Product Description
Studio: Cerebellum Corporation Release Date: 04/27/2004 Run 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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Animusic - A Computer Animation Video Album (Special Edition)
- DVD: 0 pages (2004-04-27)
- Publisher: Animusic
- Label: Animusic
- Encoding: Region 0
- Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Widescreen
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1,
- Rated: NR (Not Rated)
- Studio: Animusic
- DVD Release Date: 2004-04-27
- Run Time: 75
- ISBN: 0975252208
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 83 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #1880
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent and Captivating!! 2008-12-02
Comment: 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 synced up to the original compositions of Lytle, rather than just elaborate computer graphics with un-synced background music. It is far more interesting to watch the extreme accuracy of these imaginary instruments playing at the correct intervals which reflect the true music. In my opinion, Lytle and Crognale are music/computer geniuses, and I have definitely become a big fan of Animusic, a new innovation in music and video coupling. And, yes, of course I love Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Rick Wakeman (Yes) Keep up the EXCELLENT work, guys!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Another kind of music video 2008-11-16
Comment: 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 farther.
The music really makes this stand out. It's not just something to go along with the clever gadgets. The MIDI control tracks literally drive the motion just as they drive the sound - with remarkable cleverness to make sure that the cymbal or drum rotates into position just when it needs to be played. In fact, at lease one of these compositions, 'Aqua Harp,' has taken on a life of its own. A little searching at YouTube shows more than one human-played version of the very enjoyable tune.
Extras help, too. The seven shorts each offer preliminary sketches of the visual concepts and other material showing how the imagery comes together. Informative director's notes help viewers appreciate the behind-the-scenes work, and add an eighth, earlier piece to the collection. You don't need the extras to enjoy these clever and creative pieces though - all you need is a little sense of fun.
-- wiredweird
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good Clean Entertainment 2008-04-10
Comment: 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!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Music Teacher Standards! 2008-01-18
Comment: 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 with that? Some of the crap these kids listen to are rotting their knowledge of the classics. It's not too hard on the ears for adults, but not boring for the younger crowd.
After I play this video (takes 2 class periods) I ask them about their opinions and criticisms. It allows them to show me what they want to see more of in the future. My older student will use this lesson for a creative writing project in their homeroom and I send those papers to the creators so they know what the future generations are looking for.
I bought the 2nd DVD and wasn't as impressed. Most 3/4th graders liked it and younger. My 5th and 6th graders felt the same as me, not enough detail and imagination put into it...needed more wow-factor to make it worth their time.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Love it! 2008-01-09
Comment: 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! :)
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