Nov 8, 2012
Chapter 1:
Creation [animation]
Our hero’s name is Stanley, but
he doesn't really show up until Chapter 3. Stanley’s father is the
first proto-man, who fell as a fruit from the first tree. He found
the world an empty and desolate place, so he climbed to the top of
the tree and began creating animals and plants and whatnot just by
speaking their names. He gets really excited about the process, and
accidentally creates a monkey in thin air, which promptly plummets
to his death. He realizes that he needs to be a little more
thoughtful about this process, and finishes by creating many of the
beautiful things in the world. Then he disappears.
Chapter 2:
The Golden Age (with found sound by Teresa Iglesias)
[animation]
This chapter tells of the rise
of civilization. At the start there are only uncivilized tribes in
the forest, but they begin to desire something more out of life.
They move indoors and become increasingly sophisticated. Eventually
they build cities and roads, and they become isolated by their own
success.
Chapter 3:
Son Of Strelka
Stanley is born. He is the son
of the creator from chapter 1 and a human woman, and his village
expected him to be some sort of savior. Instead, he looks freakish.
He is covered in yellow hair and has a dog-like face. Not in some
cute furry ^_^ anime way, though, he is a disturbing freak of
nature. With the exception of his mother, the people of his village
despise him. They also despise his mother for giving birth to a
freak, so they are both forced to leave. They go their separate
ways, and Stanley is left to wander the world alone, a deformed,
orphaned child.
Chapter 4:
The Decline
As the chapter starts, we see
Stanley wandering the land. Months and years pass, and as Stanley
grows up the world becomes increasingly violent and nasty. Finally
war is declared, and tanks and troops begin marching through the
cities of the world. Eventually the gods themselves come to earth
and begin marching on all of the world's cities.
Stanley encounters an
apocalyptic religious cult made up of children. They recognize him
as having some sort of power, and try to get them to join their
cause. Stanley demurs, and the children grow angry at
him.
Chapter 5:
The Fall (with scratchin’ and sound effects by EBA)
[animation]
As Stanley stands there
contemplating the children’s angry faces, the world splits open and
blood pours out. A huge winged monster comes out of the crack in
the earth and asks Stanley who he is. Stanley answers, and the
monster goes off to generally wreak havoc on the landscape with all
of the other gods. Shit continues to get real, and we see the
oceans rise up and flood the landscape. Buildings fall, fire is
everywhere. As part of this we see a truly gigantic turtle stomping
skyscrapers to the ground and just generally fucking things up. As
a result of all of this, many of the children are killed and others
maimed. Dirty, injured refugees are everywhere. Stanley tries to
ask the few remaining children what the hell is going on, but he
realizes that they don’t really know much more than he
does.
Chapter 6:
The Turtle
Stanley goes to space to talk to
the turtle that supports the world, who was one of the main
participants in the destruction of the cities. The turtle is
off-duty now, and is just chilling out at home. He’s taken his
shell off, and is just sitting around wearing a wifebeater and a
hat. He smokes and drinks constantly, and basically looks like
someone’s cranky old grandfather. They sit and talk about the
destruction of the world, and why the turtle participated. He tells
Stanley that he took part in the apocalypse just out of a general
love of destruction, and plus he kinda hated America for sending
astronauts into his home (space), where all they can do is die and
fall back to earth. Stanley realizes that the turtle isn’t going to
be able to help him.
Chapter 7:
The Buddha
Stanley and the turtle go to
meet the Buddha to see if he can restore the world. Buddha is huge,
fat, made of bronze, and is stuffed into a suit that is slightly
too small for him. He has an office to match. He wears a cross
around his neck, oddly enough. His manner is initially something
like a used car salesman or overly phony politician, and he tries
to make light of the situation. Stanley is not amused, and gets
angry. Eventually it becomes clear that Buddha is actually
incapable of restoring the world. Stanley is despondent but
determined to fix the world somehow.
Chapter 8:
Restoration (with found sound by Earwicker)
Stanley remembers his father’s
power to create, and starts to wonder whether he has the same
ability. He stands in a desolate and empty landscape. Initially he
is hesitant to try creating anything for fear that he won’t do it
right, but eventually he musters the courage and starts to talk and
move slowly. He starts by creating the home he wishes he’d had as a
child – a pretty little village by the ocean, surrounded by giant
trees, populated by friendly and gentle people. He loves this
vision and feels comforted by it.
He then begins to recite the
names of the dead in an attempt to bring them back, and is
surprised that it works. As soon as people come back into the
world, though, the simplicity of his vision gives way to all of the
complexities we associate with modern life – cities, cars,
businesses, etc. The world becomes hectic and busy, but he is still
pleased with what he has created.
Chapter 9:
Son Of God
Stanley stands and watches the
world he has created, waiting for his father. His father appears,
and is much older and more frail than he was when he was last seen.
His father is proud of him, and they have a short conversation
about where Stanley found his faith. Stanley recalls the monkey
from chapter 1, and jokingly says that he couldn’t possibly have
screwed it up as badly as his father did. His father laughs and
agrees. They talk more about who Stanley is and his role in the
world, and spend the day together talking and joking. As Stanley is
taking over his father’s godlike role in the world, his father
begins to age and fade as his own power disappears. Stanley carries
his father to bed, and at this point his father is very decrepit.
As his final act, his father brings Stanley’s mother back. As
Stanley and his mother laugh and embrace, the father crumbles into
dust.
Stanley and his mother discuss
his role in the world. Mom thinks that he’s still basically living
out the story that his father laid out for him, while Stanley
thinks that he now has the ability to determine his own destiny.
Finally, Stanley lays his head on his mother’s lap and falls
asleep. When he wakes up the next morning, the sun is shining and
everything is beautiful.
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