Pixels

By Shamus Posted Saturday Apr 10, 2010

Filed under: Movies 47 comments


Link (YouTube)

I wonder how hard it was to find that old TV. It looks like the sort that would have had the separate dial for UHF. Those things are actually getting to be pretty rare. I haven’t seen one in over a decade.

My thoughts while watching this: This is utterly brilliant. Yet I can’t help wishing the music was different. Retro 8-bit music would have been much more fitting. But maybe the music was the point? Like, a music video? Beats me. Honestly, I don’t know why the internet keeps making me these awesome things.

 


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47 thoughts on “Pixels

  1. Sean says:

    This was a well done video that I have seen all over the net recently. Yet at the same time I have to wonder what will be next from this guy. There will have to be something do to the popularity of this yet I hope he did not open with his best work only to have nothing left.

  2. Joshua says:

    Yeah, neat, but music wasn’t my thing.

  3. RichVR says:

    I wonder how hard it was to find that old TV. It looks like the sort that would have had the separate dial for UHF. Those things are actually getting to be pretty rare.

    Just put one out for trash yesterday. It was in my attic. Last time I used it was as a monitor for my C-64.

    Somebody scarfed it up within minutes of it hitting the curb.

    1. Peter H. Coffin says:

      Apparently, there was a C64 out there without a head… It’s not like you can use them to watch broadcast television anymore.

    2. Shamus says:

      “Just put one out for trash yesterday. It was in my attic. Last time I used it was as a monitor for my C-64. ”

      That’s beautiful.

  4. Aelyn says:

    Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but the idea at the end that our entire planet is but one small pixel in this universe was unexpected.

  5. JPLC says:

    This vid is quite awesome, yes.

    If the music is bothering you, though, I actually saw a version of this vid on DailyMotion that only has sound effects. It’s not like someone edited it; I think it’s just an alternate version. Here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcv6dv_pixels-by-patrick-jean_creation

    1. Helgi says:

      Yeah, the version on DailyMotion is better in my opinion. It’s also in HD. :)

    2. Psithief says:

      One of those comments on the link makes a good point! They’re not pixels, they’re Voxels!

      1. Helgi says:

        Ah, that reminds me of this video called “Voxel” http://vimeo.com/4649345
        It’s similar to this “Pixels” video.

  6. SteveDJ says:

    The end credits did sound like 8-bit music, and I agree they should have kept that style throughout…

    I think I recognized almost all game elements involved – except for the bomb… what game was that from?

    1. eri says:

      Uh… Bomberman?

    2. Christopher says:

      Bomberman, maybe?

      Edit: D’oh! eri beat me to it.

    3. Nidokoenig says:

      Thirding Bomberman. In fact, when I saw it at the intersection, I was assuming the explosion would be straight lines of flame going down the streets like the games, rather than a traditional explosion.

    4. SteveDJ says:

      Thanks – that’s one I never played :-(

  7. RustyBadger says:

    Shamus, the Internet loves you and only wants what’s best for you. It keeps making you these awesome things so you will know its love and perhaps will someday love it in return. Just know that the Internet’s love is unconditional.

  8. LintMan says:

    The Tetris part where the lines complete and the building compacts got a huge laugh out of me, but I loved the whole thing. Even the music was fine by me.

  9. Malimar says:

    My only major objection is that they’re not actually technically pixels so much as they are voxels.

    1. neolith says:

      Actually, they are not. Voxels could not be animated like that.

  10. MichaelG says:

    I knew it — video games will kill us all!

  11. silver Harloe says:

    … you posted about pixels that aren’t stolen?! what has the world come to.

    1. Varil says:

      Apparently some Pixels are out for revenge for their kidnapped brethren.

  12. Syal says:

    This video is missing the Bubble Bobble dragons and is therefore unacceptable.
    Seriously, though, this is pretty cool. It’s odd that the version with music comes off as a coordinated attack, while the one without seems like random destruction. I wonder if that was intentional.

    Also, here’s a tangentially related plug: http://nmccoy.net/games/game05_spaceout/applet/index.html

    1. Nidokoenig says:

      It might be that the music gives a stronger sense of continuity to the video. It might also be action movie/video game-based conditioning to associate rap with combat and thus assume there are sides and some semblance of order. The silence makes it seem less planned and more like the camera’s been dumped in medias res, suggesting chaos and disorder due to an apparent lack of polish.

  13. UtopiaV1 says:

    Entertaining, but quite a nihilistic end. Good quality music vid!

  14. Rutskarn says:

    That’s some slick animation, there. The tetris blocks were probably the cleverest part, although Frogger was also quite nice.

  15. Berto says:

    Cool video. Awful “music” though.

  16. THOR says:

    Shamus, somebody’s taken the original video and … well, ruined it with that music. Here’s the original, from the production company: http://www.onemoreproduction.com/video/209.html

  17. cassander says:

    I have a TV that old. Not only does it have a separate UHF knob, it has a built in Betamax player! Still works to, or at least it did the last time I checked. The thing weighs a ton, but it’s built like a tank.

  18. Guile says:

    Neato. I especially liked the Arkenoid and Space Invader bits.

  19. pulse says:

    I wonder if it was at all inspired by this Penny Arcade “strip”. Great video either way. I rather prefer it with the music.

  20. rofltehcat says:

    Shamus I know this doesn’t belong into this topic but it is the most recent one but I was wondering if you have any information about the malware/security problem Shawn seems to have with his page/Chainmail Bikini.

    Currently I get this message:
    The site is down for maintenance while I attempt to close whatever security hole has allowed malware hackers to hijack the site and attempt to infect you with crap.
    Things will be back hopefully soon. My guess is Sunday night or Monday AM.
    -Shawn

    Especially information on which malware and how to get rid of it… stupid hackers >:(

  21. (LK) says:

    The music is not in the original video! It indeed is a distraction.

    This is the video in its’ original form… on the site of the firm that produced and released it :)

    http://www.onemoreproduction.com/video/210.html

    Also, here is a youtube version minus the music if you’d like to embed that in your post instead!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM09gtfuvwY

  22. Tim says:

    Am I the only one that actually really liked the music? :(

    1. Galad says:

      it was ok :)

  23. Chris says:

    I was thinking just this morning how hard it would have been to find Murray’s old computer in Flight of the Conchordes.

  24. Jack V. says:

    Maybe they photoshopped the TV in :)

    1. Zukhramm says:

      I think they photoshopped in all the realistic looking environments and buildings. They just went out and filmed the pixels, and then added the other stuff later.

  25. SolkaTruesilver says:

    Speaking of nice vids, Shamus, do you know that the guy who made the funny Episode 1 review just finished Episode 2?

  26. Spider Dave says:

    Super neat what they’ve done here. Two thumbs way up for this video.

  27. 1d30 says:

    I think the music was stupid and a terrible addition, especially after watching the video without music.

    The music covered up the sound effects, which were an important part of the video. And the music, like another poster above mentioned, made the video seem more evil and nihilistic, which totally didn’t work for me in this case.

    The music ruined the video. Everyone should watch it plain once.

  28. Sadly, youtube has removed the video “because of a copyright claim”. Disappointing—I didn’t get to see it.

    1. Scott says:

      This is good, the video was stolen and music was added. http://www.onemoreproduction.com/video/210.html

      1. pm says:

        but it needs quicktime to play!!
        i don’t want to install apple crap on my system!
        i don’t even have an ipod, just because i don’t want to install itunes.
        is there any flash version?

        1. Shinan says:

          You can always try the Official Youtube Version
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugV6cLgwomo

  29. Nick says:

    That didn’t last long, Youtube has killed the video.

  30. Thom says:

    Apparently, the video is only available on the original website, from One More Production :)
    http://www.onemoreproduction.com/video/210.html

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