Smudge - The Woods - Completed MAP

Full Credits and links:

Song - The Woods by San Fermin

Host, Character Design & Rough Storyboard - Forestwhisker
Set Design and Intro - Cheesecake Witch
Thumbnail - 플즌PLZN
1. LockandKeyHyena
2. CrazypinkChiwawah & Gold Pup & StarsofCats & Forestwhisker
3. Mayartimations
4. Stormhearts
5. benny dearest (my sunray) & moonbeanie
6. ReedDoesStuff
7. Faded Kat
8. Larkingy
9. relli
10. muckrooms & ignoringtree
11. moonbeanie
12. King Skyless
13. Splashdreamms & Pluviou & Bennie Dearest & Cheesecakewitch
14. Marinin
15. vinianimates
16. TheWisestDino
17. 플즌PLZN
18. GOOSEFLAVORED & Forestwhisker
19. falsefields

[rowdy-cowpoke]

this concept is so fantastic, it really shows how Smudge viewed the wild forest cats and the fear of watching his best friend turn into one of them. all the animators did such a great job, too!

[skyler_thepatato]

I like to believe that after firestar died he went and at least walked with smudge one last time. talked to his old friend, told him stories of his life, and i know smudge would never go to starclan, but maybe he can be with firestar when he goes to starclan, to say goodbye to his old best friend from the first few chapters ✨

[whiskeredwolf]

I really love the idea that in this particular universe, the Clan cats really do look like this. The Clans would all look different from each other but they all look otherworldly to rogues and kittypets. They would be like the four seasonal courts of the faeries.

[keirameowmeow]

I often wondered how Smudge reacted when the forest was torn down

[candlelight]

I love how in the end they are wearing the other's respective colors. Smudge with Rusty's bell and Firestar with Smudge's blue in his forget-me-nots.

[victoriaburroughs]

I love the concept of Rusty having a lion’s mane. He was born wild. He was born to become Firestar, leader of Thunderclan. It’s just a shame Smudge had to lose his best friend in the process. I wonder if Firestar still remembered him. I like to think he did 🥲

[ZirconiaGacha]

I love how this one MAP is spooky just from possibly symbolic imagery. We don't know if that's actually what the Clan cats look like here, or if that's just how Smudge sees them all.

[Hotsaladwater]

I clicked on this not prepared for it. This is absolutely beautiful, I cried. Smudge just wanted to exert caution, to be wary of the forest cats, and had to say goodbye to a friend simply because he was fearful of joining them. Smudge’s character in the books isn’t really elaborated upon too deeply, but this MAP really changes the way I see him. Everyone did such a great job, amazing work!

[canadiandoesthings]

This inspired me to write a poem soo uh here:

My bones creak, I’m getting old
My mind wanders off, that’s what I’m told.

I lay down and think and ponder,
Of the woods where we once wandered.

We were still young, you and I
Chasing crickets and butterflies.

I don’t know how, but you convinced me,
To come into the woods, so vast and free.

You lead me through the trees etched with eyes.
Our hair all tangled, the sun starting to rise.

You were drawn to it all day and night,
I followed you back without a fight.

A figure of darkness stood before us,
Many more joined its chorus.

They appeared out from shadows,
In the woods where we once ventured.

Sticks and cobwebs lined their skin,
Worms and dirt churned within.

You approached them so eagerly,
I shrank back, afraid of what I might see.

You thought of stags; graceful and wild,
I thought of hunters; aiming for vitals.

You painted yourself with their darkened depths,
Your eyes bore into my sockets.

Sticks and cobwebs lined your skin,
Worms and dirt churned within.

You towered above me, a corruption of what I knew,
I fled from the woods, my fear only grew.

Brambles tore at my skin,
Outreached claws of your predatory kin.

Soon after, I had a dream.
You were sitting there, looking so pristine.

I tried to advance; but my feet were stuck
The woods crumbled down till’ it was nothing but muck.

Now I sit between a fairy ring,
Where butterflies float and crickets sing.

Covered in mold and rot,
Like a stump that time forgot.

The world fades, and there you are
Shining bright like a shooting star.

Oh, you look so brave and bold,
To you I must look frail and old.

A wild mane weaved with flowers,
No longer changed by the wood’s powers.

We weep and embrace,
Finally seeing face-to-face.

It’s all dark, but I don’t care,
The stars are bright, I see us up there.

[bluestorm]

Haven't even read Warriors yet this is the first animation to ever make me cry. Absolutely beautiful song to animate. Especially love how Smudge's mindset warps the imagery; the bits of pieces of the forest innocently hitchhiking on the wildcats' fur contradicts his sheltered lifestyle making the otherwise normal cats appear ominous and foreboding, whereas Firestar likely doesn't even notice. And his best friend bathed in a heavenly light of innocence, even in memory, until the seductive call of the wild latches onto to his fur and corrupts him into a monster. So much thought and symbolism lovingly placed into every single frame by the animators and storyboarders. I'll need to change that fact of mine now. Astonishing animation. 💙

[turquoise]

Woah, the warriors community is having a field trip with MAP's today. All jokes aside, everyone did great! I truly adore the designs of the cattos!

[CelesteTreecat]

The art design on this is PHENOMENAL and I definitely cried a little. Thanks to everyone who worked on this!

[starcatsss]

THE EYES ON THE BIRCH TREES. I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE UNTIL NOW

[sakaisky]

I WENT INTO THIS BLIND AND DIDNT KNOW THE MAP WOULD TAKE THIS TURN- THIS TURNED OUT AMAZING!! The backgrounds are beautiful and the story is too yet also tragic! I’m happy someone finally sheds some light on smudge ^^

[rose.luminary]

i know this is a year old but i just had to write something.
this is phenomenal. it really is. this is one of the few animations to actually make me cry. and i haven't even read a warrior cats book in years!
i felt the need to point out that final scene where smudge is laying down surrounded by mushrooms. it's a fairy circle, which i don't think many others noticed. i love the whole symbolism behind the fairy circle as well, possibly meaning that when smudge saw rusty/firestar it was a sort of dream.
fairy circle lore and symbolism can be impossibly deep. the usual thing is that if you step into one, don't eat any food you see, because you might never wake up. and i think that's sort of what's happening here, except smudge doesn't want to wake up. he's happy to see his best friend again.
all that symbolism (plus this song, one of my favorites) really got to me. again, i know i'm a little late with the comment, but i had to say something. this is just so, so good.

[Gold_Pup]

Everyone’s parts look absolutely outstanding!! It was an absolute honor to be able to help out!! Happy Halloween!!

[CosmosSolarSystem]

Gorgeous map guys! I loved every second and every detail! I didn’t notice before how the three forest cats they meet were Bluestar, Graypaw, and Lionheart at first! I also love how Smudge meets Firestar again even though his friend is sadly passed. I think Smudge was a very underutilized character in the books to be honest.

[FrogEatsEverything]

I love the idea that when Firestar died he traveled through the sky’s to say goodbye to smudge ❤ nah that actually really cute and sad 😢

[Etherealethan]

i love how smudge is actually drawn as a fat cat, as it says in the book

[DragonwolfRooke]

Wow this is a GORGEOUS MAP!! I adore how Rusty leaving was depicted through Smudge's eyes - of him going off and becoming one of the monsters. Absolutely phenomenal work everyone who participated, and thank you ForestWhisker for the amazing idea!