The animator Richard Swarbrick has drawn a tribute to Gareth Bale’s two games against Inter in the Champions League. If there were a channel that showed live matches in this style, I might forget what living people looked like.
Read More: Champions League, Gareth Bale, Inter, Tottenham
by Brian Phillips · March 10, 2011
Awesome bonus starting at around 1:30: Peter Crouch’s run being instantly recognizable even though he’s four white squiggles and a blue dot.
This is unbelievably cool.
Thanks for posting this. It is rather amazing how one’s mind fills in the rest of the scene, and how each play is stored away in memory. I remember each camera angle used for instant replay. Though I guess I should be worried if I didn’t, since the games were played in late October and early November.
@Brian Sholis, it is rather amazing how one’ s mind fills in the rest of the scene, and how each play is imagined based on all the other games I’ve viewed. I never saw either of the Tottenham-Inter Champions League matches until this (so, have I seen any yet?) but I know exactly what this must have looked like. I’m not sure what this says… anything more than the fact that I watch a lot of football?
This is great stuff. I’ll forward it to all my Arsenal friend
@Brian Phillips Thesis: Any four sufficiently extended white squiggles arranged to move like the Tin Man will resemble Peter Crouch.
Wow.
Can’t help thinking about this in reference to the post here earlier re: soundtracks.
What does the background say @ :30?
@ngb “This frame is by Isobel.”
I can’t really add any comment other than to say this is just delightful. It’s so, so great. Full credit to the animator.
That was fantastic. I feel like eventually goalies will someday realize Bale’s preference for far post shots on the run, but until that day, we bask in the warm glow….
@Elliott Shhh, that’s a secret.
“Keane is up in support…”
Indeed he is.
All that is missing is the dejected concatenation of blue squiggles walking back to the center line with the chant, ‘taxi for maicon’ ringing in the background..
This is spectacularly beautiful.
Sublime.
I want to see this on the Jumbotron at White Hart Lane.
Great. Just… Great. (More please.)
Somehow, brushstroke!Lucio looks even more like Lucio than flesh and blood Lucio does. Glorious.
Sublime
Resplendent.
@ngb Yes, can you tell us anything about the music? It’s perfect. As is everything else about the video. Thank you.
@Mags If I’m not mistaken, Richard Swarbrick also created the music. Go here and play “Cinematic Balloons.”
The flash of his eyes at the 1:12 mark is … well it just is, and I love it.
After reading Alan Jacob’s piece about left footers, I’ve started looking for that lefty move in every soccer game I watch. Check out Gareth Bale at 1:19. It’s easier to see if you watch the actual highlights; from the left side of the field, Maicon expects Bale to go right, but Bale never cuts to the inside. Anyways, this is an awesome video with great music and a great animation style.
To paraphrase Mick Jagger, that made a grown man cry. Stunning.
First Barcelona, now this. What a week.
@Brian Phillips Well that’s just plain unfair. Way too much talent for one human being. The music is reminiscent of Mark Isham à la “Mrs. Soffel”, an entirely different kind of drama.
This is magical.
@ursus arctos spot on
Even in animated form he makes Maicon look silly.
wow
@Mads Even Arsenal fans like myself can appreciate the genius of these 2 football and visual artists.
wow what a WASTE OF TIME…its almost like watching the real thing?
@shan Maicon? Is that you?
@Brian Phillips No its his remotely distinguishable brother: squigly line
In all the glories of my favorite RoP creations, can this be topped? (Bale, being my favorite player, helps.)
I can’t stop watching this. It’s football and it’s art and it just confirms in my mind that football is art at it’s most beautiful. Sublime.
Brilliant. Please make more
Absolutely gorgeous!
This is marvellous.. In gujarati they call it ”areh wah benchaud’
Awesome. Just awesome.
Can somebody make one of cesc’s backpass in the champions league? i think it would look like this 3-1? im not even a spurs fan….
What would be really good is if you can do this for every time Balotelli shows his agitation on the pitch – whether itd be through frustration of playing bad or having allergic reactions from the pitch. In gujarati they call it ‘ Benchaud boh jaat batlaweh salo karyo’
Not a Spurs fan (not Arsenal, either) but this is amazing. Seconds 13-20 are my favourites, going from lines to squiggles after the goal…
This inspired me to design this poster of what happened Maicon in the Lane that night. Please take a look, I spent ages.
http://hotfootynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/gareth-bale.html
beautiful…
The out of focus effects are nice touches, and it is amazing how the human mind can fill in the blanks. Also an amazing idea to conceive and follow through with, the commentary is just the icing on the cake. Is Isobel the author’s daughter or something BTW?
“Fuck me, Jimmy!” — Brilliant.
Even as an Arsenal fan, I can truly appreciate how magnificent this is, both as a tribute to the player, and as a brilliant piece of moving art.
Beautiful.
Absolutely wonderful.
The buzzy grey background really adds to it.
This made me realize how much commercialized football is difficult on the eye
Breathtaking and beautiful. Thank you……
Why is the Alt Text ‘Bojan scores vs. Villarreal’?
Sheer genius both the player and the movie
Unbelievable. Animation and the music set this video over the top. @RikkiLeaks is his handle on Twitter so make sure to give him your thanks, he sure deserves it.
@Football Stryder well said, I couldn’t say it any better than that
Poetry is the right section where to put this.
This is just beautiful. Beautiful.
amazing
Superb. Brings back so many memories of that special night at The Lane!
“This frame is by Isobel”
@Andrew Weber And partial credit to Bale.
As a Spurs fan this brings tears to my eyes – this is just majestic and sums up the roller coaster of those two games. The combined artistry of the painting and football skills is breathtaking – literally, poetry in motion. Even if you’re not a Spurs supporter you have to acknowledge the beauty of it all.
Gareth Bale is a fine young man and a credit to his parents (above all) , to his club, to his country and to soccer in general. My young son was thrilled to walk out with GB as a game mascot. I was equally fortunate to be one of the parent chaperones in the tunnel at the time. GB was one of those players who did make time to acknowledge the kids there around him. And before you ask, this was not at White Hart Lane, but at Red Bull Stadium in New Jersey ,where with the exception of my son, no one knew him.
Gareth, you are a class act. You made my son’s day for all time. Long may you reign.
COYS!!
This frame is by Isobel… 0.32
Love the skills at 1.13
Absolutely superb
… and at 0:32 you can recogmize lucio by his bushy eyebrows
awesome….love it
absolutely beautiful
The music really added beauty to those gorgeous goals!
Tremendous. I’ve never actually seen the real footage of this, but can imagine it perfectly now.
Even as an Arsenal fan, this sent shivers down my spine. Really, really well done to all involved.
…Er, and could you do one of the Arsenal next time?
Outstanding work!
Amazing video. I love how he left the commentator in the video. Is the commentator Richard Keys?
@Nick: No, its Alan Parry with Andy Gray chipping in towards the end
haunting and beautiful like the game itself…
Its unique I’ll give it that.
@Fast Eddie Much Obliged!
Superb, wish I had the ability to create this amazing piece. Not a spurs fan myself, but could be persuaded to change allegiance because of this work of art!
Absolutely stunning — I’ve loved watching Bale and Tottenham this season and this animation (and soundtrack) is a spot-on tribute to the energy and excitement they bring to the pitch. Thanks for your work and for sharing this with the world.
“Gareth Bale has scored a hattrick at the San Siro” – gets the hairs on the back of my neck up every time, and I’m not a Spurs fan!
Cracking depiction of a great night for football; great work.
speechless… truly amazing