Please Say Something by David O’Reilly

JO JO IN THE STARS from STUDIO AKA on Vimeo .

Jo Jo in the Stars is a haunting new school animation with an old school feel. With tinges of Metropolis and Freaks, it’s the story of a robot/creature (that somewhat resembles Eve in Wall-E) forced to perform in a freakshow. One fan decides to rescue her and when his attempt doesn’t go as planned, he devises a much more heart-rending way of being with his love. Though it has very little dialogue, the piece conveys a great deal about sacrifice in the name of devotion.

This is a scintillating video of the entire Alan Parsons’ Tales of Mystery and Imagination album , inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s own Tales of Mystery and Imagination .

Really, put it on in the background and look at something else.

The full list is:
A Dream within a Dream
The Raven
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Cask of Amontillado
(The System of) Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether
The Fall of the House of Usher [this is a five part, 16 minute instrumental piece]
To One in Paradise

If you’d prefer to press play between songs and actually have something to look at, have the songs separately with videos.

The Fall of the House of Usher is my favourite song from this album. Possibly because it’s my favourite Poe story, possibly because it’s just brilliant.

The Raven grew on me (it’s the first time a vocoder was used in a rock song) though the other two based on poems did not.

The Cask of Amontillado is good (though he mispronounces ‘Amontillado’ GOD). I laugh every time Fortunato sings in a high-pitched, wavering voice, ‘What are these chains that are binding my arm?’ when he realises he’s been chained in a small cubby in a crypt. It makes sense, musically, but I would have been shouting like a lunatic.

Bonus!:
This page has a couple animated videos for The Raven and The Cask of Amontillado, if you’re interested.

If Tim Burton directed a Tool video and turned the disturbing level up to 11, this is probably what you’d get.

Neomorphus from Animatorio on Vimeo .

And there’s a making-of video.

Neomorphus Making Of from Animatorio on Vimeo .

Saturday next is the 204th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth so this week’s posts will be focusing on Mr Poe, the person who first opened my eyes to the wonderful darkness within.

Today, animations.

First up, ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, narrated by James Mason, released in 1953.

Next is the trailer for a stop-motion animation of ‘The Pit and Pendulum.’ The full film can be purchased here .

An animation of the Alan Parson’s Project song ‘The Raven’, which uses some of the poem as its lyrics.

Another Alan Parson’s Project song. This one is for ‘The Cask of Amontillado.’ (It’s a little annoying that they mispronounce ‘ Amontillado ,’ but the song is still good and the animation is nice.)

This is ‘The Raven’ read by James Earl Jones, set to ‘Moonlight Sonata’ and includes evocative photography as a slideshow.

Tim Burton’s ‘Vincent’, which references several of Poe’s works and is narrated by Vincent Price, who was an enormous fan of Poe.

And finally, this clever animation of Poe, attempting to shoot the introduction to his show ‘Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination.’

Showreel of Gustav Hoegen’s Animatronics

And to think, Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’ used to give me the screaming fantods.