The Adventure Zone Finale Animatic - Magnus' Ending

Big spoilers! A storyboard that I've been working on since the finale came out (and probably still work on haha). It was amazing, the Mcelroy family have created something truly magical that I will treasure forever.

[@Zerina204]

Knowing now that this interaction is based off what Travis wants to say to his mom makes this scene hit that much harder. You did a really great job with this animatic. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cry about this ding dong podcast.

[@grayskysunshine9878]

WoopsyDoodles hey, I’m still new to the taz and mbmbam fandom, could you possibly elaborate? Unless it’s a sensitive subject

[@samr8889]

Cosmic Blast They talk about it at the last behind the scenes episode of the balance arc : 3

[@rachelm.4741]

Knowing that Julia is based on Travis' mom (and also on his wife, if I recall), hearing Travis/Magnus say "I tried to make you proud" hurts my heart every time.

[@thiccastley203]

"Well, he said he was a cleric, we could never be sure..."

[@endrgirl6630]

I cried, but then I just laugh every time she says "Wha- No the dogs made it!", and then Clint and Justin just laugh in the background

[@tailsfox45]

That moment is so sweet because Travis, like all the rest of us, was actually crying during this part (And basically the whole ending; Griffin edited a lot of it out but you can tell when Travis talks) and I feel like that just made the moment so much more genuine. Like, it was between Griffin and Travis and between Magnus and Julia at the exact same time. Ugh I'm crying.

[@rychu6101]

and im crying again thnx no joke the "magnus rushes in" bit at the end always genuinely makes me sob

[@isbammoi3358]

I know right! Like, f*ck! 😭😭😭😭💙

[@nikkithompson854]

SAAMMEEE 😢❤😢

[@MoralsInSongs]

I cannot even begin to tell you the depths of emotion this moment reached when Griffin took the "Magnus rushes in" motif for Magnus, which usually denoted that Mags was reckless and didn't really care about what happened to his life, and applied it to this beautiful calm moment in the afterlife after he's died peacefully surrounded by friends.

[@ellioteden5602]

"Magnus rushes in" is a sleeper cell phase that makes everyone cry

[@vastravioli]

So I lost my fiance a little over a year ago and hearing this just makes me feel so bittersweet. I love this story and I could listen to it and just cry because it's so comforting and nice~

[@hardwirecars]

I lost my one true love 15 years ago to a drunk driver and every time i see this it is so bittersweet its like this is sad but i also hope this is how i meet Leann in the after life. ah shit ninjas are cutting onions as im typing this. just so you dont feel bad or nothing just remember. it will never be ok it just gets easier.

[@radiantburrito]

Don't mind me. Just crying.

[@DaWasklyWabbit]

RadiantBurrito got space for one more?

[@radiantburrito]

Waskerz There is room for everyone on this emotional rollercoaster.

[@StormWxtcher]

I'm not crying. You're crying.

[@DaWasklyWabbit]

I'm not crying, I just got these tear- i mean water all over my face.

[@megciftci9187]

RadiantBurrito Me too friend, me too

[@raisedbybears1991]

Every time I listen to this scene or I watch an animatic of it, I get all teary. But, the moment that gets me every time is "...Well, he *said* he was a cleric. We could never be sure." That's when I fucking cry.

[@nexelray3207]

Otis Murdoch Was is because it fit so well to end with that? As he smiled and rushed inside?

[@themanwithacrumpet]

The little choked up nasaly sound at 2:21 gets me everytime

[@lolgurl4life34]

"As Magnus rushes in." *Me curled up on the floor sobbing* This part made me so happy! I love Magnus!

[@alohalyon6643]

The expressions when Jullia said "I was hopping you'd compliment the joints" was perfect! All the expressions were perfect!

[@isbammoi3358]

So I was all sad and stuff when I was first listening to this, puffy eyed, sniffling, just recovering from, "How does Magnus die?" But I was handling the feels pretty well, and then Griffin grade A jerkbutt goes "And we see you, one last time, as Magnus, rushes in." And low and behold cue the gross bubbly sobbing, snot down the nose into the mouth, dehydration headache and up till 2 am. F*ck man, I break every time I hear that last line. The music, everything. Your animation didn't just do this scene justice, it made it 10 times the marvel it already was. Bravo ❤

[@noisepollution4473]

I TuesdayReference I Yeah, this scene made me bawl in that loud, uncool way that people in movies never do. I couldn't have asked for a better ending, and the animatic is beautiful.

[@tylerbarnes8105]

I TuesdayReference I I

[@bitchtitchs]

Couldn't agree more really

[@alexvilla1443]

That was me yo that was me 😭💖

[@nikki6927]

I stayed up so late into the night to finish this, and I had to cover my face in my pillow to keep from waking my roommates when I was sobbing from this scene.

[@Gabriel-qh4yx]

Was it hard to draw with tears in your eyes?

[@artichong7972]

Legit, water tear stains on my tablet made drawing real slippery.

[@Forrestw2rs]

WHY DID THIS PODCAST MAKE ME TEARY EYED. THEY TOLD DOODY JOKES FOR PART OF THEIR RUN. Also, superb job on the animation storyboarding here.

[@dogwithacoolhat]

and they made a city entirely populated by a race of Tom Beaudets

[@SuperGreenSmartie]

"Magnus rushes in" Fuck you Griffin, that hurts ;-;

[@LemonLoverCockatiel]

Good fucking lord that killed me. Tears of happiness.

[@TevansArt]

My honey-nut feelios....

[@tailsfox45]

This is my favorite animatic for my favorite scene of the whole show. Thank you so so so much.

[@tailsfox45]

Just checking in to let everyone know that my record for not crying is 1:01. Hearing travis's voice choking up just kills me.

[@tailsfox45]

Jesus you can tell that griffin knows how much this means to travis and is being careful to make it perfect

[@landobridgeman]

"And we see you one last time as Magnus... Rushes In" Woah...

[@nschwartz311]

It doesn’t matter how many time I listen to this scene but “I tried to make you proud” is always going to get me. There were other parts when I first listened to Balance that I teared up but this scene is the only one that illicits that response from me every damn time

[@zoe_gevalt]

The "I'm sorry I made you wait" with the voice breaking a little - fucked me up.

[@foxl0res]

First time I heard this scene, I had like, some stuff on my face for some acne that was breaking out and I cried so hard that it all came off and I had to re apply it. And somehow, as I watched this, I think I cried even harder. Well done.

[@ajjerio3927]

I honestly think that Griffin could have ended the Podcast on this moment. It certainly feels like this is how he sends us off, because it is technically the last time we ever see Magnus or the boys (in the future). Granted, Junior and Fisher singing while leaving is also bittersweet for some reason, probably because it’s so beautiful that they’re both together again. I just wish balance didn’t have to end.

[@mothmanofficaltm8397]

Holy shit, wait there's more content past this episode?

[@ajjerio3927]

@@mothmanofficaltm8397 There's live shows and the wedding (which is after this particular scene). However, this is still the last episode. I'm saying that he could have ended Balance here instead of the wedding, even if it did put a nice bow on top of the whole narrative.

[@Uncle-Jay]

What some extra feels? Fisher takes JR's "hand" and leads them off because they learned it from Magnus when they saved them.

[@ajjerio3927]

@@Uncle-Jay Aw, that's adorable. I still miss the Tres Horny Boys, mostly because they flowers-for-algernoned the podcast, where every subsequent campaign never lives up to the first. It had too much soul and heart born from spontaneity in spite of corporate profits.

[@PattyO.N.Company]

No the dogs made it

[@artichong7972]

Legit, one of my favourite lines.

[@ashbrass9666]

8:38 am: I've already heard this a few times, Im not going to cry 8:39 am: [mostly incomprehensible sniffles, occasionally you hear the word 'doggo']

[@clvrblzzrd8333]

“i’ve heard stories” i feel like everyone magnus has killed gold those stories

[@jrdnnoel]

This is the only time I've cried when a character died because I was so happy for them. Being able to see Julia again was the reward Magnus had truly been fighting for.

[@magicringgirl]

I love that it ends with Magnus rushing in! Tears, so many tears!

[@UntrainableWizard]

I love every single part of this scene. Travis' voice getting more and more tearful, the relaxing way it's lay out. Tear up every time. I listened to this episode on a bus, the first time, and was forcing myself to not tear up and be the guy awkwardly crying to myself on a bus because of a podcast. lol The part where he talks about meeting Taako and Merle makes me laugh, though. "At least, he said he was a Cleric" is my favourite line of anything. lol Amazing storyboard, and I love every single frame of it. (EDIT: Animatic, sorry. I think I saw Storyboard in the descirption and wrote it by accident.)

[@trulyAmatulHaqq]

yeah i'm crying alone in my bed too, y'all

[@argoset1078]

This is the beast animatic I've ever seen for this scene. Perfect pacing to match the calm ending, with professional quality. Great job!

[@Admiral_John]

I just finished this episode today and it wrecked me... by the time he said "Magnus rushes in" I had tears streaming down my face.

[@Stongna_Bologna]

"I tried to make you proud" gets me right in the guts.

[@nakaroniii]

I'll be honest, I listen to this scene any time I really need to cry. It never fails to work.

[@Big_Emilio]

I just finished Balance today, and funnily enough I, like the MacElroys, lost my mom. Back in 2015. And I hadn't relistened to this scene after learning that they lost her, and that this exchange emulated what Travis wants to say to his mom. After watching this I am a weepy mess. But in the best way. Thank you for making an already beautiful scene that much more beautiful.

[@celineslinares2861]

MY HEART! I always start to tear up when I hear Julia's theme and by the end of this scene I'm crying. This is great! Keep up the good work.👍

[@breejohnson6441]

Well, I'll see you all in therapy

[@silverserienty9384]

God, you know the storytelling is great when you dont even know the whole story and this still makes you cry!

[@games4gays101]

Not trying to be too much of a downer so I lost my mum 10 years ago today, and I remember so clearly listening to this scene for the first time and feeling this well of emotion, this animation always makes me think about her and just....I hope she’d be proud of me too, and this little animatic gives me the hope that she would be 💖

[@MultiversePatroller1]

I'm watching so many of these finale animatics now I've heard the finale itself. i will drown in my tears and i will die happy knowing these works of art exist in the world

[@MultiversePatroller1]

Yours is top notch, @William Chong.

[@TEHFOOK]

This podcast is really a good starting point for creating an animations, because the audio medium allows for so much creativity with so much emotion behind it. anyway, thanks for making me cry.

[@andyschmeichel3809]

Hey griffin.. hey griffin why the fuck am i crying???????? Also you did an amazing job with this the expressions are gorgeous

[@nyloaf]

This is UP level of happy sadness

[@atinygayfrog]

hi! this killed me. thanks!

[@faebees5793]

I'll see you in the astral plane.

[@redhorn6090]

"well he said he was a cleric, we could never be sure" always gets a chuckle

[@user-bh6yj7df9r]

*crying because I cried when I first heard this part I was crying so hard mY EMOTIONS*

[@Happypheat]

magnus deserved way more time with Julia on any plane and you can't change my mind

[@taakotuesdays]

the last "Magnus rushes in" will never not make me cry

[@delahaven]

2:07 is the kind of love I need in my life

[@yutrio]

This scene was the scene that killed me in the finale. This was so wonderfully done thank you for these feels.

[@teejay9189]

"Magnus rushes in."

[@angelwingkat]

Six years later. Still makes me cry.

[@999murimdumplings]

Me clicking on this video: "Time to start sobbing fellas"

[@stevenhayes8796]

I can’t help but cry when I hear “magnus rushes in”

[@SirWonkotheSane]

"I tried to make you proud." "You idiot."

[@EdJonesVideos]

I don’t know if this is a thing in-universe but I like to imagine Kravitz calling around to see Julia for tea every now and again, letting her know how Magnus is doing

[@meowmeowm30w]

Drowns in my own pool of tears

[@Uncle-Jay]

This was probably one of the hardest hitting moments in this series for me. I listened to it at work when it first came out and started bawling my eyes out.

[@ExtremelyToxic]

Fun fact, humanly impossible to not tear up at this moment. In fact, most moments in the finale episodes

[@GreenKnight41]

He was always so good at rushing in! TT-TT! *Sobs*

[@lightupheelies9716]

dear lord. i had the most realistic dream that was almost exactly like this but with my grandma. Brings me to tears every time i hear this audio, and the wonderful graphics just made it so much more.

[@chaboimcchin]

A lot of animatics leave out the last part about Magnus rushing in but that's one of my favorite parts so thank you for keeping it.

[@artzetali3095]

It’s the “one last time as Magnus rushes in” that kills me

[@TheStringsOfChaos]

i was literally crying just looking at the title god damn this is so good

[@games4gays101]

I come back to this animation every few months when things get tough, thank you 💖

[@isaaccabal7054]

I cried in this part.... it was a beautiful ending...

[@dontuserachelslurs]

years later and this is still making me sob like a baby

[@CrashScreen]

That last "Magnus rushes in" gets me every time.

[@k.whatever9046]

this is making me tear up ur character designs and the way u do expressions???? god my heart

[@Gudamangipo]

I'm going to take a shower so I can't tell if I'm crying or not.

[@Harakoni404]

I listened to this for the first time the other night at work, it took all I had to not weep uncontrollably. This is epic

[@secrecy12]

Beautiful job! I'm crying this is wonderful. I hope you get to finish it :)

[@LoadingBarr]

Every so often I just come back to this moment

[@gavintownsend1]

Great job on this man, you've made a beautiful scene even more endearing.

[@cybellekaehler4627]

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. You did every bit of justice to this incredible scene and more

[@dorothyjayne6725]

uncontrollable sobbing

[@turtlebunny9386]

Beautiful thing! Especially that house, dang, you made it look perfect!

[@RealAromango]

Amazing job and it made me cry again.

[@KenzieKaddl]

This scene will never fail to make me cry, and you captured it perfectly!

[@eridianthat0nealt990]

I've watched and listened to Balance several times and I never not cry at the end

[@illustrativefae2815]

This is absolutely gorgeous! Its so detailed and the perspective and faces are greaT!

[@elliemartin507]

I'm literally crying, thanks for that. What a heartful animation, beautiful!

[@bethyh92]

youve made me cry ALL OVER AGAIN

[@k.whatever9046]

THIS IS SO GORGEOUS AAAA

[@caseyhullfish1345]

HOOO FUCK I FORGOT HOW HARD THAT LAST "MAGNUS RUSHES IN" HIT ME

[@kwetzel1998]

I swear I'm not crying ;u; This is a lovely animatic.

[@TheMenasaur]

man, this scene makes me cry every time!

[@nicolabarratt3510]

This scene will never not ruin me. A blubbing mess. You did a beautiful, beautiful job.

[@amberpdavis]

UGH this scene had me in tears, it was the perfect ending for Magnus's story. Well done on the art, your style is sweet & I love the expressions

[@games4gays101]

wow the music started and i just burst into tears wo w how did these three goofballs manage this, god bless this animation and the mcelroys forever

[@alexlee4331]

All through the finale I was thinking "I want something to make me cry". It was this scene, this feeling of bittersweet finality, that did it for me. I love this podcast to bits....its so inspiring and full of love and wisdom.

[@otagen]

friggin beautiful!!!

[@WildfireMagni]

Ow, my feels! Why must I feel so much! In other words, great jerb!

[@qualifiedtolove1027]

This scene will never fail to make me cry

[@EtherealFireflyVA]

This is just... Beautiful

[@unnoticeduniverse]

this scene never fails to make me ugly cry

[@katarzynakaminska8482]

I'ts been a while since i finished the series and just popped this aniamtic up casually and here I am, with big ugly tears on my face

[@futurecartoonist6884]

I always cry at this scene. it's so beautiful especially that line, magnus rushes in one last time.

[@shadowbrine114]

Thanks, now I'm crying