I've been loving the concept of Dead gOds for a while, and while I can't offer money as a broke grad student, I can offer support in the UA-cam traditions. Rock on, brother! This stuff is really cool, and you bringing up "got an idea? start it" is kind & motivating, looking forward to hearing and seeing more
Hey Matt! A suggestion for a future video: make one of those scale comparison videos people do with building, ships, spaceships, planets and what-not, but with all of your material when it reeeeally stacks up with stuff! If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's those videos that start with the smallest subject in a category (let's say spaceships from fiction, you'd start with a simple shuttle from Star Trek or an eject pod), and then the camera pans continuously showing the bigger subject than (a TIE Fighter, maybe), then the next and so on (The Millenium Falcon, and so on). I think it would be very interesting in the future to see the scale of things!
3:25 It is so hard to make it in the publishing world because there is so much out there. I have been writing for 15 years, and people say my writing is great, but my presentation and marketing sucks in a way that I don't know how to fix it. I have so few readers that it is depressing and makes it all feel like a waste of time if I'm going to spend all that time perfecting a story just for it to be stuck in a drawer. But I'm glad your stories are becoming real and people love them. I love them, and envy you for it :P
I think a good question all creators have to ask themselves is: would I still work on this, even if I knew almost no one would ever see it? Hope you find your audience.
Man, this makes me want to see a scifi iteration on the Anunnaki and the Sumerian myths from you! Like Zecharia Sitchin described them, go full in on the ancient astronaut theory
Just discovered this series a few weeks ago. It is such beautiful artwork, and I love the style, but it's the worldbuilding I love the most. The use of history myth and reality to build a realistic story that is inspirational. Keep it coming.
As a fellow concept artist in the industry, this is always a joy to watch! You've already given quite a few simple, yet meaningful ideas on how to see all the work done together, and that invaluable. Can't wait to see more, and to use some of your tips for my own projects I'm working on
I am glad I stumbled upon your channel, your ongoing project is truly one of a kind and a well of joy and inspiration. The creativity and vivid liveliness that seep off each subsequent character(s) in these videos keep me hooked for more. I admire the primal vitality that your characters and world easily display, such that I feel inspired to capture some of that vital energy and distil it in my own life. Keep up the good work!
I imagine the Herdsmen Giant sounds like the Yeti from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, in the episode where the Grim Reaper, Billy and Mandy chases him as a guy who dodged Grim's reaping.
Since you love horns so much, you should also read about the Labrys. It's a ceremonial weapon shaped like bull horns and linked to the very first astronomical measures, so it fits historically.
As always, it is fantastic work. I love that all designs start with character and narrative first. It is very inspiring and something I will attempt to do as I continue to world-build. I want you to know I would have never had the courage or confidence to start my own world if I had not stumbled upon Tellurion years ago (I got one of the first printings (I still love the widescreen format of that book). Dead Gods feels like another epic, and I can't wait to see where you take us. Thanks again for everything you share.
The way I was rewatching the rest of Dead Gods videos yesterday and today you release this! Love this project and your work, thank you for broadcasting it!
Your concepts are really cool, each week I'm waiting for the next video ! The giants are fascinating I'm eager to learn more about their societies, their cultures and relationship with other elements of Dead gODS Universe
These are all so cool. It's often tricky to find creative and fantastical Biblicaly based content. But you've found a fascinating way to do it. I cannot wait to see what stories come out of this. I want Angel Studios or someone to turn this into an animated show.
I loved the third Nephilim so much--I think I especially love the implicit storytelling of her choice to garb her servants and slaves in canine regalia. There's so much characterization from that simple choice: It shows a consistency of wealth and influence that she can enforce a "uniform" on her personal slaves, for one. Another aspect is that the masks and robes covering their faces are isolating and dehumanizing in both literal and metaphorical ways, denying them their humanity and making it harder for them to speak with and connect to others. But there's also a more insidious dehumanization inherent in the uniform, because she's essentially forcing them into her own culture and religion--a classical form of genocide. She lounges on her palanquin, literally above those who are beneath her in every way. They're her loyal hounds, rather than human beings---and that's a really fun mindset to show so simply with a single design. The interaction of nephilim and antediluvian societies is so far one of my favorite aspects of this project.
Matt, thanks a lot for your videos! Its such an amazing experience see all those ideas coming to life, also making me feel more comfortable to put on the paper one of the mine! Keep strong!
I'm loving those giants, although I think that regular human villains are still needed, if it cannot be the hunter (though I believe it added to his character), then someone else. History shows us that men are some of the most terrifying beasts afterall.
Hey Matt, great stuff! Now that the artworks are beginning to stack up, are there any plans for future vids to have existing entities collide? Like giants ambushed by dinosaurs? Or hunting parties of men attacking giant domiciles? Curious to get an idea of contrasting or coexisting factions in this world
Ooooh absolutely. Right now I'm starting to put toys on the table, and the more that get added, the more I'll be able to play with them. I think that those overlaps are where a LOT of the fun of this project will come from.
Great work! I’m curious to see designs for the vessel that the shipwright will build. Also, will there be designs made for his family as well? Very curious to see where this story will go.
The statement at 5:59 is pretty interesting. I wonder why the watchers would teach people to worship multiple different things that shouldn't be worshipped, and also, what are the things in that world that should be worshipped? I I think I remember earlier in the video series there was mention of multiple gods that would show up. Are these gods the things that the people are meant to worship, instead of things like constellations or people? Or is it that the watchers have thaught people to worship them specifically and creations of theirs, instead of things of the natural world?
Glad to see the giants getting their own arc of sorts (pun half intended), though there is something I had wondered about since the start, how did you came up with the insignia/logo for the project?
Your worldbuilding is exactly what I'm looking for, both to enjoy it and also to emulate it. I'm a teacher at a small, Christian school and an author on the side. I've been trying to get audiobooks done for my channel, but it's so tough to find time to write. Need suggestions for good AI text-to-speech to do the reading for low cost (not the clearly AI trash done for the algorithm).
Have you considered the primitive weapons that can be thrown like a discus to be worn as jewelry that can be easily be used defensively or offensively? Giants in much of fantasy are known to be throwers of immense weaponry. It is Goliath hubris that he comes at David at close range. Even in prehistoric times ranged weaponry is king.
I loved Tellurion. It was my only reason for going on Art Station for those few years, looking at your Pixar-worthy art and making Rifftrax-style commentary in the comments.
Love the exiled giant's design, what kind of crime would he have committed to get exiled? Killing a fellow giant or some sort of more Promethean thing?
Could age be a factor for scale with the giants? Like they don't really wither and age, they just keep getting bigger. Untenably so at some point. Perhaps this relates to them not being a natural part of the world, and if left alone they would result in a few rapacious giants too huge for the world.
AMAZING JOB SO FAR MATT!!! Feel like I'm being introduced to a whole movie or television series🔥Question tho: Is the Shipwright going to have a family similar to Noah from the Bible? If so, will they be mixed ethnicity since they were the fathers of the nations to come? Just thought I'd ask and I can't wait to see where this story progresses⚔
I wonder if honestly benevolent giants will be depicted at some point. It'd be interesting to see the bible's black and white claims of the maliciousness if the nephilim to be challenged in that sense, with how limited its information of the antedeluvian world would be in comparison to what all of that world's complexities would have been outside the book's pages.
Wow I am so happy that I found this channel a month ago, I am simply amazed by everything you are doing. There is one thing though, and I don't want to sound rude, and maybe I am in minority with this take, but I kind of dislike the Hunter design. For such an important character I find that his design is kind of weakest compared to the rest of the amazing characters. I kind of dislike his head gear and his "clothes" in general, I understand that the idea is for them to look simplistic and yet menacing do describe his life style, but maybe it could be pushed a bit more. Maybe even having less cloth pieces, and having like huge long multiple threads of hair and beard with blades at the end of them as weapons that are kind of part of his body. Anyway I think he deserves a redesign now that it is established that he is a Nephilim. GL with the amazing work!
That's so cool of how you make a story of how accurate our world can be in this world. But question, can you draw the dragons? I thought it be very cool to added them if your own world. With a different variations of dragons in each continents and biomes that they traveled a very long distance, and that there are more dragons species that they are alot like the Httyd and the House of the Dragon. But I wanna see how would the humans coexist with them. Like pretty much would used them to destroy their enemies and gain control and power with fear. Or that they would worshipped them as they were powerful beings on Earth, same thing with your feathered Tyrannosaurus Rex. Can you draw that please?!
I think the nelihime would be more humanized because it would make more interesting villeins and give more opportunities for conversation and worldbulding if they aren’t just mindless brutes
I’m not sure how to say that but the giants that you drew here are like spoiled humanoid race in the past, but I know it’s fantasy so no complaints here.
There is a thing where many ancient cultures, seemingly by coincidence, worshipped the same fish head god type that carried around a purse/hand bag thingy, possibly ancient humans who survived the sinking of 'atlantis'. Could fit in well in your awesome anti diluvian world
I have to know. Your theology in these videos is fairly accurate to a lot of biblical mythology. Even mythical creatures being the creations of demons experimenting with normal animals. Are you a christian or Jewish?
Listen, I understand that they represent the opposite of Gods plan and that to consort with them is to invite the worst damnation possible, but - that noblewoman - hear me out.
On a different note, I really enjoy the whole pre-adamite / antediluvian setting that has its roots in the 19th century. I don’t know if you (Matt Rhodes) have seen Mario Lanzas animated short ‘Antediluvian’ but it captures a lot of what 19th century religious scientists felts about the pre-flood world, a world of prehistoric monsters.
I love how limited our imagination really is. Using the pen and paper, we can create anything...ANYTHING possible or impossible, and yet, we can't come up with anything truly original. Same clichês, same recycled ideas, same old stories.
I've been loving the concept of Dead gOds for a while, and while I can't offer money as a broke grad student, I can offer support in the UA-cam traditions. Rock on, brother! This stuff is really cool, and you bringing up "got an idea? start it" is kind & motivating, looking forward to hearing and seeing more
Much appreciated! And glad to hear it
Hey Matt!
A suggestion for a future video: make one of those scale comparison videos people do with building, ships, spaceships, planets and what-not, but with all of your material when it reeeeally stacks up with stuff!
If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's those videos that start with the smallest subject in a category (let's say spaceships from fiction, you'd start with a simple shuttle from Star Trek or an eject pod), and then the camera pans continuously showing the bigger subject than (a TIE Fighter, maybe), then the next and so on (The Millenium Falcon, and so on).
I think it would be very interesting in the future to see the scale of things!
Great idea!
Mammoths and Giants : It just works !!
Skyrim Space Program flashbacks
@@26th_Primarchoh God, those were the days Skyrim really got Giants right
Man you are pumping these out what the hell absolute speed demon
3:25 It is so hard to make it in the publishing world because there is so much out there. I have been writing for 15 years, and people say my writing is great, but my presentation and marketing sucks in a way that I don't know how to fix it. I have so few readers that it is depressing and makes it all feel like a waste of time if I'm going to spend all that time perfecting a story just for it to be stuck in a drawer.
But I'm glad your stories are becoming real and people love them. I love them, and envy you for it :P
I think a good question all creators have to ask themselves is: would I still work on this, even if I knew almost no one would ever see it? Hope you find your audience.
What are you writing?
@@MisterEvvvSymphoenix I have a 7 book science fantasy series.
3:25. I needed this honestly, I’ve got so much to put out there, and it’s coming along.
Another fantastic vid! Love the kinda Stargatey vibe of the dog-masks worn by the third nephilim's servants.
Sheer talent, crazy creative.. so many new but somehow old and ancient ideas
Man, this makes me want to see a scifi iteration on the Anunnaki and the Sumerian myths from you! Like Zecharia Sitchin described them, go full in on the ancient astronaut theory
Always a good day when dead gods updates.
Just discovered this series a few weeks ago. It is such beautiful artwork, and I love the style, but it's the worldbuilding I love the most. The use of history myth and reality to build a realistic story that is inspirational. Keep it coming.
Dang Matt, this is amazing!
You are HUGE Artist! Thank you for all the inspiration you gave even for a tiny writer!
This really reminds me of primal and I’m in love with it
As a fellow concept artist in the industry, this is always a joy to watch! You've already given quite a few simple, yet meaningful ideas on how to see all the work done together, and that invaluable.
Can't wait to see more, and to use some of your tips for my own projects I'm working on
Love this project
I am glad I stumbled upon your channel, your ongoing project is truly one of a kind and a well of joy and inspiration. The creativity and vivid liveliness that seep off each subsequent character(s) in these videos keep me hooked for more. I admire the primal vitality that your characters and world easily display, such that I feel inspired to capture some of that vital energy and distil it in my own life. Keep up the good work!
I have already got better at drawing thanks to your inspirational work.
Also please post longer videos 🙏🏾🙏🏾
I imagine the Herdsmen Giant sounds like the Yeti from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, in the episode where the Grim Reaper, Billy and Mandy chases him as a guy who dodged Grim's reaping.
Quite awe inspiring designs. Made me think how they would fit in a modern society!
Since you love horns so much, you should also read about the Labrys. It's a ceremonial weapon shaped like bull horns and linked to the very first astronomical measures, so it fits historically.
I do love seeing your world building as you go through the art and ideas. as art SHOULD tell the story.
As always, it is fantastic work. I love that all designs start with character and narrative first. It is very inspiring and something I will attempt to do as I continue to world-build. I want you to know I would have never had the courage or confidence to start my own world if I had not stumbled upon Tellurion years ago (I got one of the first printings (I still love the widescreen format of that book). Dead Gods feels like another epic, and I can't wait to see where you take us. Thanks again for everything you share.
Love your art Man!
Every detail of many beasts and humanoid beings giving me awe and admiration
I love the bonk giant
The way I was rewatching the rest of Dead Gods videos yesterday and today you release this! Love this project and your work, thank you for broadcasting it!
Really cool stuff I love your work keep it up it makes my week when your videos come out such cool and interesting stuff very much on my wavelength
Your concepts are really cool, each week I'm waiting for the next video !
The giants are fascinating I'm eager to learn more about their societies, their cultures and relationship with other elements of Dead gODS Universe
I get so excited every time I see something new about Dead gODS
These designs are absolutely inspiring 🔥❤️
Merci du partage! Stéph.
Very cool
This is amazing, Matt! I bought Tellurion in hardcover and cannot wait for it to arrive! Looking forward to more DEAD gODS, keep up the great work!
Thanks, that means a lot!
Bangin content
These are all so cool. It's often tricky to find creative and fantastical Biblicaly based content. But you've found a fascinating way to do it. I cannot wait to see what stories come out of this.
I want Angel Studios or someone to turn this into an animated show.
You’re an absolute inspiration!
I love thiss!!!
Amazing, so intrigued! Can't wait for more!
I had a corporate christmas dinner last night...I was tired, so switched it on the TV....On 55" it looks more EPIC! :D
I loved the third Nephilim so much--I think I especially love the implicit storytelling of her choice to garb her servants and slaves in canine regalia. There's so much characterization from that simple choice: It shows a consistency of wealth and influence that she can enforce a "uniform" on her personal slaves, for one. Another aspect is that the masks and robes covering their faces are isolating and dehumanizing in both literal and metaphorical ways, denying them their humanity and making it harder for them to speak with and connect to others. But there's also a more insidious dehumanization inherent in the uniform, because she's essentially forcing them into her own culture and religion--a classical form of genocide. She lounges on her palanquin, literally above those who are beneath her in every way. They're her loyal hounds, rather than human beings---and that's a really fun mindset to show so simply with a single design. The interaction of nephilim and antediluvian societies is so far one of my favorite aspects of this project.
Matt, thanks a lot for your videos! Its such an amazing experience see all those ideas coming to life, also making me feel more comfortable to put on the paper one of the mine! Keep strong!
As always, fantastic work
Food to my brain. Thank you matt
I'm loving those giants, although I think that regular human villains are still needed, if it cannot be the hunter (though I believe it added to his character), then someone else. History shows us that men are some of the most terrifying beasts afterall.
There will definitely be many
Hey Matt, great stuff! Now that the artworks are beginning to stack up, are there any plans for future vids to have existing entities collide? Like giants ambushed by dinosaurs? Or hunting parties of men attacking giant domiciles? Curious to get an idea of contrasting or coexisting factions in this world
Ooooh absolutely. Right now I'm starting to put toys on the table, and the more that get added, the more I'll be able to play with them. I think that those overlaps are where a LOT of the fun of this project will come from.
Great work! I’m curious to see designs for the vessel that the shipwright will build. Also, will there be designs made for his family as well? Very curious to see where this story will go.
I've got some early sketches of the ship, and his family. Definitely planning on covering that too.
@ can’t wait to see them.
Commenting to boost, need more of this! I feel like I remember when this project was so much smaller :)
Thank you!
So cool, espacial the Blades at the mamoth tusks
Maybe it is time to start
Wow what a gorgeous presentation. your work is stunning.
The statement at 5:59 is pretty interesting. I wonder why the watchers would teach people to worship multiple different things that shouldn't be worshipped, and also, what are the things in that world that should be worshipped? I I think I remember earlier in the video series there was mention of multiple gods that would show up. Are these gods the things that the people are meant to worship, instead of things like constellations or people? Or is it that the watchers have thaught people to worship them specifically and creations of theirs, instead of things of the natural world?
Glad to see the giants getting their own arc of sorts (pun half intended), though there is something I had wondered about since the start, how did you came up with the insignia/logo for the project?
Thanks! It's the angular capital "D" and lower case "g" from the word-mark put together in a monogram.
Your worldbuilding is exactly what I'm looking for, both to enjoy it and also to emulate it. I'm a teacher at a small, Christian school and an author on the side. I've been trying to get audiobooks done for my channel, but it's so tough to find time to write. Need suggestions for good AI text-to-speech to do the reading for low cost (not the clearly AI trash done for the algorithm).
Have you considered the primitive weapons that can be thrown like a discus to be worn as jewelry that can be easily be used defensively or offensively? Giants in much of fantasy are known to be throwers of immense weaponry. It is Goliath hubris that he comes at David at close range. Even in prehistoric times ranged weaponry is king.
I will say agian! This need to be a ttrpg.
i need wendigoon to see this video
Wendigooner
I loved Tellurion. It was my only reason for going on Art Station for those few years, looking at your Pixar-worthy art and making Rifftrax-style commentary in the comments.
Now, did the Herdsmen do something unforgivable bu Giant Standards, or Human Standards? I feel like there is a world of difference there.
Love the exiled giant's design, what kind of crime would he have committed to get exiled? Killing a fellow giant or some sort of more Promethean thing?
Could age be a factor for scale with the giants? Like they don't really wither and age, they just keep getting bigger. Untenably so at some point. Perhaps this relates to them not being a natural part of the world, and if left alone they would result in a few rapacious giants too huge for the world.
I heard elephants mourn their dead and have taken vengeance on hunters who killed their kin. How does that relate to the mammoth herd?
Tormund: BIG WOMAN IS HERE! 5:44
Where can I see the artworks you show us in high resolution?
On my website! (Link in description)
@@mattrhodesart Thank you!
You shortned the opening intro song. Why ? I liked it the way it was
I’m glad! I’m kind of experimenting with everything, seeing what feels right.
AMAZING JOB SO FAR MATT!!! Feel like I'm being introduced to a whole movie or television series🔥Question tho: Is the Shipwright going to have a family similar to Noah from the Bible? If so, will they be mixed ethnicity since they were the fathers of the nations to come? Just thought I'd ask and I can't wait to see where this story progresses⚔
So this world is basically pre flood earth?
Like this world is pre flood bible?
Correct
@mattrhodesart so lucifer/satan is real in your world?
@Palpatine15688 yup
She kinda reminds me of the evil Queen in primal (I highly recommend watching primal might give some inspiration for this project)
Ok. How about the Big 3 behemoth, Leviathan, and Ziz
I wonder if honestly benevolent giants will be depicted at some point. It'd be interesting to see the bible's black and white claims of the maliciousness if the nephilim to be challenged in that sense, with how limited its information of the antedeluvian world would be in comparison to what all of that world's complexities would have been outside the book's pages.
❤
MAMMOTHS MENTIONED
Is the first giants head injury a reference to David and Goliath?
How do I learn to draw like you
How are you this fast?
A dripping bathtub overflows faster than you'd think. A few hours of drawing a day, a few days a week, and all of a sudden you've made a thing.
❤❤
Under an hour 🙏🏾
Wow I am so happy that I found this channel a month ago, I am simply amazed by everything you are doing.
There is one thing though, and I don't want to sound rude, and maybe I am in minority with this take, but I kind of dislike the Hunter design.
For such an important character I find that his design is kind of weakest compared to the rest of the amazing characters.
I kind of dislike his head gear and his "clothes" in general, I understand that the idea is for them to look simplistic and yet menacing do describe his life style, but maybe it could be pushed a bit more. Maybe even having less cloth pieces, and having like huge long multiple threads of hair and beard with blades at the end of them as weapons that are kind of part of his body.
Anyway I think he deserves a redesign now that it is established that he is a Nephilim.
GL with the amazing work!
Do angels exist in the setting?
supportive comment
why does the herdsman have 6 fingers on one hand? curious choice!
Goliath is said to have had 12 fingers and 12 toes, and there are several stories of giants with a sixth finger.
That's so cool of how you make a story of how accurate our world can be in this world. But question, can you draw the dragons? I thought it be very cool to added them if your own world. With a different variations of dragons in each continents and biomes that they traveled a very long distance, and that there are more dragons species that they are alot like the Httyd and the House of the Dragon. But I wanna see how would the humans coexist with them. Like pretty much would used them to destroy their enemies and gain control and power with fear. Or that they would worshipped them as they were powerful beings on Earth, same thing with your feathered Tyrannosaurus Rex. Can you draw that please?!
I think the nelihime would be more humanized because it would make more interesting villeins and give more opportunities for conversation and worldbulding if they aren’t just mindless brutes
Be careful with making giants that herd mammoths, someone might get jealous if this project becomes successful
I’m not sure how to say that but the giants that you drew here are like spoiled humanoid race in the past, but I know it’s fantasy so no complaints here.
There is a thing where many ancient cultures, seemingly by coincidence, worshipped the same fish head god type that carried around a purse/hand bag thingy, possibly ancient humans who survived the sinking of 'atlantis'. Could fit in well in your awesome anti diluvian world
Graham hancock and his contemporaries talk of this quite a lot*
I hate this crackpot fringe pseudoscience. Would make for pretty cool lore if used correctly though
I have to know. Your theology in these videos is fairly accurate to a lot of biblical mythology.
Even mythical creatures being the creations of demons experimenting with normal animals.
Are you a christian or Jewish?
If this world pre flood earth....forgive me if i am wrong ..i have question does lucifer exist in your world?
Listen, I understand that they represent the opposite of Gods plan and that to consort with them is to invite the worst damnation possible, but - that noblewoman - hear me out.
On a different note, I really enjoy the whole pre-adamite / antediluvian setting that has its roots in the 19th century. I don’t know if you (Matt Rhodes) have seen Mario Lanzas animated short ‘Antediluvian’ but it captures a lot of what 19th century religious scientists felts about the pre-flood world, a world of prehistoric monsters.
@@KnightlyNerd thanks for the recommendation, that was awesome!
your patreon link cant be clicked
Thanks for the heads up. Does it work for you
now?
@@mattrhodesart it does. hope more people support this awesome project!
:D
I love how limited our imagination really is. Using the pen and paper, we can create anything...ANYTHING possible or impossible, and yet, we can't come up with anything truly original. Same clichês, same recycled ideas, same old stories.
Mommy?
💙