Animusic - A Computer Animation Video Album (Special Edition)

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animusic - a computer animation video album (special edition)

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Animusic - A Computer Animation Video Album (Special Edition)

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Watching Animusic is like being mesmerized by the world's most elaborate Rube Goldberg devices: You're so astonished by their ingenuity that you can't look away. This "computer animation video album" is the brainchild of Wayne Lytle, a progressive-rock keyboardist and 1988 graduate of Cornell University's Program of Computer Graphics. Modifying techniques originally applied to the visualization of scientific data, Lytle partnered with graphic artist and 3D modeler Dave Crognale to create elaborate virtual stage sets and imaginary musical instruments that are driven via MIDI interface to virtually "play" the music that Lytle has composed for them. "The music drives the instruments," explains Lytle in his engaging DVD commentary, "and not the other way around." Using proprietary software called MIDImotion™, Lytle and Crognale have invented self-playing musical instruments that exist in a magical realm of musical and mathematical precision, perfectly synchronized to the kind of fully-synthesized prog-rock that Lytle obviously enjoys (and if you're a fan of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, you will, too). It's the kind of audiovisual bombast that appeals to some more than others (and there's something oddly impersonal about removing humans from the performance of music), but Animusic is so intricately clever that anyone can be captivated by the meticulous novelty of these beautifully engineered musical marvels.

Take, for example, the most popular track, "Pipe Dream," in which thousands of animated balls take on a life of their own, popping out of an intricate system of pipes and barrels and bouncing, with percussive precision, onto all varieties of strings, drums, xylophones, timbales, cowbells... it's just hypnotically amazing. The same holds true for all of these videos, and while the colorful 3D rendering of Animusic (first released in 2001) is no longer state-of-the-art, the underlying mechanics remain timelessly appealing. For this special edition DVD released in 2004, Lytle opens his toy-box to reveal the creative process of Animusic from conceptual drawings to final 3D rendering. There's also a "solo-cam" function allowing viewers to switch angular focus from one instrument to another, along with animated set-construction demonstrations to show how everything fits together in the realm of Animusic. The 5.1-channel surround mix makes Animusic a perfect demonstration disc for high-end video systems (this is nothing if not a geek's delight), and Lytle's first animation (from 1996) is included along with a sneak-peek at Animusic 2, the follow-up DVD released in 2005. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Rating:
Date: 2008-04-10
Good Clean Entertainment
Don't loan this out to your friends for their kids, you won't get it back!! My son loves this, it's a failsafe when dinner needs to be cooked or on a sick day. I can't listen to it over and over, but he sure can!

Rating:
Date: 2008-01-18
Music Teacher Standards!
Whenever I'm ill, I have my classes watch a music based video. Well, problem is, I know my students well enough to know what they WONT watch! This video captivated them. Each clipping made them want more. I think the clips should be longer for the more intricate designs, but I explain to the students that it'll make them want to watch it again and look for something they haven't noticed the last time.
As for the music, it's definitely based on "basic theories" of certain genres. But what's wrong with that? Some of the crap these kids listen to are rotting their knowledge of the classics. It's not too hard on the ears for adults, but not boring for the younger crowd.
After I play this video (takes 2 class periods) I ask them about their opinions and criticisms. It allows them to show me what they want to see more of in the future. My older student will use this lesson for a creative writing project in their homeroom and I send those papers to the creators so they know what the future generations are looking for.
I bought the 2nd DVD and wasn't as impressed. Most 3/4th graders liked it and younger. My 5th and 6th graders felt the same as me, not enough detail and imagination put into it...needed more wow-factor to make it worth their time.

Rating:
Date: 2008-01-09
Love it!
This is a great DVD. The music is great, the animation is awesome. The special features are fun, too. Great for music lovers AND computer nerds! :)

Rating:
Date: 2007-12-27
Rush Meets CGI
This stuff is amazing...a art and progressive rock hypnosis session. If you're a musician or musician wannabe, you'll be amazed by the precision of the instrument playing...especially the drums. In a world where "real" musicians lipsync and dub during live performances, this is actually kinda real even if visionary. Animusic2 will also blow you away. The Gyro Drums in Animusic2 is as incredible and delightful and even more funky than the Drum Machine in Animusic. GET BOTH!

Rating:
Date: 2007-12-26
Animusic Review
I bought this as a gift for my 8 year old son, considering he saw it in school and raved about it. The DVD was of great quality and very entertaining to watch. This is very neat for elementary kids, to give them an idea of which instruments do what and make which sounds. The combination of computer animation and music was phenomenal.

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