Tale of a Toy Monkey (Extended Preview)

So here we are after ten long years. Tale of a Toy Monkey; my first serious 3dmm project has finally seen the light of day in the form of a trailer like visual representation to hopefully give you an idea of how I envisioned the film (s) to be. TOATM was a project I was really excited about this time ten years ago and it was heartbreaking when I lost practically everything I made for it when my computer died. Miraculously finding some really old footage years later, I decided to try and release at least something.

And here is what I made. There is a mixture of both old 2004 footage from the original movie and even more brand new more up to date shots that fit my current 3dmming skills. I ultimately decided not to edit the old bits too much as I kinda wanted to also show the improvement I've made as a 3dmmer in the last decade or so. You likely won't have any idea what is happening as there is no cohesive order of when in the films story the shots take place, nor is there any dialogue etc. Just take this as mostly a visual experience, this is quite literally the very best I have to offer as a 3dmm animator.

I should also point out that while this is in a way ironically my first 3dmm movie, this will also be my last. I'm officially retiring after ten amazing years making movies for and with you guys, it's been a fucking blast and without a doubt a most defining creative experience in my life. 3dmm will always be so special to me and I feel after releasing this movie; easily the hardest I've worked on any movie EVER, that I can look back and feel I've now truly left my mark here on this place as a 3dmmer.

Please feel free to leave comments, feedback and ratings. Enjoy!

[Old Rivers]

i'm gonna take a wild guess without actually watching this. this "new footage" involves oral sex or something you'd naturally expect from a ben rice movie.

[Cubert]

Damn man this looks great, some spectacular shots in here! It's a shame we'll not get to see the full narrative. Very visually impressive, wish I had a bit more of an idea on the story. But yeah, the animation here was great, made me quite nostalgic.

How much footage have you held back from including in this? Is there much that you've decided won't see the light of day?

[Ben Rice]

lots of unfinished dialogue/exposition scenes that were badly animated and a few unqualified, not so exciting action shots which were ultimately cut out to help sync the trailer with the music. honestly nothing that special as there was no actual voices in the film when i was originally working on it (despite having hired voice actors, most notably jaymond, goro and ben fortier.

download link and youtube are now available, if a certain supacat wants to take a crack at a better quality, possibly HD youtube mirror that must obviously be in sync with the music than that's fine by me

but seriously thanks guys, i genuinely appreciate it.

[Harrison]

Great stuff here man. Animation, HMC's, scenery, all of it. Hate to see it won't be finished, but I understand how time consuming it can be.

[OmniromX]

Really impressive animation. That guy with the yellow eyes who can shoot red beams is cool. I think the music doesn't fit very well. 3DMM doesn't go well with very dramatic music IMO. I think with the right music and pacing, it would make a very cool movie. I encourage you to finish it; I'm sure some people here would help, myself included.

[Gorosaurus]

Wow!


I definitely could tell the age of each shot- some of the original footage is night and day with your more modern work. First, let me say that I am honored by your introduction- thank you!

At first this looked like one of those small pet projects that we keep, as kids, and keep adding to (like my own Lock 'n Load series). Unlike those in that vein, however, this looks to have matured beyond the one-line plot and vision of our youth. I saw this very much like NUTS before it- a movie that seems childish and silly on the outside, but has some very deep roots and adult themes under an intentionally juvenile veil. Obviously, a movie about a toy monkey with such melodramatic music would instigate an eyeroll at the onset, but it earns its keep and the music really compliments the preview before the end. Some very impressive timing, too.

The animation ranges from decent to very, very impressive. Most of the more blunt shapes and less refined character builds are in the earlier shots (as are poor crosshatching on a few scenes), but they are cleaned up in shots that show just how much you have grown as a director and animator.

There are a number of shots that show a much improved cinematic eye, balancing foreground and background. I could see a lot of influence from by myself and HMC in your character design, which is a delight. However, every character is certainly your own- and that's a feather in your cap. The facial movements of the Lego Man were very good.

I have a feeling that you were animating your movie fairly chronologically, as some of the earlier parts of the preview (and movie, I assume) were crude in their expressions. The later scenes sell their expressions well, contrasted with earlier scenes where a sudden POP of spheres told us that a character is expressing anger. Subtlety is the key to all believable expression, and, as with all animators (myself included!), mastery of those nuances can come only with time.

You should feel proud of this preview, Ben. There was a palpable feeling of relief and pride when I released my Ninja Gaiden 2 preview 2 or so years ago. Finally sharing so many years' worth of toiling, even if not in the method we intended when we started out, should be a feeling to be celebrated. Do not sully that with regrets.

I hope that you continue to follow your gifts- they will serve you well in whatever you do with your life. Continue to use 3dmm. I feel that an important consideration in the post-3dmm-golden-age is the delegation of resources (namely time!). Make a short scene some time as a response to a thread; contributed to a chain movie; make a seasonal short movie - all of these are still within the realm of time we have in this day and age.

Do not throw your gifts away into a box marked "childhood." Keep doing. Keep producing. Always be working on something.


Very good work, Ben. I look forward to whatever you have next for us!

[Evil Ash]

I don't think the move would ever live up to how awesome that trailer made it look. This was super badass. Good shit, man.

[Jt Copper]

This movie is inspiring, Ben. Don't let this die because I am truly excited for this now. You have come so far man, you can do it!

Amazing trailer too, it was really emotional and I can't say that about 3dmm movies often. The ten years are worth it.

[Old Rivers]

haha well i definitely wouldn't call this "emotional" but goddamn if this doesn't have some fantastic animation. i'd call this more of an animation showcase than a trailer, since the clips don't reveal much of anything about the plot.
very, very good animation. i'm glad to see this finally finished.

[Ben Rice]

yeah that's exactly what this is, i just edited this to look more like a trailer. i actually didn't know what to call it so i just went with this.

thank you all for the kind words guys i really appreciate it all, particularly that some really understand exactly what i was going for and what it's been like putting myself through the ordeal of animating this stuff. some scenes in this have taken days to create perfectly to my standards (or best as i could get without going insane), at some point in the making of this i was realizing i wanted this project to be the very best i had to offer as a 3dmmer, a sort of obligation out of a strive i had ten years ago to be like the next redwampa in a time when 3dmm was still pretty active and amazing as a structure in my younger perspective. it's kinda cheesy i know but i'd like to think the movie footage, particularly the newer (widescreen) scenes may be visual proof of my sincerity.

i appreciate the encouragement to keep making movies guys but truth be told i've kinda been looking forward to this for a while now, knowing i've animated something i wouldn't have the patience to top. i'm aware the point is for 3dmm to be fun but i'm just not really finding it much fun anymore. i love the drunk chain movies but even then when it comes down to actually animating them i quickly get bored and just can't be arsed. there's no other way to put it really, i'm done with 3dmm.

haha not to sound aggressive or anything, i'll still be around and will happily help others with their movies in any way i can, i just don't wanna animate any more. my creative interests now lie elsewhere and like tale of a toy monkey, this has been a project YEARS in the making

[Jt Copper]

Ill be honest, Ben. If you were to compete this, I think it would definitely be comparable to Redwampa. Such a shame your done though. Godspeed Rice, and good luck!

[Red Scorpion]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this, although a finished product would be good too. Perhaps an Andres style compilation? All unfinished scenes etc with some text explaining what's missing or what you had intended would be cool. But like Jt said, it's definitely comparable to Redwampas work.

I've always wanted to make a movie like this (no default actors and what not), maybe one day.

[Tony Clay]

Ben, I loved the facial animations. Looks like a really colorful movie. Sad to hear you're not going to complete it. Ah, well, glad you at least still post instead of disappearing.

Do you do any animation/art of a different type nowadays? Because you really should be.

[Ben Rice]

Bumping this with the discovery that Supacat has been kind enough to re-youtube the trailer in HD, it's in the OP. Thanks dude!

Originally Posted by Tony Clay

Do you do any animation/art of a different type nowadays? Because you really should be.

haha sorry for taking so long to answer, i'm not currently doing any art or other animations at the moment. i'd been focusing on wrapping things up with my 3dmming after finishing university. right now i'm prepping myself to get back into my screen writing, i've got two screenplays written last year which are each the first parts of a two part story. so my next plan is to begin writing their conclusions and beyond.

[Funny Bones]

https://f001.backblaze.com/file/3dmmtv/QvjP.mp4