The Evolution of 8-Bit Art | Off Book | PBS Digital Studios

Beginning with early Atari and Nintendo video games, the 8-bit aesthetic has been a part of our culture for over 30 years. As it moved through the generations, 8-bit earned its independence from its video game roots. The idea of 8-bit now stands for a refreshing level of simplicity and minimalism, is capable of sonic and visual beauty, and points to the layer of technology that suffuses our modern lives. No longer just nostalgia art, contemporary 8-bit artists and chiptunes musicians have elevated the form to new levels of creativity and cultural reflection.

Featuring:

Jesper Juul
Dr. Octoroc
Minusbaby
Anamanaguchi
Anthony Sneed

Additional Art by:

Music by:

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[muchdoge]

JESUS CHRIST HAVE A DAMN EPILEPSY WARNING DAMMIT. 

[KnarfBlack]

'8-bit' as a catchall term for pixel art is just something we're going to have to live with, people.

[TcRiverrat]

I love this video. I find myself coming back to it over and over again. Thank you for making this.

[minusbaby]

I mentioned the demoscene during my interview. It didn't make the final cut, but rest assured it wasn't forgotten. <):')

[liwowoli]

Wow -- I really didn't know that 8-bit art/chiptunes/pixel art was this involved. It's always so cool when I realize how caveman I am in the modern world.

I think my favorite part was when Minusbaby was talking about the triangle wave, square wave, pulse wave, and noise. It's like principles of music. You can just take those four things and multiply them to infinity.

Anyway, now I have a whole bunch of new stuff to learn. Cool.

[RyanGatts]

I think he's referring to the stuff that is actually 16-bit styled. (they have 16-bit color ranges and frame-budgets).

[anamanaguchi]

we mentioned the demoscene a bunch when they filmed it, REPPP

[zaylasoul]

I believe 8bit is making a hard comeback with the exploration of early web3 ecosystems. ❤

[SpartanLaserCanon]

I Hate How People Hardly Ever Make 16-bit Music because Mario Paint (a 16 bit music program) was and still is underrated I wish More People Made 16 Bit Music

[DemiRonin]

This was a really well produced piece!!! Great job!!

[philippowers]

These are kids! It makes me think that they are right and there's more to this than just a retro fad. I like 8-bit as a retro fad, but I will be very happy if these kids turn it into something more.

[marteta]

omg this is amazing!
I wasn't expecting to watch the Glee kids there! wow
(they should have added Santana tho)

[doorsup]

I learned so much from these mini documentaries

[Highretrogamelord]

Cool, I even saw some games that aren't widely known, such as Crownland (Atari 8-bit family).

[patrickmann]

It's strange to hear someone say that the Atari and the ZX Spectrum, etc, were 'before their time' because all of the things mentioned in this video have happened 'during' my lifetime. They came along and blew my mind. It's what addicted me to technology, Fascinating video. I like it!

[elizabethmscooperse]

thank you for sharing these educational materials !!!

[chilly]

Well... no....
There is no soundtrack corruption or even macs most of the time.
The main idea of chiptune music is using the hardware of the past(ex. 4:03) and by using the most fundamental waveforms(square, triangle, etc) to create music. Its a really cool process, and, due to the limitations, its really creative.

[IIIIIIII]

PBS has always had great stuff. I trust they'll be able to adapt.

[DaddyPims]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I guess they're now using the phrase "8-Bit" to reference the whole retro-graphics scene, as opposed to artwork strictly made in an 8-bit style.

[Barcrest]

8 Bit stopped when the Atari ST and Amiga hit the scene for home computers and the Mega Drive/Geneis and SNES arrived for consoles. This was the 16bit era... Now it's all banded together under the 8-bit header :(