Hammer and Bolter - Bound for Greatness Review Thread

[Petitioner's City]

Hi all, as they are written by the BL stable of authors, I am putting review threads of H&B in the BL forum. 

 

Today (25th Aug) three episodes of Hammer and Bolter are available to view; this thread is for Bound for Greatness. 

• It was animated by Farside Features (a sister company to Sun and Moon Studios), a company co-directed by Louis Jones and Dylan Shipley.

 

I'll add the writer once confirmed.

 

 

I think of the three, this is the one I'm most looking forward to watching - will dive into later

 

EDIT: Adding the following WHC article on making the art of the series:

 

 

We wanted to take a closer look at some of that great art, to see how background scenes and character concept art come to form the worlds you see on screen.

Let’s start with some background visuals. Touching on humble Imperial scribes, paranoid Inquisitors, and the hero of Armageddon facing down Ghazghkull Thraka, production pieces like this are essential for establishing the atmosphere of the scene while integrating details that seasoned fans of the 41st Millennium will recognise.

It looks rather cosy, doesn’t it?

The Hammer and Bolter episode, Bound for Greatness, is a rare look into the daily drudgery of an Imperial adept, surrounded by sweeping gothic architecture and icons of the Emperor’s faith. What might seem like a safe and easy life is anything but.

It wouldn’t be the Imperium if even the bookcases weren’t the size of cathedrals

This episode takes place at the very heart of Imperial civilisation, and great care was taken to ensure that every last detail drips with Warhammer atmosphere. Naturally, this means that skulls and aquilas adorn every surface, even down to these delightful-looking feeding tubes. Here we see how moving elements like the character’s hands and delicious grey gloop layer over the background artwork to create a complete scene.

We often wonder whose skull was chosen to eject gruel for eternity

The characters themselves are drawn by hand, so even hunched and crooked Astropaths explode from the screen with their presence.

Despite being blind, the Astropath has a good sense for atmosphere

Concept art is an essential part of production work, and is often used to workshop character designs, which are finalised through a process of iterative feedback until the final character looks just right. 

Concept art like the pic below for one of our favourite characters, Old Bale Eye’s Runtherd Dursnang can be referred back to throughout the production process to ensure that he consistently maintains his role as Old Bale Eye’s wizened storyteller during every moment of the finished animation.

A lot of effort must have gone into trimming all of those squigs into such a luxurious beard

There’s one thing we love about him that you may not have noticed on a first watch of Old Bale Eye. Orks like to accessorise themselves with hair squigs. If you look really closely, you can see one of his hair squigs blinks while Dursnang gives the yoofs his opinions on ‘pointies’.

  What exactly the squig gets out of this symbiotic relationship is a mystery

 

   

Edited August 30, 2021 by Petitioner's City

[Brother Captain Arkley]

I did wonder at first where this one was going.... I have the same issue with the animation I really hope it gets smoother...
 
Only one thing to say well two, again the writing was good, the other?
 

Damn you Big Bird LOL

Edited August 25, 2021 by Wolf Guard Einar

[byrd9999]

I have loved all 3 H&B animations, but this was my favourite!

 

I love this flavour of grimdark: the monks, the librarium, the paranoia. No bolters!

[ruralguardhipcat]

Agree, this is my favourite of the three. "There shall be no reading" indeed!

[StraightSilver]

I also loved this one and think it's my favourite.

 

The writing and voice acting is what sets these apart.

 

The animation may not be to everyone's taste but you can't fault the production.

[Kastor Krieg]

The animation is "low fps" as a style choice, it harkens back to 90s western animation style.

[Trokair]

What was the point of the counting?

[Indefragable]

I like that they had a “domestic” episode early into this. Dystopia.

[byrd9999]

What was the point of the counting?

 

 I think that's the point.

 

It's a pointless expression of loyalty and devotion. Do not ask questions about why you are counting. And that disconnect is what allows Tzeentch to exploit the Imperium.

Edited August 26, 2021 by byrd9999

[Indefragable]

 

 

What was the point of the counting?

I think that's the point.

 

It's a pointless expression of loyalty and devotion. Do not ask questions about why you are counting. And that disconnect is what allows Tzeentch to exploit the Imperium.

It’s super dystopian: the very thing that is easy to exploit (turning off your brain and faithfully doing mind numbing tasks) is ask the very thing that will save you from said exploitation. Whats so depressing is that if he had just kept counting and ignored that the book was different he may have been saved.

[aa.logan]

Loved this for so many reasons, not least the massive Monkey Dust vibes it gave off.

[malika666]

Just saw the new preview. I mean, in a way it seems potentially nice. But on the other hand, the quality of the animation makes me think of a grimdark inferior Pokemon cartoon...