TAZ Graduation Animatic: "Sometimes they forget how to be quiet"

[@lindseyt.5845]

Your design for Bud..... he is shaped like a friend....

[@pop-tartdepression393]

He’s just a big huggable pillow and I love him

[@rawe1313]

...are we settled on Bud?

[@albigalloway4481]

@@rawe1313 nah

[@juliawhitmore3991]

Bruh you read my mind, since he doesn't have a name officially I've just been thinking of him as "friend-shaped" because no matter what, I know he is shaped like a friend

[@MiloKuroshiro]

How Justin can immediately do the most lovable character in the party EVERY TIME without even coming with a ton of background?

[@ProjectThunderclaw]

Background is overrated. It's much more important to have a strong central concept, because 9 times out of 10 a three-word description like "fabulous wizard chef" says more about how a character thinks and acts than a thousand pages of wizard school anecdotes.

[@kitsuneking6969]

I love bud but I didnt exactly love taako or his other character (I didnt really like amnesty at the start so I skipped it) Firbolgs are one of my favorite races and I already love the setting that has been built.

[@ajjerio3927]

I almost cried during this scene, because it was so beautiful I almost skipped Amnesty, but I decided to watch it because I had enough time on my hands. It was decent, but Balance is by far the best campaign of them all. Duck Newton is an interesting character, choosing to ignore his destiny in favor for being mundane. When Bud first walked in the room, in ep 1, I immediately thought of Caduceus Clay. It was a pleasant surprise, but I still miss Taako and his antics, and some of Duck's (occasional and rare) shenanigans as well. I'm debating whether or not to listen to Balance for a third time.

[@DJclanful]

@@kitsuneking6969 honestly duck newton saved amnesty for me its a great listen to and i implore you to give it another chance

[@kitsuneking6969]

@@DJclanful Amnesty came out around the time I discovered Critical Role and as a student it took up a lot of my free audio listening time. But I'll check amnesty out again, thanks

[@bracket6869]

idk how Justin makes his characters so immediately lovable, it's a little scary Bud's ears look so soft! I love your design for him!

[@jodymarkgraf7625]

Justin's charisma roll was a nat20

[@ash-fz3tw]

I desperately want graduation to become as animatic saturated as Balance is. Trav deserves all the animatics!

[@johnthedork723]

Hell yeah Travis deserves animatics! With all the shit some ‘fans’ have been giving him, Travis deserves some appreciation.

[@AceAttorny]

I think if we look at the progression in voice acting from Taako to Bud we can reasonably expect Justin's next character to be a literal mute.

[@pearlyp9898]

Well, considering how he already threw away all ridiculous naming options and decided to just straight up not name his character this time, that doesn't sound entirely unreasonable...

[@AceAttorny]

@@pearlyp9898 Well, it's a Firbolg thing that they don't really use names and let their travel companions name them without really caring about what it is. I do think it's hilarious how he chose to adhere to that lore but then went like "Ok, but what if you pick a better name?"

[@pearlyp9898]

@@AceAttorny Oh, right, that's true! I haven't really heard of firbolgs before listening to Graduation, so I didn't know. It's been cool to get reading on them now, tho, hey're a really cool race ^^

[@gormauslander]

She certainly isn't very chatty

[@Celestial.Fantasy]

Well, Amber isn’t mute but she does talk very softly

[@very_much]

So Justin just coming out of the gates with these emotions huh

[@SeymourDisapproves]

Some emotional vulnerability will do you good, Batman.

[@jodymarkgraf7625]

@@SeymourDisapproves I approve this response.

[@noobslayer731]

y'all it's been THREE DAYS and ALREADY with this amazing content!!!!! You must be a wizard of some kind.

[@cjboyo]

Travis is too good of a dm and justin is too good of a player. My soul may never recover from Graduation.

[@nanusantos1696]

Cadeceus 🤝 Bud Being friend shaped.

[@kipper1668]

SURPRISE! Justin made the most popular character again!

[@alienpupy]

i really want to hug your bud he looks so sOMFT

[@alinorafoster]

why is he a big honkin rabbit man, and why do I love this design decision so much

[@SanderGoldman]

Its not officially how Firbolgs look, but its how Critical Role has decided firbolgs look and I trust them.

[@JesseNapalm]

There's very little official art for what a firbolg is, and IIRC they used to be more of just a wild human in previous editions. That leaves them open for a lot of interpretation. It's probably why fanart for firbolg characters ranges from cows to horses to camels to rabbits.

[@dorkinabubble7772]

Oooh! That makes sense now. I read up on em on dnd wiki, but it said they’re basically giant buff blond dudes? I was like where are the noses coming from bruh? Gonna check out those designs now 😋

[@D3niz3n]

I accept your bud design wholly and completely

[@morganbeverlyhoover1587]

Justin McElroy did not have to go and break my heart like that

[@Khandrake]

i always say justin isn't the best at just casual wittiness but goddamn does he do the best writing and prep work every time. also muthfukin character voices

[@Coolhandkelpy]

This was the moment that sold me on Graduation. I was like k, I’ll like this

[@LemonMoon]

Woah is this the first graduation animatic?

[@ash-fz3tw]

I think it’s the second one? Someone did Bud’s introduction

[@fruitymag00]

NO ONES TALKING ABOUT THE TINY SAD SCARED PEGASUS BABY VOICE TRAVIS DID THAT SHIT HAD ME IN TEARS MAN

[@AceAttorny]

Justin selling me on Bud.

[@Hjernespreng]

He's seen many summers. He's not a bud!

[@AceAttorny]

Feel like he's gonna be a Bud, tho, my dude.

[@ninjabacon4986]

Somehow Justin always makes the best characters and get the best rp. He’s just great at it

[@ivemadeahugemistake712]

I absolutely adore the way you drew the Pegasus thank you so much

[@LilyTheSmol]

Not gonna lie, I wasn't immediately invested in Justin's character like I usually am when he introduces them, but this is the scene that sold me on him

[@Companion92]

Love what Justin does with his voice

[@pvolteminq2477]

the mcelboys NEED to see this... cant wait for graduation to get more fan animatics!

[@Octaviobenavides2214]

it’s only the first episode and it’s already made me emotional can’t wait to see where this goes

[@SunnyTheOpossum]

Ahhhhhh this was my favorite TAZ Grad animation I’ve seen so far ;w:

[@gravitypoor9504]

you are truly doing gods work by drawing such a perfect boy

[@WellOkaythen.]

My favourite scene, bless your heart.

[@paxcallow]

i dont know how justin mcelroy made me cry thirty minutes into the first episode of the campaign but damn did he do it

[@kkheelies8314]

this is so lovely and i love this design for him! what a big softie... thank u sm

[@loglog1954]

Ughhh it’s so sweet

[@stevead2560]

Best moment 100%

[@Ella-The-Poet]

This is so soft and beautiful and I want to watch it forever

[@sqwooshh]

This is so soft I'm about to cry

[@beffjorky1882]

This is so cute!! You captured this emotional scene wonderfully!

[@misspurrheart]

i'm gonna be honest this is my favorite design for bud so far

[@mint2740]

IT HAS BEGUN

[@bitter-bit]

I love this

[@mads9545]

this is adorable!

[@jodymarkgraf7625]

My favorite scene so far. Just lovely!

[@zeppomichael]

STOPPP IM CRYIN

[@Nick-vk4gw]

Best version of Dr.Mushrooms I've seen

[@maddie6560]

WOW YOU WORK FAST

[@zeppomichael]

HES SO FRIEND SHAPED

[@ToniMikaBaier]

Excuse me? How? Already? This is incredible!

[@agod7207]

I still keep tearing up. This seen is so sweet

[@TheLumpyspacequeen]

WOW that was fast! Amazing job!

[@graysondagent7721]

Ya did a good thing here

[@amberpdavis]

MY HEART

[@punkitt]

This shit made me cry in the car. I was, uh, driving on the freeway at night, so that wasn't a good moment to start crying, but my point still stands. I am in love with Bud and nothing will ever change that.

[@jjju3]

Bud was the only one I hadn't gotten an image of in my mind but yknow what this is it you did it you got it in one you perfected character design

[@elizabethfernandez6682]

I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING

[@theeverlastingwhy8356]

op i would give my life for this animatic

[@clain_es]

I LOVE THIS MAN SO HECCING MUCH

[@UsotheMarshmallow]

aaaa this is fantastic and wonderful and i love it so muuuch

[@fox.10]

CRIES

[@ethanhale9197]

Great job!

[@jenj1639]

I'm FINE this is FINE

[@awarghhhh]

oh my GODDD

[@PeaceOfArt7]

I LOVE THIS SM

[@maddie6560]

also i love it

[@blindseeing]

Mood

[@madebymelz7702]

This had me crying

[@ameliarunchey5503]

Idk what this is in reference to (if any) but it's lovely.

[@Cheezebox725]

It’s a Animation of the adventure zone, a dungeon and dragons podcast,

[@ameliarunchey5503]

Oh cool! I just started listening to it :)

[@rainbowzebra361]

My friend thought the pegasus was a goat, so she has decided to call her Goat

[@RPGTales]

Nice.

[@bearfamous_]

Everyone who cuts it before the music is a criminal

[@Emma-yn9op]

Sobs

[@elishapablo1637]

whoa this is fast my dude!

[@TaylorWilkz]

Oh no. It's too cute. You're too good. I'm phoning the police.

[@moemoetheclown7996]

My Life is good now :ó)

[@nahyutarightsactivist]

I LOVE BUD AND YOU

[@fishy658]

owo

[@luxiqui]

That man?,, he is friend shaped,,

[@sethscaringe]

you probably get this question a lot but i have tried so hard... looked through so many videos and reviews and i simply haven’t found a free editor for animatics... what do you use?

[@loganwalsh1729]

what dnd campain is this from? I wanna watch it

[@SanderGoldman]

The Adventure Zone!

[@origami4542]

I made it 69 comments you're welcome

[@magicman9218]

"idk why Justin's characters look so cuddly" ........ like y'all haven't seen a chibi version of slenderman or whatever. You can draw anything cute