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rhosien — Solve et Coagula

Published: 2009-07-12 12:07:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 5088; Favourites: 36; Downloads: 57
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Description About time I uploaded this ...

This is my degree film, Solve Et Coagula, produced in my fourth year at Dundee Duncan of Jordanstone College. I can kiiiiind of hardly bare to look at it now, but it got me where I wanted to be (BA (Hons) 2:1), which is what counts! All hand-drawn (Pencil On Paper 1.0, between two of us) and digitally coloured (PhotoShop CS3 ... about 12 of us), over the space of about 3.5 months, following 4.5 months preparation by myself. Doesn't seem to look like much all considering, but ... blah. XD

Shitty "official" synopsis:
While occasionally led astray by beliefs and practices considered strange by modern perceptions, the alchemists of the 16th century were in truth the scientists of their day. Toiling to achieve the elusive promises of gold and eternal life, their efforts often met with failure. Still many sought the grail that is enlightenment, a path that has led many a well-meaning man to ruin. Depicted in intricate hand-drawn and digitally painted 2D animation is a tale that illustrates that which could happen only when a man in the pursuit of science turns to a higher intellect to aid him in his quest. The alchemist finds himself near consumed by more than just a longing for knowledge as he lets loose his other-worldly consult, who shows no mercy in taking revenge for her imprisonment.

Solvē Et Coagula was written and directed by Gail McColl, assisted by Ewan Hiddleston throughout the animation and colouring processes. The film includes collaboration with a large group of colourists, as well as an original soundtrack by Stuart McColl, all together capturing the wonder and exoticism of the arcane.

Ooky spooky.

Pleeeeeease let me know what you think on this! I know I rarely comment/show face on DeviantArt, but I'd appreciate it so much just to know what you think, being that this took up so much time! Animation is what I'm wanting to work in from now on ... so feedback would be excellent to work from. ^_^

Aaaaand, enjoy! No-one else that worked on this uses DA, so please take a look at the credits!
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Comments: 14

Kushami-Aru [2012-09-26 12:04:57 +0000 UTC]

Music's going to repeat itself in my head forever. xD

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rhosien In reply to Kushami-Aru [2012-09-30 21:15:01 +0000 UTC]

HAHA! Yes ... my brother did this for me after I requested something "catchy" ... 3 years later and it still manages to latch itself in there occasionally!

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Mimi-Evelyn [2011-08-10 06:47:58 +0000 UTC]

Really Awesome bit of animation^^ the very different way in which the ghost moves compared to the magician is very striking and I have to commend you on your choice of background music. It was nice an tense^^ Good Luck!

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TheArtgrrl [2010-10-04 05:55:33 +0000 UTC]

so COOL!!

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Arkeresia [2010-08-12 20:56:53 +0000 UTC]

Woooooow. I love these hand-drawn kinda animations, it looks really nice!

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Wa-ka [2009-08-17 19:58:59 +0000 UTC]

The pictures are nice ,a nd the idea is original so good work

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Friedenmann [2009-08-01 14:48:25 +0000 UTC]

It's rather good for handdrawn. What disappointed me most was lack of animation in the beginning frames - static candle flames, frozen hands of the man. It got a lot better afterwards, though

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zarkia [2009-07-23 13:09:18 +0000 UTC]

wow, that was great. i can't believe this was all hand-done. as the first commenter said, this could do with some inbetweening, but that's nothing major. good luck getting into the industry - you definitely have the talent.

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Alradeen [2009-07-21 11:59:03 +0000 UTC]

wow I love it

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alcaknight [2009-07-13 15:43:12 +0000 UTC]

That was brilliant. Hope to be as good someday.

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KCKinny [2009-07-13 05:44:10 +0000 UTC]

Hmn. I liked it, but I never was very fond of minimizing the FPS. Of course, it's a little late to criticize... I think you could have told the same story with more impact by making the action faster. Of course, this was hand-drawn, so there is quite the time consideration on it... anyhow, a little slow but looked fairly good.

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rhosien In reply to KCKinny [2009-07-13 10:02:38 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for your criticisms - that'll be something really useful to work from. For most of it the fps itself couldn't really be sped up (aside from the woman/demon on 6s, most is on 2s, so pretty standard), though the actual timing's never been a strong point for me, definitely needs work. So thanks!

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KCKinny In reply to rhosien [2009-07-13 14:24:25 +0000 UTC]

No problem. Keep up the good work!

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rhosien [2009-07-12 12:21:03 +0000 UTC]

"Numen sapiens! Da mihi ut potestate divina utar, ut elementa diducam et conducam, ut vitam donem et mortem expellam ... et ut mortales ita attollam ut immortales pares esse possint!"

=

"Wise divinity, grant it to me that I may use divine power, that I may take apart and bring together the elements, that I might give life and banish death, and that I might raise man to being as one with god!"

Voice acting by Calum MacAskill; English to Latin translation by Eleanor Jefferson.

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