Keep Your Friends Close | EPIC: The Musical ANIMATIC 

The way Telemachus eyes are blurred because Odysseus doesn’t know what he looks like is SO TRAGIC!😭😭😭❤

I really appreciate how the moment the cloud sprites say "It's treasure" he knew he got played. He thought it would be easy but the delivery of that "what?" made you feel his anger and sadness.

I just realized how much your Penelope design reminds me of your Hera design and I was like "Aww, Odysseus sees his wife like a goddess"

Aeolus turning from a child sized wind sprite to a storm sized wind blower gave me chills, I love his design sm

Aeolus is adorable, like a child playing and not really understanding that for these men it’s life or death. Which is perfect for a god. ❤

I never pictured Aelous themselves blowing away Odysseus's ship! I always thought they were just watching without doing anything (like in the myth), but this is a great choice! Animatic is 100% pure perfection, just like always!

I love how you drew aeolus. Spinning around the ship while floating on a cloud is giving mega superpowerful innocent child vibes 😂

0:39 I like to think when they say “I give the fire enough to stay burning” it foreshadows the future. When they say not to let the crew open the bag but they instigate the crew to do so. They are fueling the fire of desire to open the bag to the point where they know for a fact the crew will open it because of not only of their own curiosity but also because of the small whispers Aeolus sends them to keep them curious. Basically Aeolus is a D1 instigator

Little things I loved: Aeolus scratching Odysseus' beard. Odysseus' face palm at trying to explain to his crew they can't open the bag. The flinch at the mention of Polites. Odysseus cuddling into Penelope. ❤

3:03 I like to imagine even though he has fall 'out of favor' with Athena she is still trying to help him. When Penelope yells at him to wake up I think it could be seen as Athena using his dream to warn him about the crew opening the bag

In the original mythology, correct me if I'm wrong, Aeolus gave Odysseus favorable winds to aid his journey. The Bag of Winds was given to him containing all of the winds except the West wind, which will help them sail back home. They sailed well for 10 days, but the crew, in curiosity and jealousy thought the bag contained treasure their captain was keeping from them. They opened the bag whilst Odysseus was resting. The winds kicked up a storm that brought them right back to Aeolus but he didn't help them anymore, thinking Odysseus might be cursed by the gods.

Aeolus has one of the best designs PEAK

This might be your best work yet, that camera movement is unreal, and Aeolus looks really good. I cannot wait for how you do Ruthlessness!

Nobody seems to be pointing out that when the crew points out "Everything's changed since Polites" Odysseus tenses up, because he's still in mourning over the lost of his friend, and it's weighing down on him pretty heavy. It's such a heartbreaking but small detail

This has so much good stuff in it, omfg. Aeolus and the Winion’s designs (I love that they’re clown-themed), the little gusts of wind telling Odysseus to wake up, Penelope’s form being in it as the storm happens, the CAMERAWORK, just…this is so phenomenal. This is my favorite

ABSOLUTELY incredible i keep replaying the part where the camera follows aeolus along the ships, it's so SMOOTH!!! Also the bit with odysseus and penelope and telemachus in the castle... it is SO GOOD. Sigh oh the way telemachus' eyes are crossed out because odysseus does not know what he looks like... once again absolutely incredible work

I really love how Aelous looks so soft and playful, that you just feel lulled into trusting the windy god's game that you forget the God is a God. Always enjoying making the game more trickier for their own enjoyment

Love this interpretation. When the bag is opened Aeolus is like “whoops, I tried to warn you, but you lost the game! Back to start you go 😄”

The saddest part to me is Odysseus pleading that he hasn't changed, and that he's still the same

Aeolus in the beginning gives off Aang vibes (the movements and mannerisms, the childlike appearance, the cloud and Aang's ball of air etc) and I love that design choice! Very suited to a trickster wind god

The part where Aeolus is flying around the ships with all the spinning perspectives is STUNNING. You didn't have to go that hard but you did and I'm so impressed

The design for Aeolus is adorable! Im a huge fan of your work keep doing great things!

Aeolus being both playful and deadly is such a good representation of a god of winds. Especially to a culture where seafaring is as important as ancient Greece’s

Absolutely brilliant. I loved the design of Aeolus so much. Androgynous, easygoing and yet such an underlying threat. And the way you drew the crew. And how the winds swept away Penelope! And that entire dream sequence. Beautiful!

3:04 something ive always wondered is how the dream warned him of this. My theory always was that it was Athena (even though she said she left) was still watching over Odysseus and used his dream to try and warn him. The only basis I have of this is do you know from The legend of the Odyssey she is still around, plus the voice always sounded similar.

I love how Odysseus looks done with this s*, like in the Myth, in this animatic :D. Yeah, the Odyssey is really tragic and everything, but sometimes we can really picture Odysseus facepalming at every stupidity his companions do LOL

2:48 I never noticed Telemachus sings this part. Man it's heartbreaking.

I love the way you made Aeolus and the winions look like little clowns. it's so cute! And the moment with Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus was so wholesome. and when Odysseus jumped at the mention of Polites was so sad!

3:59 *_ODYSSEUS OF ITHACA!!!!!!!_* *_Do you know who I am?_*

Absolutely ADORE that rotating shot at 2:00

Another mythological example about the dangers of curiosity. I don’t think the crew planned to steal the “treasure” from their leader, but they were obsessed with finding out what he was keeping hidden from them to the extent that they were willing to risk him being right about the trapped storm winds if it meant a chance at proving he was lying and keeping something cool for himself.

I love how Aeolus plays with the perception of everyone they get into contact with. First tricking Odysseus and thereby the viewers by their eye placement behind the curtains, followed by them appearing where Odysseus wouldn't expect them to be. Giving the man a bag that has a literal talking illusion of their face on it and then altering the crews perception of the bag and Odysseys' motives by letting the winions start a the rumor. Them literally leading the camera at one point making the viewers only see what they want us to see and in the end transforming into a being more grander and dangerous then what they let Odysseys ever show, meaning they never showed all their cards till the end. Truly a god as deceitful and unable to grasp as their craft ;)

Aeolus mentions multiple times how Odysseus never really knows who to trust, and this is stated after Odysseus asks what the catch is. That's the catch. Odysseus doesn't know if he can trust Aeolus

THE CLOWN THEME IS SO CUTE AND FITS SO WELL Also I love Odysseus's face at "everybody listen closely" TELEMACHUS BEING BLURRED IS SO CLEVER OUHH Also i love the crew designs And the way Odysseus moves his shoulders at polites name

2:30 breaks my heart knowing how close he was to seeing his family. Lovely detail!❤

Firstly, have been looking at this animation NONSTOP. I love the style entirely. Everyone mentions how Odysseus doesn't know what Telemachus looks like and the eyes, but I never actually noticed that you can HEAR him in the song and he's just quieter than Penelope. It took me LOOKING at your animation to notice he was even singing to begin with. SO thanks! :)

3:19 was SUCH a cool moment for me because it references the abundant depictions of him blowing the winds out of his mouth!! also the ending gave me CHILLS it just turned to black like that

I always get so absorbed in how much I love Jay's portrayal of Aolus that I forget "OOOOOOODYSEUS OF ITHICAAAAA" is coming lol

1:54 That scene was amazingly done! Such great use of the Nimbus cloud

I think this has to be one of my favourites you have done. The spinning camera shots, the way Aelous looks and moves, how Odysseus's sons face is blurred out is so sad too. I also love the way Aelous looks when they blow the ship, it kinda looks like an old school Disney cartoon. It's just so charming which matches with the clown aesthetic but u still see how malicious they are.

I adore the shot of Odysseus closing his eyes at the view of the horizon, and opening them to reveal the dream of Penelope and Telmelachus, right at the line "getting closer to you." 2:29 It just puts us in his head so beautifully, showing us what he sees whenever he looks at that horizon and dipping us into the dream sequence perfectly. Not to mention it's heart-wrenching. Amazing artistic choice for that moment in your animatic.

Aelous’s design!! And the winions!! PEAK character designs I love them so much

i love how Aloeus is very cartoony while the mortal men are more realistic. it really drives home the idea of them being so different from them

That was amazing, the camera work, designs and facial expressions were amazing, and I love the small details !

Amazing animatic!! 1000/10!💙 2:36 When i saw how you made Telemachus' face scratched out my head exploded of joy! I had tought of that before and seeing that you had the same idea and showcased it better than i could made my day!🌺

Aelous little bop-up-and-down at 1:09, and her hahaha are so freaking adorable.

I love this! I wonder why Aeolus and the Winions are clowns, but it just really adds to their vibe of "we're fun until we aren't" I get from the song.

3:39 - 3:46 sounds like something straight out of a Lin Manuel Miranda Musical! Huge props to Jorge!

Aww the little cloud girl is so cute! I like this more girly design compared to other animatics I have seen. She reminds me of like a female version of kid Goku spinning on her little cloud! It really suits the girly playful singing voice she has! 😊

The way Odysseus says he’s ‘the same’ in his dream, but has to change into a different man in “monster”. Such hidden details!

THE FLINCH I will cry 2:11

If only Ody was a little more clever, all he had to do was 'admit' that this was a treasure bag that could only be opened on dry land. If it was opened over the water it would become a storm. This would fracture the ships between the patient and the reckless, giving him a team to watch his back while he slept.

After listening to this song several times, it does feel like 01:43 sometimes.

I like the use of the Sun Wu Kong-style cloud to communicate the trickster nature of the god(dess) here. Really nice little detail!

1:54 love this sweeping shot. pretty smooth for an anamatic

It's time to praise your wonderful animatic with Odysseus and Aeolus, Dear Gigi! 0:39 I love this humorous image of Aeolus so much! Her nose, which looks like a clown nose, or you know, the nose of Mickey Mouse, the main mascot of Disney. Her elements are so wonderful - a scarf in the shape of the wind, and her big pants. She even bears a bit of a resemblance to Gene, and I love that detail. After all, she kind of fulfills Odysseus' wish, gives him a bag of winds. 1:07 My heart was taken away by the little helpers of Aeolus, my holy croissants, they took my heart 🥹💘 Do I really like that you made Aeolus and her assistants look so funny? 🥰 1:12 Av, her patterns on the pants are something amazing and very beautiful, thank you very much for such detailing! 1:55 - 2:05 What a smooth scene, Aeolus just floats on it incredibly, like a real, calm wind. This scene looks very soothing! 2:39 It's so heartbreaking that he doesn't know what his son looks like. He can only suspect that his son is a bit like his younger counterpart. But his soul is his eyes, he does not know, and cannot know until he comes home. 3:07 Even here there is wind! Wow, this scene is becoming my favorite. I like it so much how his wife, his son, leaves with the evil wind. Most importantly, his chance to return home to his family as soon as possible is gone. 3:14 Ha, ha, pancakes, just notice, I like how solemnly Aeolus dances!! 3:19 I like the fact that it's Aeolus herself who sends Odysseus' crew away, not the bag of winds. This really highlights the fact that she herself punished Odysseus for his inattention. 4:03 The appearance of your Poseidon, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!!! I liked it so much that we never saw it, because we saw it with another song. Oh, how I look forward to your Poseidon. 🥰 Thank you very much, dear Gigi! 🩷 Your animation is beautiful as always, your image of Aeolus is quite interesting. She resembles a child who just wants to play. But, really, I think with this task - she just wanted to lure Odysseus to his father (Poseidon). But, that's just my theory about the song, that's it, nothing more. Because in the original source there is a completely different version, it seems, because the bag of winds was a gift from Aeolus. And in the song, it's kind of not a gift, but more of a thing that will help the deal, the game of Aeolus. Your Aeolus is just a miracle and the little helpers are just bunnies, hee, hee. Thank you again, we are waiting for "Ruthlessness" in Your performance! 💕

i have to say, as usual i have no words how amazing your animatic is. So creative and on point

Aeolus looks so flowy I love how you drew them! 😭💕

IM SO EXCITED:333 ur Aeolus design is so silly and to me captures his playful(?) nature in the song how he wants to play a game and how he laughs silly :3

There are so many things to say about this! First, I love how bouncy/floaty Aeolus is! They are so adorable! Second, 1:55 to 2:05 is by far my FAVORITE part of the video! It's so cinematic! Third, Aeolus blowing the ship away is something I never thought of. But it works alongside this part 3:21. And finally, the way you left us on a dang cliffhanger. We don't see who it is, yet we see this trident (4:03) hinting at which God is calling out to Odysseus! A nice little detail there!

I saw a dumb theory once that said the Land of the Giants that Odysseus almost got blown to by the bag of winds in the Odyssey was supposed to be Norway and that theory has me fucking DYING. Like the four winds really just said "Fuck this dude, send his ass to the Vikings".

Oh, I adore your design of Penelope so much, I'm always so happy when we can see her in animatic. Gorgeous work, can't wait for Ruthlessness

I GOT THE CHILLS THIS IS AMAZING I love the "keep your eyes open" part, and the ending is AWESOME. When Aelous blows the ships away and the backround turns black... it's perfect, wow

I dont know what it is, but the way Aelous does her little "ha ha ha"s is so genuine and makes me endeared to her straight away

Omg this animatic is soooooo good & expressive & smooth… it must have taken so much time to make! ❤❤ thank you!! and my tears welled up for Odysseus that he was so close and indulged in a fancy and then everyone betrayed him 😢

Lyrics: [ODYSSEUS] Great wind god, Aeolus I don't know if you know this But our path to home is blocked by an impenetrable storm I ask for your assistance So we at last can go the distance Can you cast the perfect winds for us and aid our journey home? [AEOLUS] Ha ha ha I am the wind, twisting and turning I give the fire enough to stay burning Let's play a game [ODYSSEUS] A game? [AEOLUS] That's what I'm serving And if you win, you will get what you're yearning [ODYSSEUS] Deal [AEOLUS] Take a look right here at this bag It has the winds of the storm all trapped All you gotta do is not open this bag [ODYSSEUS] Sounds too easy, what's the catch? [AEOLUS, WINIONS] Ha ha ha Keep your friends close and your enemiеs closer Never rеally know who you can trust If they wanna get the bag open, you gotta say "no, sir" Sometimes killing is a must [ODYSSEUS, spoken] What? [AEOLUS] 'Cause the end always justifies the means Friends turn into foes and rivalries So keep your friends close and your enemies closer Never really know who you can trust (Never really know who you can trust) [PERIMEDES] Captain, what's happening? [PERIMEDES & ELPENOR] What's trapped in that bag? [ODYSSEUS] Something dangerous, friends We mustn't lag [WINIONS, spoken] It's treasure! [ODYSSEUS, spoken] What? [WINIONS, spoken] Buh-bye! [PERIMEDES] Open the bag [ELPENOR] Let's see what you got [ODYSSEUS] No, do not Everybody listen closely See how this bag is closed? That's how it's supposed to be This bag has the storm inside We cannot let the treasure rumor fly [PERIMEDES & ELPENOR] We'll try [AEOLUS, CREW, WINIONS]: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Never really know who you can trust Never really know who you can trust Now they wanna get the bag open so they can have closure Sometimes sneaking is a must Sometimes sneaking is a must 'Cause the end always justifies the means Everything's changed since Polites, so Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Never really know who you can trust Never really know who you can trust [ODYSSEUS] For nine days, I've stayed wide awake Trying to make it home with no storm or tidal wave I remain unopposed, the bag is still closed And I'm getting closer to you [CREW] Penelope [ODYSSEUS] I can't wait to make some new memories [CREW] Telemachus [ODYSSEUS] Time for me to be the father I never was [PENELOPE & TELEMACHUS] Just keep your eyes open [ODYSSEUS] Why are my eyes and my heart and my soul so heavy? [PENELOPE & TELEMACHUS] Just keep your eyes open [ODYSSEUS] I keep on trying to embrace you both Why won't you let me? [PENELOPE & TELEMACHUS] Just keep your eyes open [ODYSSEUS] So much has changed but I'm the same Yes I'm the same [PENELOPE & TELEMACHUS] Just keep your eyes open [ENSEMBLE] Just keep your eyes open [PENELOPE, spoken] Wake up! Wake up, Odysseus, they're opening the bag Wake up! [ODYSSEUS] No! [AEOLUS, CREW, WINIONS] Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Never really know who you can trust Never really know who you can trust Storm Full speed ahead [ODYSSEUS] Where's the storm taking us? [AEOLUS] I said to keep the bag closed, but you weren't compliant If I had to guess? You're heading to the [AEOLUS & WINIONS] Land of the giants [CREW] Storm, storm [ODYSSEUS, spoken] Help me close the bag [EURYLOCHUS, spoken] But sir, it's too late [ODYSSEUS, spoken] We can save whatever wind is left to use another day Come on! [POSEIDON, spoken] Odysseus of Ithaca Do you know who I am?

I love aeolus in this. They give off a powerful child that is so innocent.

Every design I see of Aeolus is so perfect in thier own way. Here you managed to capture the playfulness and I love the idea of them blowing the ship

Really love the Aelous design, so freaky and different from also others of your gods design, is like more disneyan

It's not that your animation is amazing- because it is- but your photography/directing is just...!!! When Aueolus is zooming around the ships and you're TRACKING them, it gives it SO MUCH dimension. And to flow onto the ship to the men watching Odysseus-- I am boggled every time. Boggled! Please keep doing this forever, you can only get more incredible. I await the day the Epic team calls you up for their production to be made into a full length animation.

0:58 I really like how you portray Odysseus' wit, he knows what the gods are like

From all the depictions of Aeolus, this is my fav. The way it is drawn is awesome, like a mischievous child who likes to mess around from time to time, and with the clowns? This is incredible 🛐🛐

39 hours left to go , oh god we are going to go insane before this can even drop

I’m so hyped! I’m currently in the process of making my own animatic of this song and your design of Aeolus from the trailer and thumbnail is peak 🔥🔥🔥

“ODYSSEUS THEY ARE OPENING THE BAG!” The desperation in her voice- is 😭😭😭

I didnt imagine Aeolus to be as antagonistic till this. And i guess they're not really. They're just like all the other gods giving a glimmer of power to mortals to see if they succeed or fail before following through with their promise. I still feel like Aeolus is more of a mischievous entity which tracks with the whole concept of wild winds.

GiGi the animation you did at 1:55 is incredible. Not only did you go above and beyond what you had to so you could get the feeling of freedom and movement across, but you perfectly matched the vibe of the song and the kind of thing me and my friends naturally pictured of her flying around the ships.

I love how the Winions look like little snowman gnomes. They are so adorably mischievous.

I reaaally appreciate how you put so much accuracy into this animation. From the facial expressions to the body language to the scenes (like how you can imagine what's going on in their brains & also the accuracy to the number of men/ships) I am super fascinated by how you portrayed Aeolus to be playful and breezy when she gives Odysseus the bag of winds, and then once the bag is opened she is the one blowing the ships around. It shows like she was holding her powers back to help Odysseus & now is helpless/unwilling to stop (he lost the game). I never really thought about it but this puts a wholeee new spin on "never know you you can trust"

I LOVE how the wind spirit (assuming thats what it was) rolled into Odysseus and minor detail...THE FACE HE MADE... IMMACULATE 1:13

This portrayal of the song is incredible. The design of Aeolus is brilliant, and the dream sequence is beautiful. You are so incredibly talented.

oh gods i can't even express how much i love this! one of the best animatics i've ever seen. everything seems so natural and you captured EACH FREAKING LINE perfectly. LOVED every single one of aeolus moments.. i might go cry now about how good this is bye

The switch between dreary blue to dreamy pink is such a small yet beautiful change. The thought of Penelope just makes things less blue and light up his world

I love Aeolus design! shes a little prankster and her expressions capture that in a really fun way :D her little button clown/cloud nose and rounded features make her intentions feel like she really is just meddling in Odysseus journey. knowing ultimately his mens will, will fail him and his weakness/unwillingness to not deal with a serious problem permanently. he wants nothing more than to just go home and save his men as their captain, everything else is just a distraction. but Hes not willing to go far enough, ironically. As Poseidon will later make brutally clear, and Aeolus teases at subtlety here. Her playfulness in all her actions are wonderful to watch as well! Floating & flitting around the room as gravity means nothing to her, capturing literal impassable forces of nature like childsplay in a bag she had lying around (with a flourish), giggling with her shoulders at Odysseus willing to play her game immediately, physically dancing around him with wise warnings about not being naïve, and ultimately coming off as childish to start but just wanting him to be more if he just listened. which comes from that little headpat after shes done saying what she has to say. wise, fun, willing to help if you help yourself. A damn good personification of the wind :D also I love this (1:56) quick fly by she does of just loving her job

the whole Penelope’s sequence is AMAZING. It really captures the “calm” that Odysseus felt while remembering his wife. Great job!

Oh my god what a brilliant work of art. I can't wrap my head around how good the spinning scene from 1:54 onward looks, just masterfully done! In general, the whole video is PHENOMENAL! From the designs, animations and camera movement, perspective and setting design just AGH the ATMOSPHERE IN THIS!! IT'S ON POINT!! Well done, truly! Can't imagine how long this took you, but it truly did inspire me to get my ass up and work on my animatics

"So I just have to keep the bag closed?" "Yeah." "So no opening the bag. That's it?" "Yeah? Which part don't you understand?" "No no,I get it, just making sure I understand the rules." *Puts bag in crate. Locks crate. Throws keys in ocean.* "That should do it...ah who am I kidding." *Throws crate in ocean.* "Always better to make sure." *Turns to crew.* "See what I did there? I throw things I find suspicious into the sea. Any of you think of trying to fish it out, I'll suspect you of mutiny. You genuises don't need me to explain what I'm going to do to you then right?"

This is my favourite, unreachable, Keep Your Friends Closer animatic! Aeolus and the design and how they blow the ships and look so bad ass/dark while having the cuteness and being cheery throughout the whole thin and just YESSSSS

Ok. So everything I wanted to praise you for (especially the dream sequence of Penelope and Telemachus…it made me tear up) is being said in the comments already, so I will instead say this: The moment we see the rocks from Odysseus’ perspective and how they form a trident made my heart skip a beat. I’d never imagined Poseidon would be introduced like that. Does the trident break as he rises out of the waves? That sketch at the end is certainly telling.

I love imagining what happens in the song and trying to use my imagination to visualize but then you blow it out of the water with visuals and I am loving the camera work! Showing her POV! Amazing work as always you and many others are carrying this fandom!

I honestly thought it was Athena who yelled at him to wake up, I mean I haven't properly listened to her songs in a while so I wasn't to sure

oh my god the first part is so goofy and the little wind minions just slapping his face is too good and the second half is just as phenomenal AHHHHHHHHGGGGGG

You realy captured the trickster engersy of Aeolus. Good this song gets some more love! Great job!

Am I going to count down the hours for when this animatic comes out? Yes. Am I going to enjoy the art style? Yes. Am I going to love this animatic? Without a doubt. Do I have a personality outside of greek mythology content? No. Will I possibly take the details of this animatic way too seriously and over analyse? Yes! Will I ever find love? Probably never. Will I ever find (true) happiness? No, but this kind of content is the closest I'll get to it and I've come to terms with that 🥲

To think his own crew would know their own captain wouldn't lie to them and even if he had treasure wouldn't keep it from them

I love how Aelous has a clown+genie look

This is SO ✨amazing✨ I have never read the odyssey but your animatics tell the story beautifully, I also love your character designs especially Odysseus *chiefs kiss*

I've been thinking about it for a while anyway. It's strange that Odysseus actually falls asleep even though they told him to keep his eyes open... so I think that some of his crew put the Lotuses in his drink and that's why he starts to feel sleepy😢 2:21

AHHH I love her design so much!! She's so silly too! I'ma be honest, when listening to the musical, I thought she EXACTLY looked like what she looks like in the animatic! Awesome job at animating this btw! ^^

Darn those little cloud sprites