i don't know if anyone's seen this
http://www.soundgenerator.com/videos/viewer.cfm?articleid=7475
but i'm really taken with it. i was wondering what kind of programs would be used to do something like it? right now i'm just experienced with final cut, and obviously this goes beyond its capabilities. i'm not about to set out to do something similar, but i am interested in hearing people's opinions on how it was done, for future reference...

I'm not sure how it was done, but I thought it was amazing

um, you could probably do most of the effects using After Effects using expressions, mattes and matte tools, particle generators, and general compositing.