Life of a Giant

kzhead.info/channel/PLVAh-MgDVqvAwoFF5hJmtRrx86Yw-pdN1.html&si=lJTewQdoz9Fh3ePO

Imagine how shocked the actual French botanist Julien Reverchon would be to discover that a giant caricature statue was made of him nearly 100 years after his death, followed by an entirely separate short-film horror series revolving around said statue. What a bizarre and uniquely cool legacy.

For those curious folks in the comments, Julien Reverchon was a 19th century French botanist whose vast collection of flora contributed greatly to his field in general, and the culture of Dallas in particular.

The weirdest part about this series is just the fact that none of this is made up. None of the lore behind the mall is fake. It's a random mall that some guy decided to turn into a short horror series. The mall and the giant are things that real people visited and have memories of. Things they never would've expected to see represented in a popular online horror series. The emotion behind the closing of it and the loss of the giant are all completely, 100%, authentic, and the only thing artificial about it all is what happened to the mall after all was said and done. Imagine seeing this giant years ago, thinking it was super cool, and thinking nobody except those in your town would ever be familiar with it. Now imagine years later seeing this same giant show up again all over the internet, not knowing why everyone suddenly knows about it. Kane took a piece of art that was known by little but loved by all who did know it, and turned it into something known by many, and loved, but for very different reasons than before. It's so weird to think about.

This makes me realize the giant isn’t some bloodthirsty monster, but something that is just looking for love and attention, and has been starved of it for years.

It's quite heartwarming that TheGiant had a reputation of being one of the icons of the Valley View Mall, and when it was abandoned and torn down, so was his purpose...(he's left to be seen as some sort of monster now) And it's all...very, very sad... 😥

It's insane seeing the mall I spent my childhood at being used in such a strange and horrifying way. I don't remember the giant statue beyond a passing familiarity, but I do remember the AMC Theatre, the little childrens playplace. It's surreal man. Thanks for giving that part of my childhood new life in such a fascinating way. Also its just crazy to me that this is basically becoming "Dallas Lore" lmao. I've already told my family about your series and they love it. My mom spent way more time at the Valley View than I did and she thinks what you have here is spectacular. Can't wait to see more from you dude.

Just found this new series and am loving it; as someone who was born in Dallas and went to Valley View frequently including even myself having done videos at valley view throughout the years and each time I went; a new section was closed off. This hits home even more

I didn't think I'd be crying over a giant and a mall, but here I am. I love things that take an established lore and completely turn it upside down. The mall was previously a mysterious, scary, and dead location, but here it's shown to be lively and filled with people. The giant was previously a villain of sorts, but here it's at the heart of so much happiness and activity. I'm starting to think that it just wanted some companionship from Wyatt and wasn't trying to hurt him. But I could be wrong about that.

Kane, I will not lie to you, seeing the giant in TOV3 awakened what felt like ancestral fear. I grew up in the Dallas area, going to the Valley View mall as a child occasionally, and had seen the giant there. I hadn't thought about it in like 2 decades. Something from so long ago that I might have thought it was from a dream was actually real and being re-presented back to me in my adulthood in an even more terrifying form. And getting to explore the mall again like that was an eerie and surreal nostalgia. That video was a real treasure to me. You said in your talk with Wendigoon that you consider that your best work. I don't disagree, but it is definitely my favorite work of yours, and probably my favorite piece of analog horror. It hits on all cylinders for me, especially given my personal history with the subject matter. Also, as a blueprint draftsman, I really appreciated your inclusion of the mall plans. At first I thought you had made a god-tier reproduction of them that showed a real attention to detail for my profession. Learning it was an actual scan was cool. Thank you for your work, man.

i'll admit, Mister Rolling "The Oldest View" Giant becomes a lot more sympathetic once you know his full backstory; being just left there in the mall as something to gawk at once he had fulfilled his original purpose, even after it was abandoned, until at last it was demolished and he was unceremoniously brought with it

Being lonely and forgotten will drive even the hardiest souls insane.

The giant actually looks kind and nice lol, just shows how much video quality and distance can mess with something so regular

Everybody asks 'what is the Giant?' But nobody asks 'how's the Giant?'

It's sad to think The Giant used to be surrounded by so many people and participated in festivities, assuming it was conscious the whole time and not just in the abandoned mall. It lived its whole life around and being admired by people and now lived alone underground in the dark.

I see the giant no longer a monster, but a depressed monster. I picture him as a kid or dog that was abandon and waiting for someone to come and visit or to come back. When Wyatt says that he wants to go home. The giant didn’t want him to go home, he wanted him to stay because he didn’t want to get abandon again apparently.

Never thought I'd relate so well to a giant puppet in a mall. There are many "Rolling Giants" out there, good people and places who were left to die after others stopped using them.

Honestly the Oldest View is the perfect response to the demand for more Backrooms. It encompasses everything that made Backrooms so great, and somehow manages to have even more substance. Because of this, I think that The Oldest View is perhaps even better than Backrooms, but regardless of how you look at it, both series are amazing, and the fact that this comes from an 18 year old dude keeps amazing me.

One of the first things Wyatt says before the giant starts chasing him is "I'm trying to leave." I almost cried once I realized that the giant didnt want Wyatt to leave him abandoned again.

Man, the giant is a genuinely good guy.

This is my favorite work of yours. The telling of two stories, one of the mall and one of the giant/botanist's history and nostalgia. It is so cohesive and makes it so that when you watch the first time, you come away with one story, and then do research on what is being shown throughout, watch it a second time, and you have an entirely new context for every event. This is cinema. This is art. This is what the future of Horror should be; there should be a message, and a good reason for the spooks. You nailed it, so fucking hard. I actually cried while watching this again with my mom (she also loved it, btw!!). Your storytelling is very special to me! I can not wait to see what your future endeavors look like!

The nostalgia and sadness of this series is an interesting juxtaposition to the horror. I appreciate the careful work you put into recreating this mall and its giants, they will live on through your work! I think that is why I have always been drawn to liminal spaces. They are not creepy or frightening to me, just sad, empty and lonely. Places that should be bustling with life but life has moved on and left them behind.

I like the idea that the mall itself grew angry through its abandonment. It did not become haunted. Through the mall’s solitude, it would do anything to retaliate against the world that left it to rot

The nostalgia that people who live in Dallas and went to this mall should be the BEST feeling ever!

This series broke me so hard. I'm reeling. Absolutely beautiful atmosphere, and stunning artistry. It made me feel profoundly upset about the destruction of a mall I've never been to or even heard of before this series. Amazing job.

This one gets me weirdly emotional, it shows the very start of Julien's creation to his fate during the demolition of Valley View. An artist worked hard on making the giant, and many more enjoyed it throughout its years of existence, but no one cared to preserve it in the end. Art is important, it tells stories and creates memories for those who interact with it. Art has soul, you could almost even see the pain in Julien's eyes as everything around him is destroyed. He even loses his beret from his transition from the parade to the mall :(

This perfectly explains the Giant's story. The music is amazing, and you can clearly tell what is going on. It's like the Giant has feelings. Incredible work Kane!

The story of this one is wayyyyy better than the backrooms imo

Man this series was incredible. I don’t know if it’s over or not, but it seems like a good conclusion Atleast for a “first arc” kind of thing. The way this made me feel a supreme fear and then immediately become depressed when I started to piece together what was happening.. it’s just amazing. I really hope Kane continues with his work cuz this isn’t just good, this is like genre defining even. Absolute potential to be one of the best artists of our generation

I specifically remember going on a high school field trip to Valley View with my art teacher to visit the underground art exhibits that took over when sales started to decline. Many parts of the mall were dark and eerie, and this video along with Kane's previous posts couldn't have done a better job of capturing it. I know a girl who's mom had an art gallery there on the second floor, and I distinctly remember it being the only shop with people in the entire mall.

what a fellow. such kind eyes. 😌 jokes aside, its sad seeing art of the past being torn down and forgotten, I think it's incredible that the legacy of the giant and mall is basically being carried on by The Oldest View. Awesome work, Kane.

This absolutely demolished my heart. Even as scary as TOV was meant to be, I could feel a sadness in it. This put it all together. & a Smiths song? Beautiful. Absolutely stunning. BAWLING out loud in my living room scaring my cats. This is amazing artwork.

Dang, nostalgic stuff like this made me shed genuine tears of remorse. I love malls and watching them decay, especially with stuff that represent life, makes me so, so, so sad. The horror series was absolutely top tier, and this short video was a little cherry on top of the cake. Beautiful work.

The fact that he is working on a MOVIE and still has the time to make content like this and the Oldest View is honestly insane, so accomplished in such a short amount of time. Some of the best stuff I've seen on YT and in media in general. You're killing it Kane.

The fact the giant and the mall itself were actually a real thing still blows my mind. Edit: Seems some of you are lost with my comment. What I'm saying is I first learned about the existence of the mall/rolling giant through The Oldest View videos; and what's really engrossing is how Kane replicated the exact details of the IRL mall in the OV videos

This video affected me in uncomfortably profound ways, largely because symbolism and timing. For starters, that statue was a literal memorial for a real, deceased man, and it was abandoned to the elements. Its like a grave or monument being forgotten and overgrown. Also, the implied theme of The Oldest View being about things of the past being left behind to crumble to nature, it left me thinking about the fate of our childhood malls. I grew up in the 90s, and malls were a major part of my childhood. Now, they're all emptying out and closing down, one by one, year by year, until there's nothing left. As for this short's timing to my real life: my parents recently reminded me that they're at that age where they will die soon, and that they then won't be there to help me anymore. This made me realize just how ruthlessly time marches on, and made me realize that most of my loved ones that gave me the warmest, happiest years of my childhood are dead, and soon, I'll have no one left. I have no wife, no kids, no lineage beyond me, so once my immediate family is gone, I'll be truly alone. I am the last of my family tree, and I'm aging out to the point that my best years are behind me, and even I myself am already slowly fading out as the rest of humanity leaves me behind, and moves on without me. The next day, when all of these realizations hit me at once, I was utterly devastated, retching back tears to the point that I almost threw up. Time really is ruthless, and every one of us will give in to the elements of it, most likely forgotten. ... Unfortunately, I guess you could call sharing the same fate as the giant "living TOV Part 4."

I grew up with the Valley View Mall in decline and it eventually became "the old abandoned mall" that mall walkers and bored security guards would roam and to see it immortalized in Kanes work will never not feel weird.

After leaning the history of the dude, the statue is absolutely a wonderful creation. And I’m glad you’ve immortalized it with your art.

Great portrayal of the giant in a human light. It further adds to the feeling that we never really knew his true motives behind TOV3. Maybe he really just didn't want to lose the only company he had since the abandonment. The more you learn about him, the more questions there are. It makes him Backrooms right down to his soul. Amazing work with this whole storyline.

Hey man, your videos on the Valley View mall are so touching. I myself never went there but this gives me a sense of eerie nostalgia. Thank you so much for your amazing content, as this lets many of us experience a mall from the 70's. This is making me cry 🥺

This video really got to me, and I'm not someone who usually gets emotional. I hardly ever cry, but this video managed to make me tear up not just once but even when I watched it a second time. It's crazy how the feeling of anemoia can hit just as hard as regular nostalgia. I think it's because it taps into the fear and discomfort about time passing by too quickly, whether or not it's related to personal experience. It's like when you're afraid of losing the things that make you happy and watching them fade away. Just like the common fear of death, but more about the good times slipping through your fingers. The idea that nothing good lasts forever is tough to swallow. I'm in my early twenties, and realizing my childhood is officially over has such a strong parallel with the feeling of decay and the passing of time from this story, so many fond memories of good times that now and will forever remain as just that, memories.

The fact that this Giant has moved me to tears is so insane. He was everything to those people and that mall, and now he, like the place, are ghosts… his malice might not even be sinister. It’s pain. Injustice. I feel for him.

The following comment is about my ideas and feelings about this video and the videos about the giant. Is not my intent to write something about the true meaning of the video and his real porpuse: This is the real deal about liminality and analog horror: nostalgia. I think this video would be a perfect ending to the Rolling Giant series. I don't know if Kane is personally bonded with those places, but this video feels like when the mall was destroyed was a hard time for Kane. Also showing the video where the head of the giant is detached from the body feels like a friend has died and a lot of good memories with him. Thank you Kane for this amazing piece of art, you make me feel nostalgia for places that I didn't know, for memories that I didn't live. As I said, the real deal with liminality and analog horror

I'm not too sure why but this video moved me to incontrolable tears. I felt nostalgia and pity for things I never even experienced. Thank you Kane, magnificent experience.

How this and the rest of The Oldest View saga don't have millions more views is beyond me; this isn't just phenomenal analpg horror but genius storytelling plain and simple! Thank you Kane for all the work you do and the care you show 🙌

From someone who grew up in Dallas and went to that mall a lot, this is both lovely and nostalgically sad for me. The giant freaked me out when I saw him the first time but then I had such a fascination with him. Every time I went to the mall (usually for the AMC theater- they had real good discounts) I had to go "say hi" to the giant. Now I find myself missing him.

I was neither in this mall, nor in the US, but even so, I feel sadness. After I've seen "the Oldest View", KZhead's recommendations gave me videos of what this mall was, and to what it turned into after it was abandoned. It wasn't my past, it wasn't in my country, but even so, I feel it. Great work, Kane!

I can't empathize with how nostalgic this mall and giant must have been for you enough. And I'm not even anywhere near Texas let alone Dallas. Some things you just cant forget. I think this is why 'weird art' is very effective. You make something abstract and a child's brain will be confused by it or even scared a little so they will remember it forever and tie it with their environment from back then. It gives them nostalgia when they think back on it and your art will be remembered for it. Even if they thought as a kid that it was a big scary monster, or a creepy abstract figure, they will be very nostalgic of it decades later and start to miss it.

I dont live in Dallas, or Texas, but This is ironically my favorite peice of media you've released, kane. I watched the first 3 oldest view videos, but this one is criminally uundercooked, as it makes me weirdly super emotional every time I watch it. It's just a really sad story about being forgotten by the world, becoming a fraction of the thing you once were. It's a truly beautiful and touching story. You deserve every sub you get, kane.

When originally watching "The Oldest View", I had no idea it was based on a real mall and that the giant was also based on reality. Afterwards I saw some videos giving the real-life backstory and the respect for how detailed the work was done went through the roof.

The level of research you must've committed yourself to in order to perfectly duplicate the interior of Valley View Mall (especially since it was demolished and all you'd have to go from would be blueprints and old photos and videos) as well as your research of the giant's construction is honestly a beautiful and commendable level of work. Can't wait to see your professional career and artistic work continue to flourish over the coming years, Kane. 👏👏👏

This video made me so emotional, great job Kane your work needs to be put in the hall of fame

I Actually Cried The Part Were He's Finale Death at 100 years and Now The Mall Got Demolished And The Statue Got Broken Too So This Is where I cried 2:26 Rest In Peace Rolling Giant🕊️

This is very symbolic to the death of shopping malls and shopping culture in general. It's touching in a way. I never expected to feel such empathy for the Giant. 💚

This honestly is one of the most surprisingly depressing things I've seen in a bit. I saw it originally on the wendigoon stream, and didn't think too much of it, but seeing it again now after watching the series, it really just hurts. It feels like the whatever the being was- the Giant, the mall itself, whatever- used to inhabit the original mall, the one that existed in real life. But what hurts about it was that it was happy. It loved the people who walked through its doors and its halls, filled the stores with art and took pictures with the Giant. It loved being there for people, being a place of art and happiness and community. It got what it wanted. And then it was slowly but surely taken away from it. Like how the main character in the climax of the Oldest View got hope slowly stripped away, with the changing rules and blocked exits, the being within the mall was stripped of hope too- the mall became abandoned, people did not come, and it was left decrepit and ruined. And finally, when hope seemed close, when people finally came back- it was to simply destroy the place, and tear it down, leaving the Giant to die inside and stripping the Giant and the mall of the final bit of hope it had. It's like watching someone's downward spiral, and it's truly tear-jerking, as the mall and the Giant just wanted to be there, and to have people see and enjoy it. And now, it is gone, buried in rubble- just as the spirit buried itself deep beneath the Earth. It's such a good way of making us feel for a villain that doesn't even have a concrete personality, and it really made me sad. Excellent work Kanepixels.

Props to this man, I knew nothing of this fella and this made me genuinely cry. Im glad he had a great life but such a sad ending :(

Combo of the visuals & the song made my eyes water. Fantastic analog project Kane

It’s cool to see that the giant was a symbol and a huge part of the mall. It’s pretty sad how the mall got abandoned and destroyed along with The Giant. Art really is something.

At 2:13 it looks like the giant is crying. Generally the video makes him look very human. It portrays him as the good guy who was left behind together with his home the mall. If you ignore TOV part 3, this video makes you feel sorry for the giant. Great work Kane as always.

The giant just wanted a friend

He has such kind eyes! And big hands for big hugs!!

The part of the mall shown in 1:46 has a stricking resembalance to the structure shown in the end, 3:26. They both have stairs on the left and right going up towards the middle. They both also have a long central structure. My theory is that the mall is somehow conntected to this ancient structure based on their resembalance.

For anyone wondering, Valley view mall took many years to tear down and for the area to be cleaned out. They’re planning a new shopping strip with apartments and other businesses, but this has been plan for about 2 years and they haven’t made any progress. It’s just an empty lot now with fencing around.

I have no connection at all to this shopping centre, nor are the ones near me in a state of decay. This video however, almost brought me to tears. It's astonishing how we can connect so much with objects and places that we don't bat an eye at in our day to day lives. I truly felt like I was watching a piece of my childhood being altered and ripped straight out of my mind, with me not being able to do anything about it. In a way, the giant was the face of the shopping centre and seeing it being left behind among the darkness brings upon a feeling of overwhelming sadness and loneliness. I've always had this weird way of connecting emotionally to buildings and objects. That being said, I dread the day that the places I visit/used to frequently will be torn down.

This series is more well done and polished than movie studios with hundreds of millions in budget could've made, your talent is incredible kane.

Kane I'm not gonna lie man, your ability to build a story based around a true event is impeccable. I have so many questions and so many feelings watching this series, literally on the edge of my seat hating whenever the character turns around but not able to look away. The work you do is impressive to say the least and you deserve all the credit in the world. Good luck man you're going places.

After just 3 videos of this new series, I am highly invested in this. What Kane does on this channel is bar none amazing. The videos give me constant chills throughout

I love watching this because it reminds me of when my hometown mall was more popular and full of people but now it is half empty and barely anyone goes in there. Sometimes I wish I could turn back time and revisit the "good ol days".

Its sad that he got abandoned and then his home got taken down R.I.P the rolling giant you will be missed.

Even though i don't carry the same nostalgia that some people have for this mall, the heartbreaking realization that something you hold dear doesn't exist anymore is a very relatable one.

Wow. I can't tell if this series is supposed to be a tear-jerker or a panic-inducer. Either way, I love what this series is doing.

This video gives nostalgia for a mall I've never been to and for and for a time period that I wasn't even alive yet. Great work Kane.

no hyperbole, this was genuinely the scariest thing ive ever watched in my entire life. it hits so many little checks deep inside of me, from the dead mall tour videos i used to watch, to all the vaporwave i still listen to, to all the analog horror that i used to follow religiously, to being set in Dallas Texas (where I grew/am growing up!), this was awesome. I kind of wrote off analog horror about a year ago, I wouldn't have even watched this if it wasn't for a random reccomendation from a friend, but im really really glad I did. thank you man, this means the world.

thank you kane, for memorializing Valley View like this.... my circus troupe used to practice at nights in front the giant, the galleries.... I am at a loss for words, but you captured the feeling of melancholy perfectly. Thank you.

I never expected to feel sympathy and genuine sadness for the Giant, considering how terrified I was of it a month ago.

This has to be the most best series I experienced

What a fantastic song. My lord. Thank you.

This made me cry. Being from the early 90s and growing up with malls and the art that inhabited them being so loved and respected and seeing the demise of such a strong part of American culture is so saddening. The mall used to be what social media is today, a place to get dressed up and go show off your style, meet people, have fun, be social, etc. You can see the vibrance and joy in the early photos with the people posing with the Giant. The collapse of the bustling and powerful American economy of the 80s and 90s that BUILT these malls is dead now. The Giant is lost, alone, spiteful, and full of malice like a lot of millennials, gen X and boomers over the state of the fallen empire. The colors and music and strong feelings of hope are all gone and nothing is left of malls but these callous shells of a bygone era with few to remember them.

never heard of this man, this mall, or this statue before TOV. felt genuinely moved by this though. beyond Kane's touted skills with his fx work, he definitely has a talent for editting and storytelling as well. well done Kane 👏

I am absolutely obsessed with this story and or movie. I can’t explain it as an artist myself I just can’t comprehend how someone made such a beautiful piece

all things especially art should be appreciated now because nothing lasts forever. everything appreciated in the moment and nothing missed in the past. even still this giant will be remembered by more people than the artists ever realized.

Oh my fucking God man, BRAVO. That was the perfect song choice. The instrumental version made us GenXers nostalgic back when it was in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Some of us were too young to even understand what the feeling was that we were having. This series is a masterpiece. Holy shit. I have never been to Texas, but you have managed to make me miss a mall that I've never been to. I live within walking distance of the first fully enclosed mall in the United States, the Northgate Mall in Seattle, WA. They have torn most of it down and replaced it with a hockey practice arena for the new hockey team. It's a shame, I went to see Santa there every year when I was a kid in the 1980's and now the local teens have nowhere free hang out indoors. My, how the time goes by.

Im legit like, overwhelemd by lots of different emotions after watching this. It's rare that anything can make me really feel that deeply these days. Words fail to do justice to your immense talent and gift for expression, Kane. I absolutely cannot wait to see where life takes you next, as each milestone on your journey so far has been a total triumph. Also, I LOVED the sound mixing at the end where you made it sound as though the song was echoing through the abandoned mall. That was such a slick touch! The details are what make your work stand out, what makes it hit us in the most intimate of our cores as humans. Keep exploring those huge, ponderous, enigmatic questions, my friend. The world needs your voice now more than it ever has.

I still can't stop watching Kein's video. These are masterpieces, and not a word more. What an intrigue it was when we were all waiting for his new videos.

TEAM RIP FOR THE ROLLING GIANT 👇

This feels like a tributary slideshow from the 90s/00s and I'm all for it.

This was very unexpected. I went from being terrified to the point of being sick and petrified with fear while watching TOV 3 to a full 180 of being so sad and heartbroken for the giant during this vid. I know what loneliness is like but I cannot imagine the immense scale of loneliness the giant must have felt after the mall was blighted. The giant lived a good life and he will live on in our memories because of the masterpiece you created and showing us his past life.

I feel bad for the giant ngl, he just needs love like the old days. He didn't want to he abandoned... I know he looks scary and moves scary, but he just wants company and love and appreciation. How sad is that? Edit: I liked my own comment

Kane i absolutely love your work and am very excited to see your new products! I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for showing us your visions!

he seems pretty chill when he's not chasing you in a mall tbh

this is one of the coolest art projects I've come across, and probably my favorite work of yours. is not even nostalgia for me, it's just the appreciation of a small, insignificant to the public eye, piece; the recognition and revival of it. it's beautiful.

Nothing is born evil, just sometimes entities are misunderstood. They might not always act right, but approach every person, animal, and object with a high vibration of love.

There is a mall in Cincinnati that I wish someone would memorialize. I have so many memories there and it will be gone soon just like the Giants. A whole era full of engagement and social interaction gone, it just hits hard going somewhere with friends and one day it being so empty you can hear yourself everywhere. One day the glory of going to the mall will be gone, I feel lucky being able to go in and feel the nostalgic sadness.

Never thought I'd see another filmmaker utilize "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Dream Academy in such a brilliant way as John Hughes did in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Kane, you impressed me so much with this latest series and especially this video that illustrates the tragedy that befell the The Rolling Giant and The Valley View Centre Mall. I can't wait to see how that ancient structure in the end connects to their resurrection miles beneath the earth considering the uncanny resemblance between it and the AMC section.

Did anyone else get actualley emotional watching this? Because I did, which just goes to show what an amazingly talented creator Kane is. Thank you so much for blessing us with your amazing works of art kane ❤

Phenomenal video, dont know how, but it made me kinda emotional. Seeing all the moments that the giant has been through, and then him getting abandoned. Left alone to rot. Such a short video but such a heartbreaking story. Keep up the good work Kane (:

I’ve actually been to the mall as a kid with my dad several times, and even seen the rolling giant! It kinda creeped me out but I thought it was a cool piece of art! Makes me sad that it got tore down, but it makes me happy this piece of Texan history lives on!

I always feel it's kind of tragic how we can quickly forget the past, demolish it and move on to bigger, better and brighter. As someone who has grown up in the 80's, malls had a real vibe, an energy of it's time with arcades, food courts, kids hanging out, families going out, window shopping, going to the movies then dining at one of the malls restaurants after, dates, ect... I live in a small town and it was the place to be. I worked at the mall in my teens-20something and saw the start of the decline and by the 2000's, the near death of. Nostalgia is what I'm getting at. The Oldest View brings it as well as telling the Giant's story. I feel I've learned a lot from finding out more of the origins of Kane's story and how it all came together, it's incredible. It's deeper than it's surface in so many ways and I'm thankful that Kane put so much work in to creating this series.

Kane, this is such a wonderful series about what real nostalgia is. I’ve never seen someone capture it so perfectly. Nostalgia doesn’t come from a specific property or thing, and it can’t be recaptured by getting that thing. It’s a longing for the feelings surrounding that thing or time period. When I watched The Oldest View, I couldn’t help but feel like the Giant’s intentions weren’t the prominent circulating theories, like possession. The character being a business major, and the way you so lovingly captured the purely corporate consumerist intentioned environment of a mall meant something. That mall was a 3rd place, for people to go to (technically for free) and connect with others. But because it wasn’t making enough money, it was torn down. So many things like that are happening in our culture right now. And the lack of the ability to connect with others leaves us feeling abandoned and trapped. I think the Giant is experiencing the same feelings we are when we feel nostalgia, and that desperate point we reach to just feel something and see someone again. What a beautiful series. Thank you for this. It’s a rare feeling as an artist to feel like you’ve done better than you last work that was wildly popular, but I think you did. This was amazing, and shows you have so much more to show the world. I’m excited to see where you go!

It’s a song of somber, a symphony of joy, yet anger. Sadness, yet, I feel happiness.