A few years back, my wife and I got our first DVD player. It came on the heels of my first laser disc player, which I somehow managed to buy just moments before they went out of style. (That’s what happens when you keep waiting for the price to go down.) The DVD player was a gift and we also had the opportunity to pick out 8 DVDs. After all, what good was a player without anything to play? I won’t get into our choices here, but my wife insisted we include a DVD called “Gate to the Mind’s Eye.” I thought it was an odd choice, but I agreed. It was a collection of computer animated music videos that were produced, in part, by Thomas Dolby (of “She Blinded Me with Science” fame). I was already into the computer animation thing (though to this day still prefer traditional animation), and was somewhat mesmerized by the whole thing. The images were all so bizarre and for a while I was convinced I was watching some sort of mind control DVD. I think my brain shut down right around the 5th video. Since that time, I’ve seen numerous computer animated music videos of varying quality and style, but for the most part haven’t been that impressed. That changed a few days ago when I popped a DVD called “Animusic.”

This collection of computer animated music videos immediately grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until it was over. What was different about this particular DVD release? I think first and foremost it was the subject of the animation. As opposed to designing some bizarro world of faceless giants, streaming lines or bouncing squares, director Wayne Lytle opted to literally animate the music. You actually see stylized versions of the instruments as they create the music, note for note.
Then there is the incredible attention to detail. You actually see and hear every little note as it is ‘played’, by all manner of robotic instruments. The name “Animusic” implies exactly what you get. The fact that it only runs a little over a half hour is also a bonus. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted to see more, but because often what kills something this creative is to show too much of it. Always leave the audience wanting more.

For those who watch “Animusic” and find themselves getting totally lost in the coolness of it will enjoy some of the extra features that riddle the disc. Since I was so impressed by the technical aspect of the work, I was especially interested to see that there was a director’s commentary. Lytle literally takes you through the process of how everything came together, and though he gets uses a lot of technical jargon, he kept it simple enough for… well… for me to understand what the heck he was talking about. The disc is also set up to let you to watch some of the instruments throughout an entire piece without cutting away to other instruments, as well as a look at how the instruments were ‘built.’ Technophobes beware, technophiles rejoice!

If you’re at all into computer animation or music you’ll definitely enjoy “Animusic.” If you happen to be into both, you should get it now!

Directed by: Wayne Lytle
Extras: Director’s Commentary, Solo Cam Angles, Production Stills, Screen Shots, Sketches, Behind the Scenes Set Construction Shorts, Breakaway Hit Pipe Dream in Widescreen, Animusic’s First Animation, Animusic 2 Sneak Peak
Specifications: Full Screen (4.3), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Goldhil Home Media
Release Date: Available
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Animusic an A.