Warrior of the Mind [EPIC: The Musical - Animatic]

This animatic has been a long time in the making! I originally posted the WIP back in April and to see how far its come is a little bit crazy.

I will talk about this more in a future video, but I moved the placement of Warrior of the Mind in the musical for this animatic (because I didn't realize where it took place when I first started back in March, and at that point I was in too deep). So yes I know its not supposed to take place with the infant but I think the motivation and moral obligation/dilemma presented to Odysseus are the same therefore please don't leave like 8 billion comments mentioning this lol.

Also because I know this will come up: Yes my Odysseus design is derived from the Hades video game designs, same with my Athena. I tweaked them to fit into Epic a bit better but you're not crazy, young Odysseus does look like Zagreus, that's on purpose.

And finally, thank you to everyone who followed me on this journey of sleep deprivation to complete this animatic on my self-imposed deadline, y'all are pog

Song: Warrior of the Mind - Epic the Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans
Software used: Storyboard Pro

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[phantomik]

I love how Athena used the string game with Odysseus's thread of life! Very good symbolism.

[HoneyComb-sc]

I love how odysseus mouths the words athena says to younger him

[voidfloof]

Having the goddess of weaving manipulate a string is genius!!

[JarielJimenez]

3:32 I like the idea of having Athena showing up at this scene with the baby - it gives the song different meaning, but still shows the disconnect between Ody’s emotions and Athena’s “Warrior of the Mind” mindset.

[disneymaniaish]

Ody mimicing Athena's word while she is talking to his young self is very endiring 😂😂😂
Also Athena Who uses threads Is indicative of One of her abilities: weaving, something tied (no pun intended) to Arachne's myth

[cthoniccassandra]

I love how _handsy_ your version of Athena is. I adore all versions of her where she tends to be aloof and distant, never touching anyone unless she must. But she has no problem caressing his face, like he really does belong to her and is something to mold and design. And it’s apparent when Odysseus wraps his arm around her as they walk and she removes it. It’s just absolutely fascinating how your take emphasized this dynamic for them, and he even seems angry and frustrated with what she demands of him, even as his patron goddess. Also, this adds some dimension to how she is a daughter of Zeus. If both he and Athena commanded Odysseus to kill the baby, it would not only corner his morals further, but highlight that all the gods are ruthless to the extreme. Also, because I enjoyed it so much, Odysseus mouthing along with Athena and what she says to his past self is reminiscent to his own bloodline connected to Hermes. I saw your WIP a couple weeks ago and seeing this is gorgeous. Excellent animatic!

[markerofthemidnight]

I love Young Odysseus’ anime protagonist hair

[Hyperfixations_here]

Odysseus still mouthing along to what Athena said at 2:23 just shows he still respects her and somehow remembers exactly what she said that day.

[micrissy]

2:02 It's funny how Ody is pointing at himself as if asking if his younger self was talking to him to show himself lmao

[archsteel]

This is SO good! A lot of artists kinda forget the shitty, menacing, undertones of this song because young Ody and Athena are so cute. Like, Athena is unironically _awful_ in this part of the musical. She is a cruel, shitty, person, obsessed with her own ego and treating mortals like pawns to aggrandize her self. But you managed to find that perfect balance of still making their first meeting absolutely adorable while also keeping the underlying threat with the blood Athena played a very direct role in putting on Ody’s hands.

[hiimapotato]

I love the way Athena looks back with fondness on her first meeting with Odysseus I may cry

[meganmay]

Okay I have no words for how amazing this is. It actually kind of makes me wish warrior of the mind took place during the infant stuff. I love everything about Odysseus and Athena's dynamic. The use of string everything is just so well done

[elsie]

OH I love all the thread-of-life stuff! Athena weaving it into different shapes (because she IS a weaver, among other things!!!) especially the hourglass bringing flashback!Odysseus back in time.
And present!Ody reminiscing in the tree, mouthing along with Athena's words.
And the detail of there _not_ being two versions of Athena, past and present, like there are with Ody-- it's _the same Athena, _ handily demonstrating her godlike omnipresence!

[dawnanimations]

I LOVE HOW ODY SINGS OUT ATHENAS PART JUST LIKE HE REMEMBERED THE EXACT MOMENT THAT HE SAW HER AFTER KILLING THE BOAR I am obsesssed with your art style- this animatic has so many little things in it and it’s so nice to watch and it really radiates quality and effort and omgggg i love your work sm <33

[Board_Stiff]

So much to love about this that it took until my eighth or ninth watch-through to realise that 0:11 the RAIN FREEZES IN TIME!? Very - VERY - nice touch. Classy af, incredible animatic throughout.

[lorenmimi]

2:23 i liked that Odysseus in the back was like "Oh, I've been there before, I know that line" and sang "two can play this game"

[Bo_stauber]

The fact that in this animatic this song takes place after the horse and the infant, and that in the chess table scene Odysseus only takes down the HORSE and the KING makes this all even better

I saw the wip of the animatic a few months ago and the wait was totally worth it 😭😭

[kaamn]

I love how playfully Athena tells older Odysseus the whole "maybe one day he'll follow me" part while they're watching younger Ody like they don't already know how this ends up. It's this moment of camaraderie and levity among the other threats, and it's so silly and cute lol, like a glimpse into their relationship in other less tense moments. Also, older Ody's expression when he tricks Athena like "how did that work actually, omg wtf?"

[mariacampos]

oh how i wish this was the animatic reactors watch when starting to get into epic is JUST SO GOOD

[Fire_]

This is amazing! Athena treating Odysseus like a pawn, the size difference, and their difference in skill really shows the power imbalance that is at play. Good Job!