Magic and Music Dub Magic and music have long been intertwined forms of artistic expression. Both have the power to transport us to new realms, evoke emotions, and connect us to something greater than ourselves. In recent years, the combination of magic and music has become a popular trend in the entertainment industry, resulting in the emergence of a new genre known as "magic and music dub." Magic and music dub combines the art of magic with the sounds of music, creating a unique and captivating experience. The premise is simple - a magician performs mind-boggling illusions while a musical track plays in the background, enhancing the overall atmosphere and adding another layer of depth to the performance. The synchronization of the music with the magic tricks creates a sense of harmony and amplifies the impact of the illusions.
“I always wanted the creatures to be amplified and heightened and not be too grounded because that’s the tone of the Onyx world. There might be an emotional grounding, but everything else is pretty amplified,” Andrew Bowser explains. “But I really didn’t picture all of those characters being puppets until I reached out to Adam Dougherty, the creature designer, to do the Beefy Bad Boy character. He read the script and said, ‘Well, why aren’t they all puppets?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know, Adam, because I hadn’t had you read the script yet.’ So he’s the one that said, ‘What if they were all puppets?’ And for the most part, they are.”
But I really didn t picture all of those characters being puppets until I reached out to Adam Dougherty, the creature designer, to do the Beefy Bad Boy character. But this film s success boils down to the comedy; extending a YouTube routine into a feature is a daunting feat, and ultimately Bowser s work here grows overlong before the third act.
The synchronization of the music with the magic tricks creates a sense of harmony and amplifies the impact of the illusions. The use of music in magic shows is not new; magicians have been using music as a tool to enhance their performances for decades. However, the rise of technology has allowed for greater experimentation and refinement of this concept, resulting in the birth of magic and music dub.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a cringe comedy as overlong as its title
Andrew Bowser’s Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is the rare movie that, from the very first scene, lets audiences know that they’re either going to love it or hate it.
Viewers familiar with Onyx, Bowser’s weirdo Satanist YouTube character, will likely fall into the former category; everyone else, flip a coin. Onyx’s misadventures are documented through skits and bits on Bowser’s 10-year-old channel, BowserVids, and you may benefit from browsing the library before tuning in for 100 minutes of the schtick. Then again, you may be feeling bold.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a locus for Bowser’s sense of humor and his fondness for a broad array of 1980s pop cultural ephemera: Saturday morning cartoons, Ghostbusters and The Goonies, Amblin Entertainment, Beetlejuice especially. His influences fall neatly in line with recent haunted house slapstick productions, too, like the Goosebumps films, and Eli Roth’s woefully underloved The House with a Clock in Its Walls – movies that don’t skimp on horror, but have an emphasis on lighthearted fun. But everyone has their own definition of fun. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls might not fit yours.
Andrew Bowser stars as everyone’s favorite — or least favorite — Satanist internet character.
SundanceOnyx, real name Marcus J. Trillbury, dwells in his warlock’s lair, surrounded by an army of action figures, heavy metal posters, and other bric-a-brac to indicate his alignment with devilry. The lair, of course, is his bedroom in his mother Nancy’s (Barbara Crampton) house, and he’s a warlock the way pro gamers are athletes, meaning “not at all.” Marcus is a loser. He works a dead-end job at a burger joint, where he takes as much pride in his employment as possible. He gamely hides his loserdom, though, expressing himself in spectacularly purple language ending on rising intones, so even his loudest declarations of Satanic loyalty sound like he’s asking permission.
But Onyx has high aspirations. He’s entered a contest to meet his idol, Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs), a TV personality and elder statesman in the field of dark magics. In no time at all, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls lets the viewer know the contest’s results: For once in his life, Onyx is a winner. Off he goes to Bartok’s mansion with his four fellow winners, Jesminder (Melanie Chandra), Shelley (Arden Myrin), Mr. Duke (Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson), and Mack (Rivkah Reyes), likewise similarly motivated by the pursuit of evil for their own reasons, and each in their own ways.
Bartok has gathered the quintet to aid in a ritual that, if completed, will summon a demon and reward them all with power untold, but it’s made clear upfront that Bartok has a hidden agenda, and also that his succubus assistant Farrah (Olivia Taylor Dudley) doesn’t much care for that agenda. In all of this, Onyx himself is the naif. Bowser’s focus is on him, naturally; the marquee reads “Onyx,” after all. But his one-way fanboy relationship to Bartok renders him blissfully unaware of literally everything going on around him, good and ill, and likewise funnels Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls into a very specific kind of comedy.
Cringe humor is a broad style. You can start with The Office, either British or American, and arrive at, for instance, the work of Gregg Turkington and Tim Heidecker. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls lies somewhere toward the Office end of that spectrum on account of Onyx’s painful obliviousness, but with the added effect of his manchild background. Nerdery is in, and has been for close to a decade, as comic books and Dungeons & Dragons have been reclaimed as mainstream-acceptable pastimes. But that doesn’t make Onyx himself, or the jokes Bowser sets up, widely palatable, and if the jokes don’t land for you, nothing else here will.
If the humor doesn’t land for you, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is not your movie.
SundanceBowser contents himself with Onyx being Onyx for about the first hour, and then pivots on an emotional axis with a tender moment between him and Mack, where the character’s squirrelly accent drops and he lets the real Marcus come out; it’s sweet, and honest, and frankly feels like Bowser speaking for a generation of men like Onyx (and possibly Bowser himself) who grew up lonely because their interests didn’t mesh with others’ interests. The moment lingers for the rest of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls’ running time and, if you make it that far, even recasts the story preceding it. Friendship is a treasure.
Another treasure: The monsters and puppets and animatronics that pepper the film’s plot. What a joy to see physical critters on screen when it’s so damn easy to turn to CGI instead; a demon in a box, a growing army of ghouls, Farrah in her true form, Onyx as a cross between a Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers character and Meat Loaf in the video for “I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That),” recreated by Bowers and Dudley, all add tactile pleasure to Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, an element worth savoring whether or not the gags tickle you. They have mass. They have presence. You feel like you can reach through the screen and touch them.
The sensation is delightful, and one of the best achievements horror cinema can strive for regardless of their secondary genre. Horror has to involve its audience on a primal level. The FX work in Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls hits that goal, and it’d be a waste if Bowser chose not to try his hand at making more monster movies in the future. But this film’s success boils down to the comedy; extending a YouTube routine into a feature is a daunting feat, and ultimately Bowser’s work here grows overlong before the third act. At 70 or so minutes, the foray into cinema might have landed better. At 148, it’s too much.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls premiered at Sundance on January 23.
- Movies
- Internet Culture
Who is Onyx the Fortuitous? You may know him as “Weird Gamer Guy,” “Weird Satanist Guy” or “Weird Arby’s Guy.” This week, the viral sensation officially becomes a movie star.
With the advent of video editing and sound mixing software, magicians are now able to seamlessly blend their magic routines with carefully selected musical tracks, creating a visually stunning and sonically immersive experience for the audience. One of the key elements of magic and music dub is the selection of the right music to accompany the magic tricks. The choice of music can greatly influence the tone and atmosphere of the performance, enhancing the emotional impact and creating a cohesive narrative. Magicians often spend a significant amount of time curating a playlist that complements their magic routines, ensuring that each musical piece enhances the effect of the trick and resonates with the audience. Magic and music dub is not limited to a specific genre or style of magic. From close-up card tricks to grand stage illusions, magicians from various backgrounds and disciplines have embraced this fusion of art forms. This diversity allows for a wide range of creative possibilities, as each magician brings their unique style and personality to the mix. In conclusion, magic and music dub is a fascinating genre that combines the wonder of magic with the power of music. By synchronizing magic tricks with carefully selected musical tracks, magicians create an immersive and captivating experience for the audience. As this trend continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative and mind-bending performances that push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of magic and music..
Reviews for "The Magic of Dub Live: How the Genre Transforms on Stage"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars - "Magic and Muscles dub was a complete disappointment. The voice acting was lackluster and felt forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The dialogue translation was also poorly done, resulting in awkward and confusing conversations. It's a shame because the original Japanese version had such a rich and dynamic script. I would recommend watching the subbed version instead to truly appreciate the story and characters."
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for the Magic and Muscles dub, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The voice actors seemed miscast and lacked the necessary chemistry to bring the characters to life. The translation was also a letdown, with several inaccuracies and changes that altered the meaning of important scenes. The overall experience felt disconnected and made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world of the anime. I would recommend sticking to the original Japanese version for a better viewing experience."
3. Michael Johnson - 2/5 stars - "The Magic and Muscles dub was a letdown. The English voice actors did not capture the essence of the characters, resulting in performances that felt flat and uninspiring. There were also instances where the dialogue felt unnatural and out of place, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. It's a shame because the animation and visuals of the anime were top-notch. I would suggest avoiding the dub and watching the original Japanese version instead."
4. Sarah Thompson - 2/5 stars - "As a fan of the original Magic and Muscles series, I was excited to watch the dub version. However, I was left disappointed by the overall quality. The English voice actors did not match the personalities of the characters, leading to a disconnect between the dialogue and their actions. The translation was also questionable at times, with awkward phrasing and changes that didn't align with the original intent. I would recommend fans of the series to give the dub a pass and stick to the subbed version for a more authentic experience."
5. Robert Rodriguez - 1/5 stars - "I regret watching the Magic and Muscles dub. The voice acting was cringe-worthy, with unnatural delivery and lack of emotion. It felt like the voice actors were reading lines instead of embodying the characters. The poor translation only added to the disappointment, with dialogue that felt stilted and out of sync. I would advise avoiding the dub altogether and opting for the original Japanese version, which captures the essence of the story and characters much better."