#psiconautas

screenshot redraw :p original below

Song: Sarcasm by Get Scared

Movie: Birdboy: The Forgotten Children

Theme: Halloween MEP

Programs: iMovie, Kapwing

I need to seriously gush about Unicorn Wars, from the makers of the extremely memorable Psiconautas, Los Niños Olvidados. It is NOTHING like the advertisement implied it to be. It's a complete subversion and I am positively reeling. This is how I feel right now!

Imagine a commentary on how the army traumatizes children into becoming killers, a la Full Metal Jacket, plus the use of religious fervor as a propaganda tool that fetishizes war as holy and righteous. Now, imagine if all that turned into 2018's Annihilation.

Are you picturing it? Okay, good.

Unicorn Wars has SOMETHING to say about the military-industrial complex, fascism and myth-making (it's not subtle about it) but it is also the somewhat intimate journey of a mind twisted by resentment and trauma, using aggressive Psychedelia as its backdrop. However, what it is ULTIMATELY about is so unbelievably heavy handed yet gloriously high concept that I cannot help but applaud. I clap and holler at the sheer audacity of this violent Carebears cartoon going as hard as humanly possible with its parting message. Having watched Psiconautas back in the day, I came into this with certain expectations. I expected gorgeous animation and grody brutality. I expected a juxtaposition between cute, cuddly characters and gory death, a depressing tone all throughout.

It certainly was all that but multiplied tenfold, with a more cohesive thematic and narrative throughline. You must trash your preconceived notions of what animated filmmaking can or should be before entering the house that Birdboy built. Unicorn Wars is not simply Apocalypse Now by way of Happy Tree Friends. That is only the initial hook, the bold-faced lie spouted by a deceptive trailer, but that hook will turn into a nasty haymaker to your gut before you even realize it. It shall make you vomit well-animated rainbows and piss purple...

I finally watched Birdboy: The Forgotten Children/Psiconautas, and I loved it! One of my favourite characters is Sandra, so I felt like drawing her.

Btw, I liked how mental illness was portrayed metaphorically, but it was still realistic in a way, and not antagonistic like in most movies.

disclamer i own nothing everything belongs to the rightful owners please go and support them and be nice

(a whistle is heard as birdboy falls into the ocean)

(dinky sandra and little fox are saved by zacharia)

(later zacharia is seen fishing he fishes out birdboy's body a little light comes out of his mouth and flies away)

(death is seen in the forest whistling he stops as he hears a gunshot)

death"hmm?"

(he sees a small light and sees that it's a sprite death looks at the sprite and let's it gentle land on his paw)

death" you poor child"

(death places the soul on the ground it glow and becomes birdboy who now has a ghostly appearance and is glowing gold he holding his hands over his heart)

(birdboy opens his eyes and breaths and looks around in fear)

death" it's ok pequena ave your safe"

(birdboy clams down and looks at death)

birdboy" i'm dead arin't i?"

death" (sighs) i'm afraid so chico"

(the young recruit is seen )

birdboy" that young boy he did it did'nt he?"

death" yes"

birdboy “ and that officer with him he was the one who-“

(Birdboy covers his eyes and begins to breath heavily as his demon tries to escape him)

(Death places a hand on his shoulder)

death “calmed down birdboy your okay “

(Birdboy calmed down and looks at death)

(Birdboy gasps)

birdboy “ dinky ! Sandra little fox are they?”

death” don’t worry Chico they are still alive “

(Birdboy sighs in relief)

(Some time later birdboy and death are looking at the sky)

birdboy “what’s gonna happen to the island and everyone in it?”

death “that depends on the choice your friends make birdboy”

birdboy “huh?”

death”when I meet your father he said that he was proud of you for trying and carrying on his work to save the island and now I think it’s time you make that decision who will you pass the torch to?”

(Birdboy thinks for a moment then he glows and begins to become a little ball of light and goes to dinky’s house)

(Death nods in approval as he watches birdboy)