The Adventure Zone: Balance Arc Trailer (Animatic)

WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS VIDEO!
If you haven't listened to the podcast The Adventure Zone, I can not recommend it enough. I had the idea to make a trailer to this song back 6 or 7 months ago, when I was still on the Eleventh Hour. I wanted to make a trailer showing everything I loved about the Balance Arc. To quote Magnus, "It's not perfect, but it's the best I can do."
Thank you to the McElroy's for an amazing adventure. TAZ has made me laugh, cry, and has inspired me so much. I feel like it will have a very special place in my heart for a long time.
Song: Suns and Stars by Really Slow Motion
Audio: The Adventure Zone
Art: / artisticazurite
/ azurite-draws

[@happybookbee]

this made me hear the faint tremor in griffin’s voice when he says my favorite words “you’re going to be amazing” which just adds so so so much to the quote and i love this???

[@albigalloway4481]

Reminds me of his voice saying "there's magic, in a bard's song"

[@jordienoel5542]

This quote forever. About 6 years before TAZ was even a thing, I had a dream about a very close friend who had recently passed away suddenly. He told me that everything was going to be okay, took my face in his hands, and kissed me on the forehead, then beamed down at me, “You’re going to be amazing.” So when someone who didn’t didn’t even know about that dream told me that I had to listen to this podcast and sent me this trailer, I just started bawling. I had this very deep intimate connection with TAZ before I even started listening.

[@-Niks-]

@@jordienoel5542 maybe its like destiny? Yeah like that. Also have a nice day.

[@yourlocalchaosgoddess]

@@jordienoel5542 Reading this legitimately made me cry, have nice day.

[@jordienoel5542]

@@-Niks- Every now and then I’ll find things that are like him waving at me. I like to think of it as his body is gone, but the bond remains unbroken.

[@SniperkingSogeking04]

My favorite part is when Taako is in the middle of his Character Development rant and as he says he has a beating heart, we see the Umbra Staff write "LUP" on the wall.

[@sirbush5319]

Wait shoot I just realized that, sweet Jesus, tell me that was on purpose.

[@cscotch1127]

@@sirbush5319 Well, think about that Lup quote. "I love Barry with all my heart, but Taako. Taako, you *are* my heart. You know that, right?"

[@verdantViridity]

"You... are my heart. You know that, right?"

[@mastermindbastard6654]

Person: why on earth would you listen to other people play dnd?? Me through tears but with passion: HE DIDNT WANNA FORGET HER FACE Person: wtf Me: SHE HAD TO PRETEND THAT SHE HADNT KNOWN THEM FOR CENTURIES person: are you okay?? Do you need help Me: MAGNUS STILL BLAIMS HIMSELF FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HER person backing up slowly: ....okay Me: .....JUNEBUG

[@Ajehy]

Me, sitting beside you: THEY BECAME A TREE BECAUSE OF LOVE! Person: Oh god, now there’s two of them!

[@meyramerah]

HE WASNT FORGOTTEN

[@cassievining2955]

I remember reading this comment before watching TAZ and being confused, and now I'm here just crying along as I read this

[@kofimoon-vv-8279]

@MCFinalNinja FTW don't forget There's Angus... MCDONALD

[@dontuserachelslurs]

DAVENPORT!! TT_TT

[@Miranda-ph5dt]

when i hear griffin say "flying tirelessly from the storm" i just lose it every time

[@djmccarthy4859]

"I saw 7 birds..." I love the story telling from griffin, he's awesome

[@ajjerio3927]

@@djmccarthy4859 I love the fact that the whole concept for the seven birds came from the seven parrots in MBMBAM. He took that one lady's birds and made it into a whole prophecy.

[@chiangyorange9511]

Hello hi yes, do you ever just cry

[@Nepeta-Leijon]

chiangy oranges yup

[@bulksquatthrust8792]

No.

[@GippyHappy]

Constantly

[@Nova-jw6ju]

There are three kinds of people

[@leebassett481]

Yes

[@oligb1469]

I've comeback to this over the years and still Merle saying "you can apologise to me and tell me you were wrong" that with the swell of the music always gives me goosebumps and the widest smile possible

[@nesterChubat]

"I have a beating heart" at Lup's name...right in the emotions.

[@claudit.3146]

Yepp!! Right in the feels!! X( My poor heart, aaaaahhh ...

[@athenaoliver1985]

i showed this to my friend (who had no intention of listening to taz beforehand, i had told her about it and she thought it sounded kinda lame) and she instantly said "oh that looks really cool! i like fantasy type stuff, im going to listen to that". then me, her, and two other friends (one of which already listened to taz) got into dnd, me and one of those friends are writing our respective campaigns, and we play dnd every friday. so you started some kind of weird butterfly effect with this trailer, but basically what im trying to say is it’s fantastic

[@ApprenticeNick]

I have sort of the opposite problem: most of my friends love playing D&D, but none of them want to listen to podcasts about it when they could just be playing it instead.

[@signedzulu7637]

Garaway well... are they wrong? (Not going against TAZ just that DnD is extremely fun)

[@djmccarthy4859]

I have just started playing dnd this year (not exactly, started at the end of 2019), and I have no objections to what you said, only agreement, My friend even told me to listen to this and holy shit, I've listened to the whole campaign like 6 times, it's the best thing ever.

[@tellyteal7873]

The part where he says “I have a beating heart!” And it shows Lup’s flaming name? I about cried,, It reminded me so much of *’Taako, you are my heart. You know that?’*

[@silverfang772]

honestly? out of all the animatics ive seen for taz? i think this one is my favorite because _goddamn holy shit this is good and im definitely not crying after watching the full thing_

[@gradyoneill4987]

Silver Fang ...Same

[@finlaymonygomery4328]

I'm not crying you're crying

[@synnodic]

I weep. 😭 Four nerds who played D&D so hard they made themselves cry indeed.

[@shayeherman5919]

i can't think of anything else that would be better suited to representing this amazing podcast. the beginning, humorous and light, and then as the music swells and the relationships they've built are shown and each of their personal philosophies shine through, and ending on the tres horny boys holding their weapons to the sky. seriously, this is incredibly well done. i'm showing this to all my friends who haven't seen the adventure zone to try to get them to listen to it

[@MissFishyBusiness]

i show them the one the guys put together and then show them this lol.

[@flairhayden]

I refuse to let anyone I meet live without at least letting them know this *fucking* podcast exists. I've never been so moved by anything in my life, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[@freshlybakedsporks]

beautiful! And "I have a beating heart" right over the image of Lup's name on the wall????? perfect!

[@adriennefundy6087]

UGAS;KLDJDKJJ THIS

[@antikinetic]

I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

[@jodymarkgraf7625]

Oh, the FEEEEEEEEELS!!!

[@TheAlchemicFox]

I love everything about this. Brilliant work.

[@terror0earth]

Justin is so beautiful This was my first introduction to the brothers TAZ After listening to MBMBAM I realised how much I loved Justin He’s such a sweetheart and so kind And it makes me love Taako so much more

[@gunsoup9530]

Randy Kothakonda justin mcelroy protection squad

[@jodymarkgraf7625]

I'm with you 1000%. ALL of Justin's characters are so solid. He plays with such intelligence--would love to have a conversation with him IRL.

[@mollyjaneleblanc]

hey uh i didnt get a permission slip for this FEELS TRIP

[@sassycc1558]

the flashes when Lup is saying "I'm not going to the one who pulls the trigger on an entire civilization" just always ruins me every time because... god... look how far they've come...

[@francisc8711]

I haven't had goosebumps like this since Episode 66 (The Stolen Century ending).....bravo....just.....bravo

[@robinleewatson3684]

Seeing the line “I have a beating heart!” paired w/ LUP burned into the wall hit me so hard. I’ve never seen it done like that before and I just want to tell you how incredibly powerful and meaningful that is. Phenomenal job on this animatic. Absolutely incredible.

[@BT-ve1hd]

This is absolutely fantastic! It's the best balance of wit and heart and goofs. The timing is great. The music choice is amazing. In the immortal words of Leslie Knope, "It's perfect. I'm going to watch it every day and when I die I'm going to project it on my tombstone." Thank you for your hard work!

[@zhilemon923]

"If we ever meet together in in infinity, you can apologize and tell me _you were wrong_ " It gives me chills every time

[@calelian_]

Listen. I will hit that replay button for the millionth gotdamn time and still get chills when the music swells or when Lup appears. I will still tear up at “I saw seven birds” and cry at “You’re going to be amazing.” I could watch this video as many times as there are lives on this planet and never stop feeling because of it.

[@kaycee7897]

This is the most beautiful animatic for The Adventure Zone I have ever seen in my life. The animation itself is beautiful, the specific scenes you chose fit so well and it's amazing. I honestly can't watch this without getting very emotional because this is 2:52 representing a podcast that changed my life in such a beautiful way. Thank you for creating this.

[@ZeonTwilight]

Thank you for giving me a TAZ gateway drug

[@whatkindofnameisella682]

Holy FUCK. THE HYPE WAS WELL DESERVED. This was such a throw back and it made me so emotional to look back on the entire adventure we've all been on! Great job on the animatic itself as well! All of the imagery was so suiting to the context; this animatic is simply amazing!

[@hannahrohlfing7898]

It opens with static. Idk if that was intentional, but if it is, than BRILLIANT

[@signedzulu7637]

I haven’t even listened to TAZ... and I’m so enthralled by it already

[@jaybiffle5183]

Is it bad I'm about to cry at how amazing this is? Encapsulates the podcast amazingly

[@smoggy6849]

This hits so hard especially if you just finished TAZ

[@voxmachinas]

have you tweeted this at any of the boys yet? cause holy shIT DUDE IT’S SO GOOD

[@tinypinetree8909]

*NO I AM NOT CRYING SHUT UP*

[@savemeaspoon6310]

I didn't expect to cry over these guys again. Thank you. This was phenomenally well done, my friend, honest to god got me in tears

[@BasilSquid]

I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

[@anevenbluerjay]

Your designs for these characters are my absolute favorites out of all the ones I've seen. Every single one of them, Lup in particular.

[@LemonScentedSharpie]

GOOD TRAILER!!! I'm happy and crying at the same time.

[@myrmidion44]

God dammit, why can't I like this video twice. I've rewatched this like eight times by now, my dude, this is really truly spectacular. Thank you so much for making this.

[@gonchuits]

The back half of this series gets so real. Having just finished the balance arc, I can say with the upmost certainty that The Adventure Zone has grown to something incredibly profound. It may have started with 4 guys messing around in a DnD game, but it grew to so much more than that. It became a grand tale of characters I was genuinely invested in, with amazing messages that left an impact on me that I can't describe. It could be Griffin's incredible world building, or how seriously the others took their character development, but this series will now and forever stick out in my mind as an inspired and monumental tale.

[@gwenhyfarbeati]

my breath caught when "lup" appeared on screen when taako said the word "heart". it was such a beautiful parallel to when lup said taako was her heart.

[@ghostlybumblebees5911]

This is amazing. I just finished listening to the balance arc( I know I’m really late) and I might have geared up a little watching this

[@christyre6742]

I’ve never loved something so much that I still get emotional every time I see anything from it. Thank you for contributing to the fan base T-T

[@cooperwilliams2595]

I'm bawling my eyes out, holy cow this was amazing

[@natsuoyukikae8209]

the mongoose rant over him seeing lup's name in the wall with has me crying that's so perfect

[@tristonanan]

I've watched this multiple times, and yet every goddamn time I cry. You did an amazing job on this. If I wanted to show someone the podcast and get them into it, I'd send both the offical trailer the boys got put together and this one. This, even though it was just one person and not completely animated, shows the heart of the TAZ fandom. There is something so personal about your take on a trailer that gets to me.

[@audreyhall137]

Aaaaaaaaaah this makes me so happy I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS FROM THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART

[@paperghosttt]

yooo this is frikin chills city over here. "i have nothing, and i don't give a shit. the world is ending and i. don't. care." combined with THAT music really got me right in my feels. and you draw all the characters so well i love it!!!

[@KuroNoKiri]

Oh boy, right in the feels. Here I was, thinking "oh, another funny TAZ animatic" but look at me, getting all teary eyed. Amazing job 💛💛💛

[@thetyrant764]

god this is so good you're amazing, the merle and john scene gives me goosebumps every single time

[@SwerveStarEx]

I don't know if I could call this a "trailer" because it shows off a ton of the most climactic moments and plot twists. However, the entire thing is, in the words of Istus, amazing. ^^ Excellent work.

[@joshuacorrigan5230]

this is amazing it captures both sides of balance the amazingly funny and dramatic beautiful moments

[@MichaelWacht]

The Balance arc is my favorite piece of media, and your gorgeous, thoughtful animatic reminds me why. You did an amazing job on this video. I hope you're still proud of it. And I hope you make another. "Thanks, good boy." -Merle

[@Arkraiden]

This was amazing! I saw the preview to this on Twitter a bit ago and I'm so glad that I found it on KZbin! The timing to the music was good, great balance of the silly and more serious parts of the story there to show how TAZ is, and I love the designs you gave them!

[@eramina9246]

I legit want to cry, this animatic actually brings out a lot of the things that made me so emotional and made me fall so in love with TAZ. It’s a pretty freaking great animatic my guy, good job.

[@KaeFrost]

I finished balance today, and I was bawling my eyes out. This video is absolutely beautiful and now I'm crying all over again. Fantastic job.

[@WildfireMagni]

That's a hi-five in the face for Merle and a hi-five in the feels for me!

[@theheartbrokenloofah]

This is such a beautiful trailer! Some iconic scenes and your fantastic illustrations all mashed together so, so well. This gave me shivers, and brought a tear to my eye, thank you!

[@beastialmoon2327]

God, this is - this is beautiful. Perfectly edited audio and wonderful visuals to boot. What an incredible job. NGL, I wept. It's so gooooood.

[@ulrike4852]

this so amazing i almost cried?? ur illustrations??? the epic music??? omg

[@blankspacrmazard]

I'm not even joking when I say I watched this before I even knew what this podcast was and I still got so emotional during it but now that I listened to the podcast.. This is 10x worse! Amazing work!

[@plutototoh]

I got tingles the whole way through, absolute goosebumps, and then started crying at the end. The snapshots you chose to show of the adventure and the way you've shown them was absolutely beautiful. This was so, so, so good

[@crowsarewatching540]

holy shit i come back to this video all the time because it always. makes me. cry. EVERY. TIME. without fail ahaksldodfolf i love balance

[@obi1kenobyebye965]

i was sitting here with a quivering lip and tears welling up and then "you're going to be amazing" just broke me and im crying this is incredible

[@obsidiandragon6983]

This damn video has made me cry five times and relisten to all of Balance twice. Thanks!

[@Thiefree]

and they were. they were amazing. I'm fine and NOT crying

[@whipkrash]

Every time I hear the “I find joy in whatever I do” speech from Merl I legitimately start choking up

[@juliehornsleth1750]

Just re-listening to the Balance Arc and like.. This animatic always brings me to tears. Everything about it, but damn especially Merle's conversation "You can apologize and tell me you were wrong" over the rise of the music, it kiiiiiiiills me everytime T-T

[@soble5535]

This crushed my soul I'm only on episode 28 and things juust started to go south and I have just enough spoilers for this video to hit me like a ton of bricks good art too

[@longlivechips5025]

Dude takkos "I have a beating heart speech" over the LUP kitchen scene was 😭😭😭 beautiful. It was such a good tone shift moment.

[@poeticcinema5857]

Absolutely stunning. This made me feel an unplaceable emotion that I haven't felt in years. I remember in the 11th hour when the Red Robe statue was Magnus and I remember *screaming*. This is amazing. Thank you.

[@gaaraspetfangirlkira]

hi thanks i'm crying! but seriously, thank you so much for this gorgeous tribute, i love this song and i first heard it while listening to taz for the first time so i always kind of connected the two in my mind and i'm so glad that someone used it in exactly the way i imagined it being used

[@c0ttonberries]

I'm not even in TAZ fandom, I haven't listened to TAZ at all and I only know what my friend has told me,,, and thisnis magnificent

[@cassievining2955]

I've watched this about a million times and it's only just occurred to me that the picture of the seven of them is in the background of the shot during the line "I saw seven birds." This video gets better every time I see it.

[@StoryAndSong1]

It’s so insane that all of this actually happened

[@soaringred882]

My friend got really in to this and she made me watch this trailer over and over again and I was kinda just like “ok” and now like 6 months later or something I’ve finished the balance arc and I’m ready to watch this with a new set of eyes

[@criicket235]

This is so incredible, thank you for this beautiful art and incredible editing! Taz is such a great show and this animatic/trailer really does it justice!

[@givowl2160]

I'm having Emotions this is incredible! ;_; You put a lot of work into this and it really shows!!

[@misch3095]

this is such a great accomplishment, its obvious how much work you put into it and its so excellent!! thank you for sharing this!!

[@heckingcrisuwu2831]

I SAW YOUR WIPS IN A DISCORD AND I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOUR CHANNEL SINCE. I’VE BEEN BLESSED.

[@f-lorui]

thank you for making this beautiful piece of art

[@spaceykassy1727]

Oof right in the feels! Thank you for spending the time to make this, it's amazing, and all encompassing of the Balance Arc. I daresay this is a masterpiece!

[@blackbirdsfolly9404]

thank you for making me cry over this goddamn podcast even more than i already have. truly, you’ve made my night.

[@childofthemoss]

This is so beautiful! I cried. You made me cry. I love how you ended the trailer with the pose on the TAZ cover. It’s such a beautiful and clever thing to add. AAAAGH I LOVE IT SO MUCH

[@lailadagger7698]

Chills. CHILLS I TELL YOU!! this is beautiful thank you

[@lydiah12]

Beginning with the static was a great touch and it just got better and better as it went on! Beautiful work!! P.S. - Add "I genuinely love your shenanigans" to the list of lines that are more heartrending in hindsight

[@TheAnnab311a]

This is perfection. Complete and utter perfection.

[@wafflesoflight]

This is honestly one of the most incredible and moving piece of art I've ever seen it captures how I felt the first time I listened to balance and I just can't tell you how much this means to me. I've seen it like a dozen times now and I cry every time 🖤 thank you so much

[@trumby]

Oh my god this is sooo good! Such a good sampling of so many amazing points in the show and your art style is just.. *chefs kiss*

[@LeaBeans]

This is too perfect, too beautiful, you picked such amazing moments to capture. This encompasses so much of what makes the podcast so amazing. I literally just got done listening to it for a third time beginning to episode 69, (I may have a problem,) and this is a gorgeous piece you've made.

[@MultiMorgyPorgy]

Why the fricketty fuck am I crying 1.26 into a goddam trailer about a goddam podcast.

[@whispechoes]

This is so good! Touches on so many points of the podcast, and I like your choice of music, too.

[@Nuclearturtles]

Oh wow this is absolutely amazing!!! I love this so much! You are fantastic!

[@CrypticCrows]

Hey Azu, I legit cried. Bless this animatic.

[@secondjadeoflan]

This is absolutely beautiful. When the music started fading in I got teary-eyed

[@katherinenarratesherart7078]

This is spectacularly well done

[@HannahClarkgreencupcakes]

This is so so sooooo incedible!!! So beautifully done! THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS!!!

[@postieyeet]

Smiling and crying through this entire video, so well done!

[@sephirothjenova1200]

This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for making this. God I love Adventure Zone so much

[@0GlassOfAcid0]

This is one of the first podcast I ever listen too, it made me change and made be a better person who now sees a whole different spectrum. A bunch of guys, playing a campaign 5th edition dnd game made me cry so hard at a brilliant master peice that they made togather.

[@shiisiln6122]

This is wonderful!! I've been waiting for the full version and it's so good man, it's so good. ;_;

[@Lee-vn8xg]

This is so amazing and so gorgeous, it absolutely gave me chills. Well done!