SamSuka
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Disney Animatronics - Chapter One

Hello everyone,

This is a rough version of Chapter One of Disney Animatronics: A Living History. This is the section I am most nervous about, so I hope you will take the time to watch it and review it. As always, the main feedback that I am looking for are typos/mispronunciations/incorrect facts/technical errors.

All of the graphics are temporary and have some glitches. The black-and-white graphics will also get a final noise and texture pass, so they will eventually look like a sketchbook. The music is temporary and not perfect.

My biggest question is whether to cut this down by about 3-5 minutes or keep it as is. On the one hand, everything is necessary for the themes and progression, and this is a 20-minute intro in a video that will be around 100 minutes. I am trying to lean into non-Disney/theme park fans that like animatronics.

On the other hand (spoiler), I don't say Disney until minute 20.

Please let me know what you think, but please don't use words like "boring" or "unnecessary." Just let me know if you think it should be paced up or if you like this. Thank you!

I am putting this preview up for everyone because I really need feedback. The following previews will only be for B-Ticket and above.

Comments

The history nerds are going to LOVE this! I'm both intrigued and terrified. I agree with everyone else in saying that you should not cut it down; it does a great job of setting up the history of the modern animatronic in a way that's engaging and comprehensive. If I were to be *really* nitpicky, I noticed you switched a bit between the plural of "automaton" throughout the section. Both "automata" and "automatons" are correct, but I do think sticking with just one could be good for consistency. I really doubt that would be worth the effort of redubbing though, just throwing it out there!

Dylan Sakamoto

That was really interesting and your delivery I thought really kept the flow of information at a good pace as well as providing time for things to “sink in” Good stuff!

The Better Joe

REAL SKIN ON THE HANDS you’re a master of your craft kevin, no cuts necessary. i love everything about this and i’m so excited to see the rest!

Michelle Plitnikas

Fascinating stuff I love it

Mason Beckler

excellent, doesn't seem to need any cutting. full steam ahead man, absolutely locked into this

Jacob Herron

I can't imagine serious viewers turning away because they don't hear the word Disney early on, especially since any member of your following who sees a video about animatronics will know that Disney is eventually going to show up and breathe new life into the concept of lifelike machines. The long build-up just makes the appearance of Disney that much more exciting. By the way the backing track to this rules. Is this your composition? And if so are there any plans to release a Sounds of Defuncland LP?

d00menic

I think it was a great start

Sephiroth1204

Honestly this is *exactly* the kind of content I was hoping for.

▲ndrusi

Ngl I like this way of watching your videos. Bit more episodic like the best Netflix series ever or something. Love the long cuts as well tho. Oh and this is a perfect length. Could have been longer lots of things not talked about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Ancient_Greek_Technology?wprov=sfla1

J Singh

No cuts needed! Please keep it the way it is. I’d actually forgotten it was only a preview while watching and was mad it had stopped!

The Ingalls Family

Agreed with everyone. Great background info, interesting details, and it all flows well. No cuts needed, great work as always!

Nicholas Hassebrock

I think the current length is great. The history of it all gives so much good context and sets a vivid stage for Disney's creations/versions. Cutting any piece would be a loss in my opinion.

Pia A.

Hey so this is the most interesting thing I've watched in many many months. Fully locked in, keep it all.

Tanya

Keep it this length this stuff is good shit

TheMutantSpaceDancer

If I had to cut anything for whatever reason. I guess the chess-hoax machine could either be mentioned even more briefly or cut altogether? And maybe the commentary about the impact of R.U.R. could be tightened up. Saved like 10 seconds 😬

David A Behlman

This section is so interesting it warrants its own video. I agree this feels like the right length and moves at a good pace.

David A Behlman

I love this. The clips of the automatons are giving mummy voice. I think the pacing is great and shows the deep history of how long we’ve been attempting to create in our own image. If anything, I am curious about the late 19th/20th century fear of the androids?

Beefer Sutherland

Great pacing, very engaging, informative, and thorough! excited to see the finished video!

Angelica Nyneave

KEVIN I CAME BACK BECAUSE I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS IT’S SO GOOD ALREADY. The relevance of the idea of automation in the world we live in at the moment is so beautifully contextualized and made clear for the audience here in a way that only you could do.

TheBlueSnowplow

Me and My mom agree, lengthen it. You talk really fast in this segment

Gamechamp best girl

Pacing was good as is! I was engaged with it the whole time

QUINN WILSON

Really excited to see the rest of this. Can I query the inclusion of the Tin Man as an example of ‘robot or android’? As I understand the terms, it’s a robot built in a human image. Tim Man was a human in possession of a cursed axe. The tool would turn on him and he’d lose limbs and body parts, replacing them with mechanical prosthetics. Cyborg is a better fit, if misleading. I wouldn’t be nitpicky enough to mention it, but it would be a quick fix if you have a replacement character, maybe from Méliès

Jo and Gareth

Keep it all! It's riveting and I think sets us up to understand the human interest over time in this kind of invention plus how Disney's intervention shepherded a new era of technology and intereat. can't wait for the rest!!

Ronika McClain

For pronunciation, the X on the end of Coysevox is pronounced and the ‘vox’ sounds identical to the pronunciation of Vox the news site. The Z on the end of Jaquet-Droz is also articulated. Abbé Mical should be introduced as the abbé Mical as abbé is a title not a name. No clue if you chose to leave this out due to time but Erasmus Darwin (grandfather to Charles!) also invented a speaking machine, and is thought to be the first to do so successfully, and the recreated model is fairly creepy looking. He also dabbled in making mechanical birds. I think what has been shown so far is fantastic, it’s well paced and very engaging imo. I especially enjoy the philosophical thread throughout, and am anticipating it being tied into the idea of automation replacing humans later on. “Cogito, ergo sum.” Very excited for the full video!

Blanche

I like it as is! The pacing feels great.

Ari Crossby

I like the current pacing

LinkLost

I think overall, this chapter felt well paced. It showed a clear progression in technological innovation and the repeated idea of birds being a frequently created form of automaton, to me, felt like it built up to the idea of Walt finding one.

River

Not only do I think the current length is fine, given how interesting the topic is I think this could easily be expanded before even getting to Disney. As it is currently, my only real critque is the within the first few minutes it can feel a bit slow given the materials are just a presentation of images. That immediately picks up once you start shifting around what is presented to the viewer after the first few minutes

QUAGLE GAGLE

I agree with the other comments, the length of this felt very justified. I think you did a great job with this section and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest!

Richard Mosen

I am not sure that you are pronouncing Hephaestus correctly. I have always heard people say /h/-/ĕ/-/f/-/ĕ/-/s/-/t/-/ŭ/-/s/

River

As always, your attention to detail and narrative structure are captivating (real human skin????). I think it provides the perfect amount of context for those more interested in the history of animatronics themselves. I concur that the length feels perfectly justified, especially once you reach the conclusion, which is my favorite kind of introduction. The moment everything starts to click and fall into place is *incredibly* satisfying

Lauren Jager

I really liked this, it felt like subtle foreshadowing to the enchanted tiki room and it was really interesting (and somewhat creepy) how these automatons used to be made. At first I thought it maybe went on a little long but honestly I think it’s perfect in hindsight and I really like the animations as they were

DalCreates

I think that this is a good start. I think the longer format works for this subject. Please don't reduce it to a footnote of 3-5 minutes.

Thomas P

I wouldn't recommend cutting anything. The logical progression is excellent and the recurring point of fear over machines replacing human labor is still timely.

Catherine Tinker

This is really tremendous. I personally think the current length is fine.

AJ Danna

Kevin, I thought this was wonderful. It is informative without being too verbose and I think it sets up the reveal of Disney PERFECTLY. I was literally kicking my feet and giggling by the time you started to reveal where it was headed. No notes at all! Please keep it like this.

TheBlueSnowplow


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