Animatic: Meaning

Song: Meaning - Neovaii

Focus: Unknown

(Instrumental)

• Azurine sits on a large window sill in casual clothes; he's looking out, slowly swinging his leg over the edge
  • opening credits appear in the window
  • there's incense burning in the corner; the smoke goes out and Azurine starts to turn his head toward it as the song begins
    

Tell me that you read my letters

• (children) Viridian leaning on Azurine's shoulder as the latter reads to him from a pile of books
  

Tell me that you heard my songs

• Azurine listening fondly as Viridian plays an old piano
  

Tell me that your life is better

• (preteens) Azurine & Viridian lying on the grass, holding hands and staring up at the sky
  

Ever since I've been gone

• (young teens) Azurine & Viridian laughing about something; Azurine reaches out to Viridian
  
• expression switches to shock as Viridian suddenly turns into a mist and blows away
  • (effects: color palette shift, slow-motion and zoom)
    

Now I, I really wanna let you know

• Azurine frantically looks around the void

I never meant to let you go

• foreground: (from shoulders up) back of a ghostly Viridian, watching Azurine
• background: a blurry Azurine searches for Viridian
  

I'll find a way to let you know

• foreground: (from shoulders up) scared and worried Azurine calls out for Viridian
  
• background: a blurry, ghostly Viridian stands watching

That I'm feening, I'm feening

• Azurine crumples to the ground, crying
  
• (adult, present-day) he wakes from a nightmare, sits up in his bedroll

Got me in my feelings

• Azurine hyperventilating, holding a hand over his racing heart
• he looks to the side
  

And I found out I had demons

• camera scrolls over some of the sleeping party members
  

Trying to find a meaning of me leaving

• Azurine quietly stands and steps over them, briefly looking back before exiting the cave alone
  

Got me in my feelings

• Azurine's back hits the wall and he slides down to sit
  

And I found out I had demons

• Azurine looks up, his breath catches and irises shrink
  

Trying to find a meaning of me leaving

• far away, a flickering, ghostly child Viridian blurs in and out of focus
• camera flashes between Viridian and a close-up of Azurine's horrified gaze until finally, Viridian blows away like smoke
  

(Instrumental)

• (children) flashbacks of Azurine & Viridian growing up
  • arriving at the orphanage, meeting the other kids, playing, getting into trouble, generally bonding and being inseparable
    
• (~1:26) (young teens) Azurine & Viridian looking up at a staff member, whose shadow falls over them
  

(tune change)

• (slight shaky cam, censoring angles) flashes of the ritual, Viridian's death, Azurine fighting his way out
• Lily leading the children, living on the streets, working together to survive
  

I'm leaving

• Azurine standing over a makeshift grave, holding flowers for Viridian
  

Tell me that you got my letters

• (adults) Azurine at an inn, writing a letter to Lily
  

Tell me that you know these songs are about you

• Azurine praying to the moon at night, with a faint ghostly blur in the background
  

Tell me that your life is better

• Lily receiving a key and opening her own orphanage
  

Even though I'm living without you

• Azurine traveling on the road with a backpack
  

'Cause I really wanna let you know

• ghostly Viridian watches over Azurine as the scene shifts multiple times, with Azurine speaking to different races
  

I never meant to let you go

• someone off-screen points to Azurine's locket; he gently touches it, a soft, sad smile on his face
  

I'll find a way to let you know

• ?

That I'm feening, I'm feening

• ?

I really wanna let you know

• (teenage Lily) standing in front of the camera, holding one hand out while the other holds a piece of bread; she's dirty and battered, but smiling
  
• background: spring, petals flowing in the wind
  

I never meant to let you go

• (adult Lily) pose unchanged, but instead of bread she holds a book; she looks clean and healthy
  
• background: autumn, leaves floating down
  

I'll find a way to let you know

• (elderly Lily) pose unchanged, now holding a cane; she looks weary but still smiles
  
• background: winter, light snow flurries
  

That I'm feening, I'm feening

• Lily coughing, then collapsing; her cane clatters to the ground
  

Got me in my feelings

• scene change, view of a sign outside of a clinic
  

And I found out I had demons

• Lily speaking to a kind doctor, who holds her hand
  

Trying to find a meaning of me leaving

• Lily writing at her desk in her office
• view switches to a scroll; it's a will and instructions for inheriting the orphanage
  

Got me in my feelings

• Lily handing Azurine the scroll; he looks sad but accepting
  

And I found out I had demons

• they hug; show Azurine's back at first, then his horrified face
  

Trying to find a meaning of me leaving

• Azurine sitting next to Lily's bed, holding her hand as she passes from old age
• close-up of Azurine's face, facing away from the camera, with a tear rolling down his cheek (camera shakes & blurs into transition)
  

(Instrumental)

• flashes of Azurine holding the key to the orphanage, shaking hands with new staff, exploring the world, learning from different cultures, practicing his magic
• (~3:22) as he takes a midnight walk, camera slides to 2 random drow sneaking up on him
  

(tune change)

• chase scene between Azurine and 2 random drow
  • Azurine casts Sanctuary, but it quickly runs out
  • he throws a few cantrips back, but it doesn't slow them down
  • he's struck in the back by a crossbow bolt dipped in drow poison
• Azurine collapses on the ground, struggling to crawl forward; camera angle follows his gaze as the 2 drow run up to him
  

I'm leaving

• close up of Azurine's face as his eyes drift closed

Tell me that you read my letters

• 1 drow steps on and breaks Azurine's glasses, which had fallen to the ground
  

Tell me that you heard my songs

• 1 drow pulls Azurine up by his hair; his face is pained
  

Tell me that your life is better

• Azurine's wrists are tied and his limp body is lifted
  

Ever since I've been gone

• Azurine is dragged into the inky darkness of the forest

Now I really hope I let you know

• scene melts to Lily's orphanage, with light colors and a peaceful atmosphere
  

I never meant to let you go

• the staff and children are crowded around an empty mailbox, looking confused/concerned
  

I'll find a way to let you know

• an unfinished letter to the orphanage sits on Azurine's desk
  • it says he will return soon, and that the temperature is perfect for a moonlit walk
    
• a candle has blown out nearby, the smoke fading with the music (fade to black)