The Cat Piano

A city of singing cats is preyed upon by a shadowy figure intent on performing a twisted feline symphony.
Latest short film by The People's Republic of Animation, directed by Eddie White and Ari Gibson.
The Cat Piano features the voice of iconic Australian artist Nick Cave narrating a poem written by Eddie White. Nick Cave recorded the narration whilst in Melbourne in 2007 while on tour with his band, The Grinderman.

[@morningbell3690]

Fun Fact, one of the people that made this made the game "Hollow Knight".

[@endersoul46]

I only came to this video because they made it

[@pee1167]

Oooo I had no idea! That's so cool

[@thomastheluckyman7737]

its only a small game sold only about 3 million copies and redefined the genre

[@SomaC-7]

Yes, Ari Gibson. That is so cool, love me some Hollow Knight too 🤩

[@merydorago]

YES✨

[@mickieanimates1154]

It's astounding to me that this video has existed for over ten years and only has one million views. This is the short film that made me want to become an animator. It is CRIMINALLY underrated.

[@Studimus]

This was actually animated by one of the devs of a great game called “hollow knight” it’s great.

[@mjferroni]

Shhhhhh don’t tell them….they’ll ruin it if they find it. Now it’s our beautiful secret

[@urbanyouths]

Because it's very pretencious.

[@foldingwishes]

​@urbanyouths Pretentious? I guess if you don't know what film noir is, it could seem that way. Noir was all about style and darkness. This is more of a homage to that

[@lastlife0726]

"Smoking hookahs and smoking hookers" I just love that line from a literary perspective XD

[@cambossx1287]

The world needs more soul-driven, heartforged animation like this

[@EonityLuna]

Of all the videos I have ever seen on KZbin, this still stands out as one of the most beautiful and timeless. I could watch this again and again.

[@DicedWine]

eXAKR WTF?! WHY

[@nrishiee5231]

then you should check out the creator, ari gibson's, game project, titled hollow knight.

[@Plinko99]

Same, I find myself coming back here every year or so. Another favorite of mine is the animated story of "The Man Who Planted Trees." Though it is quite different. Still I wonder how many more hidden gems like this are on youtube. I do wish we could get a thread going in which people would list them all.

[@xXKalliganXx]

This deserves much, much more recognition than it has, remarkable and truely wonderful animation.

[@varixnart]

I clicked this expecting an adorable cat playing the piano.. that is not what I found..

[@MsScarletwings]

XD there's a very bold difference between piano cat and cat piano!

[@TottenLovesDrawing]

lmao same but it turned out to be something different lol

[@cocolover1237]

Same imo

[@anarkittyuwu3738]

Not gonna lie, I thought it was going to be something funny

[@anajaimes4420]

I remember seeing this in Highschool, now i find out that Ari Gibson is the lead art director of Hollow Knight, one of my favorite games.

[@nagalutaw-lutawsaimongkasi1675]

Man, this would've been a better cats movie

[@MatthewStephensAU]

Nick Cave Jazz Cats Noir Amazing writing. Who could ask for anything more?

[@Birtheater4545]

Wait a minute Nick Cave is the narrator? That’s sick, I remember he composed that one “O’ Children” song from Harry Potter.

[@Yetta-meta]

And Ari Gibson . . .

[@Yetta-meta]

We can ask for Silksong

[@LazyClay1]

The more I think about Lackadaisy the more I am reminded of this awesome animated short.

[@AbyssalRook]

No one has ever thanked me for showing them a youtube video out of the blue. They've enjoyed them, they've sparked discussions, they've said "That was cool!", but no one has ever simply said "Thank you." Then I showed somebody this.

[@slendergirlvictoria]

AbyssalRook thank you !!

[@slendergirlvictoria]

Wait a sec...just read the last sentence....nvrmnd

[@cheesecakelasagna]

@@slendergirlvictoria Same.

[@WaterflameMusic]

this was fantastic! made my day

[@user-lr9mk6lw8v]

.

[@Juneau48]

Love you work on geometry dash, I guess?

[@Sivoris17]

Since the closed caption seems to be a bit inaccurate and one is absent from the description I decided to write out the transcript for anyone wants. - Long ago my city’s luminous heart, beat with the song of 4000 cats. Crooners who shone in the moonlight mimicry of the spotlight Jazz singers. Hip cats that went "Scat!". Buskers with open-mouthed hats hungry for a feed. Parlours paraded purring glamorous songstresses. Smoky hookahs and smoking hookers. Strays strummed string and sung a cocktail of cat's tales. A decadent party of meowing sound, A bohemian behemoth, post-midnight soiree. Amongst the corral of tuneful ones was one fair queen who drew me from all the way. Her fur an amorous white and a voice that made all the angels of eternity sound... tone deaf. Blind with love at first sight, touched by the taste of her sound, I longed to be the microphone she cradled near her breast. 'Twas our Shangri-La of sound, a paradise found where nothing could stop us. Or so it seemed. Singers began to vanish like sailors lost at sea. Snatched from stage alleyway. Shanghaied from behind scarlet curtain. Into thin air they disappeared without a single cry. Police study the clues. Foot-prints from the human shoes... So you've heard of every instrument but, Torn from your history books is this pianola, this harpsichord of harm, The cruelest instrument to spawn from man's gray cerebral soup? The Cat Piano. Confined were the cats in a row of cages, with each note struck upon its ivory tusk a sharpened nail would pierce each cat's tail, forcing a note form each pitch on the scale. I ran my cursed writer's run to tell her "Beware!". She wasn't there. My soul capsized. Like a fish paralyzed on a chopping board, it's spinal cord ripped forth from its body, Her vocals the last the last the thief had needed, A rare celestial pitch that would complete his collection. The city in unrest. Fights broke out in its sleep I couldn't dream anymore. There was a hole in my heart and everything fell out of it All music forbidden. Keep your lullabies hidden. And your A & E minors off the street after dark. My town grew cold and bitter In icy hibernation was the once thumping heart. Now seizing up. Freezing up. Katzenklavier The torturous worm of sound burrowed deep into my ears. Le Piano Du Chat. I thought of Van Gogh. Kyattopiano. I put an end to this incessant inescapable drone. Māo gāngqín SNAP! I enlisted an army of the brave and I their general declared war. Poised with tooth and fire in paw, we would finally settle this this musical score. Eyes with fierce intent that glowed through tempestuous waters we rode. Storming the shores, a swarming in scores, scaling its walls with well-sharpened claws, We invaded the tower through all of its doors. Up the winding stairs, to meet him with blinding stares. There he sat. The Organ Grinder. He turned. We pounced. We scratched and bit. He stumbled, fell through the window, screaming into the indigo waters below. We freed the chain gang from their jail. Cremated the piano. And for home we set sail. The city had reclaimed its vestal muse. It would live again. Beat again. Cats would sing in the street again. And I in anonymity as I had been long before this soliloquy, Could sit and listen from afar. The Cat Piano, now a healed over wound. And this ode, its fading scar.

[@muhahahahahahayoufool]

Thank you... This can be usefull for muted. Non hearing

[@Smarmite]

that's a great idea

[@saraccio97]

thanks a lot

[@robertadamsx2]

I just love that first paragraph. It's a true thing of art.

[@violetnhz]

+

[@matt.coignard]

This has stayed one of my most appreciated videos over the years - it's haunting and captivating and so damn good.

[@reignbeauconnection]

Everything about this was amazing. The script, the narrator, the animation, the music, the story, and just everything combining to make a masterpiece. Words cannot describe this brilliance. I love it

[@christabeldelalune5418]

nick cave's voice is like a cat purring in my ear

[@kensuke0]

My mind is still on the part where NAILS are driven through CAT'S TAILS.

[@JetFalcon710]

Not-so-fun fact: that...thing in the video was an actual musical instrument. It's called a cat organ, and it was not for music, but for curing inattention in people

[@whitedebon]

I just came here cause he's one of the hollow Knight animators

[@mitsuitsuto7224]

Wait what-

[@JustAnotherPrimalAspid]

@@mitsuitsuto7224 you know what is hollow knight?

[@yxorPnwoknU]

@@mitsuitsuto7224 yep Ari Gibson himself worked on this

[@patkaybites]

This was shown in our English class and I loved it, the moment I even heard the first few seconds of beautiful poetry. The narration was just marvelous, it gave me the chills. I almost cried because it was so beautiful! It's just sad though that my classmates aren't capable of appreciating such beauty......

[@sunbirth4795]

Hope you've grown up and realized how stupid that last bit is

[@PixiePrincess501]

Beautiful animation, although this is certainly not for kids. The part that makes me sick is, this was an actual thing! Not really intended for "music", it was supposed to be some sadistic doctor's method of curing attention issues in his patients (TV Tropes brought me here, and yes, you can just Google this fact...but I'm not gonna give myself more nightmares tonight... )

[@PixiePrincess501]

Social Deception I hope not, however the concept was still real.

[@samwallaceart288]

The Backwater Gospel was way more disturbing.

[@sassy_spoon]

Samuel Wallace thats debatable.

[@samwallaceart288]

IDK, Cats being tortured and people being torn in half because of some asshole priest are both things that happen in real life, so forgive me for being homospecist but humans rate higher in terms of disturbance level. Though I guess it's subjective. At least Cat Piano has some sort of positive result or point to draw out of it; Backwater Gospel is 100% a nightmare, worst-case-scenario.

[@clearlenscap9707]

You're wrong, the one who came up with the idea first was a German renaissance man who intended it to be a funny act.

[@brittanyadams197]

I saw this the first time about five years ago, and every time I come back to it, I think, "why do Just Bieber songs have millions of views while something as gorgeous as this film hasn't even broken a million?" Always, always recommend!

[@mambodog5322]

Hey, you can update that comment now! It hit 1,000,000!

[@TindraSan]

This is one of the most brilliant shorts I've seen so far in my 17 years. The music, the poem, the reader of it and the animation. So artistic I could die on the spot by satisfactory. It's the third time I've seen it and it's still smashing!

[@JeffreCat]

The blue colors and the voice, it just reminds me of The Great Gatsby. I love the short story too! Even though it is a bit dark.

[@LazyClay1]

Almost 10 years old as of the time that I am commenting on this video but the video itself only has 1 million views. THAT IS SO CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED!!!! Imo

[@Venus_Raven]

I mad I just found this 12 years later this is incredible

[@julian.pk709]

I still dont know how i found this 10 years ago, buts its stil in my favourites and i appreciate the fact youtube did not downgrade the graphics

[@TheLoneRider24]

"A bohemian behemoth post-midnight soirée". I like!

[@Marymentillustrations]

I honestly thought this was gonna be something lighthearted

[@Advent3546]

I love a good soliloquy with stylish designs to it. This is an amazing piece of art I could easily watch again and again.

[@mintbrisk5961]

This is what I call a masterpiece.

[@kittykat2179]

Breathtakingly beautiful and poetic. I love it.

[@luckyfur]

I remember watching this when I was young

[@jaschabull2365]

Wow. The chilling brilliance of the lyrics combined with the sharp, dramatic bite of the animation really comes together to make something worthy of making the audience's hackles stand on end. What a purr-fect ensemble! (ok, I don't have as much of a way with words as Eddie White, all right?) Bravo.

[@captainbill3510]

The choice of Narrator has to be the best voice casting decision ever made!! As soon as Nick Cave uttered his first syllable chills ran down my spine!!

[@StoicVeR]

excellent. Loved the writing, loved the story. Animation, fantastic

[@mryeet3582]

Soooo this is what Ari Gibson was doing befor hollow knight,interesting

[@metamarx8409]

Hey you are the guy who I said had bad english, but judging from your name, English probably isn't your first language so sorry for being a massive dick.

[@mryeet3582]

@@metamarx8409 I don't remember it, but even if you said it I wouldn't be mad since I know damn well I'm shit at English :D Also apology accepted, because sometimes I'm also toxic or a dick to people, and it alot of time I end up apologizing to the guy I insulted so it's all good

[@Dian_Borisov_SW]

Animation style 9/10 Story 10/10 Animation quality 9/10 Voice Actor 11/10 Or, with more simple words - Cool.

[@veloxfurem]

2024 and im still watching this. its that much of a masterpiece

[@betaraybill889]

This is Hannibal Lecter meets Edgar Allen Po shit. Well done, you sir are the future of master poetry.

[@Imagi77]

This needs to become an full animated feature! Or at least a series! That was so well done!

[@isasock2346]

Imaginative Light definitely

[@starbits7836]

when I saw that cat piano it gave me the chills

[@bugayden2287]

A decade later and it’s still one of my go to animations.

[@ProcrastinationQueen]

Damn, I remember watching this years ago, and I only remembered it again today. I’m so happy I did

[@mryeet3582]

The guy that made this (Ari Gibson) is now in a game development team known as team cherry and thay made the game "hollow knight" In case you didn't know this but if you did then... Good for you

[@ProcrastinationQueen]

Hassan Ethar no I didn’t know that, but that’s so cool! I’m happy for him 😁

[@samwallaceart288]

'Found out about this through the video for "Sometimes the Stars" by the Audreys. These animators are awesome. Also it's pretty much official that Nick Cave should narrate *everything ever.*

[@theskoolmustard00]

EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL ANIMATION

[@zivmontenegro8303]

How did I find out about this just now? After 14 years? This is timeless!❤❤❤🎉🎉😊

[@intermediateshaq2162]

Keep coming back to this since I was 13(18 in a few weeks). The animation is so beautiful

[@LaZodiac]

You can tell the internet has ruined me because I expected this to be a gigantic, fantastic, Behind The Gif.

[@lalaisah]

We are not used to see videos with content anymore, that is why the dumbest ones get more views. This is what I call "art". Keep on doing this, we need more people like you, that remember us what good quality is.

[@Kujakuseki01]

Just astonished, coming back to this masterpiece a decade later, that it only has 1m views. It’s sensational.

[@LARKXHIN]

God, that was grim and engaging all at once. Thank you for sharing this.

[@leovonhausen]

Thank you Adam Neely :D

[@wavechamber320]

well, now we are three

[@josefsantos2715]

5

[@hikimusic_]

6

[@netskivideo1830]

8

[@militarycat8674]

9

[@kittyjinn]

LOVE this animation. Its very fluid, the style and color choices are superb and the story is captivating. I watch a LOT of animation, this is one of the most enjoyable films Ive see in a while. Thank you and Ill be looking for more to come from such talent!

[@matthintz9468]

Nearly 10 years later and it's still amazing!

[@RaLunara]

I first heard and watched this about 3:00 a.m. On SBS over a decade ago. I've never forgotten it. True work of art! Oof it hits hard

[@mombei9835]

I spilled my doritos and montain dew, the fedora fell off my head and my loomynarty glasses broke. You, sir, deserve a fedora tip. If I only could find mine.

[@EdgieAlias]

God this aged horribly.

[@nightcollapse]

@@EdgieAlias I beg to differ, this aged like the finest cheese. Rotten but still delectable to consume.

[@EdgieAlias]

@@nightcollapse you are correct.

[@coffeecat2812]

This was absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous animation, good story and the narration was spot on.

[@chipofsilver]

Aw, Nick Cave. His voice is so lovely. Actually reminds me of Neil Gaiman and just makes me melt either way

[@chrisherself]

A marriage of narrative and visuals.... executed with such a sublime skill it's nearly inhuman.

[@Ardhamon5000]

Man, this was a really well done short. So much work put into the animation and artwork. I absolutely love the style put into the characters, it's not cutesy or anything, and it fits the story completely. I also love the way you did the music as well. The dark and twisted sound that's mixed in with the classic feel. Nick Cave did great with the narration. He had this calm and cool tone and also did great with the scared tone in his voice. Nice work, man.

[@EYTPS]

Ya know, the keyboardist could've just did what he did by playing meow sound files through some sampler synthesizer.... or using Mario Paint's meow instrument.... But nope, he had to piss off PETA.

[@flax72l.a13]

Ehhm well yeah duh, but i have insulted & cancelledly blocked peta/Ingrid newkirk

[@phoenixtrammel1669]

I wondered why it looked so familiar! Ari Gibson did the art and animation for my favorite game, Hollow Knight!

[@sjordan9355]

Probably one of the first videos that i remember from all those years ago- certainly one of the few that stuck with me for all this time. Also one of those subtle inspirations for my own writing.

[@jonathanjones9779]

This was amazing.

[@KobiHema]

Amazing animation, I love the story-line, music, and the overall looks of the animation. So all together, it was amazing!

[@notta_potato]

i love the colors and the sharp contrasts between the darks and lights, it made this seem more intense wow the animation is so amazing

[@brycebarraclough9365]

I watched this roughly when it first came out and over these years I have never been able to forget the story and narration it’s both chilling and thrilling a truly amazing piece of art and story telling I truly hope to never forget

[@rorywolf9482]

THIS SHIT FUCKED ME UP WHEN I WAS A KID

[@JimiLaPointe]

Rory Wolf when did you first see it?

[@rorywolf9482]

I was 5 or 6

[@mambodog5322]

*Scrolls up to see date.* WHAT.

[@mrholloway6128]

Best poem EVER and gruesome

[@Spookahauntus]

This was amazing. The animation was beautiful, the voice acting top notch, the colors were gorgeous and everything so fluid. I felt genuine emotion and had to wipe away tears. I can find no fault, no flaw. Simply perfection.

[@NoobityBoobity]

I remember watching this in High School 4 years ago on that other video sharing site. I still am amazed by the animation and story that was told. I stand up and applaud this beautiful piece of work.

[@BlueSR]

And years later, Ari Gibson would go on to create Hollow Knight (of which this has a lot of artstyle similarities to! The credits font is even the same and Makoto Koji- hornet’s voice actress- also worked on this! Wow!

[@MeQt]

it's the hollow knight guy

[@TheJoebus666]

The animation is gorgeous, and I love the dark story.

[@PoserOtaku]

It is currently 2020 and been since 2009 I still think back to this beautiful piece and rewatch again from time to time.

[@cryptid-artha]

I have seen this video time and time again, and I still love it.

[@sylviagriner6454]

i was just thinking about the key board cat meme the whole tem :3

[@samwallaceart288]

I was thinking of a scene from Terry Gilliam's "Adventures of Baron von Munchausen" where a sultan pulls out a large person-piano. I wish I could say that was the oddest scene in the movie.

[@user-ho2fr9ok5c]

poor cats😭😭😭

[@drew25kra]

This is still my favorite video on KZbin. Never get tired of seeing it.

[@Pelao0o]

I come back from time to time to this video is just such an excelent short

[@kulfgr]

PURRRRFECT

[@catherinehouston4684]

i like the voice quite much

[@TransientBee]

It's Nick Cave voice. You should listen his music :)

[@sleeplessindefatigable6385]

my god, this is incredible: the art, the animation, the simple colour scheme, this has to be one of the best things i've seen this year.

[@HoneyBee-bs8qu]

Gives me chills every time I watch this

[@largeandmildlythreateningr2966]

some bits kinda remind me of moulin rouge

[@paulainecabusasjohnson6015]

katherine turner me too

[@JubJubtheWonderHippo]

That'd be the setting. The general bohemian lifestyle with the flourishing arts.

[@txplay44]

Who else is here coming from mossbag’s channel?

[@thomastheluckyman7737]

yup

[@user-xd5pp2ts8p]

I'm totally speechless. This is an incredible video with animation that rivals big movie studios, voiced over by a slick and emotive narrator. This is what real talent looks like. Take notes, Hollywood.

[@theclawless1225]

I think I’ve seen this 300 times and each time it gets better

[@inana1480]

amazing art! I Feel like It has a certain algerian style for some reasons, the occasional french language, the andalousian pieces of melody and the marine side... it's just my opinion.

[@Miti-Mumway]

anyone reminded of Katz from Courage the Cowardly Dog? :D this was god damn amazing.

[@isobellexlittlehood]

This narrator is so mystic and deep in so many ways... Best narrator I've ever heard

[@raptor3406]

Alot of work and effort those people need to be remembered like you

[@patchoulicolt7093]

The writer has a really flat face, but he's so hot! He can rhyme, lead an army, and I bet he's great at cuddles.

[@patchoulicolt7093]

And his voice!!!

[@snowob]

May I introduce you to the furry fandom?

[@jlori4690]

Nick Cave as a furry? SIGN ME IN MADAFAKAS

[@chickengod3957]

Was the cat piano real?

[@asian9090]

+R Datta yea it was back in the old old old days like 17-1800s i think

[@niftswift]

+asian9090 Actually, there's no record of a 'cat piano/organ' being built in real life, only as a concept in literature.

[@andreabonilla3639]

So it never existed? What a relief

[@cocoleung8718]

I freaking love the story, style, music, narration, art style and the whole of this animation short.

[@a.r.hollowayauthor7210]

I first saw this in highschool YEARS ago when it was first published. How the heck has this thing not broken a million views yet?!

[@salty_pearl]

Why does this narrator sound like Neil Gaiman?

[@Henbot]

It nick cave

[@seapoppy]

That would be my bet

[@BootlegHuman]

as a dog i must chase them

[@ohCole]

I've seen this so many times.. The divine poetry and the intricate storyline just... makes my heart soar.

[@RasakBlood]

I love when a story can capture me like that. Beautiful.