Would That I - A Critical Role Animatic 

A Critter friend of mine recommended me this animatic saying it was one of the best ones that they've seen, and THEY WERE *RIGHT*

God, the amber headband brought tears to my eyes. I feel like this is Shadowgast, but from Essik’s perspective. I love how you represented their guilt; bloodied hands is an easy metaphor, but we can see how that guilt is holding him back. But when Caleb embraces him, ash marks are left on his cheek. You hands are bloodied, but his are charred from fires he still can’t let go of. Until that moment, Essek hadn’t been able to see Caleb’s guilt. It was there in the lyrics but Essek hadn’t truly seen it. And then Essek grabs Caleb and they literally break through the past that’s been holding them back, going on to whatever comes next, together

I like that this shows us more the point of Essek finding Caleb not the other way around.

Some Shadowgast-related thoughts I've had based on this video: after everything Caleb has done for the Kryn Dynasty, restoring the Luxon Beacons and ending the conflict between them and the Empire, I'm 100% sure they'd allow him to undergo consecution and live another life through the Beacons, if he wasn't able to consecute himself through his new mastery of Dunamancy. That said, I don't think he would do it. When you are consecuted, you're born again but as a new person with new origins and possibilities in life, only really linked to your past by memories and the remainder of the Consecution process. There's every chance that neither of them would feel the same way in their next life. On top of that, they've both learned the importance of accepting the past, swearing never to alter it and to embrace where they've come from, because it's led them to where they are now. The love between Caleb and Essek is unique. They know, and have accepted, the fact that it will only last so long, despite the depth of their feelings and the frightening extent of their powers as wizards. Even though they could bend reality itself to prolong their departure from one another, they understand that it won't preserve the true nature of their bond and choose not to. They're enjoying it while it lasts, because their combined prowess and intellect means they KNOW it cannot last forever. That's what makes this so bittersweet.

I hope Liam and Matt have seen this it's absolutely amazing.

DUDE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE WHAT THE ART IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND THE EVERYTHING OH MY GOD

You absolutely nailed Caleb's mood. He has the same heartbroken eyes that just want love.

OH OH OH!!!! The jewelry is so gorgeous and the amber cat headband almost made me sob. This is incredible

You have no right to make me cry like this 😭😭😭. The fact that Caleb got older but Essek didn’t made me choke up. This is so lovely.

These character design are STUNNING! Essek is my favourite M9 character and my heart can barely contain the perfection of the song and the scenes you picked and just !!! Love to see that Caleb and Essek get their happy ending.

The trail of blood chaining essek is an incredible image

Ugh I think this is one of my absolute favourite pieces of Shadowgast art, it's so beautiful, the designs are original, the guys are so darn handsome, you tackle their different trauma's and histories meaningfully and gracefully in parallel....mwah, perfection!

I feel like I can't even begin to describe how beautiful this is. The expressions, the shading- everything. This must have taken you so long, and every second of that work paid off.

Tears in my fucking eyes shit. Every time watching this is like the first time. I'm gonna come back to this when I have a bad day, because it makes me feel fluttery without fail. Your designs are just so beautiful, and you lined everything up with the lyrics so... so fucking good. "Fell in love with the fire long ago." MHM, so good every time!!!!

Can I just say that is is probably one of my favourite animatics of all time?! The detail and love you poured into every frame, with absolutely stunning art and emotions, is honestly something I aspire to! Can't wait to see your channel bloom because you honestly deserve it to!

The emotion you convey in your art is absolutely incredible! The music choice was spot on, but I couldn't look at some of the frames for too long because the emotion was so intense.

This is absolutely beautiful. And I love the power of the expression. Also I adore your Essek designs, especially the first one! And Jester popping out behind the chair doing her thing was a very nice touch. Definatly one of my all time favorite animatics in this fandom! It is absolutely - and I can not stress this enough- STUNNING!

the hands THE HANDS! The hands are so perfectly done!

I have watched this animatic more times than I can remember and I still love it so much. It made me tear up something fierce and is one of the best Critical Role animatics I've seen.

goodness..the groupshot at 1:03 is so good. they all look so..resigned and betrayed and determined. its PERFECT.

I’ve come back to watch this anamatic several times, but this is the first time I paused to fully read the adventurer camp sign and “Kesse” took me a moment and cracked me up when I got it!

The Detail, the Emotions, the compostions, the subtle colors.. I can't this is to good. I am in love and i found my favorite CR 2 Animatic.

This got multiple out loud “oh!”s from me from the cuteness and now I’m all 🥺🥺 teary eyed! Your art is absolutely beautiful and this is a gift to the critter community!!!

I'm obsessed... That krynn blings is AMAZING. That dark to light transition, their waltz in the stars... Not only is your art phenomenal but your brain as well?! So good?!

You encompass everything these characters are in 2 minutes and 40 seconds, you are a legend. Thank you.

okay i'm rewatching this and it's still so good. all the details! the way caleb and essek look like they're dancing at 1.13! caleb leaving behind soot smudges on essek's cheek to mirror the blood on essek's hands! breaking free of their pasts together! the tiny cat gem on essek's headpiece at the end and their dancing on dunamancy! so incredible.

Still one of the most amazing animatics I've ever seen. Still makes me sob like a child. The emotion in their faces, in their eyes... It's hard to describe, it's incredible. The moment they break into the light will never release its grasp around my heart. This is very dear to me.

This video is what inspired me to start watching Critical Role a year and a half ago, and now it consumes me. It still brings tears to my eyes, with the depth of emotion you've managed to capture in every frame. ❤

I JUST noticed the cute little kitter headband Essek is wearing. And I'm...? Just? so? in love with it! Caleb would for sure get him something cat-related. something elegant and very handsome for his drow lover. and I think you nailed it! That's my headcannon and no one can take it from me.

I love this SO MUCH Everything about it, really, but I think what I love most is your take on Essek's appearance. So very often elves are just humans, slightly taller & thinner, with pointy ears, and drow are just elves with purple skin. I adore the take that they might be more different than that, with Essek's ears and his pupils being a different shape!! Especially the pupils, that's so subtle and brilliant.

Jesus this is great "I fell in love with fire long ago" made me grin like an idiot

Uugghh Going from the blood on essek’s hands to the soot on Caleb’s

I don’t understand why the views are this low, this is a masterpiece.

This is really the most beautiful animatic i've seen in a while, this made me cry in public.

I had to pause at the first frame of Essek because he's just SO GORGEOUS *sobs* this was so beautiful I love it

Can't believe that this video is so old and yet it is STILL stuck in my head all this time later. I find myself constantly needing to revisit it whenever I want Shadowgast feels. Your art perfectly captures them and I am so thankful to you for making this!

I've watched this so many times on tumblr, and the key change when Essek sees the blood on his hands gets me every single time T.T I also absolutely adore the diamond shaped pupils, that's such a great piece of design!

What's this?? A combination of my two favorite things?! AAAAHHH

This is the single best representation of Caleb and Essek's characters I have ever seen anyone bring into an animatic form. Holy cow.

Beautiful! So good to see your version of shadowgast.

I don't know why, but this video consistently breaks my writers block every time. Thank you for making it!

Absolutely beautiful. There's cinematography in here you hardly *ever* see in animatics. So stunning! The cuts, the expressions, symbolism... I adore it.

This is actually gorgeous . Combo of the visuals and the music, fucking great. Also love how you draw faces.

Wow this hit me right in the heart! Gorgeously done. I absolutely love your interpretations of their aesthetic and all the emotional beats in this.

oh WOW this is good on every level. the rendering, the stylizing, symbolism, not a flaw in sight!

this had me full-on sobbing at my desk. absolutely beautiful work. thank you.

AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA YES I FINALLY FOUND IT ON RU-vid. I CANT SAY HOW MANY TIMES IVE WATCHED THIS ON REPEAT ON INSTAGRAM AND NOW I HAVE IT HERE TO. THIS IS SUCH A MASTERPIECE

Wow. Literally every frame could be a print

This is absolutely flawless The expression, the colors, the way you show the story... It's simply astonishing 💙

I keep coming back to this particular Animatic every few months or so, and every time it is just breathtakingly beautiful! ♥

Still can't get over how good the shading is! (Also this is my fortieth or so time watching this and I JUST NOW noticed Essek's circlet at the end is a cat with a fireball. Was simply too distracted by the Hot Boi [btw your depiction of him is the hottest I've ever seen, and I've seen PLENTY].)

i keep coming back to this, its so fuckin gorgeous and makes me cry every time

You know im a sucker for shadowghast amvs, man! This shit fucking rocks!! UGGhh I get the same feels i got at the end of the campaign and I knew the boys got their happy ending- that's magic, bro!

OH MY F*CKING GOD!!!!!! This is utterly F*CKING GOREGOUS!!!! AND HOLY SH*T the TIMING of everything is PERFECT!!! I love so so goddamn much!! Thank you so much for making this beautiful masterpiece!

this is one of the most beautiful animatics I've ever seen!!! it must have taken you a while, but it's so detailed and just gorgeous! those expressions! thank you so much for sharing!

This was absolutely amazing. I am not an emotional person but this just about made me cry from the sheer power you were able to create. Beautiful, stunning, a work of art

Everything about this is STUNNING. 🥺 my heart

Jesus Christ, I’ve got to save this animatic for the unbelievable art alone.

*SOBS VIOLENTLY* THE CINEMATIC STAGING? THE SLOW TURN TO REVEAL THE HAND PRESSED AGAINST ESSEK'S CHEEK AND THE SOOT MARKS LEFT BEHIND? ESSEK BREAKING THE CHAINS AND CHOOSING A FUTURE OVER A LIFE OF REGRET AND GUILT??? THE ENDING WITH THE CIRCLETS MIRRORING EACH OTHER??? *SCREAMS* This is so amazing I'm gonna cry

i'd throw money through the screen if I could.

I'm not crying at all! I'm just cutting onions! T_T

crying because this is so good THE TRANSITIONS THE COLOURS everything... let them be happy please...

THIS GAVE ME FEELINGS AHHHHHH

These two are so special to me, thank you for this ^^

HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS TIL NOW?! THIS IS SO GOOD!!!

I am literally obsessed with this, your designs are stunning, I always love it when artists and writers put Essek in veils

so guess who's crying again from rerere....rewatching this gorgeous animatic? Just honestly, i cannot possibly express how many little details in your beautiful art and video composition got me sobbing like i am now. Thank you so much for this, and for sharing it with us

It doesn't happen often, but for once I'm left speechless by just how amazing this is.

THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING THIS TO RU-vid!! I saw it first on instagram and was absolutely blown away, and I remember thinking that I really needed to see all that detail in a larger format

never listened (watched?? experienced??) a critical role episode in my life but the art in this is so beautiful i couldn’t resist. incredible job, especially with the faces and expression!!

I have to say; I admire your style greatly. This is easily a favorite animation of mine, despite not knowing much at all about Critical Role itself. You've also easily made me fond of this song. I shall be looking up more from the band. Thank you for sharing this here! I am glad to have stumbled across it.

HOLY CRAP. YOUR ART IS FRICKING AMAZING. I have no idea what was happening but I loved every second of it

I'm not crying, you're crying...

THIS was so gorgeous! The use of colour! THE EXPRESSION IN THE EYES. Well done!

Came back to rewatch this masterpiece. I'm still astounded by the beauty of your art, and the beauty of their story. I miss them ❤

GODS THIS SONG,,,, THIS SHIP,,,,, THE COSMIC DANCE!!! I SCREAMED, GREAT JOB OP

This is one of the best animatics I’ve ever seen. This is absolutely beautiful. I’m not very good with words and could never explain how absolutely amazing this is. Well done. This fits their story so well.

Wow I was not expecting to cry right now lol

Those faces are perfect! And they are so beautifully drawn!

Oh boy I shivered so hard that you could feel it on my face

I keep coming back to this video, it's just so good!

I smell an UNDERRATED ARTIST

The tears,,, that I shed,,,, this is unparalleled.

Oh my gosh I love this art! And this song is such a great pick for these two.

You put so much thought and effort into every single frame and it really shows! I love your Essek design so much and how they exchanged the headwear in the end

Normally I am sticking to usual fan-arts, simple designs from official sources. This hovewer, I just love it, okay? How your drawing eyes and hands especially, and scenes with chains and magic~ Whaa 💚💚

Happy Pride guess what I'm gonna watch 30 times to celebrate it

Oh. My. Heart. This hurts so much. So beautiful. I can't handle.

Suddenly I saw Caleb as Liam Neeson in his best Qui-Gon Jinn hairstyle and profile. HAHAHAHA

Oh god, I can't handle the amount of talent This is so beautiful

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL OHMY GOD!! I love your essek design sm and ur style is just * chefs kiss * ur doing this world a service tysm 😩😩

This has a criminally low number of views, p l e a s e, this is wonderful.

I've watched this six times now. Beautiful.

Can you hear my absolutely GROSS, HYSTERICAL SOBBING FOR THE REST OF TIME I'm going to tattoo this video on my brain I swear to god

How dare you make me cry like that

I was not prepared for this masterpiece

I have watched this too many time to count. It still gets to me everytime.

why is this my new favoriate animatic

After tonight’s episode you have no right, and I mean NO RIGHT, to make me cry

Good taste, Hozier fits so well.