Media Thread: The Amazing Digital Circus (Ep. 1-8)

I was there for the Pilot of The Amazing Digital Circus, and I watched the first three debuts. However, I stopped watching after Episode 3 for some reason (so that would be October 4, 2024). This last week, though, I picked up the rest of the series.

So I already gave Episode 1 a 10/10 because it was a strong and promising start to what I was sure would be an excellent series. And after recently watching the entire series from the start, I must say that this blew me out of the water.

Each episode's self-contained story was absolutely phenomenal, and it was great getting a read on each character and how they operated. Seeing secrets get revealed as well as seeing character arcs develop was a treat all around. Shout-outs to Jax who was both completely unrelatable and completely understandable. My personal defense mechanisms are closer to Ragatha's and Gangle's, so I can't relate to acting aloof, uncaring, and intentionally dickish towards others. HOWEVER, given the specific circumstances of being trapped in a Game World where you and all your associates are nigh-immortal and your grip on reality is already fairly stripped down, it's a pretty understandable coping mechanism for being there for years on end. And despite me giving Jax the shout-out, every character has moments to shine and show truly what goes on under-the-hood of this colorful cast of characters.

The animation was already top-tier work, but as the show went on we got to see more wild and different art styles and animation styles. Particularly in the second half of the series, there are plenty of sequences (both serious and comedic) that show really strong art direction as well as techical mastery of 3D Animation. There are moments that really illustrate a fundamental understanding of the "13 Rules of Animation", and other moments that intentionally break said rules. It's a marvel to the eyes, and even the subtle movements of character acting show the intense attention to detail that the crew put into the show.

All of this is elevated by the Music. Gooseworx and Evan Alderete really pull all the stops when it comes to the series. There are very few "Musical Numbers" in the show, so it's mostly the BGM and Score I'm talking about; but boy does each track perfectly encapsulate each scene. Some of them are silly and upbeat, others are aggressive and anxiety-inducing, and a few are just hauntingly quiet and ambient. The soundtrack of this show is freaking immaculate.

For as much as I've written so far, I still feel like I lack the vocabulary to tell why it was so good. I can say that I loved X, Y, or Z about the thing; but none of that compares to the experience of just watching it or the swath of Video Essays about it. It's a masterclass of Indie Filmmaking.

10/10, I can't wait for the Grand Finale.