Epic is such a beautifully, masterfully written piece of art and the skills of all the voice actors are incredible.
Anyway here begins my little ramble thoughts about it: Theres something so beautifully inspirational and like idk if empowering is the right word but yea. I remember seeing the tiktoks where it was just Jorge Rivera Herrans, and listening to the musical now with a whole cast of musicians, and animatics, an official concept album and its like, the musical is beautiful of course, but the passion and the hours and sweat and tears that went into creating the musical. Its something that I've always really loved about Indie animations, worlds built and dependent on the passion and love of its creators and fanbase.
Its something that gives me a little hope, with all the nervousness and anxiety that comes with AI art/AI voice actors, there are still beautiful pieces of art like this being made.
I think the final ochestral part of "would you fall in love with me again" is a good way to describe my feelings/thoughts. (probably cause I'm listening to that right now) I can't put it into words but listening to that final ochestration and thinking back to how it started, and throughout the musical where Odysseus slowly loses hope and changes into a monster, despite it all Penelope still loves him, and him her.
Its so like hopeful almost yknow? Anyway, back to the part about art and passion, art is great right love art, but with all the stuff happening it can also be a little scary too yknow? It can be emotionally draining work sometimes. But seeing stuff like Epic the Musical, or Flow win an oscar?? like its inspirational? Uplifting? Idk. Its something I've been trying not to forget yknow?
There are some incrediblely talented artistic people out there, despite it all artists are still artists yknow? No one can take that away the time you spent working on your craft. Or the care you feel for your OCs and their silly little shenanigans in your head. Even if you're not posting them on social media. You know they exist and sometimes thats enough too (Theres a really great video essay on youtube about "Art meant for noone" by Jacob Geller that I highly recommend).
A fandom of 1, youre their #1 fan yknow? And if you do form a fanbase of more than one then thats also so sick. Like you like these silly little guys, and then some other people also went "omg look at that silly little guy" and youre both appreciating this silly little guy. Its beautiful and idk? It's something I really love about indie animation. Like omg look at that! That silly little guy won over so many hearts that now that silly little is on my screen! moving around getting up to silly little shenanigans! Look at that! look at them go! I could go on an on but yea AI can't replicate that.
AI cant replicate passion.
tldr: art is sick as hell and super cool, AI isnt.
Idk if "Art Stamina" or like "Creative Stamina" I guess is better. Idk I like thinking of drawing/writing as kind of like running.
You run and like you're vibing you're in the zone hell yeah the art is arting. But then at a certain point your legs get sore or your lungs begin to wear and your breathing gets funny cause you can't focus as good so your running gets worse up until you can't run anymore.
Then for the next few days you can't really run cause you're sore so you lay in bed for like months or something wondering "why tf did I ever try exercising again".
Does that make sense? Idk Its something I've noticed with myself, and I think its a good tip for anyone else who might experience something similar. Remember to pace yourself and just enjoy the moment.
Its not really a "new" or super fantastic tip or anything but I think it's good to remember.
You can't start sprinting at 100% at the start of the race, you have to pace yourself so then at the end you're still running.
Art is like training a brain muscle. Kinda.
Is this just burnout. It might be lowkey.
Sorta Related Sidenote: I've been really wanting to get into making lil comics, animations, or writing for a long time now but always end up burning myself out and landing myself in art/creative block jail. These are just a couple thoughts I've had while trying to figure out what I want to draw while keeping myself from burning out :P