The Mind's Eye (Video 1990) Poster

(1990 Video)

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8/10
Early CG Effects Still Fun To Watch
ccthemovieman-129 October 2006
This is an "odysessy through time" via computer animation, supposedly th work of over 300 artists. Made in the late '80s and released in 1990, this was cutting edge stuff for the day. I thought it was good and quite interesting in spots.

Most of the short scenes made no sense, just forms evolving into other forms, but that was fun to watch. This is all about visuals, not really about any kind of a story. There were some strange sequences in which odd-looking men- creatures would dance around with birds overheard. All of it is computer animated which was new back then. Even the term "computer animated" was not well-known.

It's simply a chance to show off this new technology in short bits of cartoon-like happenings with beautiful colors and imaginative scenes. No words, just pictures with electronic music. Stoners must have really loved this.

It's a nice, intriguing 40 minutes of "eye candy" and "head candy." By today's CG effects this may have lost impact, but I think you'd still be entertained by this.
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9/10
Breaking the Ice
Jonah1412 October 2001
I recently found a copy for $5 at a video store, and snapped it up eagerly. While the music and (obviously) graphics aren't up to the standards of my favorite of the series, Beyond the Mind's Eye, I am still entranced by one segment:

Stanley and Stella in "Breaking the Ice". The music is brilliant, and the emotions feel real. The clip on Odyssey's website doesn't have the story nor the music, unfortunately.
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8/10
The bouncing eyeballs
junk-154923 January 2008
These things have been floating around in my head for damn near 10 years now. Some pieces of this work were really memorable. - Id love to see another more current example of cg showy offy stuff. Actually I'd love to be part of it.

If I'd would of had the chance to just say what i wanted and thats it, I wouldn't have to write all this extra in order to make "10 lines if text" as this website requires. I mean really? This almost discourages me, I mean luckily for the guys that made the movie I really liked the Minds Eye - and it took me 3 times to have enough lines, I hope you don't get me on the misspelling. - yup you did.
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It still fascinates me.
AmericanPanascope2 March 2001
Although by now this looks very blocky by today's CGI standards (I can do better stuff on KPT Bryce), I am still captivated by this priceless compilation of CGI experiments, and the way the artists did what they did with the then-limited rendering technologies they had at their disposal. True, alot of this is done in an abstract or cubist fashion, but this to me only adds to the intrigue. Many of these images are so amazing, even in their relative simplicity, that they stick with you for a long time. Take 40 minutes of your evening to enjoy this mesmerizing feast of eye candy.
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10/10
The coolest thing I ever saw when I was little!
SeeThrough23 November 2003
When this first came out, my dad brought it home- we were amazed by it- It was so different from anything we had seen before. I was looking for a specific movie last night, and I found "The Mind's Eye" again. The box is falling apart, and I am surprised that the tape still works! Although it is not 'Finding Nemo' quality graphics, it is still very good. They should sell this again- it is a landmark for computer animation imagery. Highly recommended!

This is what it is:

"The Mind's Eye" is a spectacular odyssey through time. Your journey begins at the dawn of creation and moves through the rise of man and technology. Travel in the world of abstraction and on into the future with breathtaking computer animation imagery.

"The Mind's Eye" joins the imaginations of over 300 of the world's most talented computer animation artists with a powerful, original music soundtrack. This unique collaboration takes you on an incredible voyage into "The Mind's Eye."
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10/10
A Computer Animation Classic
mark-41419 August 2002
This has to be the all time best computer animation classic. Even though most of the animations where experiments. They have an artistic quality that has stood the test of time. Twelve years after it's release, I have gone back to watch this video and found some inspiration for new types of computer graphics. Some of the techniques used in this video have never been full explored.
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6/10
A Fun If Dated Time Capsule
max4movie1 March 2020
Full review on my blog max4movies: The Mind's Eye is an experimental short film featuring several computer-generated episodes, that were mainly produced as promotional or commercial material in the late 1980s. Although some episodes are fascinating to watch and a fun throwback to the rudimentary technical possibilities during those days, the structure is generally not coherent and only rarely elevates the film. In addition, most material used wasn't even state-of-the-art in 1990 and the range in quality is extremely broad. Still, the short film is a fun reminder of the days in which computer-generated images were still rarely used in movies and not considered a form of art.
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10/10
This movie has got to be the best CG experiment!
bowser72414 September 2003
I probably saw this movie first in about 1995. Since then I've returned to it many times. It's great! I especially like the first and second clips, "Creation" and "Civilization Rising." Wow! This was so cool back in the glory days of CG animation. CG is way older than I am, as I know the film "Tron" was made 7 years before my time. But this film was a landmark in the early '90s. It was probably the first collaboration of different CG experiments set to music. I like it so much, I think I'll go watch it now. Bye
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10/10
The coolest thing I ever saw when I was little!
SeeThrough23 November 2003
When this first came out, my dad brought it home- we were amazed by it- It was so different from anything we had seen before. I was looking for a specific movie last night, and I found 'The Mind's Eye' again. The box is falling apart, and I am surprised that the tape still works! Although it is not 'Finding Nemo' quality graphics, it is still very good. They should sell this again- it is a landmark for computer animation imagery. Highly recommended!
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10/10
This was one of the most impacting movies I've ever seen...
ricardo1129719 August 2006
As a kid, I loved computer animation although it was EXTREMELY limited and the tools were almost nonexistent. This movie, as I sat in awe and watched the amazing images and almost-hypnotic music, shaped the desire in me to create moving things in the computer. This is a whole-package deal, between the music and the video, that really packs a one-two punch. If you know any child that wants to get involved in computer animation, this is a MUST HAVE.

I still, almost 20 years later, rate this movie as one of my top 3 favorites. The originality, I think, is still unsurpassed by most of today's McMovies that Hollywood spits out. I am currently wanting to see if I can re-make it on my own; if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then this movie deserves a TON of imitation =)
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3/10
Minds eye
High_Life31 January 2007
This movie was strange... I watched it while ingesting a quarter of psilcybe cubensis (mushrooms). It was really weird. Im pretty sure you are supposed to watch it high, but mushrooms weren't enough. I couldn't stop laughing.. maybe lsd would work. The movie is a bunch of things morphing into other things, and dancing. Its really cheesy for todays standards but when it was released im sure it was well... one of a kind. I could see how some people would think this movie was good, but I didn't think it was very interesting, and I was on mushrooms at the time. If your having a party or something and everybodys pretty lit, pop it on you'll get a few laughs.
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4/10
Not bad for 1990, but not good either
Horst_In_Translation24 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"The Mind's Eye" is an American animated short film from 1990, so this one is already almost 30 years old and it is an earlier career effort by Jan Nickman. There is no spokan language in here, all you will hear is the sound track. Sometimes fast, sometimes dream-like, sometimes nostalgic, but it goes okay together with what you see here. And what you see is the animation from start to finish. The thing I was missing the most here was a plot or story or anything resembling that at least, but there is no such thing. It is a very experimental film that sadly dives into style-over-substance territory more than once. Visually, it is okay for 1990, but I'd rather see it as a personal work that is for yourself, maybe for your friends, but not necessarily for wide audiences, so I am a bit baffled by the high rating here on imdb as well as the fact that many sequels followed that were even longer than this one. Moments of true visual beauty are also not in here, at least in my opinion. And I am writing this as an animation lover and lets be honest this film is from around the same time that stuff like Beauty and the Beast was released and yes this one here is basically a one-person project, but still, this justifies it only to some extent. Alll in all, I give it a thumbs-down, the looks reminded me more of video game animation than film animation most of the time. I suggest you skip these slightly over 30 minutes. Yep the long rest, almost 10 minutes is credits.
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An Animation Sensation!
The Mask21 April 2002
Yes that's right this is the movie that began the whole Mind's Eye series. The start of the 90s began the start of a computer animated sensation. The Mind's Eye is a 40 minute film about abstract computer art. This film produces the latest in advanced computer animations. Even though the animation capabilities are from 1990, the film is still remarkable. The animations take you to new dimensions! Also the music is quite stunning. They really don't make music like they used to. This electronic music sets your mind free to new possibilities. This is the first in the long line of computer imagery that stretched throughout the 90s. The people at Mind's Eye have made a masterpiece. You really need to check out this movie out. Now that it is 12 years old it is very cheap. You could probably find a copy for 5 dollars. Don't miss out this is computer animation at its finest!
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