What is the origin of this creepy gif?

May 2, 2006 5:01 PM

Does anyone know the origin of this creepy animated gif?

A friend of mine saw this gif as someone's avatar on the GenMay forums a couple months back. After watching it about a million times, I want to know more about it. Does anyone know its origin? There is a URL at the end, but it's so small that blowing it up is of no use.

The only thing I can think of is that this is a student project. I know people in computer art schools sometimes make animated shorts to showcase their skills. Any other ideas?

posted by Paul KC to computers & internet (17 answers total)

Looks like it could be something from a music video, but no idea.
posted by disillusioned at 5:30 PM on May 2, 2006

Well, the "normal" person in it looks an awful lot like the main character in Fifty Percent Grey... maybe it's by the same animator? Or maybe they just used the same software?
posted by fvox13 at 6:09 PM on May 2, 2006

No idea, but damn it is creepy.
posted by aeighty at 6:13 PM on May 2, 2006

I think it came from the internet.
posted by b1tr0t at 6:31 PM on May 2, 2006

It's a video of a dinner party that takes a really weird turn. I definitely saw it on some video site (I thought it was milkandcookies), but I'm having problems finding it now.
posted by educatedslacker at 6:45 PM on May 2, 2006

Found it! It's called "Smile".
posted by educatedslacker at 7:23 PM on May 2, 2006

Trying to decipher the URL may be one way. I've opened it in a new window and left it looping while I increase/decrease the resolution [command+option+plus or minus on a mac]. I'm pretty sure it start off with the www and ends in com. The guts I'm guessing are Lio???Z??? (maybe a name, Lionel Z something?)
posted by tellurian at 7:36 PM on May 2, 2006

Well done educatedslacker, left the preview and post too long.
posted by tellurian at 7:37 PM on May 2, 2006

Yeah.. I was able to make Lion and Zion out by zooming in on some of the darker frames in ImageReady CS. Quick Google search, and woohoo... creepy video!
posted by educatedslacker at 7:41 PM on May 2, 2006

Amazing, educatedslacker! It looks like you've got it! Did you already know where it came from, or did you use some sort of ungodly google-fu?

And is the video on that site working for everyone else? I've tried in both IE and Firefox, and I can't get the movie to download.
posted by Paul KC at 7:56 PM on May 2, 2006

I can't load the film either on winXP firefox.
posted by dazed_one at 8:04 PM on May 2, 2006

Here you go.
posted by tellurian at 8:19 PM on May 2, 2006

I just remembered watching it once off a link from milkandcookies.com late last year (and I just now found that link). I couldn't find it on their site by searching, so I just zoomed in on a few of the frames in the gif to try to make out the link in it. As soon as I searched for Lion, Zion, and animation, it was the first link that came up.

Rewatching it from tellurian's link reminds me how damn creeped out it made me feel the first time. *shivers*
posted by educatedslacker at 8:36 PM on May 2, 2006

Woah, the video is super creepy. Were they speaking israeli?
posted by delmoi at 2:48 AM on May 3, 2006

That is creepy -- thanks for sharing it! Yes, it's Israeli Hebrew (except, obviously, for the Brit chick with the broken leg).
posted by languagehat at 6:29 AM on May 3, 2006

Wow-that's the perfect nightmare inducing clip. My kids are going to love it!
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:25 AM on May 3, 2006

The animated gif is freakier than the full video IMO, but the video is still awesome! Thanks for the great post Paul!
posted by rinkjustice at 8:19 PM on May 3, 2006