TWELVE – THE WITCH’S TRANSFORMATION

No you didn’t just watch the prequel to Everything Is Awesome, but The White Stripes’ super cool music video directed by Michel Gondry. It’s another one of those videos I love because of how small the budget could have been, and again gives me more hope for my future inevitable success. Now I’m not entirely sure how big animation is in the music video industry but I feel like it never get’s enough credit for it’s art. So this is my appreciation post for all things animation in a music video.

1. Funny Hunny – Orange Caramel

So if you haven’t gathered by now, I like KPOP! and not just because of it’s more upbeat and catchy tunes, but also their completely refreshing humour used in music videos. Orange Caramel aren’t a group to half ass a music video as well, with some really head scratching and clearly not-to-be-taken-seriously concepts. So when they came out with Funny Hunny die-hard fans, including myself, were delighted. They always seem to be having fun no matter what form they are in and this music video gets a nod from me for just being purely and genuinely funny.

2. Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys

This mesmerizing gem is almost orgasmic to watch. The first them I watched it I got Tame Impala vibes with it’s almost psychedelic feel but now I know better. Now I know it’s the most accurate incarnation of the song and Alex Turner’s voice out there, with the animation fitting perfectly with every element of the song. It is a true compliment to have such amazing animation capture the essence of a song in such simple lines. And when the last chorus kicks in and everything just shifts and changes before your eyes so fluidly, you know that it could only have been executed through animation.

3. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz

Now I couldn’t talk about animation without mentioning one of the few musical acts out there that, well only appear as animated characters. The Gorillaz don’t actually exist as a band in our “real world” but that doesn’t stop them from giving us bomb as music videos or live performances. There’s not much I could say aside from great it is that music doesn’t always need a ‘real’ face behind it to make it enjoyable. Like the Arctic Monkey’s video the animation just compliments the song and compels you to keep listening as things progress/

4. Talk Is Cheap – Chet Faker

Don’t worry, Chet is fine. He eventually awoke from his hibernation and is walking among us Australians alive and well. But that video right? I’m always compelled to ask my friends how they think it was done. Like we would be sitting there theorizing if he actually sat in ice, or if it really is all animation. I think it was a combination of stop motion, after effects and possibly a little method acting on Chet’s behalf, but I wasn’t there so I could never know (Unless you worked on the video, then by all means feel free to tell me how it was done so seamlessly). But putting questions aside I find this music video just relaxing to watch. The stop motion gives it a very slow paced burn as the song builds up and just keep a consistent feel of propelling forward, but not quite dying as well. It’s a weird way to explain something, but like how the video constantly shifts and flows into the next season building up more layers, the song doesn’t let up and yet still contains the same qualities from before.

Maybe I’m looking at it completely wrong and just interpreted it poorly but alas there is my animation appreciation post. Goodnight people, I’ll probably write tomorrow.