"The Mushroom Hunters" by Neil Gaiman - read by Amanda Palmer with music by Jherek Bischoff

this poem was written by neil gaiman and read by amanda palmer for maria popova's “The Universe In Verse” event in 2017 (you can read about that here: www.brainpicki....
the brilliant team at creative connection in the UK hand-drew this animated video to accompany the poem, and the music was composed and recorded by jherek bischoff. read about the making of this whole film on patreon: / 31517040
we are the media!
this beautiful project was independently funded by over 15,000 patrons, because this kind of spontaneous art makes absolutely no commercial profit. please join my patreon for as little as $1/month to help us make more at / amandapalmer . it's also a damn fine community.
CREDITS:
The Mushroom Hunters
Original poem by Neil Gaiman
Read by Amanda Palmer
Bass, Percussion, Vibraphone, Piano and Original Score by Jherek Bischoff
Cello: Aniela Marie Perry
Violin: Paris Hurley
Viola: Marta Sofia Honer
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Jherek Bischoff at Sweethaven
A RoseWillow production for
Creative Connection Animation Studio
ccanimationstud...
Caroline Rudge: Artwork, Animation, Direction and Storyboard
Alexandra Casswell Becker: Production, Storyboard and Additional Mushrooms
Dann Casswell: Editing and Special Effects
Tom Barter: Additional Editorial Support

[@lenalovesrats]

It‘s a good day when Amanda Palmer reads you a Neil Gaiman bedtime story. I feel like I‘ve just had a glimpse into the life of Ash

[@amandapalmer]

i'll tell you something ironic, it's actually US who gets the best bedtime stories, because ash has gotten in the habit of stealing the talking stick. he WON'T LET US tell him stories half the time, he insists on telling them himself. we start by saying "how about the three little pigs??" and before you know it, ash is like NO NO NO I HAVE TO TELL IT telling us the story of him and his friends and pigs and rain and zombies and we just look at each other and shrug. the apple does not fall far from the tree with this one.

[@rachelpastors]

@@amandapalmer I can't wait to see all the places he goes with that kind of magic in his mind.

[@meriamgaied3526]

@@amandapalmer you, Neil and little Ash are such an inspiration.. I came across your work about 2 years ago and ever since you've been my companions during the worst and the best days of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart .. thank you for the art and life you bring into my days Love from Tunisia ❤️

[@phastinemoon]

Amanda Palmer I always had the impression that he’s a little elf child. Thank you for confirming.

[@sleepingdogpro]

One thing I love about you and Neil both - maybe the best thing - is that you both deal with heartache and an angry world by creating things. That's so rare and so lovely and we get things like this out of it. The world's a little brighter now that there's a new thing in it, to paraphrase something Neil said. Your voice suits his words.

[@rosaamandlagarciamuro9938]

I'm crying in the subway, because I never read or heard something as accurate as this to describe the subtle difference between feminine and masculine, and the way it shaped our reality. This is something I can resonate with, this is something that helps me be proud of being a woman, it feels truthful

[@lemonsideddice]

r.a. Gar I mean it ain’t that deep calm down lol

[@nocturnal377]

@@lemonsideddice she wasn't saying it was deep. It's just something that brought her emotion. You seem bitter

[@B_Ran]

Xyclone Turbo The fact that you can’t see the depth in this, illustrates how little you grasps and most of all were sensitive to the material.

[@dougdavis8986]

Blah blah blah

[@LiveLovePureNatural]

me toooooo. I started to cryyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@CCAnimationStudio]

We absolutely LOVED working on this project with you, we hope your fans adore it as much as we do.

[@sandidv4901]

you are awesome!!! so wonderful - thank you for this!!!

[@RebeccahKahn]

I was wondering who animated this! This is beautiful and a perfect compliment to the music and poetry.

[@KattTaylor]

You made beautiful art!

[@Gurgamo]

I daresay we adore it even more!

[@AnneloesF]

Applause to your studio! That was truly beautiful. Thank you to all involved!

[@harleyquinn5774]

This presentation has that special mix of magic between traditional storytelling, modern science, and children’s classic storybook artwork. Breathtaking and awakening something deep inside that was always there and at long last, finally found.

[@flyagaric23]

Mushrooms changed my life, "Observation, experiment and measurement" are probably the best three words to describe the challenges of experience/consciousness feedback. This animation combines the word, sound, image with facts and history to reveal a simple, beautiful story. Thanks to all who had a hand in this. Peace. FA23.

[@lukaramos8130]

Oh how her voice brings me to tears. I haven't felt an emotion besides fear in a while. This is art

[@rencart]

My body doesn't know what to do with all of this strong emotion - it's coming out of my face! This was beautiful and inspirational and lovely. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@azulthome4614]

This little film is soul food for our remembering and the weaving and mending of love in a world grief soaked, so much gratitude for its beauty and for you!

[@shwetaektareart]

I can't explain what but something about this is absolutely magical.

[@Topherofthewoodz]

Ever since I first discovered Neil Gaiman back in 2010, I dreamt of him doing a piece on mushrooms! Amanda, Jherek, and Neil are my favorite people and, mushroom hunting is my favorite thing to do!

[@eliza317]

This story is something every child should grow up with. Weaving magic into the history of our species.

[@paulelliott3220]

Wonderful marriage of story and voice Amanda does a great job of this

[@juliam3980]

Beautiful. Worth watching twice. I love the idea of women as the original scientists.

[@TristanJCumpole]

Originally, defined solely by necessity and division of tasks for the group to function sufficiently. Of recent times, men are more preoccupied with chasing illusions and unnecessary tasks than with rejoining the group for the pursuit of common, shared goals and intrinsic truths. Not fully the rule, but certainly short on exception.

[@karanjotsingh1873]

And yet most of the important inventions were made by men Also worst one Like hydrogen bomb

[@TristanJCumpole]

@@karanjotsingh1873 Ugh. Please stop with false conflations with gender. The atom bomb was the result of a multi disciplinary, multi gender team. This is the sort of misguided simplistic thinking that gives feminism a misunderstood, or even bad name. Please rethink.

[@karanjotsingh1873]

@@TristanJCumpole(yo einstein was proposed the theory for it and there was this German secientist confirmed that it was pratically possible then the American made the bomb with fission reaction The atom bomb )ok wasn't true to myself What I meant was I dont like idea that sometime people ignore what men have done for this world just to stay True to their 2000s feminist way

[@karanjotsingh1873]

Adding the line (also worst one like hydrogen bomb ) Was me not stay true to myself Saying something bad about men to avoid triggering somefeminist

[@simianbarcode3011]

a genuine masterpiece.

[@amandapalmer]

thank you sam. all the artists worked so, so hard on this.

[@JulieRainbow-q6p]

This is awesome and insightful. I understand the Gaiman family are going through what must be a very challenging time right now. Thank you Amanda, thank you Neil. Remember who you are, and blessed be. Peace, love, unity xx

[@justin5002]

As the father of a little scientist, I couldn’t listen to this without tears welling in my eyes.

[@alexandracaswell7561]

This was my son's favorite poem. He wanted to be a scientist or engineer. I can't tell you how many times he watched this. He died in August 2023. This was read at his funeral... I wanted to thank you for this. It is a truly loved piece of art in our household.

[@clairdavis]

First I read this, then listened to it, then watched it, and I’ve had three very different experiences. Just brilliant every time.

[@resonantstorm771]

I've already lost count of how many times I've watched this since yesterday. Thank you.

[@Bluebirdhouse]

I wasn’t planning on crying this morning. I should have known better. Neil and Amanda are a cocktail of genius and magic. Beautiful!!!

[@victoriaeriksson8835]

This might be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen or heard. Can't stop watching it, again and again and again.

[@LibbyThompson]

Amanda, you nailed it when you said Neil was 'such a good feminist'. Indeed. Thanks so much to both of you for all the wonderful light you shine in the world. And well done to the animation team and the musicians. The animation is amazing as is the music. You just feel transported. So very privileged to be able to be one of your patreon supporters. Well done everyone :-)

[@phastinemoon]

Libby Thompson It makes my little nerd heart happy to know one of my favorite authors is also a good person. That’s a blessed feeling.

[@georgiacamacho3706]

I may have cried a little watching this. I may have cried a lot.

[@TranceGemini12]

So thankful for the mushroom hunters. 💖

[@ryanashley1loong580]

What a fabulous story. What a captivating voice. What a beautiful production. Thank you all.

[@onseniajuicy2615]

Beautiful. Profoundly writen and created.

[@dandyjesus]

Oh, I love everything about this, the lyrics, your voice, the artwork, the music. What a wonderful orchestration!

[@CrraVideos]

Amanda, one of my favorite singers. And neil, creator of my favorite comic series, the sandman. Its a small world, indeed.

[@ErikLundquist72]

They are married.

[@CrraVideos]

@@ErikLundquist72 I know, its crazy

[@Summer-zq8ot]

Amanda I need so many more of these

[@jinxmas]

Our roles have increased, but our nature is firm. I love this so much.

[@yuukotombo6578]

Neil and Amanda are a match we dream about! Their creative talents only make things better!

[@BloodAndGutsTV]

BEAUTIFUL WRITING & ANIMATION.

[@auberjean6873]

As beautiful as a breeze of sun-kissed lilacs blooming on a dewy morning. Thank you!

[@leaowens]

The indefinable something that makes you wonder with the wide eyes of childhood... so beautiful.

[@spencercharlotte297]

Wow! "The Mushroom Hunters" by Neil Gaiman... This is SO beautiful. Thank you Amanda & crew for putting this together

[@kylebowers1582]

Love Amanda Palmer. Love THIS!!!

[@ToniTad]

I have loved this poem from the first time I heard it read by Amanda at "The Universe in Verse" event. This animation is extraordinary. The music is sublime. I am so proud to be a Patron of Amanda's and participate in my minor way in the production of such amazing art.

[@jimpickensthicccheeks3429]

I don't know why it was recommended to me, but I'm in love

[@simplytruth9729]

What a celebration of life! What a celebration of women. I would have loved to have used this in a high school class-perhaps science or English-to open up a discussion. Stories, poems, do that. They encourage imaginative and creative discussions. They hold the space for children/young people to explore their internal world. Stories, poems, do not have to always look for facts, but can just be enjoyed for their beauty. Thank you Mr. Gaiman and your beautiful voice Ms. Palmer.

[@weirdandproudofit1]

This was fantastic and I was sobbing by the end. I love you both dearly

[@jjolifine]

Just other day I came across the video of you reading this on Brain Pickings and I’ve been meaning to share it with my 14 year old. So it seems an amazing coincidence that when I went to search for that video of you beautifully reading this the first time, I found this animated version was posted “17 hours ago”! 😳 I’m going to send both. Come to think of it, I also just yesterday discovered David Tennant’s Podcast and listened to one with Michael Sheen in which he describes first becoming a fan and then meeting Neil (a great story!) and finally being cast in Good Omens (is a which the kid and I loved!). Oh, and my kid’s 14th birthday was yesterday and their father sent them all 3 volumes of the jaw-droppingly gorgeous collected “Sandman” (my old paperback collections and set of all of the original comic books, including Orpheus with the glow in the dark cover 💗 can’t compare with the color printing in these new tomes!). Everywhere I turn there’s Neil! And you! Because I also came across your awesome self-portrait declaring that you weren’t giving $$ to Scientogy (thank you for that!!). Ok, enough gushing (well, I’m trying!)! Thank you! Neil *is* a really good feminist (to paraphrase what you said in your wonderful introduction). He’s such a great writer. I’m a huge fan (in case ged I could move back to Annandale- even though CA hasn’t fallen into the sea - and go back to my old school (-Steely Dan) and you are a great artist! You recite this amazing poem beautifully (and the other gone... and the Joni Mitchell song! 🙏 I hope I get to hear you one day! I’m not too far from NYC... hopefully you have a mailing list I can find that will keep me apprised of where you’re playing so I’ll know if you come to NYC. Best wishes to your beautiful family! 😊 ❤️ Happy Thanksgiving!

[@ElvenWisdom]

This is so beautiful! Like Tolkien, I believe Neil Gaiman is deeply spiritual and can not help but put profound truths in all his stories. The animation is divinely inspired to fit perfectly. 🙏🏼

[@felipeberlim3587]

I had a terrible week, but this video made my day and lead me to tears. How beautiful is the human spirit, and how patient, firm and feminine is science. What a little and precious masterpiece.

[@CountOrlok22]

This is gorgeous!

[@randysmith7189]

This is BEAUTIFUL... I have to find it and added to my collection of Neil works and Amanda reading of it was ...it had me loving it even more.

[@moniquedelacruz8041]

Amazing that somehow Amanda Palmer shows up in my feed whenever I need her most, and on subjects I find incredibly interesting/relevant. 💛 The Art of Asking helped me so much when I was... well, "lost".

[@chantalwalton4886]

I'm still sad they couldn't work things out...like I thought they loved each other so much. Now I cry.

[@TjoniJo]

This is just stunning, thank you Amanda and Neil and all the amazing creatives working with you on this. Medicine for the soul.

[@AlexanderRibchansky]

Gorgeous! Such a nice and motivating words.. thanks a lot for them!

[@adlibby6448]

Wow. A thousands times wow. This moved me and reminded me to open my eyes to life. To existence. On the eve of my 30th birthday I must remember to keep searching for meaning.

[@osulabruja]

I love this so much. Beautiful poem, animation and Amanda's voice of course.

[@Moonspidah]

So this random I showed up in my for you page on my suggested and right now I'm going through a very emotional moon cycle and I didn't even click play it just started playing and it was exactly what I needed to hear even though it was a mini story/book it change something with in me and I want to say thank you so much for creating this because it gave me comfort in being a woman so thank you

[@badukulele]

Wow, hearing this poem is so different to reading it. Thank you Amanda, Neil, and Jherek (THE HOLY TRINITY!).

[@mabend4841]

Such honor and beauty. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am full of tears of hope, love, inspiration, wonder, and heartbreak.

[@jolieanncartuciano1198]

I followed Neil Gaiman in DeviantArt before I became inactive in that site because I love his sketches. And I fell in love with Amanda Palmer's wit in her songs. Now, I couldn't stop replaying this for the nth time because I am just in love to the poem, the art, and the way it is being read.

[@nematarot7728]

So good! And I happened to be eating mushroom stew. Also, I teared up really hard at the last line and I don’t know why?!? This was so enchanting, thank you ♥️

[@owenorceater7845]

What is it about Amanda's projects that make me just want to experience them again and again? Because here's another one that I've listened to now for the third time since I saw it in my notifications a few minutes ago and I'm probably going to listen to again now. On a very related note, I seriously hope she and Neil collaborate on something like this again because hOLY CRAP

[@rubidotrinh549]

What a beautiful piece of art! The animation is so touching that it makes me want to make some illustrations right now! To experiment with doing concept art for poems instead of a linear story. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@indiracamotim2858]

In pure awe of the story and your reading. It is beautiful to be a woman. Thank you 🙏🏻🪔🌺🌸🪔🙏🏻

[@ELizbeth135]

Oh I wish this was a published book with these beautiful pictures and a cd of the music and narration in the cover!!! Perfection! Thank you for this!

[@RockismyAir]

Her voice 😍

[@stephaniestrangegirl102]

Words can not describe the emotions this essential and beautiful masterpiece stirs in my very soul. 💚

[@GabriellaTavini]

Everything about this piece embodies what the world needs right now: knowledge from the past, slow living and nature.

[@sylviatilaks]

Such a beautiful poem, and a wonderful tribute to life as well as women. Definitely one to share to help us all grow up.

[@KaritKtana]

Despite all the pain, physical, emotional and otherwise, I feel my life is made richer by being a woman. Thank you for this.

[@11vkr]

Genuinely awesome video I watched in a while 🙌

[@emmacazabonne]

wow, this is gorgeous. Looks like our world would go better if more people read this text and followed its wisdom...

[@georgeredbranch652]

Amanda Palmer, excellent reading of my favourite author. Thanks.

[@karenstander5474]

Lovely work!!! I really love that you showed us choices of the type of world we want to live in - stories are such a great way to create dreams and new realities.

[@sublimespectrum]

Simply Beautiful, with a warm and soothing voice by Amanda. Pretty PLEASE open the community contributions to translate the subtitles

[@WenFassett]

Beautiful! The poem, Amanda's voice, the illustration, all of it... just beautiful!

[@leitmotif7268]

This poem brings tears to my eyes every single time.

[@2a2777f2g]

It's as if Amanda is casting a spell with her mesmerizing voice and the words, so carefully handpicked by Neil... As many people said before me, it is so beautiful!

[@bulochka_s_zefirom]

It's absolutely amazing. Amanda, your voice is so beautiful. I love it so much

[@MusingsFromTheDen]

Beautiful, thank you to all involved in sharing this with us. 😊 ❤️

[@lisagendron2580]

This is one of the most beautiful animation pieces I have ever seen. Thank you.

[@herahagstoz6934]

This made me cry for all the truth in this.

[@yathinkinc]

I am going through some heavy duty shit right now and i have my circle of friends, i have my art and i have art from other humans to help me move forward slowly and surely. I am surrounding myself with as much wonder and beauty as possible to console me and protect me. Thanks for reading, we will survive.

[@FeliceVaiani]

Such a beautiful thing. Xx I'm proud to be your friend.

[@klytaemnistras]

Oh... Oh, what a thing of beauty.

[@ramirosabatini]

Thank you very much. And thank you Mr Gaiman!

[@conjurehoodoo8529]

@Amanda Palmer We are profoundly moved by the story of our women scientists (and their babies). Extraordinary art, narrative performance = perfect teamwork. Sharing with everyone

[@heidigreen493]

Fantastic on so many levels! The words of Neil Gaiman read by Amanda Palmer. The artwork, music all all involved in the production. Breathtaking. You brought Neil's poetry to life!

[@MSYNGWIE12]

this is such a loving kindness and uplifting way to begin the day...

[@barbarafrancescaparenti4849]

Wonderful ❤️

[@amandachan696]

My best friend sent this to me to watch... what a masterpiece. You guys did an amazing job capturing this message ♡♡♡

[@AllisonMcCormickAMPM]

So absolutely perfect. I want to watch this every day. Thank you.

[@MarlaJones83]

More of this, PLEASE!

[@natascharohde6550]

What an unbelievable wealth of beauty packed into 6 minutes ❤️

[@AnneloesF]

That was beautiful. The music, the art, the poem, the reading of it. Thank you!

[@emmabovary7628]

This soothed my soul.

[@worryworm]

Wonderful reading. Thank you, Amanda.

[@escherflight]

I didn't want it to finish. It made me feel so safe. A homecoming. Than you for making this.

[@CelticEarthSpirit]

Voice and words so beautifully matched, thank you for such beautiful art and such deep understanding of us as a people.

[@IroncladCinderella]

I love this 🖤 xx

[@shaelinwood8165]

Thank you very much for creating this wonderful masterpiece. It made me cry with love in my heart for the beauty that this life is.

[@zeevanatashazazhinne3136]

Oh how very very LOVELY! Thank you, this just MADE MY DAY!

[@temul241]

Gorgeous!

[@osirismother]

Big up to the dartmoor mushroom hunters still bringing faeries into the world... This has been a bumper year... I think there will be a mass third eye opening.!

[@lisamcallister6534]

Huh??!

[@osirismother]

@@lisamcallister6534 Liberty Caps!!! All over the place!!!

[@bc2578]

@@osirismother WHERE?

[@osirismother]

@@bc2578 Travel to Devon, befriend the local shamans/witches/wizards and then one lucky Autumn day you might be taken to the secret spots! AND you only find them when you need to...when you REALLY need to.