The Reward

[Beacon of Chaos]

This is an utterly fantastic short animation. Anyone who roleplays (especially fantasy) or is just a fan of adventures in general needs to watch it. Seriously, it's 9 minutes of awesome. Highly reccommended!

[Gamerlord]

Wow....just, wow. I'm not sure what to say except that those nine minutes had more story and substance then a lot of full length movies I have seen. Also, I did not expect to see

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that guy get his fingers chopped off.

[thubby]

hollywood, hire these people

[Bouregard]

Nice to see that there are still some people who can crank out good stories without multi-million budget.

[Gnomish Wanderer]

That was amazing! Thank you for linking that, that movie genuinely made me smile (and gasp and laugh and think!). Like Gamerlord said: Wow.

[Killer Angel]

Wow....just, wow. I'm not sure what to say except that those nine minutes had more story and substance then a lot of full length movies I have seen.[/SPOILER]

And it could well be a full length movie. The concept is perfect.
Amazing idea.

[Scowling Dragon]

I wish there was a "Jawdrop" icon. That was incredible.

Great animation, great visuals, great story, and told amazingly.

Hollywood HIRE THESE GUYS!

[Hopeless]

Simply wow!
Would love to see them do more like this!

[Cosmic Traveler]

As the saying goes, life is but the journey, not the destination. Your true reward is what and how much you have evolved and developed yourself throughout that journey rather than what you were seeking at the end of your road. Those who understand will share this knowledge with the rest of the world.

That's what this video is.

Damn my wisdom score is good XD

[Brewdude]

That was great! All the hype is true!

[MLai]

Take home lesson: Facial hair is power, use it well.

[Dienekes]

Huh, the only lesson I got out of that was

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always look behind the giant mirror and don't get too enamored at how badass you now look.

No but seriously, it was pretty good. A fine 9 minutes indeed.

[Mono Vertigo]

Huh, the only lesson I got out of that was

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always look behind the giant mirror and don't get too enamored at how badass you now look.

No but seriously, it was pretty good. A fine 9 minutes indeed.

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Depends. When you're that badass, and you're happy with yourself, and you've got such a good friend, and you get what you've always wanted (in this case, chicks)... well, money, no matter how much, is not going to make you much happier than that.

[Scowling Dragon]

This is what I got:

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They look into the mirror and realize that by this point they don't NEED any reward. They are both super duper awesome, and super duper best pals.

It was the journey, and their friendship, and being so awesome you can pick up chicks.

And thus the cycle continues. Maybe thats what the treasure map and temple where made for?

[Dienekes]

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Depends. When you're that badass, and you're happy with yourself, and you've got such a good friend, and you get what you've always wanted (in this case, chicks)... well, money, no matter how much, is not going to make you much happier than that.

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If it was money. The contents of the box were glowing at the end, I don't think money does that in the dark, though admittedly it could just be stylized that way.

[123456789blaaa]

That was incredible. I admit, I got a little teary-eyed when

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that scene with the blond guy in the red guys lap came.

My only (nitpicky) gripe is that there should have been another guy with the muscular guy on the horse at the beggining. It would have lined up better and fit the message.

[Scowling Dragon]

That was incredible. I admit, I got a little teary-eyed when

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that scene with the blond guy in the red guys lap came.

My only (nitpicky) gripe is that there should have been another guy with the muscular guy on the horse at the beggining. It would have lined up better and fit the message.

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Nah, that guy probably wen't through a solo mission of self discovery. maybe he was a total looser until the quest.

Because maybe otherwise it would be too obvious from the beginning what would happen.

[Tanuki Tales]

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The reward at the end of the map was the realization that who you became in its pursuit was the true goal. It's one of those tricky zen lesson things.

My only gripe was how they messed up the Yupa-guy's hands a few times.

[Slayn82]

Just saw the video in another site, came to post about it and saw this thread.

Yeah, this short movie just topped everything i watched last year. So full of spirit, charm and playfullness. I'm overjoyed.

[Dr.Epic]

Nice to see that there are still some people who can crank out good stories without multi-million budget.

Just like there are people who CAN'T crank out a good story with a multi-million budget.

[molten_dragon]

Very cool. The 'lesson' at the end was a little obvious, but very cool all the same. A great little bit of storytelling without saying a word.

[Scowling Dragon]

Also watch post credits:

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Its what happens when the only goal is the reward. This guy is the opposite of the two. So concerned of the reward he chained himself to the seat just to forever watch his treasure

[Beacon of Chaos]

Also watch post credits:

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Its what happens when the only goal is the reward. This guy is the opposite of the two. So concerned of the reward he chained himself to the seat just to forever watch his treasure

I didn't think of that. That's pretty good.


I think I'm going to rewatch this tomorrow, then take some screenshots/gifs. I especially want the bit with the bamboo beasts.

[Dienekes]

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The reward at the end of the map was the realization that who you became in its pursuit was the true goal. It's one of those tricky zen lesson things.

My only gripe was how they messed up the Yupa-guy's hands a few times.

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Nah the reward at the end of the map was whatever was in that dead guys hands at the end. Our heroes just didn't make it.

[Hopeless]

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Nah the reward at the end of the map was whatever was in that dead guys hands at the end. Our heroes just didn't make it.

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Do you think he wouldn't have trapped the entire chamber rather than risk losing his treasure even in death?
I figure the realisation changed the entire reason for that map, its entirely possible that the skeleton you see is the friend of the guy from the start but unlike his friend couldn't escape the lure of the treasure whilst his friend realised there was more important things out there and unless someone knows otherwise I believe the map was originally handed over by accident and it was never intended to be passed on like that.
It wa pure chance that the next pair understood the same fact the hero they met at the start also understood...

What do you think?

[Kindablue]

I've watched this at least four times in the last couple days. Beautiful piece of storytelling.

[123456789blaaa]

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Do you think he wouldn't have trapped the entire chamber rather than risk losing his treasure even in death?
I figure the realisation changed the entire reason for that map, its entirely possible that the skeleton you see is the friend of the guy from the start but unlike his friend couldn't escape the lure of the treasure whilst his friend realised there was more important things out there and unless someone knows otherwise I believe the map was originally handed over by accident and it was never intended to be passed on like that.
It wa pure chance that the next pair understood the same fact the hero they met at the start also understood...

What do you think?

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I think that takes away my only gripe with the animation.

[Scowling Dragon]

Actually

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I would still argue that the crazed owner of the treasure had himself chained to the seats, and walled over because he was just that crazed he couldn't part with it even in death.

[Drakeburn]

That was probably the most awesome thing I've ever seen. This is what Adventure Time should've been in my opinion.

[Gnomish Wanderer]

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I think that might be the perfect treasure defense for a mad king who can't stand to see his riches separated, even in death. hide it in some remote location that takes an adventure to get to, and put a mirror in it (bonus points if it says 'The Reward is the Journey' written in fancy calligraphy on it or something). No one will think to look behind the mirror! (cept for PC's)

Now the only sucky part about the movie is that, since I'm planning on using parts for inspiration, I can't show it to my players!