Harpy Hare || Genshin Impact PMV

“If you continue to carry the bricks of your past, you will end up building the same house.”

This animatic is an introspection/criticism on Arlecchino’s way of running the House of the Hearth and how she’s still responsible for the lives lost within it while still having been a victim of it as well. It’s a very complex discussion, so I’ll let you all come to your own conclusions on right and wrong.

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Song- “Harpy Hare” by Yaelokre

[botanybolbasaur]

okay pardon the long ass comment this is just gonna be me exploding about everything in this video and half analyzing it (mostly yapping though)
before i get into the actual events in the PMV (and how beautifully they're executed), i want to bring up some character design choices that i really liked. lyney's sharp teeth is one of my favorite because it may have two meanings -- it could be a feline trait he shares with lynette (this was the first idea to pop in my head) or a canine trait due to his mask being a, , fox..??? I DONT KNOW WHAT ANIMALS ARE :(
while all the mask choices are really clever, my personal favorite is clervie being a rabbit and arlecchino being a hare. so close yet so, so different.
on to the actual video!
0:00 - 0:16 : while their poses are all the same, their facial expressions are all distinct in a way that really shows off who they are as characters/people. lyney is confident (if not showy), lynette follows the base pose well but doesn't add any flare like lyney does, and freminet more than often shies away from the camera. small details matter, and you got every last one down perfect.
0:17 - 0:44 : i don't have a lot to say here about the expressions and poses that i hadn't before, even though i *want* to try and grow extra braincells to unpack why who's asking about harpy hair to who (and why lyney and lynette change places though freminet doesn't), i just don't have those braincells right now. instead, i want to bring up the artistic direction here. i really really REALLY like the simple background choice -- complexity of the background is already covered by the paper texture and surrounding brackets, so you went for small patches of grass and flowers instead; what a smart choice! besides not crowding the eyes and being visually pleasing, it benefits us by contributing to the story being told here: one of children, told by children, about children. while it doesn't have an air of childlike innocence or wonder about it, it's simple and direct, something the story here is not.. excellent choice!! reminds me a lot of the "orange scene" from reverse:1999.
0:45 - 0:57 : holy FUCK i love this part. still upholds the same character traits we know and love in the body language and roles, but tells a whole nother story in the meantime. both of lyney's younger siblings rest on him, which is a really nice touch considering they're all he has when arlecchino is away or busy or doing evil bullshit. they look up to him, and it's really evident here that he's a person of comfort for them. there's a turning point in the story here, though: "harpy hare" appears. while i could focus on the fact we can't see arlecchino's front, i wanna focus on how lyney's facial expression shifts -- he's consistently comfortable and confident in what he's saying UNTIL he refers to arlecchino. whether it's his trust in her ability or his own to take care of his siblings, it's still an interesting falter in his behavior i really like.
0:58 - 1:13 : not much to say here, but i really like how the kids just go back to playing. "well, father's acting strange again.. well what can you do except play pattycake in these trying times".
1:14 - 1:20 : LETS MY SECONDD FAVORITEPARTTT first and probably foremost, i love how they transition from not wearing their masks at all or on their face to being completely covered with them. especially with how clervie has her mask in her HAND when her and arlecchino are first shown -- nowhere near her face. yet, even though she puts it on in the end, she still ends up dead in arlecchino's arms. i also like how they get closer and closer with each dance move, only to have that proximity end with clervie's death.
1:21 - 1:29 : MY FAVORITE PART!! only 8 seconds and yet SO much happens. first of all, the mirrored pose from holding clervie to holding on to her kids!! it feels like reliving the experience, even from the viewer's side... and, tell me if i'm wrong, but is the blood only coming from around where her arms are? she's unintentionally murdering her own children, even in an attempt to keep them safe. she also looks down in this frame, either in shame or grief.. so beautifully done.
1:30 - 1:43 : i like how she plays with them but doesn't take over any of their roles. still participating, but nothing changes.. it's almost like she's not there, but maybe that's the norm for this family.
1:44 - 1:58 : surprisingly, not a lot to say here! obviously a lot to see, but my interpretation is fairly simple: this part of the PMV is dedicated to showing off the similarities, differences, and details of the characters. through their masks, outfits, expressions, motions -- you name it. the isolation of each character from the next gives you a nice sense of balance, while also handing the viewer a plethora of character-specific info without shoving it in their faces. i really like arlecchino's poses -- ESPECIALLY the one where she simply looks down as they do the 'claws out' pose -- oh man, so many reasons this can be, but i *do* have a favorite.. shame over your actual claws (moreso what they've done) can stop you fast and hard from showing them off to those you love.
1:59 - 2:04 : STARK contrast from the childish game setting before, and i love it so much man holy shit. instead of playful and monotone details, we get real life dropped on us like a goddamn avil. one chair, one person, one duty. one grave, two graves, three -- and the ghost which haunts arlecchino's thoughts. clervie has her full mask on in this frame -- JUST like the moment she died! really shows exactly *what* about her haunts arlecchino, what will remain in her heart forever.
2:05 - 2:13 : love how what brings us back from the arlecchino spotlight is the kids, and how the poses are the exact same from arlecchino too -- it's just that we now have the context to her prior thoughts and actions.
2:06 - 2:27 : this is such a masterfully crafted shot!! the spotlight and stage like she's on trial, the pale dead hands of the children whos lives and livelihood were taken because of her. yet she does not move, defend herself, nothing -- just stands and waits. chills, bro, ,
2:27 - 2:34 : great fuck i love this shot SO MUCH dude. just one kid's coffin, zoomed in on, personal. then it gets bigger, and bigger, so many neither arlecchino nor the viewer can count the amount of coffins. but they never get any less detailed -- the lives her actions cost are as clear as ever to her and everybody else.
2:35 - 2:41 : and RIGHT after showing what she's done, we see the why -- maybe even the how? nevermind what we call it -- from her present actions straight to her past, and then to the 3 siblings.. oh it's so arlecchinover bro. parallels, patterns, generational trauma and linked events that only get worse -- we see it all come together here, all due to some clever planning and framework on the artist's part!
2:42 - end : not much to say here, other than it reminds me of the dream sweet in sea major animation of the magnus archives.. bro i love that animation SO much. okay, i lied, more to say. first of all, love the pop-up book background! back to the kids focus, and as such, back to the kids backgrounds.. eueuueghhh i love this so much bro. also, their poses!! lyney and lynette holding hands while lynette has to drag freminet to get him to come along, lyney leading while lynette stays in the middle of the conversation, and freminet almost getting lost..
tldr i love your work op great job!! sorry if i missed anything or got anything wrong.

[Mrningtide]

I love the little details in this pmv

the way Lyney and Lynette switch positions when they say "Tell me so say" but Freminet doesn't. He just shakes his head and stays silent. like he knows something or someone (Crucabena) that they don't.

[antisocial_art_bab]

I love the dichotomy of having Arlecchino playing with the kids vs being alone on her throne and haunted. Almost like no matter how hard she tries she cant escape it.
(I LOVE ARLECCHINO SO MUCH OH MY GOD SHES SO.. I DUNNO WRITEABLE? EVEN IF GENSHIN MISSED STUFF PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ABLE TO DEVELOP HER I LOVE HER)

[BritishAlbedo]

THIS CHANGED MY LIFE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS. Seriously I was following it’s progress on Instagram and was so hyped for it, it turned out SO well.

[aliciavargas]

AHHH THIS IS SO COOL!!! I love at 2:13 with all the children's hands pointing at Arle, this so perfectly encapsulates how she is in fact responsible for so much death and abuse, but also how she plays with the children and truly cares for them, even if she's still haunted by the past and making present mistakes! Sooo cool, love it, amazing work!

[lifeiswompwomp]

!!yap alert!! I absolutely love how you portrayed the sibling in their cat masks to match Lynette and how Freminet's was slightly different to show that even though they aren't immediate family they're still together and how at first it's just the siblings then goes to Arlecchino joining them too is such a nice touch- and at 1:55 I just noticed how as it swaps to each of them they slowly get more serious (like Lyney's was silly but Arlecchino's was serious) and with the "buried all your children" parts it showed all of her "children" that have been killed but the original lyrics could also fit because rabbits bury their children to try to protect them as well

[kate_shizuka]

0:19 Is Lynette doing a JOJO pose!?!??!?

[Fremineigh]

I love how Fremi is the one refusing to recount the story, as he would know why father is the way she is with rhe children because if him knowing the previous mother. I also love how the song is basically talking about letting kids be free to live life, and that sheltering them to keep them safe will only harm them, when in actuality, while the kids are free to do as they please (most likely) they are part of the fatui, and have mission they have to carry out, and father expects them to.

Basically, father gives the orphans a somewhat better life by taking them in and giving them a purpose, but in actuality, everything they do is monitored, and everything has a purpose. Fremi knows this, but wont tell, father also knows, but wont yeild, hence why she simply stays silent.

[Central_Sky]

I am absolutrely speechless. This is by far the best representation of the house's dynamic that I have seen. The visuals of Arlecchino's choices and responsibilities as a leader and a rolemodel for the children, as well as her having gone through traumas in her past are displayed very well. I don't know how to describe it but this spoke to me immensely, and I think this was the perfect song choice for their story.

[ILikeTurtles-dgnk]

This genuinely looks so cool during every bit of it, and I truly love how Arlecchino looks when she joins in on the game. Actually, I love how Arlecchino is shown throughout all of this. You're so good at animating and symbolism.

[PUXBACK]

I love this so much! Also I know it’s against but the way Lynette is lying like a cat under Lyney’s arm is adorable

[skullyadris]

this is singlehandedly the best creation to ever come out of the genshin impact fandom. absolutely gorgeous.

[imoolikeadog]

1:11 took me 10 rewatches to notice there's a slight design change to Lynette (the shirt underneath her bodysuit completely covers her chest and the necklace accessory is placed a bit lower. Looks better to be honest.)

[dluvshusky]

2:34 NO THE GRAVES MADE ME SO SADDNKFF

[sharps-bin]

holy shit. this is INCREDIBLE good lord.. these guys are the only genshin characters i care even slightly about and this is THE BEST project ive ever seen with them in it

[bungod]

Saying that this is gorgeous is an understatement-
The aesthetic is incredibly well done, the theme with Arlecchino's own way to perpetuate the cycle of violence despite everything is DELICIOUS, and there's all these little details even in the frame that I adore
The song is such a perfect fit for this dysfunctional traumatized family holy crap

[moonlight_alpha]

I love how you added the leviathan dragon to represent Neuvillette in dragon form

[wisteria]

BRO THIS SONG FITS THEM SM ESPECIALLY ARLECCHINO AND HER NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP ALL HER CHILDREN SAFE😭😭😭
THIS IS AMAZING

[penny]

I can feel this animatic living in my mind for the next 10 years. Thank you so much for putting this out into the world, it scratched something in my brain that I didn’t know was itching

[KOOLPLUG]

The poses, the mask designs, the idea!! Everything about this is wonderful. You are THE house of hearth artist.