Group 5 - MIKE reupload description

This belongs here.

What happened to Group 5?


Five years ago today, when I was 18 I lost so much to try to create this very video. I fought for something I felt was truly worth fighting for and I do not just mean “Group 5". I fought for my right to choose who I wanted to be in life and I stood up for myself to a person who has always taught me to do the very opposite and I would do it all again a second time. I do not regret it for a single second.

Group 5 had to come to an abrupt end and I never truly gave an explanation why to fans and I apologize. If you feel you are owed an explanation, here it is.

It is no secret I have been hurt and betrayed by people I once trusted. Unfortunately fighting for Group 5 came with a severe casualty. My brain. Because of their own insecurities, people over dramatically trying to break me and attack me, trying to stop me from pursuing my goals lead to severe mental trauma I was absolutely not prepared for.

I found myself being unable to work because of an unknown force, my skills getting far worse, and just found myself avoiding animation and animating entirely but fooling myself by thinking it meant nothing. I felt so guilty and humiliated because the very passion I fought so hard to do was now mentally fucked and I couldn’t understand why. Why something I loved doing was now impossible to do all of the sudden when I needed to do it most, and when I had access to do it most.

After some time I realized why this was happening was because I had an extreme case of “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” which does NOT go well with animation one bit. PTSD wrecks your concentration, gives you nightmares every night and just puts visions in your mind at all times and it is multiplied by 10 when doing something like animating. I felt humiliated that I wasn’t strong enough to keep doing something I was so passionate about and it felt like the people that did this to me won so I just didn’t say anything and refused to acknowledge anything or anyone.

I couldn’t mentally let go of Group 5, but I couldn’t animate anymore at the same time. It felt like I was just giving fans false hope. I felt like I was giving myself false hope. All of this stress and anxiety made me fall and turned me into someone who kept hurting himself and those around him but after many trials, I saw how much I needed to put myself first and how much I needed to stop allowing “Group 5" to keep me attached to people and situations that were bad for me. I deleted the Group 5 channel and it was the best thing I could ever do for myself. Afterwards I moved to a different state, started to live with people who loved me for me with and without Group 5, financially secured myself, life became much much better for me but I am so sorry for not explaining myself before to anyone who loved Group 5 as much as I did. I just didn’t know what to do and I felt I failed everyone, all of my voice actors, all of my fans, and me. I am so sorry for seeming like I didn’t care about you all. You were always my mind. I am sorry to everyone I hurt and I hope you all understand.

If anyone learns anything from this. If you are suffering ALWAYS seek professional help. I refused help because too many people used “therapy” as a way to bully and demean me and that really messed things up me far worse. I am getting the proper help, and while it is hard, I am doing the best to be the best person I can be and move forward. Is there a place for Group 5 in the future? Maybe! Only time will tell. Some day I truly hope I can be the creative and happy person I was. Either way, thank you for enjoying Group 5. Thank you for all the fan art. And thank every single voice actor that has EVER voiced anyone in my show. You all really meant the world to me at the time.

-Nick Dante