Well since you're simply asking for a story critique I'd be happy to oblige as a fellow writer and time traveling enthusiast. Well done sir. Not only did you work in the realm of practical theories you were even able to create a whole new concept that I highly enjoyed.

Now for the technical stuff. Good use of intro to setup the purgatory room, and the quick flash at the door to further foreshadow his faith. Bonus points for being able to tell the story with very little dialogue. Great payoff with the time tallying. For a moment I thought you were going to go with time loop theory and the doc would pop up to scare the scientist and thus create the paradox your resolution was much more emotionally driven which I love. The only critique and it's a minor one is the doc's decision to waste time walking into the mysterious room. The stakes of his lover dying out weighs any normal case of curiosity. The quick flash would reflect a connection but because it's not a loop he's experiencing then the flash is simply for the audience, which then leads the character making the decision for no purpose other than curiosity, and curiosity can wait if a loved one is dying. Again minor issue that would really hold no value to any normal viewer, but just details.

Again great job sir. I normally don't write, but this little piece had all my favorite little things and and outcome that creates a wonder of possibilities.

Your animation diminishes your message

It's ironic that you feel this way about this certain trend but instead of creating something original, and powerful, you fall towards simple mockery. With this rant I really expected something that at least seemed like you tried. But instead of offering us something new to entice us with you just half assed what you see as half assed work.

There's a reason why the Awesome series is so well received. its because comedy is opinionated by relevance, reference, and relateabilty. A parody of a video game that's just been released is amusing, because we understand the reference and relate to the frustration. It's why certain people find some things funny and others don't because they lack one or all of those R's. There are many other factors to comedy these three things are just rudimental standards.

My point is you seem concerned about the standards of animation these days. There's no solution to this problem socially but you can choose to shy away from it. To make a difference you simply must be different.

You don't like the current trend than make something with a little heart to it. Whether or not you get a million hits or just forty it doesn't matter, because those forty saw it and if ten of those people liked it and wish to emulate it that's how it starts.

It's why we have Pico Day, and Maddness Day, and Clock Day and other days. Not because these artist created something to start a trend they just created and it became a trend.

Art is not about creating something the world will like it's creating something you yourself is proud of. Everyone else's opinions is their own. Can you say you're proud of this animation? Yes, there's a message behind it, but if you take that message away is it something you want to be remembered for or is the swf. already in your trash?

I can't animate. I don't have the skill nor the patience to develop the skills. I watch these videos and make my opinions but I rarely rate or review unless I'm compelled to simply because it's not my place to judge the artistic style of another. The shit that gets blamed here gets blamed because it's obvious the artist didn't even try, even those animations that art as pretty or fluid get a fighting chance in the oblivion known as the Portal because we acknowledge that there was at least effort.

Hell I still have a crappy stick figure animation on my profile from back in high school that still exists simply because people saw that I at least tried.

If you really wanted this post to mean something to more people you should have given us a taste of what you would like to see be more prominent. By making a crappier animation to spoof "crappy" animation is just perpetuating a separate trend.

You pointed out the "Awesome Grounds" made the same point and now here you are giving us [Dick 3] which is a third of something, which will probably get some other animator to create something just as bad and dub it [dick 4].

Instead of inspiring people to do something grander you're establishing a new cycle of worse animation and story. You've lowered the bar even further for people to reach to.

This is on the front page, which means people will watch and make their own opinion. Just as you took from the first Brawl Funnies others will mock aside you, which completely destroys the message you're trying to make.

If more of these start appearing you only have yourself to blame. I hope you can live with that.

this made me sad

props for making me care about a flower. very well done sir.