Drawn by Pain is a 12-part series online video, mixing live action and some cheesy anime. The story is about a girl who can manifest her drawings in the real world. Here’s the trailer:

I love that writer/director Jesse Cowell and animator Erica Langworthy just went out and made this themselves. I’m not that keen on the story, though. It reminds me of what happens when teenagers first realize the power of poetry and prose and attempt to replicate it . . . usually resulting in Emo/Goth mediocrity.

The acting is so-so. The lead, Marissa Parness leaves you with the feeling that you’ve just been watching a female incarnation of Keaneu Reeves, post Bill & Ted era. Her emotional register is not that wide. Technically, the film is pretty well made. Clearly there’s a crew of pros and semi-pros behind the scenes of this show, which doesn’t keep the editing from wandering into esoteric boringness.

But despite my cynicism, I know that a lot of folks – especially the anime and comic factions, will love this. So, here’s my recommendation:

• If you’re into that sort of thing, you must check it out.
• If you’re a film student, you might want to see how these guys went out and made a visually passable action film, replete with most of the bells and whistles.
• If you’re neither of the above, then check it out if you get bored with surfing porn or watching something cooler, you might want to go watch it.

the Bottom Line:

3 out of 5 stars. see above for why.