the little zoom ins, the color palette, the jazzy music to create a calming atmosphere, the timing for the dialogue appearing on screen. ahh I absolutely love this!
It's so fascinating the psychological side of this. How the lack of information input to Atticus' brain made him revert his actions even though the doctor didn't even say anything
@@ninanano2777yeah as someone with issues like this i rly agree I get trapped in my thoughts rly easily my impulses aren't things like flipping tables but I am rly emotional and impulsive and have alot of truama and silence will make me very anxious and uncomfortable
The last 40 seconds is everything to me. The uncomfortable silence, Ratticus' sudden confession over what should be a comforting thought. The drop of Zodiac's facade and the camera cut to the coffee stain: the prior chaos that alludes Ratticus' worry. His lack of authenticity from the start is so well realized. I'm very glad this is getting you some well-deserved viewership.
I'd like to add that the coffee stain kinda looked like a blood stain you'd get from being clawed, especially with the 2 gashes drooping down from top to bottom (I might just be stretching a bit)
@@NoNo-ew3gd the symbolism is at least vaguely implied, I feel like that wasnt just off the bat. Small details and what-ifs made it for me in this so-far two-part series. The details. Subtleness that a therapist looks for. I like it.
I think it also might have been a response to the silence from the doctor specifically. I'm wondering whether or not that sort of behavior of repairing physical damage could be a pattern that Ratticus's family uses in order to make things back to "normal". If a parent, for example gives the child the silence treatment in response to an unwanted behavior, the child might respond in a few different ways. 1- Repeat the unwanted behavior more in hopes of getting a reaction because some sort of responsiveness could be perceived as better than none at all. 2. Cease the behavior and make themselves smaller in hopes of appeasing the adult and whatever they seem to disapproving of. 3. Experiment around a little until they produce the desired behavior the adult is looking for, which makes the adult pay attention and respond again. In here, it shows that in response to thinking they did something wrong, Ratticus tried to clean up the mess, going further and further until it didn't produce the reaction of responsiveness that they were looking for. This frustrated them. They prepared themself for a negative blowup too, foreshadowing this might have happened in the past.
I'm the son of a therapist and I can't wait to get her thought's on this animation, wonderful work! Update: She loves it! She "Wishes that all clients could talk themselves out of the silence like that, most of them just sit there and look over ever so often and giggle."
I won't lie seeing the story progress like this brings up some internal anger (not about the work! It's amazing!) - I feel that I'm not taken seriously enough... nobody seems to be able to knock on that Pandora's box inside my head and I can't get what I want out by myself I'm just so tired of wanting to get it out of my head. The only explanation that even remotely makes sense is autism or adhd, I'm on adhd meds as a try-and-see ... it's working in some aspects but that box is still in there - if anything it's more obvious ... I feel like I want to express myself with my body when I'm happy but if I let it slip and I do something like that I immediately get embarrassed and anxiety kicks in like a sob
@@jakespencer6781 Honestly Jake, i feel the same way. This video has me to wanting to find a therapist i can talk to to figure out my emotions and open me up to be better. I know i cant do it alone, but i've been trying for years and it gets frustrating. Just know your not alone dude. Much love :)
I cried. Ratticus just bared his perceived awfulness at Dr. Zo, and then Dr. Zo just said 'I'm glad to hear you vent.' The casual acceptance. I. I can't.
Oh god, Ratticus trying to clean things up and then freaking out because the doc isn’t talking about it. I totally get it. You expect to be screamed at or hit and if you’re not being yelled at, it’s because you’re being ignored as punishment, but they silently hate even looking at you. Like assuming like the doc either doesn’t care about you or is silently angry at you, and is just leaving you to choke on the suspense. D: And to realize that the doc isn’t mad, is just trying to leave the floor open so Ratticus doesn’t feel cornered or forced to talk, and they could honestly just chill quietly if that’s what Ratticus wanted.
See my thought was (and tbh I know it shows *I* need therapy) he was doing it to wig Ratticus out enough to just talk on his own and spill something the Doctor can ask more about
My parents would ignore me for hours, days, sometimes weeks if they were mad at me, so the silence treatment feels like the worst punishment to me, I'd rather someone beat me for some reason
I don’t remember what happened in my past but I know that I can’t stand silence even a bit. Even for 20 minutes. I was always blowing up if my partner not here for days without any reasons and maybe it’s because they avoidant? I don’t know. I hate silence. I want silence but I hate it I can’t see that my rooms have many items, I just can’t. And also, I can’t stand any mess because it makes me to feel anxious So, I can’t stand silence even a bit. 15 minutes. 15 hours. 15 days. In past I had only silence when I was safe or no and no one didn’t listened to what I’m saying so that’s why I was so much silent I wanted to speak. But I had only silence. I don’t know. Maybe I was ignored or maybe because I wanted to speak I can’t stop listening to music. I hate sleep. I hate to feel and heard a silence but I need it. I’m tired of it. I feel overwhelmed
Holy shit this is amazing, both part one and two. The way it's played out, the way the therapist just sits there patiently while the Ratticus starts getting fidgety. The way it becomes clear that Ratticus actually *does* want to talk about what's bothering them underneath the crude exterior. I have fallen in love with both of these characters. Also it starts out with such a strong hook in both videos!!! Spilling the coffee in the first episode, escalating to flipping the table. And the way he puts the table back, partially out of guilt, to try and get the therapist to talk to him again. And it's so clear the therapist does not care about the coffee table or rug, but it's so satisfying to see them make progress in that moment. Wow, this is incredible.
4:15 You can see Ratticus moving his arms slightly up when Dr.Zo places the cup on the table. It’s like Ratticus was expecting Dr.Zo to throw it at him, so he went to protect himself. I might be wrong with that prediction, but cool detail nonetheless!
As someone with pretty bad intrusive thoughts, I can relate to the vibe a lot. Had to start practicing 'word dump' journaling when mine get really bad. Just really pour out words as fast as possible onto a page, force myself to confront the thoughts. A lot of them turn out to be mostly rooted in a fear that I could be the kind of person that those thoughts paint the picture of, and then I remember that I make the choice of what I do and how I treat the people around me. The thoughts don't make that choice. Some thoughts help me recognize emotions I didn't know I was feeling. Sometimes it's hard to 'feel' emotions or know what they are, and finding where an intrusive thought is rooted helps me figure those out. Whether it be anxiety, attraction, frustration, etc. And some are just stupid, silly, and weird. Bit like anxious or nervous energy. Everyone's intrusive thoughts can act differently. But the visibility of modern mental conditions and hurdles has helped raise my personal acceptance. "Yeah I have weird thoughts. That's not an alien thing, it happens. And, just because I have those thoughts, doesn't make me that kind of person."
Such a lovely sentiment, I couldn’t word it better myself. As someone that usually fails to recognize how I’m feeling, my intrusive thoughts just became a good marker that let me know I have some anxiety going on (after a couple years of the dreaded intrusive spirals first lol). It’s a discipline for emotion you have to learn. For me, through a LOT of trial and error. A good thing to remember is that our silly monkey brains struggle to grasp the wording, “DON’T do this,” versus the more direct, easier to digest, “do this.” It’s why it’s better to say to someone “remember your phone!” instead of “don’t forget your phone!” So any time we’re hit with the thought that “hey, this would be bad if that happened, DON’T let this happen and don’t do this,” it usually just simplifies to “this thing. HAPPEN? DO?” I sometimes need to clarify the thought by thinking out the sentence entirely like “Yeah, that would be bad if that happened, got it brain.” but anyway, my personal answer to the person above asking how it feels that common slang picked up intrusive thoughts (I’m sorry I’m writing on my phone and I can’t check your username without what I’ve written getting yeeted!), I would say the only thing that bothers me is that it’s usually impulsive thoughts people are referring to instead of intrusive so it’s just incorrect from the start lol. The main difference being the reaction of the person having the thought; intrusive means unwanted, it stems from taboo or deep fears and it’s never something you would want. It’s a hard-to-face possibility you keep mentally exploring so as to keep yourself in “check,” over and over until you’re run ragged. A silly abstract that’s hard to grasp because it’s usually so out there. In colloquial use people use it for like shopping impulses or stuff to do in a video game that people say they let “win over.” But there is no winning over, in intrusive thinking, because the thoughts will never win. Because you care so much to make something happen or not which speaks to your true nature, that you are the opposite of the thoughts. Obviously popular misuse leads to a lot of misunderstanding when someone mentions actual intrusive thoughts-since intrusive thoughts are typically the thing you worst fear ever taking place, the thing that tears you apart the most just thinking of, the worst thing that someone else can do is accuse you of being a bad person for thinking those thoughts as if they’re actually what you want to do. (Which isn’t the case of course. It’s something you desperately tell yourself to not allow happen.) And I’ve seen people judge someone for admitting the actual thoughts they have, which is absurd lol. With the patterns of mine, I would absolutely crumble if someone said those were my intentions. They’re your opposite intentions, people! There is zero chance of intrusive thoughts “winning.” tldr; us intrusive thoughts havers are cowards we would never be capable of carrying them out LMAOO
I also wanna clarify that intrusive thoughts aren’t just about do or don’t do, but also observations that you don’t agree with either. I don’t wanna list many examples since I know it can suck to read it if that’s your Intrusive Brand™️ but to keep it vague, thinking offensive things about people’s appearance, etc. and the more you care the more it bothers you. Anyway, humor is the right way to go for the absurdity we put ourselves through! Laugh at your silliness! There are actual bad people out there being actual bad! If you’re worried about a thing you thought about someone the other day, do I have news for you! It can be hard to accept that you should treat such heavy topics lightly, but you don’t need to keep yourself in a state of constant fear. Leave the next “what-if” statement behind. Think instead about the next manga you wanna read or something. That next art project you wanna tackle. Seeing your friends later. It’s all good my dudes. Also sorry for the essays I was an english major it’s in my very bones
@@raymickens440 I've not ran into the term being used loosely all that much, but I can do my best to explain my point of view on the two ways I could see the "misuse" occurring. Wrong defiinition. There are a lot of situations where people can use words thinking they mean one thing when they actually mean another. If that happens to someone you're communicating with, it's a matter of clarifying, explaining the situation you're using the word for. This can be annoying and frustrating when handling a word around a topic that is very sensitive, but it can happen with any word. it's just how different communication circles and cultures work. Language isn't solid, it's a slow tug of war with a piece of brittle putty. "Misuse" that isn't really misuse. Some people have intrusive thoughts pretty bad (like me). Some have them even worse, most have them just a little. And they can be associated with different mental disorders. Mine in particular is very strongly tied to my OCD. Mental disorder labels are sometimes attributed to patterns of thought or act that are more common than the disorder. You can have OCD or ADHD tendencies without having the disorder. I've heard a therapist (I believe it was Jonathan Decker from cinema therapy) describe it as, "it becomes a disorder when it starts to interfere with day to day life." Just because someone's intrusive thoughts don't interfere with their daily life (or interfere as much), doesn't take away from the impact those thoughts do have. One's need for validation and support with a problem does not invalidate the need of someone else with a less intense version of that problem. A lot of people have intrusive thoughts. Sometimes just once in a blue moon, they'll hear something while they're in traffic or next to a cliff or something. They happen. Gatekeeping the term intrusive thought wouldn't be protecting the validation of people who cope with them day to day. It'd just be denying a point of possible empathy and understanding between people with a disorder and those without.
As much as I'd love to run this kind of experiential approach in my practice, I almost always have to take a more active role. I appreciate showing how the therapist will actively abandon typical social constructs and expectations of conversation flow in order to do their work, though, it's actually pretty important.
@@jean-tatlock26 Things such as how the conversation would typically flow if this were a social visit. In therapy, doing things such as making use of silence, undermining expectations, and forcibly shifting the subject are all skills to help guide the therapeutic interaction. The therapist needed to effectively disarm the client in order to have them share their actual concerns, and could not do that with a direct approach.
its terrifying how the music stops, the expressions, the emotions, the writing. I g e t all of it- like I really get it, the whole thing is gorgeous to watch- thanks for gifting the internet with this piece of art, i dont think it will be soon forgotten (at least by me
What really hit me was that the anger didn't have anything to do with the *immediate* circumstance, it was the buildup of the little things. It really made me feel more cared for and listened to, indirectly.
EVERYBODY needs to see this! I have been so upset with what I've seen on the internet lately. But Ratticus and his problems are exactly what I needed. The story is so witty and full of so much personality, and I'm already attached to both of the characters! I truly hope the algorithm catches his one! I wanted to ask if you had any plans or aspirations of a game? Even as little as I've seen I know that I want to see more of this world, more of these characters. Thank you so much for your work!
Yes I do!! Once I reach 1000 patrons I'll be taking game design classes, and once I reach 2500 I'll begin serious work on a Theratpy Dating Sim (this has been highly requested !) as well as having plans to make a game where you play as Ratticus, and attempt to navigate as him for a week! I hope this helps, thank you so much for your time and your words!!
@@beetlerat Holy CRAP! IM SO EXCITED. I'll definitely be supporting your Patreon! I've been telling all my friends to watch your videos! Some of my favorites games are A Short Hike and Boreal Tennabrae. Those games have great vibes that I'm constantly wishing for more of! I think your games will definitely satisfy that craving. I'll be waiting patiently!
I am so unbeliavavly happy this was reccomended to me. It geels so natural, despite the unconventional way Zo starts the interaction. The artsyle is so lovely to look at, and the characters feel so alive, like I can see them enjoying little things, having depth, etc. etc. This is beautiful.
The little "heh" that he did after admitting his intrusive thoughts he had while talking to his mom to his therapist... that really really got to me. Such a small minor conversational detail... but that one "heh" says so much. As someone who also struggles with intrusive thoughts, sometimes you just have a stream of thoughts so horrible... so frightening and messed up... that the only thing you can do to help yourself admit and talk about it is by making light of it or trying your best to laugh about it. Thank you so much for this animation. It's so wonderful.
Ok but this is actually art at its peak. For real, this deserves an award. The composition of literally every bit is impressively well done and well expressed. I'm surprised to find this gem
Doctor Zo's glasses and how they inherit lines from the couch is so interesting to me the animation is beautifully done the music is so fitting and the jazzy bits that go with the story beats feel great the sound design is fantastic and the story has me constantly asking questions Fantastic piece of art.
Love the ticking clock at the end. It’s kind of oppressive - Ratticus feels like a ticking time bomb, and he feels like it’s only a matter of time before he blows up, and the silence of just the clock and the drops of liquid are just the perfect ambiance for that. such a good “oh, shit.” moment
I've watched full, high budget movies that had less than a fraction of the depth, beauty and emotion that this has, not to mention the incredible animation! I would watch this a million times over just to appreciate the sound design, you have done a truly incredible job.
God, that twist was actually amazing. I actually got stunned in silence. That sudden change with the music cutting and the subtle body movements in Zo turning into a subtle surprise. The piano making a final, almost abrupt ding to change into nothing but the humming sound of lights... It's absolutely incredible. You put a lot of effort into this and, I can't wait to see what other things that are stewing in your mind. I really do hope this series gets a lot of positive attention.
I like this! Talking can help learn a lot about a person but silence and giving the person space to act by themselves really shows their mentality and the feelings they have associated with silence.
This made me very thankful that I had an excellent therapist during my time of need. I sent a letter to him telling how despite my challenges that my life is wonderful now. Therapy works people!! If you have a problem, Keep trying to find that one guy who makes a difference for you!!
It's all so nice.. the music syncing with the action, mood, or speach, but only one at a time, is a relaly great touch. The cuts on rattocus's tail, his scruffy fur, the red shot eyes, the clothing.. it's all so detailed, yet so understandable and simple. Such a great aniamtion and series. Maybe i should go to therapy myself.
Brooo this is so good wtfff, some therapists dont do well with sitting in silence, but the few that did got my respect. Theres are so many thoughts rushing through your head when disregulated and mentally unstable that it takes a shit ton of time to collect them into coherent speech and then add on top of that any fears and insecurities that may prevent the patient from expressing thoughts and feelings
This reminds me of MAUS, the art style in the beginning really captured my attention. The choice of audible dialogue being replaced by the ambling musical score helped me understand the tempo of the conversation better and the feeling behind some of the words being said. Of course, who can ignore those expressive ears, or the tone of the music itself changing to highs or lows for different tones or inflections for certain words. This is a wonderful thing you’ve made, I like it.
@@DLarus08 Nope, I wasn’t being sarcastic. Sorry, this art style really did remind me of a Webtoon webcomic called “MAUS!” (by Melanie Schober) that was slice-of-life. I had no idea that there was another called “MAUS” about Jews and the Holocaust. Thank you for telling me! It means a lot, and I appreciate it. Hope you have a good day!!
OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. THIS GENUINELY MADE ME SO HAPPY. I love how you put so much emotion into Ratticus' face and body language and it just made it feel so much more real!
I absolutely everything about this all the way down to the little details. Lately I've been really on the fence to becoming a therapist. During my school years I had therapy, but they weren't very good therapists, sorta like Ratticus was expecting. Asking standardized questions instead of paying attention to the individual in front of them. Then prescribing depression/anxiety meds which numbed emotions (and one of them basically removed all emotions except boredom). Meanwhile, they didn't ask anything that really made me understand my emotions. Tempted to go to college but it's incredibly expensive, and I would worry that I might go to a college that'd be like that. Now I've been looking at significantly more stuff about psychology lately. In my time of having lots of deep conversations with some friends trying to help them sort through things, it feels nice to see that some of the things that I started to naturally do is something that more modern therapists start to do. Quite a few of those things are in some of the nuances in this video and I love it = ) 'course, I definitely have a long journey if I do go that to be a therapist. Learning I still got some weak spots that might get in the way of helping people when they get emotional. Also, would like to avoid people getting the feeling like they are a lab rat, since like in this video it amuses me to no end seeing different types of people and what they do/say when they are put into a room of little to nothing in it. Everyone is so busy nowadays, so it's not too uncommon that people get some time to sit with their thoughts and process them. ... Also, I do love to ramble, and there's a something to be said of knowing how to be concise, as to not overwhelm people with words, especially if they are having strong emotions. That said, my comments often are just me kind of venting any sort of thought before I talk to people about it, so while I'm attempting to restrain myself from gushing about everything I love about this video, you can probably already tell it's already kind of long because it reminded me of a lot of things and triggered some very good emotions :3 Again, I cannot say enough how much this video made me day when I woke up today
Are you outside US? I'm curious as therapists have been absolute garbage and relying on completely outdated thinking, methods and studies where i'm from, including what you've described. It's like they are all cut from the same mold, too. I'll have to especially agree on some if not most antidepressants potentially having horrible side effects (some of which can be lasting and life ruining, in my case the restlessness side effect was so bad with all of them, it made me want to unalive, but it can also kill one's sexual life, and worse) while psychiatrists will act like they are a miracle cure, overrating their efficacy, and then demonize any other medication on the other hand, like ritalin for adhd. The push for antidepressant disgusts me as they are way overprescribed (and depression overdiagnosed as a condition vs a symptom/effect of an underlying cause) and are far more debilitating than most realize or care to admit. It's about weighting risk vs benefit, but they don't do that. And then they'll say the most inane shit like "ADHD isn't real" "ADHD is only for kids" "Depression and schizophrenia are basically the same diagnosis now, you don't need any other symptom besides the depression". Or thinking you're bipolar while never having had a manic phase in your life. It's also terrible when therapists have no idea how to get any dialogue out of someone who struggles with organizing and expressing thoughts, brain fog, etc... Nah it's just... how are you. Not great? Not great okay. What have you been doing. Your hobbies and talking to people? Okay. ... (silence for an hour) okay here's your refill. Sometimes they just go straight for the refill without even talking. And throwing them bones they never take them or explore anything brought up, memories, struggles, experiences, etc... They think if they say nothing the patient will suddenly just start writing a diary and solving all the problems within, then invent new scientific theories out of thin air while being glorified background decoration, not even one input from them. As if it's gonna work on every single person. 3 decades of this shit gets really old.
I am obsessed with your timing. Everything is immaculately paced even without dialogue. And the MANNERISM!!! How you're able to portray everything about a character physically is INCREDIBLE.
I literally love so much as someone diagnosed with a more intense form of OCD how Ratticus acts. The thoughts, like he said once acting on your impulse make you feel better, then it just comes back. It's absolutely debilitating sometimes. And it can make you more mad, annoyed, and short-tempered when you really don't want to be viewed as such. Especially the awkward silence part. It was really funny and relatable because if I were in that situation, I would have panicked and done the same thing or even worse, probably even start crying since I don't know if my intrusive thoughts and own actions actually hurt someone.
Having had some anger issues, I can relate just slightly to Ratticus. It took a failed attempt at counseling/therapy and a good few years of like actually concentrated self help that I’m lucky to have been able to formulate for myself and even more so to have actually help, but like I can kinda put it into words now. What Ratticus said about wanting to (and I’m gonna dodge UA-cam nono terms, so sorry) ‘remove’ his mother, but then not wanting to and worrying about actually doing so is like one lane over from how I’d describe how it felt when I was starting to crack and have some level of an outburst. And people often say stuff like “Oh, you can handle when someone says something mean?” or whatever, but it’s not about what they said. It’s about everything that’s been said before, and everything that’s going to be said, and everything that’s going to happen, and everything that you’re expected to just act like is fine because dealing with it is too inconvenient for anyone, and you don’t matter anyway. You believe deeper than anything that everyone is out to bully, manipulate, and attack you because they think they have the right to, they think they’re all that. And then every moment and every possible moment just starts racing through your head so fast they blur together into not even words, but a raw, blinding feeling that sometimes becomes like a voice in itself. You lose the ability to care, because no matter what happens, in your mind, it’s only going to get worse anyway. You want just unspeakable things to happen to others and sometimes yourself (with me it was a lot myself), and then you do whatever you do. Throw, smash, hit, whatever, until the pain of your lifelong hatred that’s blended with this panicked rush of adrenaline passes, and what tends to hit next can be like a really hollow moment of clarity as you come down. After awhile, the hollow clarity becomes another demon. You can start to wonder if this just going to be your life. Trying, but failing to avoid having that chaotic, basically delirious and destructive anger come back. Knowing that whatever you do, it’ll never really be out of your system. It feels like your life is cursed in a way, haunted by this rage that endlessly seeds regret. All I can really say is that, it doesn’t have to be. It’s difficult to work through, and I think the early stages tend to be the hardest, but it is possible to recover. Unfortunately, there’s not like a unified type of advice that works for everyone. I know my method was super cobbled and kinda questionable at points. It maybe still is, but I’m in a much better place and can either take most things in stride now, or basically evade hitting my limits. It sure ain’t perfect, but every day is kind of a step, and I do believe in the right direction.
This episode had me hooked the whole time. The pacing, characterization and acting on the characters is top notch! Really impressive I'm so glad I discovered your channel, amazing work!
the whole premise of this is so great and the little details like therapist's eyebrows and ratticus's body language is so awesome!!!!!!!!! loved every bit of that
My genuine reaction to seeing this on my recommended: Oh no… No please… Why is this animation here? No, it’s in my head. It’s forcing me to think about it. No! The poor bartender.
7:26 i love this scene because in my therapy sessions or whenever im nervous i also do the hand thing so idk it was just nice, love the way the letters sort of shake when he says the word “kill”
Oh wow, this.... This is stunning I've been to many therapists and a few were just this good. They act in ways that always are edge cases for your habits, but never act against you or act as if they doubt what you tell them. They simply observe, learn about you. And slowly decipher the tiniest little movements you do. This hits home
dude, i cant properly express how much i love this!!! the expressions, the reactions, the movement and the hand gestures just feel so real, and human!! I cant wait to see this go on.
This was so cute, presentation wise I mean. Also I feel this is very accurate to how I understand treating a client works. I really really like this, you did a good job at capturing the feelings and tension with sound, music, and visuals :3
Wow. This feels so real. Like I could rave about the style, the movement, the sound design, but the writing is really on such another level. The therapy that has worked for me often looks like this, and to see it reflected back is really cool.
The dialogue and actions, along with the character design and animation… it just amazing. Truly. I can’t express how much I needed this amazing video :)
7:11 to the end, with all those little hints in the hands and the facial expressions that Ratticus has throughout the build up to 7:38, is already like masterfully put together, but in that moment where the music abruptly completely stops, with a simple piano chord left to ring out and effectively snap us to a completely different mood, that was incredible, and then you did it again but with the sudden shift to outside, with Ratticus getting into the car with his mother. Truly amazing.
This is everything. Not only do you have a unique animation/ artstyle, with the colors and especially the character designs, but you also have an amazing talent for storytelling. Every single line that is said is timed perfectly and feels necessary to the overall story telling. What I really like about this, however, is the realism of it all. Intrusive thoughts used to take over a big part of my day to day life. I remember, my first experiences with therapy were similar to Raticus's. Well, except for the fact that I was too shy to kick the table and instead resorted to saying the worst things that I could possibly think of to disturb my therapist. Ratticus confessing to wanting to kill their mother and being worried that they might just do that, and everything that lead up to that moment felt so real to me that I almost teared up. Yeah, it is like that. With intrusive thoughts, sometimes you feel like a murderer even though you havent done anything. You feel as though your fate is to do nothing but destroy. And the worst thing about it, for me, was how impowering it felt to feel so evil, whilst also knowing that it was all so wrong. I really really hope that you make more of these, youre great at it.
Jesus this is so good! I love the details of character movements how they interact. The dialogues are so natural and feel so real. I actually fell in love with the story behind it and the ending? Oh my goshhhh it is Soo powerful. The sudden cut of the music. The stare nervous laugh after holy moly. You can feel the intense atmosphere you know? I want to know more
This reminds me so much of the therapy scenes in Maus. Honestly this gives of Maus vibes in general and not just because of the mice characters lol. I love it!
I love this. You do an excellent job at capturing the subtle movements of your characters in a way that communicates their emotions. Very “show don’t tell”. Which makes the moments when Ratticus *does* tell the doctor something all the more impactful. The jazzy music and pastel color palette keep things overall light even as it deals with heavy subject matter. This is a great show, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!
3:42 this little bit of music with the animation is so silly and perfect i love it so much 5:28 and i know it's such a small detail but the line with him doing that with his hands is just so good there are so many things i could point out watching this that i just absolutely adore 😭
I think they mean that it would be better to be honest and true and looked down on rather than to hide yourself from others all the time (or something like that)
Honestly? I love this. It frames the psychological parts of mental health very well. The way that Ratticus got impatient when Dr. Zo stayed silent and relaxing even when Ratticus couldn't made him confused, and worried that he did something to make him behave that way, making him assume he did something wrong, which ended in him trying to fix his mistake, despite the doc never even making a noise, the fact that Dr. Zo took his sarcasm seriously as to make him vulnerable enough to where he felt like he had to tell the truth, and the fact that he made an effort to accommodate Ratticus in any way he could showed that Dr. Zo had picked up on his behaviors from the last episode, and that he actually understood what his patient needed, even if it was seemingly "unethical". In the end, the fact that Ratticus was able to admit to his intrusive thoughts without judgement likely gave him a lot to think about. I also want to mention the improvement of the art. Looking back at when I watched the first episode a year ago to now, the animation and style are much more fluent and easier to read, though that's not to say the art from the first was unimpressive. They both work very well with the plot, and you could even argue that the art changed as to show the difference between the first session in the next, the first where he was angry and the second hurt and confused.
this is SO well made. i love the little details included, the way the bgm stops or slows or changes, the thought processes behind both characters, and all the behaviors that make the animation seem… natural. fantastic work, i hope to see more of theratpy
I love the small progress and details of Ratticus immediately closing up when hes being faced with questions again, but eventually opening up anyways. He only answered one question, "what was the thought before", but its still a pretty significant change from just the first part of the session. Really love this!
These Theratpy animations are wonderful, both in writing and design. We need more realistic work like this, it's only bound to be good! Thank you for making these!
This is stunning. Everything about it is so good! Writing, animation, character design, the MUSIC, man I don't know what I was expecting but this blew me away. Really looking forward to seeing what else you make in the future!
God, this was fantastic. I found this video randomly, but I'm so glad I watched it through. The animation is so lively, the dialogue is simple but compelling, the music not only fits the moods, but also practically voices the characters, it's all awesome. The silence and realization at the end was wonderfully chilling.
I love how the therapist isn't wearing a tie anymore.
good detail with context of the last video in mind!
I can imagine him writing in his notes "Do not bring a tie next time."
Well to be fair he was threatened lol
@@naomiepson I mean yeah thats what Im referring to lol :ppp
also “you’re early” as if the therapist expected ratticus to come an hour later 😂
@@cryingwatercoloursHe probably really did, since he hasn't finished his coffee
the little zoom ins, the color palette, the jazzy music to create a calming atmosphere, the timing for the dialogue appearing on screen. ahh I absolutely love this!
The shudder on the word kill as it came out. Insane emotional quality without any voice acting to speak of
FR! And the animation is amazing too like I just can't wait for the next episode
It's so fascinating the psychological side of this. How the lack of information input to Atticus' brain made him revert his actions even though the doctor didn't even say anything
It's all shame and self blame. Probably sth he was used to from his mum or other parenting figures.
@@ninanano2777yeah as someone with issues like this i rly agree I get trapped in my thoughts rly easily my impulses aren't things like flipping tables but I am rly emotional and impulsive and have alot of truama and silence will make me very anxious and uncomfortable
It’s called fawn response 🙂
This whole psychological scene makes me a little curious. Did the creator of the this animation draw from personal experiences?
This whole psychological scene makes me a little curious. Did the creator of the this animation draw from personal experiences?
The last 40 seconds is everything to me. The uncomfortable silence, Ratticus' sudden confession over what should be a comforting thought. The drop of Zodiac's facade and the camera cut to the coffee stain: the prior chaos that alludes Ratticus' worry. His lack of authenticity from the start is so well realized. I'm very glad this is getting you some well-deserved viewership.
I'd like to add that the coffee stain kinda looked like a blood stain you'd get from being clawed, especially with the 2 gashes drooping down from top to bottom
(I might just be stretching a bit)
@@NoNo-ew3gd the symbolism is at least vaguely implied, I feel like that wasnt just off the bat. Small details and what-ifs made it for me in this so-far two-part series. The details. Subtleness that a therapist looks for.
I like it.
in a real therapy session the therapist would report them to the authorities almost always lmfao
@@Hearthfyre guess we'll find out in the next vid if he did
when Ratticus began cleaning up due to the silence of the room, it was like staring directly into a mirror
LITERALLY like why am i being called out🤨
I think it also might have been a response to the silence from the doctor specifically. I'm wondering whether or not that sort of behavior of repairing physical damage could be a pattern that Ratticus's family uses in order to make things back to "normal". If a parent, for example gives the child the silence treatment in response to an unwanted behavior, the child might respond in a few different ways. 1- Repeat the unwanted behavior more in hopes of getting a reaction because some sort of responsiveness could be perceived as better than none at all. 2. Cease the behavior and make themselves smaller in hopes of appeasing the adult and whatever they seem to disapproving of. 3. Experiment around a little until they produce the desired behavior the adult is looking for, which makes the adult pay attention and respond again.
In here, it shows that in response to thinking they did something wrong, Ratticus tried to clean up the mess, going further and further until it didn't produce the reaction of responsiveness that they were looking for. This frustrated them. They prepared themself for a negative blowup too, foreshadowing this might have happened in the past.
@@goob-cr6yqit’s called fawn response
@@moldbellchains5709 thank you for finding the term for it! I didn't know how to fit my paragraph into a sentence so Google could find it for me
I LOVE RATTICUS’S EARSSS AHHH AND WHEN HE SWINGS HIS LEGS OFF THE CHAIR THE ANIMATION IS SO GOOD
I'm the son of a therapist and I can't wait to get her thought's on this animation, wonderful work!
Update: She loves it! She "Wishes that all clients could talk themselves out of the silence like that, most of them just sit there and look over ever so often and giggle."
Update us when you do!
@@dead_bytereminder of an update
I won't lie seeing the story progress like this brings up some internal anger (not about the work! It's amazing!) - I feel that I'm not taken seriously enough... nobody seems to be able to knock on that Pandora's box inside my head and I can't get what I want out by myself I'm just so tired of wanting to get it out of my head.
The only explanation that even remotely makes sense is autism or adhd, I'm on adhd meds as a try-and-see ... it's working in some aspects but that box is still in there - if anything it's more obvious ... I feel like I want to express myself with my body when I'm happy but if I let it slip and I do something like that I immediately get embarrassed and anxiety kicks in like a sob
@@jakespencer6781 Honestly Jake, i feel the same way. This video has me to wanting to find a therapist i can talk to to figure out my emotions and open me up to be better. I know i cant do it alone, but i've been trying for years and it gets frustrating. Just know your not alone dude. Much love :)
@@fizifur1308 I feel like I have to find somebody who knows the fundamentals of how the human brain works just to be able to figure this out
I cried. Ratticus just bared his perceived awfulness at Dr. Zo, and then Dr. Zo just said 'I'm glad to hear you vent.' The casual acceptance. I. I can't.
Oh god, Ratticus trying to clean things up and then freaking out because the doc isn’t talking about it.
I totally get it. You expect to be screamed at or hit and if you’re not being yelled at, it’s because you’re being ignored as punishment, but they silently hate even looking at you.
Like assuming like the doc either doesn’t care about you or is silently angry at you, and is just leaving you to choke on the suspense. D:
And to realize that the doc isn’t mad, is just trying to leave the floor open so Ratticus doesn’t feel cornered or forced to talk, and they could honestly just chill quietly if that’s what Ratticus wanted.
That entire sequence was awesome! I totally agree!
@@im_done what happened here?
See my thought was (and tbh I know it shows *I* need therapy) he was doing it to wig Ratticus out enough to just talk on his own and spill something the Doctor can ask more about
My parents would ignore me for hours, days, sometimes weeks if they were mad at me, so the silence treatment feels like the worst punishment to me, I'd rather someone beat me for some reason
I don’t remember what happened in my past but I know that I can’t stand silence even a bit. Even for 20 minutes. I was always blowing up if my partner not here for days without any reasons and maybe it’s because they avoidant?
I don’t know. I hate silence. I want silence but I hate it
I can’t see that my rooms have many items, I just can’t. And also, I can’t stand any mess because it makes me to feel anxious
So, I can’t stand silence even a bit. 15 minutes. 15 hours. 15 days. In past I had only silence when I was safe or no and no one didn’t listened to what I’m saying so that’s why I was so much silent
I wanted to speak. But I had only silence. I don’t know. Maybe I was ignored or maybe because I wanted to speak
I can’t stop listening to music. I hate sleep. I hate to feel and heard a silence but I need it. I’m tired of it. I feel overwhelmed
Holy shit this is amazing, both part one and two. The way it's played out, the way the therapist just sits there patiently while the Ratticus starts getting fidgety. The way it becomes clear that Ratticus actually *does* want to talk about what's bothering them underneath the crude exterior. I have fallen in love with both of these characters. Also it starts out with such a strong hook in both videos!!! Spilling the coffee in the first episode, escalating to flipping the table. And the way he puts the table back, partially out of guilt, to try and get the therapist to talk to him again. And it's so clear the therapist does not care about the coffee table or rug, but it's so satisfying to see them make progress in that moment. Wow, this is incredible.
GOD AND THE TWIST OF HIM WANTING TO KILL HIS MOM, AND THAT BEING THE INITIAL STARTING POINT OF WHY HE FLIPPED THE TABLE. DAMN. THIS IS SO GOOD.
4:15
You can see Ratticus moving his arms slightly up when Dr.Zo places the cup on the table. It’s like Ratticus was expecting Dr.Zo to throw it at him, so he went to protect himself. I might be wrong with that prediction, but cool detail nonetheless!
Yeah there's so much good secondary animation in here. I love the way Ratticus's ears twitch when he's avoiding a topic or lying.
Yess
As someone with pretty bad intrusive thoughts, I can relate to the vibe a lot.
Had to start practicing 'word dump' journaling when mine get really bad. Just really pour out words as fast as possible onto a page, force myself to confront the thoughts. A lot of them turn out to be mostly rooted in a fear that I could be the kind of person that those thoughts paint the picture of, and then I remember that I make the choice of what I do and how I treat the people around me. The thoughts don't make that choice.
Some thoughts help me recognize emotions I didn't know I was feeling. Sometimes it's hard to 'feel' emotions or know what they are, and finding where an intrusive thought is rooted helps me figure those out. Whether it be anxiety, attraction, frustration, etc.
And some are just stupid, silly, and weird. Bit like anxious or nervous energy.
Everyone's intrusive thoughts can act differently. But the visibility of modern mental conditions and hurdles has helped raise my personal acceptance. "Yeah I have weird thoughts. That's not an alien thing, it happens. And, just because I have those thoughts, doesn't make me that kind of person."
Fr, sometimes i'm like "WHAT THE HELL BRAIN"
Hey I would like to ask you something. How do you as a person with genuine intrusive thoughts feel about how people us the term so loosely online?
Such a lovely sentiment, I couldn’t word it better myself. As someone that usually fails to recognize how I’m feeling, my intrusive thoughts just became a good marker that let me know I have some anxiety going on (after a couple years of the dreaded intrusive spirals first lol). It’s a discipline for emotion you have to learn. For me, through a LOT of trial and error. A good thing to remember is that our silly monkey brains struggle to grasp the wording, “DON’T do this,” versus the more direct, easier to digest, “do this.” It’s why it’s better to say to someone “remember your phone!” instead of “don’t forget your phone!” So any time we’re hit with the thought that “hey, this would be bad if that happened, DON’T let this happen and don’t do this,” it usually just simplifies to “this thing. HAPPEN? DO?” I sometimes need to clarify the thought by thinking out the sentence entirely like “Yeah, that would be bad if that happened, got it brain.”
but anyway, my personal answer to the person above asking how it feels that common slang picked up intrusive thoughts (I’m sorry I’m writing on my phone and I can’t check your username without what I’ve written getting yeeted!), I would say the only thing that bothers me is that it’s usually impulsive thoughts people are referring to instead of intrusive so it’s just incorrect from the start lol. The main difference being the reaction of the person having the thought; intrusive means unwanted, it stems from taboo or deep fears and it’s never something you would want. It’s a hard-to-face possibility you keep mentally exploring so as to keep yourself in “check,” over and over until you’re run ragged. A silly abstract that’s hard to grasp because it’s usually so out there. In colloquial use people use it for like shopping impulses or stuff to do in a video game that people say they let “win over.” But there is no winning over, in intrusive thinking, because the thoughts will never win. Because you care so much to make something happen or not which speaks to your true nature, that you are the opposite of the thoughts.
Obviously popular misuse leads to a lot of misunderstanding when someone mentions actual intrusive thoughts-since intrusive thoughts are typically the thing you worst fear ever taking place, the thing that tears you apart the most just thinking of, the worst thing that someone else can do is accuse you of being a bad person for thinking those thoughts as if they’re actually what you want to do. (Which isn’t the case of course. It’s something you desperately tell yourself to not allow happen.) And I’ve seen people judge someone for admitting the actual thoughts they have, which is absurd lol. With the patterns of mine, I would absolutely crumble if someone said those were my intentions. They’re your opposite intentions, people! There is zero chance of intrusive thoughts “winning.”
tldr; us intrusive thoughts havers are cowards we would never be capable of carrying them out LMAOO
I also wanna clarify that intrusive thoughts aren’t just about do or don’t do, but also observations that you don’t agree with either. I don’t wanna list many examples since I know it can suck to read it if that’s your Intrusive Brand™️ but to keep it vague, thinking offensive things about people’s appearance, etc. and the more you care the more it bothers you. Anyway, humor is the right way to go for the absurdity we put ourselves through! Laugh at your silliness! There are actual bad people out there being actual bad! If you’re worried about a thing you thought about someone the other day, do I have news for you!
It can be hard to accept that you should treat such heavy topics lightly, but you don’t need to keep yourself in a state of constant fear. Leave the next “what-if” statement behind. Think instead about the next manga you wanna read or something. That next art project you wanna tackle. Seeing your friends later. It’s all good my dudes. Also sorry for the essays I was an english major it’s in my very bones
@@raymickens440 I've not ran into the term being used loosely all that much, but I can do my best to explain my point of view on the two ways I could see the "misuse" occurring.
Wrong defiinition. There are a lot of situations where people can use words thinking they mean one thing when they actually mean another. If that happens to someone you're communicating with, it's a matter of clarifying, explaining the situation you're using the word for. This can be annoying and frustrating when handling a word around a topic that is very sensitive, but it can happen with any word. it's just how different communication circles and cultures work. Language isn't solid, it's a slow tug of war with a piece of brittle putty.
"Misuse" that isn't really misuse. Some people have intrusive thoughts pretty bad (like me). Some have them even worse, most have them just a little. And they can be associated with different mental disorders. Mine in particular is very strongly tied to my OCD. Mental disorder labels are sometimes attributed to patterns of thought or act that are more common than the disorder. You can have OCD or ADHD tendencies without having the disorder. I've heard a therapist (I believe it was Jonathan Decker from cinema therapy) describe it as, "it becomes a disorder when it starts to interfere with day to day life." Just because someone's intrusive thoughts don't interfere with their daily life (or interfere as much), doesn't take away from the impact those thoughts do have. One's need for validation and support with a problem does not invalidate the need of someone else with a less intense version of that problem.
A lot of people have intrusive thoughts. Sometimes just once in a blue moon, they'll hear something while they're in traffic or next to a cliff or something. They happen. Gatekeeping the term intrusive thought wouldn't be protecting the validation of people who cope with them day to day. It'd just be denying a point of possible empathy and understanding between people with a disorder and those without.
As much as I'd love to run this kind of experiential approach in my practice, I almost always have to take a more active role. I appreciate showing how the therapist will actively abandon typical social constructs and expectations of conversation flow in order to do their work, though, it's actually pretty important.
Whoah, this is pretty random but what is it like to be a therapist? I want to pursue psychology, and I’d be so happy if you’d share a few things.
ALSO OH MY GOD YOU’RE AN ARTIST TOO
Wdym by typical social constructs and expectations of conversation?
@@jean-tatlock26 Things such as how the conversation would typically flow if this were a social visit. In therapy, doing things such as making use of silence, undermining expectations, and forcibly shifting the subject are all skills to help guide the therapeutic interaction. The therapist needed to effectively disarm the client in order to have them share their actual concerns, and could not do that with a direct approach.
its terrifying how the music stops, the expressions, the emotions, the writing. I g e t all of it- like I really get it, the whole thing is gorgeous to watch- thanks for gifting the internet with this piece of art, i dont think it will be soon forgotten (at least by me
What really hit me was that the anger didn't have anything to do with the *immediate* circumstance, it was the buildup of the little things. It really made me feel more cared for and listened to, indirectly.
EVERYBODY needs to see this! I have been so upset with what I've seen on the internet lately. But Ratticus and his problems are exactly what I needed. The story is so witty and full of so much personality, and I'm already attached to both of the characters! I truly hope the algorithm catches his one! I wanted to ask if you had any plans or aspirations of a game? Even as little as I've seen I know that I want to see more of this world, more of these characters. Thank you so much for your work!
Yes I do!! Once I reach 1000 patrons I'll be taking game design classes, and once I reach 2500 I'll begin serious work on a Theratpy Dating Sim (this has been highly requested !) as well as having plans to make a game where you play as Ratticus, and attempt to navigate as him for a week! I hope this helps, thank you so much for your time and your words!!
@@beetlerat Holy CRAP! IM SO EXCITED. I'll definitely be supporting your Patreon! I've been telling all my friends to watch your videos! Some of my favorites games are A Short Hike and Boreal Tennabrae. Those games have great vibes that I'm constantly wishing for more of! I think your games will definitely satisfy that craving. I'll be waiting patiently!
OMG! YES! I WOULD TOTALLY PLAY THIS!
@@beetlerat DATING SIM???? OH MY GOD SIGN ME UP I WANT AN APPOINTMENT WITH DOCTOR ZO
@@beetleratAHH I had a feeling. There was something very slightly gay about how the doctor took off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. 🤭
He almost looked like a child who wanted to be praised for fixing his mess. Was kinda cute. I love his widening eyes when he says “DEEP things” lol
I am so unbeliavavly happy this was reccomended to me. It geels so natural, despite the unconventional way Zo starts the interaction. The artsyle is so lovely to look at, and the characters feel so alive, like I can see them enjoying little things, having depth, etc. etc. This is beautiful.
The little "heh" that he did after admitting his intrusive thoughts he had while talking to his mom to his therapist... that really really got to me. Such a small minor conversational detail... but that one "heh" says so much.
As someone who also struggles with intrusive thoughts, sometimes you just have a stream of thoughts so horrible... so frightening and messed up... that the only thing you can do to help yourself admit and talk about it is by making light of it or trying your best to laugh about it.
Thank you so much for this animation. It's so wonderful.
Ok but this is actually art at its peak. For real, this deserves an award.
The composition of literally every bit is impressively well done and well expressed.
I'm surprised to find this gem
Doctor Zo's glasses and how they inherit lines from the couch is so interesting to me
the animation is beautifully done
the music is so fitting and the jazzy bits that go with the story beats feel great
the sound design is fantastic
and the story has me constantly asking questions
Fantastic piece of art.
Love the ticking clock at the end. It’s kind of oppressive - Ratticus feels like a ticking time bomb, and he feels like it’s only a matter of time before he blows up, and the silence of just the clock and the drops of liquid are just the perfect ambiance for that. such a good “oh, shit.” moment
I've watched full, high budget movies that had less than a fraction of the depth, beauty and emotion that this has, not to mention the incredible animation! I would watch this a million times over just to appreciate the sound design, you have done a truly incredible job.
i forgot about this series for almost a year and its still amazing when i come back. omg
the therapist is hot for no reason. love the animation!
God, that twist was actually amazing. I actually got stunned in silence. That sudden change with the music cutting and the subtle body movements in Zo turning into a subtle surprise. The piano making a final, almost abrupt ding to change into nothing but the humming sound of lights... It's absolutely incredible. You put a lot of effort into this and, I can't wait to see what other things that are stewing in your mind. I really do hope this series gets a lot of positive attention.
I love how the therapist's eyes widened slightly when Ratticus asked if he did something wrong.
I wish my therapist was like this
This dynamic is soo freaking good.
Especially with the part of:
“You tricked me”, and “I listened to you”
Which was just, gosh….
i acidentally deleted my long message 2 times so im just gonna say i loved ur lil characters they are so expressive and cool :3
I like this! Talking can help learn a lot about a person but silence and giving the person space to act by themselves really shows their mentality and the feelings they have associated with silence.
THIS IS SO GOOD WELCOME BACK BEETLERAT!!!!
This made me very thankful that I had an excellent therapist during my time of need. I sent a letter to him telling how despite my challenges that my life is wonderful now.
Therapy works people!! If you have a problem, Keep trying to find that one guy who makes a difference for you!!
It's all so nice.. the music syncing with the action, mood, or speach, but only one at a time, is a relaly great touch.
The cuts on rattocus's tail, his scruffy fur, the red shot eyes, the clothing.. it's all so detailed, yet so understandable and simple.
Such a great aniamtion and series.
Maybe i should go to therapy myself.
Brooo this is so good wtfff, some therapists dont do well with sitting in silence, but the few that did got my respect. Theres are so many thoughts rushing through your head when disregulated and mentally unstable that it takes a shit ton of time to collect them into coherent speech and then add on top of that any fears and insecurities that may prevent the patient from expressing thoughts and feelings
Not only is the dialogue and animation stellar, but the music fits the action so perfectly! Such a wonderful series
This reminds me of MAUS, the art style in the beginning really captured my attention. The choice of audible dialogue being replaced by the ambling musical score helped me understand the tempo of the conversation better and the feeling behind some of the words being said. Of course, who can ignore those expressive ears, or the tone of the music itself changing to highs or lows for different tones or inflections for certain words. This is a wonderful thing you’ve made, I like it.
Maus! That's what I was thinking of too
Do you mean MAUS-the slice of life comic with the person with the pink hair?
@@inkterstellarMaus, the comic about the jews and holocaust.
If this was sarcasm, apologies for correcting you.
@@DLarus08 Nope, I wasn’t being sarcastic. Sorry, this art style really did remind me of a Webtoon webcomic called “MAUS!” (by Melanie Schober) that was slice-of-life. I had no idea that there was another called “MAUS” about Jews and the Holocaust. Thank you for telling me! It means a lot, and I appreciate it. Hope you have a good day!!
Argh-MAUS!/Melanie Schober is the comic creator of “Drawing Dilemmas”. I misremembered; it’s been years since I’ve seen it. Sorry about that.
4:23 OMG THE ANIMATION IS SO GOOD AAA
OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. THIS GENUINELY MADE ME SO HAPPY. I love how you put so much emotion into Ratticus' face and body language and it just made it feel so much more real!
I absolutely everything about this all the way down to the little details.
Lately I've been really on the fence to becoming a therapist. During my school years I had therapy, but they weren't very good therapists, sorta like Ratticus was expecting. Asking standardized questions instead of paying attention to the individual in front of them. Then prescribing depression/anxiety meds which numbed emotions (and one of them basically removed all emotions except boredom). Meanwhile, they didn't ask anything that really made me understand my emotions. Tempted to go to college but it's incredibly expensive, and I would worry that I might go to a college that'd be like that.
Now I've been looking at significantly more stuff about psychology lately. In my time of having lots of deep conversations with some friends trying to help them sort through things, it feels nice to see that some of the things that I started to naturally do is something that more modern therapists start to do. Quite a few of those things are in some of the nuances in this video and I love it = )
'course, I definitely have a long journey if I do go that to be a therapist. Learning I still got some weak spots that might get in the way of helping people when they get emotional. Also, would like to avoid people getting the feeling like they are a lab rat, since like in this video it amuses me to no end seeing different types of people and what they do/say when they are put into a room of little to nothing in it. Everyone is so busy nowadays, so it's not too uncommon that people get some time to sit with their thoughts and process them.
... Also, I do love to ramble, and there's a something to be said of knowing how to be concise, as to not overwhelm people with words, especially if they are having strong emotions. That said, my comments often are just me kind of venting any sort of thought before I talk to people about it, so while I'm attempting to restrain myself from gushing about everything I love about this video, you can probably already tell it's already kind of long because it reminded me of a lot of things and triggered some very good emotions :3
Again, I cannot say enough how much this video made me day when I woke up today
Are you outside US? I'm curious as therapists have been absolute garbage and relying on completely outdated thinking, methods and studies where i'm from, including what you've described. It's like they are all cut from the same mold, too. I'll have to especially agree on some if not most antidepressants potentially having horrible side effects (some of which can be lasting and life ruining, in my case the restlessness side effect was so bad with all of them, it made me want to unalive, but it can also kill one's sexual life, and worse) while psychiatrists will act like they are a miracle cure, overrating their efficacy, and then demonize any other medication on the other hand, like ritalin for adhd. The push for antidepressant disgusts me as they are way overprescribed (and depression overdiagnosed as a condition vs a symptom/effect of an underlying cause) and are far more debilitating than most realize or care to admit. It's about weighting risk vs benefit, but they don't do that. And then they'll say the most inane shit like "ADHD isn't real" "ADHD is only for kids" "Depression and schizophrenia are basically the same diagnosis now, you don't need any other symptom besides the depression". Or thinking you're bipolar while never having had a manic phase in your life.
It's also terrible when therapists have no idea how to get any dialogue out of someone who struggles with organizing and expressing thoughts, brain fog, etc... Nah it's just... how are you. Not great? Not great okay. What have you been doing. Your hobbies and talking to people? Okay. ... (silence for an hour) okay here's your refill. Sometimes they just go straight for the refill without even talking. And throwing them bones they never take them or explore anything brought up, memories, struggles, experiences, etc... They think if they say nothing the patient will suddenly just start writing a diary and solving all the problems within, then invent new scientific theories out of thin air while being glorified background decoration, not even one input from them. As if it's gonna work on every single person. 3 decades of this shit gets really old.
I am obsessed with your timing. Everything is immaculately paced even without dialogue. And the MANNERISM!!! How you're able to portray everything about a character physically is INCREDIBLE.
Agh omg Ratticus's fur and ears are so expressive XD IT'S ADORABLE
I literally love so much as someone diagnosed with a more intense form of OCD how Ratticus acts. The thoughts, like he said once acting on your impulse make you feel better, then it just comes back. It's absolutely debilitating sometimes. And it can make you more mad, annoyed, and short-tempered when you really don't want to be viewed as such. Especially the awkward silence part. It was really funny and relatable because if I were in that situation, I would have panicked and done the same thing or even worse, probably even start crying since I don't know if my intrusive thoughts and own actions actually hurt someone.
the ending with ratticus getting back into the car after the big reveal is…. wow, just all around super good storytelling
Having had some anger issues, I can relate just slightly to Ratticus. It took a failed attempt at counseling/therapy and a good few years of like actually concentrated self help that I’m lucky to have been able to formulate for myself and even more so to have actually help, but like I can kinda put it into words now.
What Ratticus said about wanting to (and I’m gonna dodge UA-cam nono terms, so sorry) ‘remove’ his mother, but then not wanting to and worrying about actually doing so is like one lane over from how I’d describe how it felt when I was starting to crack and have some level of an outburst.
And people often say stuff like “Oh, you can handle when someone says something mean?” or whatever, but it’s not about what they said. It’s about everything that’s been said before, and everything that’s going to be said, and everything that’s going to happen, and everything that you’re expected to just act like is fine because dealing with it is too inconvenient for anyone, and you don’t matter anyway. You believe deeper than anything that everyone is out to bully, manipulate, and attack you because they think they have the right to, they think they’re all that.
And then every moment and every possible moment just starts racing through your head so fast they blur together into not even words, but a raw, blinding feeling that sometimes becomes like a voice in itself.
You lose the ability to care, because no matter what happens, in your mind, it’s only going to get worse anyway. You want just unspeakable things to happen to others and sometimes yourself (with me it was a lot myself), and then you do whatever you do. Throw, smash, hit, whatever, until the pain of your lifelong hatred that’s blended with this panicked rush of adrenaline passes, and what tends to hit next can be like a really hollow moment of clarity as you come down.
After awhile, the hollow clarity becomes another demon. You can start to wonder if this just going to be your life. Trying, but failing to avoid having that chaotic, basically delirious and destructive anger come back. Knowing that whatever you do, it’ll never really be out of your system. It feels like your life is cursed in a way, haunted by this rage that endlessly seeds regret.
All I can really say is that, it doesn’t have to be. It’s difficult to work through, and I think the early stages tend to be the hardest, but it is possible to recover. Unfortunately, there’s not like a unified type of advice that works for everyone. I know my method was super cobbled and kinda questionable at points. It maybe still is, but I’m in a much better place and can either take most things in stride now, or basically evade hitting my limits. It sure ain’t perfect, but every day is kind of a step, and I do believe in the right direction.
This episode had me hooked the whole time. The pacing, characterization and acting on the characters is top notch! Really impressive I'm so glad I discovered your channel, amazing work!
the whole premise of this is so great and the little details like therapist's eyebrows and ratticus's body language is so awesome!!!!!!!!! loved every bit of that
3:57 I LOVE THE LIL TURN AROUND ANIMATION OMG
I’m not one to cry but when he said that he wanted to kill his mom and everything stopped I shed a few tears. That hit hard
dunno why, but that little doctor hmm bubble at 6:47 worked so well for me!
Nicely done across the board!!
I posted before seeing the ending.... dang
i’m losing my mind at how fucking good this is
storytelling, animation, music it’s all so so well done
My genuine reaction to seeing this on my recommended:
Oh no…
No please…
Why is this animation here?
No, it’s in my head. It’s forcing me to think about it.
No!
The poor bartender.
7:26 i love this scene because in my therapy sessions or whenever im nervous i also do the hand thing so idk it was just nice, love the way the letters sort of shake when he says the word “kill”
THIS WAS SO WELL DONE! there's so much to love about this and while I hate waiting: I'm 200% down to wait for the next update.
This is gorgeous. Beautifully executed. Despite its simplistic style it has so much depth and thought behind it. This is insanely underrated
this reminds me of the game "Purrgatory", i love it
Hm ...I see it.
Purrgatory mentioned ⁉
Oh wow, this....
This is stunning
I've been to many therapists and a few were just this good. They act in ways that always are edge cases for your habits, but never act against you or act as if they doubt what you tell them. They simply observe, learn about you. And slowly decipher the tiniest little movements you do.
This hits home
4:56 that dive is EVERYTHING. WE STAN
Wow I can't wait for this to continue.
This was weirdly captivating. I love the slow burn and adorable animation style.
dude, i cant properly express how much i love this!!! the expressions, the reactions, the movement and the hand gestures just feel so real, and human!! I cant wait to see this go on.
This was so cute, presentation wise I mean. Also I feel this is very accurate to how I understand treating a client works. I really really like this, you did a good job at capturing the feelings and tension with sound, music, and visuals :3
I love how the whiskers are drawn. The whole style is very charming ❤
Wow. This feels so real. Like I could rave about the style, the movement, the sound design, but the writing is really on such another level. The therapy that has worked for me often looks like this, and to see it reflected back is really cool.
The dialogue and actions, along with the character design and animation… it just amazing. Truly. I can’t express how much I needed this amazing video :)
7:11 to the end, with all those little hints in the hands and the facial expressions that Ratticus has throughout the build up to 7:38, is already like masterfully put together, but in that moment where the music abruptly completely stops, with a simple piano chord left to ring out and effectively snap us to a completely different mood, that was incredible, and then you did it again but with the sudden shift to outside, with Ratticus getting into the car with his mother. Truly amazing.
This reminds me soo much of the game purrgatory, I love it.
This is everything. Not only do you have a unique animation/ artstyle, with the colors and especially the character designs, but you also have an amazing talent for storytelling. Every single line that is said is timed perfectly and feels necessary to the overall story telling.
What I really like about this, however, is the realism of it all. Intrusive thoughts used to take over a big part of my day to day life. I remember, my first experiences with therapy were similar to Raticus's. Well, except for the fact that I was too shy to kick the table and instead resorted to saying the worst things that I could possibly think of to disturb my therapist. Ratticus confessing to wanting to kill their mother and being worried that they might just do that, and everything that lead up to that moment felt so real to me that I almost teared up. Yeah, it is like that. With intrusive thoughts, sometimes you feel like a murderer even though you havent done anything. You feel as though your fate is to do nothing but destroy. And the worst thing about it, for me, was how impowering it felt to feel so evil, whilst also knowing that it was all so wrong.
I really really hope that you make more of these, youre great at it.
Jesus this is so good! I love the details of character movements how they interact. The dialogues are so natural and feel so real. I actually fell in love with the story behind it and the ending? Oh my goshhhh it is Soo powerful. The sudden cut of the music. The stare nervous laugh after holy moly. You can feel the intense atmosphere you know?
I want to know more
Really like how this has got cozy vibes and dark themes at the same time. Like, the atmosphere is just really good.
I love how even though theres no voice acting you can still feel the emotion in them
Whoa. The writing, the body language, the cliffhanger! Truly amazing work!
This reminds me so much of the therapy scenes in Maus. Honestly this gives of Maus vibes in general and not just because of the mice characters lol. I love it!
I love this. You do an excellent job at capturing the subtle movements of your characters in a way that communicates their emotions. Very “show don’t tell”. Which makes the moments when Ratticus *does* tell the doctor something all the more impactful. The jazzy music and pastel color palette keep things overall light even as it deals with heavy subject matter. This is a great show, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!
I don't know if I'm imagining things, but I swear the music goes with the dialogue. Like at 6:08 It's so cute
This is my favorite reccomendation youtube has ever given me. I'm already invested in this series and I'm in love with your art style! Bravo!
That hits close to home, wonderful animation, wonderful music, dialogue and pacing and everything wonderful
OMG I LOVE VISUAL-NOVEL TYPE TALKING IDK HOW TO EXPLAIN IT I LOVE IT
i accidentally tapped the screen multiple times throughout the video
I both learned about and subscribed to beetlerat and watched all their vids. Best decision i've ever made. Also i'm totally normal about Dr. Zo.
I really like the animation and artstyle so much. Looks as if it was cream and strawberry flavor with a smooth texture and i love it
3:42 this little bit of music with the animation is so silly and perfect i love it so much
5:28 and i know it's such a small detail but the line with him doing that with his hands is just so good
there are so many things i could point out watching this that i just absolutely adore 😭
I don't know why but I find Ratticus attractive
I'm so confused right now, why did I watch this entire video? Why am I subscribing? Why is this art so... Scrumptious?
i recognize the art style, i read the channel name, and i can feel the sins crawling on my back
I thought I was the only one 😭
same here. guilty AF XD
I was so confused, and I had to search it up.
I’m glad that this is my first time seeing this animator, and not anywhere else.
AHA, I KNEW I RECOGNIZED THESE GUYS
@@tri_iris6890what is it? I’m lost😓
This. Is so cool. All the little details
My therapist agreed with me that people who would rather never be seen at all instead of only being seen in being looked down on are fools
come again?
Huh? Yea, come again?
Pardon?
I think they mean that it would be better to be honest and true and looked down on rather than to hide yourself from others all the time (or something like that)
I love this. All of this. So much humanity displayed in such a lovely detailed yet so simple animation. This gave me so much comfort. Keep it up
those rats look very gay
i like it
Well… the Doctor (theratist) is… don’t ask how I know.
Honestly? I love this. It frames the psychological parts of mental health very well. The way that Ratticus got impatient when Dr. Zo stayed silent and relaxing even when Ratticus couldn't made him confused, and worried that he did something to make him behave that way, making him assume he did something wrong, which ended in him trying to fix his mistake, despite the doc never even making a noise, the fact that Dr. Zo took his sarcasm seriously as to make him vulnerable enough to where he felt like he had to tell the truth, and the fact that he made an effort to accommodate Ratticus in any way he could showed that Dr. Zo had picked up on his behaviors from the last episode, and that he actually understood what his patient needed, even if it was seemingly "unethical". In the end, the fact that Ratticus was able to admit to his intrusive thoughts without judgement likely gave him a lot to think about. I also want to mention the improvement of the art. Looking back at when I watched the first episode a year ago to now, the animation and style are much more fluent and easier to read, though that's not to say the art from the first was unimpressive. They both work very well with the plot, and you could even argue that the art changed as to show the difference between the first session in the next, the first where he was angry and the second hurt and confused.
Huh those characters look like they could be involved in some kinda gay animation
Way to get into my recommendations!!
I love your stuff! Keep up!
this is SO well made. i love the little details included, the way the bgm stops or slows or changes, the thought processes behind both characters, and all the behaviors that make the animation seem… natural. fantastic work, i hope to see more of theratpy
I love the small progress and details of Ratticus immediately closing up when hes being faced with questions again, but eventually opening up anyways. He only answered one question, "what was the thought before", but its still a pretty significant change from just the first part of the session.
Really love this!
You are not afraid to sit and rest with the pacing, and that makes this wonderful! The subtleties are so important!
These Theratpy animations are wonderful, both in writing and design. We need more realistic work like this, it's only bound to be good!
Thank you for making these!
This is so night in the woods core
The facial expressions look beautiful and amazing. It reminds me of another artist who has realistic looking expressions and speech.
This is stunning. Everything about it is so good! Writing, animation, character design, the MUSIC, man I don't know what I was expecting but this blew me away. Really looking forward to seeing what else you make in the future!
The negative space through the eyes of the therapist’s glasses to imply reflectivity is goddamn beautiful. This is an amazing work!
God, this was fantastic. I found this video randomly, but I'm so glad I watched it through. The animation is so lively, the dialogue is simple but compelling, the music not only fits the moods, but also practically voices the characters, it's all awesome. The silence and realization at the end was wonderfully chilling.
Hope everyone doing good and staying safe. If you need to talk to someone or need help, there are people who care. Sending support and hearts. ❤️❤️❤️