Animusic - A Computer Animation Video Album (Special Edition)
directed by: Wayne Lytle
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Product Description:
Studio: Cerebellum CorporationRelease Date: 04/27/2004Run time: 75 minutes
Amazon.com:
Watching Animusic is like being mesmerized by the world's most elaborate Rube Goldberg devices: You're so astonished by their ingenuity that you can't look away. This "computer animation video album" is the brainchild of Wayne Lytle, a progressive-rock keyboardist and 1988 graduate of Cornell University's Program of Computer Graphics. Modifying techniques originally applied to the visualization of scientific data, Lytle partnered with graphic artist and 3D modeler Dave Crognale to create elaborate virtual stage sets and imaginary musical instruments that are driven via MIDI interface to virtually "play" the music that Lytle has composed for them. "The music drives the instruments," explains Lytle in his engaging DVD commentary, "and not the other way around." Using proprietary software called MIDImotion™, Lytle and Crognale have invented self-playing musical instruments that exist in a magical realm of musical and mathematical precision, perfectly synchronized to the kind of fully-synthesized prog-rock that Lytle obviously enjoys (and if you're a fan of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, you will, too). It's the kind of audiovisual bombast that appeals to some more than others (and there's something oddly impersonal about removing humans from the performance of music), but Animusic is so intricately clever that anyone can be captivated by the meticulous novelty of these beautifully engineered musical marvels.
Take, for example, the most popular track, "Pipe Dream," in which thousands of animated balls take on a life of their own, popping out of an intricate system of pipes and barrels and bouncing, with percussive precision, onto all varieties of strings, drums, xylophones, timbales, cowbells... it's just hypnotically amazing. The same holds true for all of these videos, and while the colorful 3D rendering of Animusic (first released in 2001) is no longer state-of-the-art, the underlying mechanics remain timelessly appealing. For this special edition DVD released in 2004, Lytle opens his toy-box to reveal the creative process of Animusic from conceptual drawings to final 3D rendering. There's also a "solo-cam" function allowing viewers to switch angular focus from one instrument to another, along with animated set-construction demonstrations to show how everything fits together in the realm of Animusic. The 5.1-channel surround mix makes Animusic a perfect demonstration disc for high-end video systems (this is nothing if not a geek's delight), and Lytle's first animation (from 1996) is included along with a sneak-peek at Animusic 2, the follow-up DVD released in 2005. --Jeff Shannon
Studio: Cerebellum CorporationRelease Date: 04/27/2004Run time: 75 minutes
Amazon.com:
Watching Animusic is like being mesmerized by the world's most elaborate Rube Goldberg devices: You're so astonished by their ingenuity that you can't look away. This "computer animation video album" is the brainchild of Wayne Lytle, a progressive-rock keyboardist and 1988 graduate of Cornell University's Program of Computer Graphics. Modifying techniques originally applied to the visualization of scientific data, Lytle partnered with graphic artist and 3D modeler Dave Crognale to create elaborate virtual stage sets and imaginary musical instruments that are driven via MIDI interface to virtually "play" the music that Lytle has composed for them. "The music drives the instruments," explains Lytle in his engaging DVD commentary, "and not the other way around." Using proprietary software called MIDImotion™, Lytle and Crognale have invented self-playing musical instruments that exist in a magical realm of musical and mathematical precision, perfectly synchronized to the kind of fully-synthesized prog-rock that Lytle obviously enjoys (and if you're a fan of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman, you will, too). It's the kind of audiovisual bombast that appeals to some more than others (and there's something oddly impersonal about removing humans from the performance of music), but Animusic is so intricately clever that anyone can be captivated by the meticulous novelty of these beautifully engineered musical marvels.
Take, for example, the most popular track, "Pipe Dream," in which thousands of animated balls take on a life of their own, popping out of an intricate system of pipes and barrels and bouncing, with percussive precision, onto all varieties of strings, drums, xylophones, timbales, cowbells... it's just hypnotically amazing. The same holds true for all of these videos, and while the colorful 3D rendering of Animusic (first released in 2001) is no longer state-of-the-art, the underlying mechanics remain timelessly appealing. For this special edition DVD released in 2004, Lytle opens his toy-box to reveal the creative process of Animusic from conceptual drawings to final 3D rendering. There's also a "solo-cam" function allowing viewers to switch angular focus from one instrument to another, along with animated set-construction demonstrations to show how everything fits together in the realm of Animusic. The 5.1-channel surround mix makes Animusic a perfect demonstration disc for high-end video systems (this is nothing if not a geek's delight), and Lytle's first animation (from 1996) is included along with a sneak-peek at Animusic 2, the follow-up DVD released in 2005. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Excellent and Captivating!!
I don't really care what the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-star reviewers say.Being a musician myself and a computer graphics enthusiast myself, I would say Lytle and Crognale have created an ingenious product of superior quality and state-of-the-art.I remember watching computer graphics in the early 90's on the big screens at the local discotheques, and was very impressed then.But, unlike any of the New Age composers like Patrick O'Hearn or James Reynolds or Enigma, I prefer to see these imaginary instruments ... Read More
Rating: - Another kind of music video
Yes, this is computer animation, and proud of it. But the computer is just a production tool, like an artist's brush, and the final product is what counts. That product is gorgeous, and covers a wide range of sensibilities. 'Stick Figures' features likable robotic characters. Most of the other pieces, including 'Pipe Dream' and especially 'Drum Machine' have a more industrial feel, like the offspring of symphony orchestra and an automated assembly line. 'Harmonic Voltage' takes the science fiction look even ... Read More
Rating: - Good Clean Entertainment
Don't loan this out to your friends for their kids, you won't get it back!!My son loves this, it's a failsafe when dinner needs to be cooked or on a sick day.I can't listen to it over and over, but he sure can!
Rating: - Music Teacher Standards!
Whenever I'm ill, I have my classes watch a music based video.Well, problem is, I know my students well enough to know what they WONT watch!This video captivated them.Each clipping made them want more.I think the clips should be longer for the more intricate designs, but I explain to the students that it'll make them want to watch it again and look for something they haven't noticed the last time.
As for the music, it's definitely based on "basic theories" of certain genres.But what's wrong ... Read More
Rating: - Love it!
This is a great DVD.The music is great, the animation is awesome.The special features are fun, too.Great for music lovers AND computer nerds!:)
- Excellent and Captivating!!I don't really care what the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-star reviewers say.Being a musician myself and a computer graphics enthusiast myself, I would say Lytle and Crognale have created an ingenious product of superior quality and state-of-the-art.I remember watching computer graphics in the early 90's on the big screens at the local discotheques, and was very impressed then.But, unlike any of the New Age composers like Patrick O'Hearn or James Reynolds or Enigma, I prefer to see these imaginary instruments ... Read More
- Another kind of music videoYes, this is computer animation, and proud of it. But the computer is just a production tool, like an artist's brush, and the final product is what counts. That product is gorgeous, and covers a wide range of sensibilities. 'Stick Figures' features likable robotic characters. Most of the other pieces, including 'Pipe Dream' and especially 'Drum Machine' have a more industrial feel, like the offspring of symphony orchestra and an automated assembly line. 'Harmonic Voltage' takes the science fiction look even ... Read More
- Good Clean EntertainmentDon't loan this out to your friends for their kids, you won't get it back!!My son loves this, it's a failsafe when dinner needs to be cooked or on a sick day.I can't listen to it over and over, but he sure can!
- Music Teacher Standards!Whenever I'm ill, I have my classes watch a music based video.Well, problem is, I know my students well enough to know what they WONT watch!This video captivated them.Each clipping made them want more.I think the clips should be longer for the more intricate designs, but I explain to the students that it'll make them want to watch it again and look for something they haven't noticed the last time.
As for the music, it's definitely based on "basic theories" of certain genres.But what's wrong ... Read More
- Love it!This is a great DVD.The music is great, the animation is awesome.The special features are fun, too.Great for music lovers AND computer nerds!:)
