This was a homework assignment. And not mine.

Chicago-based Artist Christine Even was going to animate a dream she’d had for a class, something like New Media Studies. I had been spending all of my free-time chain smoking and teaching myself Adobe Flash, so I assured her it would be as easy as pie.

Christine spent several hours drawing the characters and background and helping me layout the animation. The next day, she went off to school and I sat down and got to work. To this day, it is the longest single stretch of time I have ever wholly devoted myself to something. I must have gone to the bathroom at least once, but with that exception, there wasn’t a moment of idle time, totaling nearly 14 hours.

I animated the whole thing, then got out my keyboard and, watching it play on the computer, scored the animation. I have a mental image of myself: Unshaven, in a sweatshirt, no pants, cigarette dangling from my lips, cup of coffee nearby, scoring this absurd little film at the keyboard with the intensity of a madman. It felt good. By the time she was off school, I had all but finished her homework assignment.

So why is this an “Abandoned Masterpiece?” Well, you’ll see after you watch the video. The mysterious cliffhanger will leave you wanting more. But, sadly, we moved on after this project and never came back to it. I went on to write, produce, direct and animate a short film that never actually got off the ground. Christine went on having more really weird dreams.

But here, for your enjoyment, are the fruits of our labor.

You’re dying to know what happens, right? One of the great mysteries of the Universe that will never be solved. I will be fielding questions about this gem all week. Just post your comments below. Anything from, “Why does the decide to have wheel-feet and foot-hands?” to “Why did you think this was a good idea?” Anything at all. I’m standing by.

Tangentially Related Posts:

• Abandoned Masterpiece: “Mine”
• Dream: This is Me Ascending
• Video: Dalí and Disney’s “Destino”
• Abandoned Masterpiece: Run Away, Sally
• Abandoned Masterpiece Theatre: “Cattz”