Xiao Xiao started a trend with its Stick Figure Animation, a simple style that allowed viewers to purely focus on the action and choreography. Some followers did alright. Terkoiz took it to the next level.
The feeling of Super Speed is a difficult thing to capture due to all the factors involved to make it work, especially in more complex works like film and cartoons. But the simplified presentation of Stick Figure Animation makes it more feasible to pull off. It can be captured by either blindsiding the audience with quick movements, or contrasting the mundane moving at slower speeds compared to the speedy thing. Shock did both.
"Shock" & "Shock 2" take place back-to-back, and some newer videos connect them directly, but it's probably best to watch them in their original separated formats. It feels like they were made to be watched as two separate rides with an intermission; together they feel more drawn-out. "Shock 3" took things even further with its insanely well-animated Bullet Time that contrasts the speedy with the non-speedy. The first two had snippets of this, but "Shock 3" absolutely nailed it.
The sound effects and damage to the environment masterfully sell every hit, and the animation is synced skillfully to the music, enhancing the flow of the action.
If I had a criticism, "Shock 3" has an abrupt final act; it feels like Terkoiz had some interesting new ideas but breezed through them too quickly.
Worthy of honorable mention is "Shock More",Warning! Beware of seizure-inducing flashes. a fan tribute and Distant Sequel which mostly captures the original spirit of Shock, and has a happy ending if you want that, and "Project Retribution", a Spiritual Successor contributed to by Terkoiz which laser-focuses on the Flash Step aspect.
The series has gained traction on YouTube, but the best way to experience the animations is in their original Flash format. The fluidity and speed of the animation is often difficult to capture with the quality of YouTube videos (especially "Project Retribution"), so if possible, check them out in their original Flash. If you love fight scenes and Super Speed, you cannot miss this.
Some of the Greatest Fight Scenes Ever Made
I'm not exaggerating.
Xiao Xiao started a trend with its Stick Figure Animation, a simple style that allowed viewers to purely focus on the action and choreography. Some followers did alright. Terkoiz took it to the next level.
The feeling of Super Speed is a difficult thing to capture due to all the factors involved to make it work, especially in more complex works like film and cartoons. But the simplified presentation of Stick Figure Animation makes it more feasible to pull off. It can be captured by either blindsiding the audience with quick movements, or contrasting the mundane moving at slower speeds compared to the speedy thing. Shock did both.
"Shock" & "Shock 2" take place back-to-back, and some newer videos connect them directly, but it's probably best to watch them in their original separated formats. It feels like they were made to be watched as two separate rides with an intermission; together they feel more drawn-out. "Shock 3" took things even further with its insanely well-animated Bullet Time that contrasts the speedy with the non-speedy. The first two had snippets of this, but "Shock 3" absolutely nailed it.
The sound effects and damage to the environment masterfully sell every hit, and the animation is synced skillfully to the music, enhancing the flow of the action.
If I had a criticism, "Shock 3" has an abrupt final act; it feels like Terkoiz had some interesting new ideas but breezed through them too quickly.
Worthy of honorable mention is "Shock More",Warning! a fan tribute and Distant Sequel which mostly captures the original spirit of Shock, and has a happy ending if you want that, and "Project Retribution", a Spiritual Successor contributed to by Terkoiz which laser-focuses on the Flash Step aspect.
The series has gained traction on YouTube, but the best way to experience the animations is in their original Flash format. The fluidity and speed of the animation is often difficult to capture with the quality of YouTube videos (especially "Project Retribution"), so if possible, check them out in their original Flash. If you love fight scenes and Super Speed, you cannot miss this.