How Long? Hadestown Animatic 

The fact he's HURT when she says "your underworld" aaaAAA "mine? its not ours anymore?" rip in pepperoni. this was GORGEOUS

I have a theory of how Hades and Persephone drifted apart. In the original myths Persephone was known to be sympathetic to the dead and those looking to save the dead, but sadly not every hero that came to the underworld or wanted to leave had good intentions, such as the myth of Sisyphus who manipulated Persephone into freeing him or Pirithos who tried to take Persephone away from Hades. So in this musical maybe Persephone’s presence equally threatened the order of Hadestown and thus Hades became more protective of his kingdom and bride, turning Persephone’s marriage into a prison sentence and turning the River Styx into a Wall of Bricks

the way he looks so sad whenever she's not looking... bro i'm keeling over

will never get over the symbolism of persephone looking towards the sun like something warm and hopeful while hades looks at it with fear and apprehension of how bright and blinding it is, ugh, the storytelling

One of the things that get me with the lyrics is about the Sun. Because part of the story that isn't really said in Hadestown is Hades was jealous of Apollo, the God of the Sun and Persephone worked with him. All Hades saw was how everyone loved and worshiped Apollo, even his wife spent half her time in his light. So they seemingly adapted that in this story. Hades industralized, brought heat and neon lights to simulate what Apollo does on the overworld. But Persephone hates it. Hades doesn't understand that she wants away from Apollo and wants the cool steady comfort of Hades' embrace. The foundational strength and security that only the God of the underworld can give. Time away from the light and the heat to rest and feel the trueness of love. Something Apollo is incapable of.

I really love the depiction of Hades and Persephone in this story. What always strikes me about Hadestown is how obvious it is (especially in the finalized version) how much these two still love each other, arguably too much. If you'd ask them, in a world where anything was possible, whether they'd want to divorce or save their marriage, both would probably immediately say "I want to fix things", except they have no idea how. They are what Orpheus and Eurydice likely would've been in twenty years; people who just make impossible promises, don't communicate, just go off to do what they think is good for the other and express their frustrations in petty, toxic ways. The grand irony of Hadestown is that while Orpheus and Eurydice's young, earnest love inspires Hades and Persephone to actually put in the work to improve their relationship, Orpheus and Eurydice's love ultimately lacks the same trust and foundation they themselves have. Hades is willing to trust that Persephone will come back to him and the story ends implying that their bond will be mended over time. Orpheus doesn't trust that Eurydice has followed him out of the Underworld (even though Hermes, likely with Hades's approval, beats it into his head that it's a test of trust and not a trick) and loses her forever.

When you think about it, everyone is asking Hades to give the pity he never got. The man is exiled from his family, denied worship on the mortal plane from fear, and when he finally gets happiness in Persephone it's taken away so the world can continue to move on. The world turns based on his misery and isolation. Then when he has his wife in his realm she's going with protest, telling him how much she no longer loves him, and basically spending the entire time vocally counting down the time until she can leave him. Embracing her happiness through his misery. Then everyone asks Hades to return Eurydice to Orpheus, because his mortal sorrow is somehow more tragic than his immortal sorrow.

The line "Nothing comes of the songs people sing however sorry they are" and hades expression makes me feel like he really does feel bad and blames himself that persephone has to abandon her life on the surface to be his wife, he truly loves her and wants her to be happy, like he know she suffers for their love and that's why he tries to replace the light and the warmth through artificial means. He's trying his best guy's hes just a big dummy 😭

I love the way you show that all that hades wants is the love of his wife and all he does is for her even if she doesn’t understand his way of love

3:20 The expression you gave him reminds me a lot of the lyrics from "Epic II", when Orpheus sings "He thinks of his wife in the arms of the Sun", and how in "Chant" Hades tells Persephone that he built a power grid for her - like it could replace the sunlight she needs. That expression makes me think he's less afraid of the light and more so desperate and helpless because he believes she's leaving him for someone else.

Holy shit that ending. It reminded me of that tumblr poem “he looked at her like she was the sun” which is just! This is perfect and I love it!

OH MY GOF I JUST WOKE UP AND ITS HERE AND ITS BEAUTIFUL

Every new How Long animatic is so pretty because every artist interprets it so differently! This is awesome! 💙

LOVE THIS!!! I like the slightly different tone, presenting them both as more empathetic individuals who are just hurting and miss each other dearly, instead of the completely jaded fury in most animatics.

One dislike is emotionally recovered Hades now completely embarrassed by this

I love how Hades goes from grumpy to sad towards the end!

Oh ! I just noticed something. The reason why they use the same line for Orpheus and for the sun is because Orpheus is the son of Apollo, the God of the sun and music

I love how Hades has to cover his face from the sun. It's so cool how symbolic it is

OH MY GODDDDD THIS IS INSANE you fucking NAILED their dynamic here. the yearning and pleading from both of them but also both of them completely missing what the other wants.... both of them just want the other, but neither of them know how to just ASK. god. and i loveddd what you did with the lighting and persephone dancing in the sun, and hades, when he goes to the vision of her, just runs into the sun and hugs her but when she actually tugs him into the light he has to shield his face...... jesus christ. this was gorgeous also when she was like "your underworld" and hades went "mine, huh?" i was like OH SHIT..... FUCK.. MY HEART

ugh i love everything about this, i love how everyone animates hades being like MY underworld?? it's YOURS too if you'd STAY :((( he just misses his wife, i also love how you drew his 'nothing comes from of the songs people sing, however sorry they are' because he knows first hand, he feels that sorrow and you can really see it and i really loved how you drew him being like, afraid of the light, of the sun, it being so bright and unfamiliar to him, he's afraid to step out of the darkness now, it's just a very powerful visual, but perespone brings him anyway, ugh i love these two!!!

Hades' voice is so beautiful omg

The use of light and shadow in this animatic is top tier. This song is already sad, but you've added a level of emotional evocation that is amazing. thank you.

that bass has no right to be so good

This was so beautiful. I haven't watched Hadestown yet (I've only listened to the soundtrack not stop for the past 2 months), but these visuals really helped me better understand the song and its role in the musical as a whole. Also, that last scene with all the colors was just ... ooh MAGNIFICENT!

Wow their expressions! And the way Persephone her face lights up when she talks about the love between Orpheus and Eurydice! Absolutely amazing!

OMG I really didn't expect the transition to the vibrant colouring! This was beautifully done!

Trying so hard not to cry at work rn because of this. made it, but just barely! The “however sorry they are” Scene had my eyes watering something fierce. Fantastic job!

I love the lighting. It's so soft and warm in contrast to the cold of the world and harshness of their marriage now.

that one dislike was the door she slammed open

Agh! I love it! This is my favorite song in the whole show and you did a great job illustrating the poignancy and emotion of it 😭💖

I'm so glad you went through with your version because this is my favorite song and it looks AMAZING. I especially love how you can tell Hades is fueled by fear and loneliness, and I love how he's showing how much he grieves her loss and Persephone is like 'Bitch, i'm right here' and she pulls him up and to her world despite his fears, because despite the walls pulling them appart all they want is to be together... and you gave hades such a cute nose TvT

the _colors_ oh my gosh, now THAT was beautiful, this whole thing was beautiful, what the _heck_ i love it

OH MY GOD WHEN IT GOES INTO COLORRRR

I keep coming back to this, it is seriously underrated and I can't believe it doesn't have any more views.

I just saw the wip on tumblr like 15 minutes ago and as soon as I saw the notification I clicked

damn. time for couples therapy

Oh my god this this is everything. The lighting, the expressions, it’s all just so darn beautiful. You’ve illustrated this song so well now this animatic will be the only thing on my mind for the next 3 months.

AAAA AND THE COLOURS AAAAAAAA ITS SO GOLDEN

god your understanding of anatomy is so good omg, i love anamatics but sometimes is so hard to focus on the song/story because of the art

THESE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS ARE SO AMAZING OH MY GOOSSHHH

Hades voice. I just- Also, amazing work! i loved it soooo much.

This is really amazing!! You have a wonderfull art style and can convey the emotions so well, the whole flow the animatic is great too. I love your depiction of them, I dont like when Hades is just shown as some big scary guy and you got all his worries and insecurities and EMOTIONS pinned down solid

I am speechless this was so good! Love the expressions you put on the characters :)

THATS SO BEAUTIFUUUUUUL

I did this all for you for us -hades to his love

Absolutely beautiful art

I'M LEGIT CRYING AT THE ENDING WITH THE COLORS 😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️ You did a great job!!

2.46 is a heartbreaker

Love this!!!

The warm colors from the fire look so beautiful, it's really stunning

This is SO well made!!

A) this is gorgeous B) what are those squares on Hades’ left arm? They almost looklike bricks, which would make sense for him

Why am I crying even more than usual? 😭😭😭 This was absolutely beautiful!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL AND HAUNTING!! The dynamic poses and expressions are to die for

No dislikes till now Good

This is incredible!!!! I am absolutely in love with this!!! Hell yeah!!

this was amazing!! its so cool seeing yet another awesome animatic for the song (giving me a reason to listen to it even more haha) truly stunning work!! the part at the end with their duet was amazing, i loved the parts with color and the light/fire reflecting off their faces in hadestown sm

Oh my this art style is just stunning! Definitely new subscriber

the picture at the beginning 😭😭

this is amazing! especially the way you coloured them at the end. i literally can't put into words how much i love this animatic

This is so good

This is so good!!! The details on the faces are incredible!!!

Stunningly beautiful! My thanks!

This is absolutely amazing!!

Holy shit!!!! This turned out amazing I specially love that whole part at the end, amazing work dude!!

this is amazing!! the lighting is so well done!! i can’t even imagine how much effort this must have taken!

Absolutely beautiful, incredible. You are very talented😍😍

This is so incredible! Beautifully done

Okay 1. This is amazing and 2. I’d love to discuss the meaning behind the phrase “how long” and what it means to the characters of anyone is down...

Ай, кажется моё сердце сново разбито этими двумя невозможным богами, прекрасной музыкой и восхитительный рисовкой. Пустила слезу, когда Сеф повела Аида на свет, а он его испугался. Мои дети 😭

Excuse me while I *cries*

Awesome

I was completely drawn in the entire time what the heck Also the colors and lighting are beautiful!!

OMG it's definitely my favorite animatic of this song!! I love how you draw Hades

This is so expresive, I love it!

Wonderful 😁✨

BEAUTIFUL AND IM CRYING

DARN THIS IS SO AMZING AND UNDERRATED WTH

Gorgeous. ^_^

You made my favorite song in Hadestown even better.

This is absolutely amazing!!!

SO GOOD !!! the changing to the colours had me shook me it was so perfect ! love it, you did an amazing job

Amazing!!!!

this is. beautiful. it is so perfectly made, I absolutely love it in every way

Просто отвал всего 🤩

SO GOOD ACTUALLY? I love this!

Im in love ahhh

Oh hey this came out on my birthday! I love love love it. Especially the colourful ending.

OH ITS BEAUTIFUL!

ooooooh this is so good how is this that good?! :O

This is so beautiful! I love it

My favorite toxic cis het relationship ❤

WHY HAS RHIS SO FEW LIKES WHAAAAT

So amazing and fresh

I LOVE THIS

This is amazing !

PD: muchas gracias

pero que love ni que loft