The Adventure Zone Animated Opening

Maddy Hicks (backgrounds, compositing, 3D) / teamrtist
Emerson Zandegu (character design and animation)
/ zandegoop
/ zandegoop
Song used: Wonderland Round Three - Griffin McElroy
Hi! We’re Emerson and Maddy, and this is a project we completed as a part of RMIT’s Animation and Interactive Media course. We were tasked with creating an opening sequence, and we decided to create an animated opening for our favourite podcast, The Adventure Zone.
We used Paint Tool SAI for the backgrounds, Adobe Animate CC for character animation, Maya for the 3D dice, and then composited using Adobe After Effects!
Thanks to Travis McElroy for giving us permission to use the characters, audio, and world of TAZ in our project.
Check out The Adventure Zone on Maximum Fun:
www.maximumfun.org/shows/adven...

[@EmersonZandegu]

HI EVERYONE! thank you so much for your support on our project, we are so so stoked that you all love it this much! BUT i just wanted to say - if you like the backgrounds, the colours, the dice, the parallaxing - go direct your lovely compliments to maddy @ teamrtist.tumblr.com/ !! that was all her contribution to the project, not mine, and she deserves lots of love & recognition for her amazing work ❤️

[@baroncosmos6545]

which track did you use in this? i'm pretty sure it's from the Suffering Game arc but i can't remember what the song was!

[@Nomzilladraws]

It's Wonderland Part 3

[@StrawberryNUKE]

Yo can I suggest doing one for The Unexpectables?

[@Pope2501]

Skinny Mister Awesome! Congratulations on this success! I have two questions: 1. Why did you opt to use this piece instead of the extended opening theme? 2. I thought Taako was a gay, male elf. Why is he dressed and made-up with a teenage, female human's ensemble?

[@historieman]

John-Paul Mitchell Taako can wear whatever he wants, and looks good in it tbh. Also if I remember correctly Griffin called Taako a man and Justin had some objection to it, but I don't know if that's an objection to being called a man like a human or man like male.

[@lawrencemacintosh5783]

That dice drop and Griffin/DM reveal moment... INCREDIBLE

[@commanderdeckard3003]

I leaned way back in my chair when I saw that out of surprise and awe, such an cool moment.

[@indiciaobscure]

I love how he looks slightly more realistic than the characters, because they are fantasy and he is reality

[@mariahseagle573]

Yes! That!

[@statelyelms]

Something about the sound while the dice are falling, the way it's cut off and clipped, just really makes it feel.. professionally made? That's what really sets the tone for it (for me) as a trailer for a TAZ TV show

[@torcoolguy]

This is, with no exaggeration, rhe best thing to happen in the Adventure Zone fandom. If you had sent this to me an said it was a preview for a TAZ show on Cartoon Network or something, I would believe it 100%.

[@damordster]

I don't know about cartoon network, maybe adult swim 🤣

[@sketchycat6223]

Way too good for CN

[@securityshake]

*SOMEBODY CALL ADULT SWIM*

[@apinkgoat]

Oooh I wish!!!!

[@foamyoatmeal3021]

WISH NO LONGER KNAVES, FOR AN ANIMATED SERIES HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

[@elfberry]

My favorite part has to be the Rockport Limited bit. I love how tangible the boredom/awkwardness is while they wait for something to happen. It's such a human side of the story, despite only one of them being actually human. Oh, and the Griffin part. So cool. I've watched this so many times now... I still wish I knew what all the symbols at the end meant, though.

[@theallmightyboop4732]

Ethan Berry I think the symbols were the partial combinations of what symbols they spun on the wheel in The Suffering Game, and some iconic character moments. For Merle, the loss of his eye. Taako, the mongoose mask. And for Magnus, pretty much the entire Eleventh Hour ending. That's what I think.

[@MermaidLorelei]

@@theallmightyboop4732 I believe for Taako it was actually the loss of his looks.

[@crappydoo94]

The All Mighty Boop! Magnus lost like 10 years of his life so that’s why it was an hourglass.

[@kareneatsjoey1]

@@crappydoo94 I just realized that's why the finale narrates what happens to him while everyone is still alive oh my god

[@TylerMartin]

@@kareneatsjoey1 also elves and dwarves live for hundreds of years so magnus naturally dies before them

[@jakowa894]

hot diggity shit, that is a baller animation

[@wardandson]

I JUST NOTICED MAGNUS HAS HIS NAILS PAINTED THATS THE BEST DETAIL EVER

[@ericeskola]

the line between travis and magnus blurs even more :D

[@chloec6529]

He's losing his sense of self!

[@s8nguis]

Linkachu me 2

[@samanthaharris2964]

Honestly Taako probably gave them all manicures

[@CoRLex-jh5vx]

@@samanthaharris2964 I lowkey headcanon taako as being shit at nail painting, and highkey headcanon Magnus as being really good at it, and lowkey highkey headcanon taako as being infuriated by that fact

[@emilyacton1688]

griffin’s glasses glinting like he’s an anime

[@jakefrost1221]

when fanmade stuff looks more well done than most professional big budget animated tv shows.

[@firewolf11567]

Passion > money. Money helps though. A lot.

[@Sneakysneaky88]

If the concept of an animated series of this story ever came into contact with kickstarter, the immediate concussive force of wallets hitting monitors across the globe could be the trigger of a human extinction event. Perhaps its for the better this way. But just... can you imagine it? A fan-collab to give even a sketchy keyframe visual component to an abridged version of this series? Hnnng

[@Dan-qy6zv]

@@Sneakysneaky88 Oh yeah. It would get the money. Look at the kickstarter for the Critical Role Animated Series

[@Sasha-ff5ce]

I started off in Gerblins thinking that the majority of Taako fan art was weird but now that I’ve finished season one literally any fan art of Taako that doesn’t make him look Vogue/Twink asf is just wrong

[@verdantViridity]

The biggest plot twist was getting into The Adventure Zone and finding out he didn't actually get what happened to Zacharie from OFF, it's actually, truly, honestly accurate. ...Actually, that's not true. The biggest plot twist was being spoiled about Lup and thinking that was the only big reveal.

[@MisterSynyster]

@verdantViridity I got spoiled on what sort of being Lup was and somehow got it twisted thinking she was the big bad of things. Tfw she is phantasmal and resplendent

[@emilywong8991]

THIS IS SO FUCKING BALLER

[@kalobermeyer9489]

Now imagine the deep voice at the start of each episode saying "__________ The Adventure Zone!!!" And this intro animation playing.

[@theoraclehostvessel]

Hot diggity shit

[@karabailey1349]

This is amazing. I would watch an entire tv show of the adventure zone in this art style. The music is also soooooo perfect. Keep at it, you guys are super talented.

[@BPlusPsychic]

I'd watch anything in this art style tbh

[@noxebop]

I've watched this several times as I've listened through the series and recognizing more details each time is so amazing, my most recent realization, 0:26 is their biggest rolls in the Suffering Game arc: Merle losing his eye, Taako's bad luck, and Magnus losing 10 years.

[@justsomeannoyingredpanda]

Shh, spoilers

[@blazeqzruler6253]

Watched this so many times and i never caught onto that and i feel so ridiculously stupid for not getting it, been listening since the beginning

[@GuitarSlayer136]

No matter how many years go by, how many graphic novels exist, this will ALWAYS be how I remember Balance. Thank you for that.

[@SmallHoot]

Thought I'd point out this Is literally the reason I even got into the adventure zone. Thank you so much for one of my biggest obsessions.

[@rowen9]

+

[@lilyfae7197]

This and a bunch of the other animatics! I watched them and eventually was like “Fuck I really need to watch this!”

[@ziril3972]

@@lilyfae7197 ^

[@marshall3973]

no offense but this is dope as shit

[@sapphic_sophie]

Verily!

[@pawprint6677]

Taako in the car part was probably my favorite, I loved everything about this though, it's incredible.

[@mephilesthelight4644]

Cosmic Queen I think merle on the car was a bit funny

[@themildlyupsetseal1153]

The best thing about this is that it still is pretty vauge about the events in the show unlike most fanmade intros

[@randomgooberness]

OkaAY SO THE FUCKING TWEENING AND SHADING SKILLS ARE FUCKING NUT WORTHY, thE MINOR ANIMATION MAKES IT LOOK REALLY FUCKING GOOD AND NOT OVER THE TOP AND TOO BUSY, THE STYLE IS ABSOLUTELY HUGGABLE, THE DICE MADE ME SCREAM, AND THE DESIGNS ARE ACTUALLY MAKING ME WANNA CRY THEYRE SO FUCKING CUTE THE MERLE IS THE FIRST MERLE DESIGN TO NOT MAKE ME NERVOUS AND THE MANGUS MAKES ME SERIOUSLY WANT TO JUST HUG THIS GOOD BEAR BOY AND TAAKO IS FUCKING KILLING IT JESUS CHRIST HES READY TO GIVE EVERYONE WHIPFLASH WITH HIS HIP MOVEMENTS I LOVE THIS SO MUC H FUCK

[@c-cubecreates4404]

Your comment captured exactly the feeling i am feeling!

[@PGT860]

randomgooberness you've made me curious, what do you mean by merle designs making you nervous?

[@randomgooberness]

Not quite sure! There are a lot of Merle designs that I love, but I dont know? I think it's my anxiety and my ADHD acting up with designs that I wanna draw that are too busy. This Merle, and all the characters here, are quite simplified and minimal and still look absolutely stunning! And the colors are very nice and calming to look at.

[@PGT860]

oh! I understand now, and absolutely agree! Most merles are quite intricate, his arm and eye and hair and proportions and whatnot being very unique. Thanks for explaining!

[@Kabber]

from this moment forward i will refer to all cool animation as "nut worthy" "hey did you see that indie film the other day?" "yeah man, the animation was nut worthy"

[@ghostyjpg]

DAMN THIS FUCKIN RULES I GOT SHIVERS

[@mangachick27]

ghostyjpg I got chills too!!!

[@cybersoybean]

I'll have you know I've watched this maybe 50 times since I came across it yesterday. That transition from the mouth of the Eleventh Hour worm to the wheel in the Suffering Game! Genius! And oh my god, tinted glasses on Merle!! I feel like you answered a question about him that no one knew existed. He's perfect, as are all your other character designs.

[@pdtulip]

I just wanna say that I saw this on Tumblr and got really into it! So much so that I finally looked up what The Adventure Zone was... and I was so super thrilled to find out it's actually the McElroy boys and father! I only recently got into their content, and didn't know they also had a D&D podcast... So thank you very much for making this!

[@pdtulip]

Check out mcelroyshows.com for all their podcasts!! Really, I only know them from MBMBaM and Polygon~

[@jang2186]

how much money do you need to make the rest of the show we got you kickstarter go fund me change dot org we'RE DOING THIS

[@rachelspellman75]

Jesse Yang YES

[@clockworkknight2677]

Jesse Yang HELL YES PLEASE

[@allys.8629]

Pleeeeaaaasssseeeeee

[@katiemorison7969]

Mrs. Officer and Mr. Truffles would like to know: your location

[@devonpalmer5273]

this fuckin owns????

[@stefbz4405]

The entire video is so amazing but that dice drop literally gives me shivers every time i watch it

[@lisarodjer4898]

Hey noah fence but Why can't I like a video more than once

[@moabShirts]

bruh this Taako........... i love this Taako

[@muff9970]

Grass Tastes Bad Yeah he is, I find this design too feminine to accurately convey he is male. Other than that, this is beautifully done.

[@moabShirts]

Taako was created as a male elf wizard, but as the show started to gain traction, people portrayed them however they wanted to. The brothers and Clint didn't want to give any canonical definitions of what they looked like, so technically any portrayal (including one that could be deemed "too feminine to accurately convey he is male") is technically acceptable

[@oleander7635]

Victoria K. He's canon feminine and androgynous described in the show tho

[@caroltaylor5861]

Paul Benson it's a sickly pale and bad taako but these designs are good otherwise

[@starrats444]

Victoria K. he wears a skirt in the show this isn't some manly guy

[@Crucifen]

Now that Im caught up with TAZ this animation hits me double hard. Like christ this is such an epic campaign and I like it so much Id honetly love to see it imagined into a full fledged show in this art style! Lovvve this

[@YumYum959]

Ugh that graphic match between the purple worm's mouth and the wheel, such subtlety and respect

[@octofreckles152]

Absolutely stunning! The timing to the music (great choice btw) is fantastic and I love each character design ---plus the transitions are so smooth like the spinning of the worm teeth to the spinning of the wheel its clever and makes it flow so nicely seriously amazing job

[@paige1064]

This is like mesmerizing I've been playing this over and over

[@wilburreid1950]

That figure on Taako, daaaaamn boi!

[@tinytoychihuahua7306]

I love this, Taako is so pretty

[@clottedscream]

Okay so I kind of have a giant crush on your Taako

[@jade-nl3cs]

Clotted Scream big same

[@fisherjam5182]

Fucking mood

[@therodentman]

bruh im sending this to everyone i know who listens to this podcast.

[@carltonjohnson2977]

arin hanson's dick

[@thequeerishere9662]

_arin hanson's dick_

[@nataliasolis1616]

this is the best thing I have seen in my entire existence, I will watch a show, a movie, a freaking 18 hour long documentary of this thing. Taz is the best thing in the planet, and this is just gorgeous

[@InvisibleInque]

I just wanted to say that with the announcement of the animated show, this is the first iteration that popped into my head. I hope it looks as good and as smooth as this!

[@Inkblotchy]

hoooooollllyyyy shit the style the animation the colours it looks stunning and so smooth WOW

[@kieranczyzyk5264]

Yoooo this camera work is SO GOOD! I love the shot of the worm that turns into wonderland then the camera turns around heck yeah!!! Wooo!!!!

[@Ursarctos2]

FUUUUUUUUUUCCKKK THIS IS GOOD Also, I may or may not be in love with your take on Taako. Just fyi.

[@00Clank]

Jaxks gave us the opening the show would have received in the late eighties. Skinny Mister gives us the opening that would happen today.

[@clayquartz3]

Because of this animation, I binged the entire podcast and I'm all caught up now! It's so good and this is so good! AMAZING

[@BubuBORG]

KLAAAAARG!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jammygitz]

Klarg with a dainty tea set = iconic.

[@uhoh7545]

Would you like some Ulam tea?

[@Turnabout]

Oolong, my dude

[@JoyAndAgony]

i've been avoiding making this comment because i keep thinking it's not very important, but i keep coming back and i gotta do it. i really freaking appreciate the little frame-by-frame 3d at 0:21

[@AnaniAnime]

The story of The Adventure Zone would make an AMAZING animated show! Seriously! Maybe someday...

[@SoperSlimePie]

this is the type of video you show your friends to get them into taz

[@earlgrey197]

Literally Taako's design is why I got into TAZ lol

[@alyssia7111]

I think of this video on a daily basis, it's cleared my skin and I'm free of sin. thank you.

[@a_rt_j]

I love every single frame of this, and I think that this portrayal of the crew is FLAWLESS, right down to the expressions they make throughout. This is so beautifully crafted, & I frequent this video just to use the scenes as references when I'm listening to taz

[@covenitadhd]

Hot Diggity Shit this is a Baller Ass Intro

[@MeliZbeauty]

THIS IS SO WICKEDLY COOL!!! HOLY HELL!!!

[@lucyq1445]

God I keep rewatching this because I'm obsessed. Seriously what a great job

[@jatosovietrocket21]

I remember one day just randomly seeing this in my feed two years ago and this being the reason I started listening to the podcast and loving it

[@dementomstie]

A. Mazing. As Scott Aukerman of Comedy Bang Bang would say: This gets my highest rating: C+.

[@AChimpKnockinAbout]

Sweet when is season 1 out?

[@conwool2609]

AChimpKnockinAbout well, there is apparently gonna be an animated series for the balance arc! (3 years late, I know)

[@blazeqzruler6253]

@@conwool2609 it hurts

[@thenefariousnerd7910]

I LOVE the Petals to the Metal shot, especially the way Taako’s sitting with the umbrastaff open like a parasol!

[@cabochon4287]

This got me listening to the Adventure Zone about a week ago, and now I'm hooked! This is really amazing tbh, well done to everyone!!!

[@lunely]

THIS IS THE BEST THING IVE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE I LOVE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH AND I WILL CHERISH IT FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY

[@gingerbraidgirl]

I have watched a lot of Adventure Zone fan creations, and the bar is set really high because they are all incredible. But this is my absolute favorite of any I have ever seen. I could watch it on loop (and have) for probably at least an hour. It is gorgeous. Truly, well done!

[@derryzumi909]

I'm running a TAZ Campaign for three friends of mine who haven't seen the show, and I'm showing them this to give them some teasers as to what's gonna go down! I think they're gonna love it!

[@funyonion7822]

still can't stop replaying it. nice work

[@TinyBabyGhost]

This makes me more confident in my choice of studying animation next year. This looks so amazing, it's inspiring!!

[@tinyweevilbeetle]

I watch this at least 5 times a day and it never ceases to fucking amaze me, by the way.

[@froggo_poggo]

I've had this video saved in my watch later for almost 4 years now. Every so often i come back and watch it again to be reminded of my favorite dnd podcast of all time. Truly a work of art, thank you.

[@plutototoh]

Years later, revisiting the series and I just HAD to revisit this. I get chills every time I watch it. Y'all did amazing on this 👏

[@queen_ofthecrown]

this came out on my birthday and honestly it is a GIFT.

[@Worldtraceur]

Goddamn this is fresh to death holy fuck i love it

[@8Rincewind]

This is amazing. You captured so much of the show.

[@clowndonut]

AAAAAA I LOVE THIS i love the heads bobbing in the wagon, kinda mystery skulls. also this magnus?? So so good I love him

[@fear_toxin]

I DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST BUT THIS IS AMAZING

[@jade-nl3cs]

and Peggy I KEEP SEEING YOU EVERYWHERE WTF

[@theallmightyboop4732]

DUDE YOU TOTALY SHOULD ITS SUCH A GOOD SERIES!!

[@wartygourd]

WOW !!! THE ANIMATION IS REALLY GOOD!!! THE COLORS ARE VERY BRIGHT AND I DIDN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF THE SCREEN FOR A SECOND!!! WELL DONE!!!!

[@civvignikram4905]

Every time I finish a new arc in the show I come back and watch this at least once it brings me such joy

[@carolinea3899]

THIS IS SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!! I LOVE THE TIMING AND THE ART AND JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!

[@hija-ck]

This is so fucking amazing, the music is perfect and the style is perfect, it's so you AND so TAZ , ugh I'm in love

[@Meadowlily]

Yo yo but like for real this animation made me go listen to the Adventure Zone. That was a month ago. I'm caught up now.

[@ImmaPokeYourEyeOut]

So I keep coming back to this and watching it over and over. It's so excellently done!

[@coolfish420]

I got chills from this, great job to all involved!

[@mirammon8516]

i frickin love these designs of the guys and i am now going to imagine these designs when i listen to the podcast also the animation is amazing and its planned amazingly and uuuuhhhh *brain machine broke*

[@babyslime]

I've never listened to this show before but this intro made me want to. :D Subscribing to the podcast today.

[@very_much]

This looks like the opening to a TV show and I love it so much. Amazing job!

[@EverydayVagaries]

Absolutely gorgeous!!

[@turtletango3834]

I just started listening to the podcast a week ago and I'm on "petals to the metal" I'm way into this and dedicated to start off every episode with this clip now cause its too good ❤

[@pyrrhic8867]

bOI I FEEL A L I V E

[@kloebrooks3960]

Everything about this is amazing omg

[@m1lfmanilovefishing823]

oh my gosh, i would fricking watch this to death if it was a show. honestly, this just looks so amazing, everyone who worked on it did so well. it's too good for words. the song, the character design, the _e v e r y t h i n g_. i'd pay good money for this to become a real show. i just can't stop watching. thank you for posting this. i have been blessed

[@FOSTERiscool1]

wow I can't believe John made 11 fake accounts just to dislike this video

[@HalfBlindProductions]

man this is amazing why did you make taco so attractive?

[@krzlcve]

I've seen hundreds of Taz animations and this one is still always the one I go back too, it's awesome!!! The character design and art and coring can't be beat!

[@youreallinsane]

love your designs!

[@matthewlove4082]

Have the boys seen this? I assume they have, since, if they gave you permission to use their characters and music they must have also asked you to show them the final product, but I REALLY want to see their reactions.

[@DaisyPeach]

Byakuya Togami griffin tweeted abt it yesterday!

[@makkon06]

I would watch the shit out of this!

[@beigecharley7080]

This looks so good. I could watch this for so long.

[@heart9481]

this is my absolute most FAVORITE thing now. i LOVE LOVE LOVE the character designs and how well everything fits to the music!

[@bugbearormiss]

Can you stop hogging all the talent? Some of us Normies want some!

[@RhodianColossus]

this is absolutely fantastic

[@elouisebetts1416]

This is actually one of the most beautiful animations I have ever seen. Your style, color, details, it all blows me away 😍 I hope you never stop creating!!!

[@toanethos8804]

WHAT SONG IS THIS, IT'S AMAZING!

[@EggBastion]

WHAT IS TUNE! HOW HELP IT?

[@EggBastion]

*+Wanderbrine* _11 hours ago_ The track is Wonderland: Round Three, you can find it on Griffin's soundcloud

[@toanethos8804]

Punished Zach thanks!

[@gothnilla]

I love how taako just looks extra gay 👌👌👌

[@jammygitz]

Fabulous is what he is.

[@kidneyluke]

+JamesS Until now, I thought the fandom was just retroactively depicting Taako as a girl for some reason.

[@elvinestrella5895]

Wait, is Taako a feminine dude or a masculine gal?

[@lilyhope432]

Purple Insect fem dude

[@_lll3vi4ch4n_8]

this is absolutely gorgeous

[@ericahutchinson7095]

Oh my gosh!! I love the designs and the overall tone that this has!! Amazing!

[@LunaelleSonic333]

what are the symbols on their cards?

[@amorapologist]

Itachi Uchiha big spoilers but merle's symbol references him losing his eye in the suffering game while magnus's symbol is for his crucial role in bringing the temporal challice to refuge. dk about taako's card tho -.- maybe cos he's dating death?

[@bubblynightmare8075]

existentialism bad luck = black cat I think

[@amorapologist]

oh yknow what, in that case it makes more sense if magnus's card is actually him losing a decade of his life

[@bubblynightmare8075]

existentialism how would you represent time? Yes the chalice is there but so is the gradients of a clock. I do think it's representing the lost years. It's just kind of abstract I think

[@hannahu.6220]

These are all things they rolled in Suffering Game. Taako with the skull (bad luck) Merle with the eye (losing vision/an eye) And Magnus with the clock (Getting older)