance arc is just one of the greatest pieces of media I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. especially the second half.

[@blueskyredmars]

Of all the TAZ animatics that made me cry, this one made me cry in happiness. Fantastic job!

[@kltbird182]

The pure joy that radiates from this just made me cry with the biggest smile. Thank you, really needed this today

[@leximclain7508]

There it is. The best Balance animatic of the past, present, and future.

[@rorygiambalvo2955]

Despite seeing the thumbnail it took me a while to catch on to what they were doing. Regardless I was grinning the whole time. Most Balance animatics set to music are sad or intense, it's so wonderful to get one that's sonically and visually a celebration. Beautiful work! Also the image of Magnus and Lucretia dancing at 2:25 is just so wholesome and makes me so happy. All the clothing designs are great, I love all of this.

[@arischlanger5293]

IM CRYING WHY IS THIS SO GOOD. MY FANTASY MOTHERS WEDDING IS PERFECT

[@yukihatashi234]

The moment I saw Magnus I started crying, and it just progressed to sobbing as it went on. This is one of the best and most detailed animatics I've ever seen! Thank you!

[@swampghost835]

IM ACTUALLY CRYINGGGG

[@henrybennett9183]

I haven’t listened to that ep in so long but when I saw this I got so many tinglys in the back of my head. This was amazing.

[@bookwormkindlespark]

HEY UHHHHHH THIS ANIMATIC HAS SINGLEHANDEDLY BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE OVERWHELMING EMOTION OF FINISHING TAZ BALANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND ALSO I AM ON FIRE

[@ferngalileo]

i held it together until i saw taako and lup dancing in the circle next to each other and that opened the floodgates right up for the rest

[@KaiDrawsShit03]

Ive never seen the adventure zone, but this is one of, if not the best, animatic I've come across on KZbin. Anybody want to tell me about the show?

[@ziirconium]

it's a d&d podcast led by the mcelroy brothers and their dad. please listen to it (i'd start with TAZ:balance before amnesty or graduation or anything personally) it's equal parts hilarious and goofy as it is emotionally wrecking and has beautiful storytelling!

[@KaiDrawsShit03]

@@ziirconium Thank you! It sounds like something I would love👍❤️

[@chloes.3334]

gotta comment again i am in love with this animatic,,, all the detail and the creativity is so adorable and its just!!! so good!! so happy and wholesome!! (also is that roswell on the log at the beginning ?? perfect)

[@tristonanan]

God, everytime I think I'm over Balance something like this pops up and I realize how much it still gets to me.

[@voidv6687]

If I ever get married I would want it to look like this. Hands down the most beautiful seen I have ever seen put me to tears

[@itsalexcolorburst]

This is so underrated. Like, this is amazing!! I cant imagine how long this took!!! Great work!!!

[@rorygiambalvo2955]

2:25 is one of my favorite shots. Lucretia lived suffering with so much guilt and trauma for years. Now with her work finally finished, she's free to just be happy. She gets to dance with Magnus, the first of her friends to forgive her for what she did, who still loves her unconditionally. It makes me so happy to see them both so happy with the families they built.

[@aeliaskye326]

I’ve watched this 3 times and still haven’t seemed to have caught every small detail I love this??????

[@daflangstlairde4132]

THIS BRINGS ME DELIGHT STRAIGHT TO MY SOUL

[@chad_chadley5762]

I've been watching this on repeat for about three days straight, This is so we'll done!

[@athomassen3980]

Why did this make me cry? God I miss Balance... I really really love this, all the details, the way everyone comes together for the wedding! This must have taken forever...

[@EveroxTop]

I'm so happy someone else knows about this band! And I never realized the lyrics I've listened to about a hundred times line up to these three boys!

[@kjmlucero]

Taako swooping in for that bouquet intercept gives me life

[@jam9074]

THIS ANIMATIC IS,, SO POWERFUL I ACTUALLY STARTED CRYINGGG

[@sillysnail5459]

Look im not really into TAZ but my god this was sweet enough to givee a cavity

[@NothingCanDescribeUs]

U CAN'T JUST MAKE AN ANIMATIC OF MY FAVOURITE SHOW WITH MY FAVOURITE SONG LIKE THAT AND EXPECT ME NOT TO BURST INTO TEARS

[@daello8227]

IM ACTUALLY CRYING I LOVE THIS SO MUCH OMGGG

[@Bjorkenheimer]

I realized at Merle's 'poet' section that they were setting up the wedding, and I immediately started crying, this was beautiful and I'mma go watch it four more times at least!

[@cinnamoncandyy7347]

Oh I’m goin to cry this is absolutely gorgeous and the way you used a song that a lot of people have in such a fresh way??? The whole dance was so beautifully done and I’m in love

[@tarzde]

DFIHDFIDF THIS IS SO SWEET Also please know that I was watching this and enjoying it thoroughly and in my head I was like "This art style... .so familiar..." And like a minute in a half in, I shout, out loud- "HOLY FUCK IT'S HERBGERB"

[@accthefiend]

I finished Balance all of two days ago and I could feel myself start to tear up just seeing the thumbnail. This is absolutely beautiful.

[@myaskinner190]

I've been sort of sad lately, but this made me so genuinely happy. Amazing animation, good job :)

[@xushibeetle]

This is amazing, im so glad to see that animations are still being made about TAZ

[@emmaholtz1720]

I absolutely love your character designs, they’re all so beautiful! Also the way you’ve taken a concept that’s been done before and come up with a totally new way to portray it is SO COOL

[@theeverlastingwhy8356]

this is ADORABLE, and the kilian/carey turnaround at the end is so goooood

[@treepotato5465]

I just noticed Roswell helping lift the log. Poor little bird

[@sophiamargarita6053]

I LOVE THIS SONG, THIS ANIMATION CAPTURES IT SO WELL IM SO HAPPYYYYY

[@spicymint2059]

Bbro,,,, you can’t just do something like this. Like AHHAHHFH

[@avevee9708]

Taako like yeeting in front of Lup for the bouquet is the most iconic thing I’ve ever seen.

[@CreationsScribe]

My actual heart. This was beautiful, I was beaming the entire time.

[@easternCriminal]

I have always been in love with your art and this is no exception I adore this

[@thegammakat]

I finially finished it. After life got crazy and listening to taz balance took a backburner on my activities for years, I finally re-listened to the bulk of it and finished the series. Then I came right here, the wonderful video thats the reason this song makes me cry is now so much sweeter because I know that this did happen, and everything was okay.

[@MrSpock..]

when they started dancing i just let out a very small "fuck" bc i knew i couldn't hold it together and two seconds later i'm bawling

[@ElementalDAR]

The emotion you were able to capture in this was amazing.

[@gabriellelaurendine8445]

I never cried for exactly 2 minutes and 43 seconds straight before but HERE WE ARE

[@ethansmith7997]

I'm welling up with emotion. Oh my goodness this is so perfect. At first I thought it was just a cool animatic matching them up and then I realized when they all came together and I have never seen this beautiful scene so vividly oh my goodness.

[@kanicro]

This is possibly the most wonderful thing I have ever seen. Oh my goodness. Every frame is so beautiful, and as soon as I realised what they were setting up for my heart was filled with a very lovely emotion. This is incredible!

[@emv8298]

This is...... the happiest thing I have ever seen and I love it dearly. Thank you for this!

[@Winderia_]

this cured my depression honestly thank you for this masterpiece cause my heart is feelin all the cute fluffy feels

[@Wragnaroq]

I want you to understand how sappy and misty-eyed this made me, a grown-ass man who pays taxes and shit.

[@amandag3950]

This made me cry...but like in a good wholesome way. 10/10 gonna go cry some more

[@MothmanHusband]

😭😭😭😭💖💖💖 This is gorgeous I love that Taako Taako catches the bouquet💖💖

[@blue_teacup]

This almost made me cry. The style, the expressions, the dancing, I love it

[@rein7526]

This is so cute! I always thought this song fit TAZ so well, and you brang it to life beautifully I'm glad to see the balance community is still active.

[@k.whatever9046]

i cant express how happy this makes me. i tried to keep it together for most of the vid but then seeing taako and kravitz dancing, and then barry and lup, and magnus and luce, and just the rest of them?? not to mention the sweetflips scenes oh my god. im SO HAPPY RN. they EARNED this happy ending

[@alexanderlehr2766]

Damn bro you’ve got the whole squad crying

[@amaranthine8531]

I was smiling for the whole 2:43, beautiful work! Also Lucretia the ultimate wedding planner

[@KittStone]

Those perfectly timed dance kicks are definitely a strong concept, approved

[@ciinqx]

*taz balance content in 2020, you’re doing the lord’s work, ALSO THIS IS CUTE AS SHIT I LOVE THE ART STYLE*

[@W33p1ngWillow]

The two dislikes are Edward and Lydia

[@kittiecandy747]

wheezed at the reapers using their powers to assist in log transport

[@lesperancefairwinter615]

Not gonna lie I legit almost cried, I absolutely loved this

[@angelaquinton]

I cried happy tears three different times while watching this.

[@leetleshinigami6099]

The song is all about ironic destruction, and the art in the video is all about genuine creation. So good.

[@zags3114]

This is incredible! I almost cried during Merle's part, realizing they were setting up the wedding!

[@kedandunn]

happy endings have rights!

[@todorokishoto3058]

Is that Magnus and Lucretia JAMMIN’?! Because I’m FOR IT

[@cariswilliams5808]

I'm ugly crying. This still blows me away.

[@twobats]

Im really emotional today but I feel you should know this made me cry anyway because I have the biggest smile on my face. I love taz balance so much and I forget that a lot but holy fuck this is so good

[@thecottageofcuriosities863]

DAVENTPORT AND ANGO DANCING TOGETHER OMG I CANT