I apologize for commenting on this lovely animatic, only to delete it a few hours later. I rushed to have it finished due to how busy I've been lately, and as a result, it didn't really come out the way I wanted it to. In order to give this art the due praise that I believe it deserves, I decided to take another crack at it. Here's attempt no. 2:
I find that art of Obrin visiting his brother isn't very common, and I see even less art of Mithrun during this particular stage of his life; so to see not just an artwork, but an entire animatic dedicated to exploring a little bit of their relationship around this time, makes me feel unimaginably lucky!
I love the way the text fades in, how the lines quiver as the frames go by. These are very fitting lyrics you chose, and they help make this artwork feel all the more poignant. I'm very fond of Mithrun's forlorn expression, his hands balled into fists as he averts his gaze. I can see shame in that expressionâshame of his pitiable state, shame of who he his, shame of being a plate of scraps that's, in his eyes, apparently not even good enough to be eaten by the demon along with the rest of him. There is a hole in his heart where the demon's gentle love used to be, love that he thought came without conditions, and I get the idea his expression reflects that. I think it's contrasted well with Obrin's gentle smile as he sits next to him, crutch in hand. There's brotherly love in that expression, even if he doesn't have to like Mithrun.
Considering Mithrun still seems to derive joy from showing off, I think it's fitting that a line like âI am stronger than you[âŠ]â would be shown on his side profile, with his dry lips, mouth slightly ajar, bandages covering his eye. Then, it shows Obrin's gentle smile once again, âI'm stronger than you give me credit for.â Both look excellent, drawn like this. Something I find noteworthy is that the shadow covering Mithrun's eye makes it look as though his socket is haunted, in a manner of speaking, like how a missing limb might be outlined. I know that hallucinations induced by phantom eye syndrome tend to be very simple, but given the change to his working eye, I think it's worth keeping this in mind regardless for when the mirror comes up.
Mithrun speaks poorly of his past self whenever he's brought up, but it's important to note that he always points to his internality, who he was beyond the veil. People loved him, hated him, loathed him, admired him; because he was seemingly perfect on the outside. We're never shown anything of his past behavior that would make it seem as though he'd take it out on the people around him. Instead, we're always shown a person to whom love is conditional, who is dedicated to keeping up the perfect front while secretly looking down on everyone around him. Considering his brother was ignored by their parents for his flaws, and given the nature of his and Pattadol's conscription into the Canaries, I think it's safe to assume that the life of a noble elf is a competitive one, in which you earn your parents' love by being better than your rivals. It must've been quite devastating that for all his efforts, Mithrun was sent off to the perfect dumping ground for all undesired noble youths that need to be gotten out of the way. There's something so viscerally ironic about Mithrun not just ending up becoming disabled just like his brother, who he held ableist views of, but also being so dedicated to rejoining the Canaries when he'd hated it so much before. All of this kind of makes me wonder how their dynamic was before the incident, how Mithrun's resentment for his brother manifested itself, if at all. Was it spiteful comments? The absence of love? Or was it something he revealed after the demon was done with him, during one of Obrin's visits?
Mithrun's bloodied knuckles look excellent, the blood drawn in vivid colors, making his wounds seem quite visceral. That blood looks even better staining the mirror, as Mithrun looks at his reflection with that inexplicable expression of his. I think your choice to show Mithrun here is an excellent one indeed, and I don't think I would've had as much to say about the mirror if not for the fact that the future captain chose to linger. Going back to when I mentioned the shadow over Mithrun's missing eye, perhaps he hallucinated a scene similar to the one that preceded his ascension to Dungeon Lord? Or maybe he just passed he mirror and⊠hated what he saw. What gets me about Mithrun is that he had to be restrained and kept away from certain items that remind him of the demon and/or could be used to seriously injure himself. Considering his loss at the hands of the demon and his desire to take revengeâto be devoured so he can finally join the rest of himâit's entirely possible that he both punched the mirror because of his hatred for the demon and because he just wanted to feel something. People don't tend to just rake their arms.
Ah, I praised this lovely animatic for featuring both Mithrun AND Obrin, yet I barely mentioned the latter despite the lyrics being his. Well, allow me to say that I simply adore his inclusion here as a supportive figure for Mithrun. It's touching that, despite not liking him, he still does love him as a brother and wants to comfort him. That hug in the end, Mithrun closing his eyes, is a beautiful way to cap things off. âIf your hands need to break more than trinkets in your room, you can lean on my arm as you break my heart.â
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