Remember how amazing it was when the characters in A-ha’s “Take On Me” came to life? Or, when Gorillaz released their debut video, we all said, “Wait, the band is… cartoons?”
Get ready because we’re entering a crazy, amazing world where everything is possible, and gravity is only a suggestion.
This blog article will take you on a funky, fresh trip through the craft of animated music videos. We’ll talk about the different styles, from awesome hand-drawn stuff from the good old days to mind-bending 3D extravaganzas that will make you question reality.
What is Animated Music Video?
A creative and entertaining method to use moving images to bring a song to life is via an animated music video. Artists use animation to create a visual narrative that complements the music instead of capturing actual people or locations.
The great thing about animated music videos is that they can represent events that would be either impossible or very costly to capture in real life. For example, imagine a movie where the singer flies through space as a bird. That would be hard to do with a real person!
Plus, animation styles can be very simple and cute, like in “One More Time” by Daft Punk, or very complicated and hard to understand, like in “Parabol/Parabola” by Tool.
Famous examples include “Take On Me” by a-ha, which uses pencil sketches that come to life, and Gorillaz’s videos with their band members that look like cartoon characters.
Examples of Animated Music Video
These are five somewhat well-known ones:
- “Take On Me” from a-ha: Pencil sketch animation mixed with live action makes up this iconic 1980s video.
- “Feel Good Inc.,” by Gorillaz: Gorillaz is well-known for its animated band members. Hence, this video highlights their individual taste.
- “Do The Evolution” by Pearl Jam: It is a dramatic animated video with an environmental and social message.
- Freeman Kitchen’s “Freak of the Week”: This video’s odd, hand-drawn animation technique fits the enthusiasm of the music.
- Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android”: This animated music video is a bizarre animated trip that accentuates the intricate framework of the music.
10 Types of Animated Music Video
Let’s see the main types of animated music videos:
1- Traditional 2D Animation
Custom 2D animation is like the granddaddy of cartoons. It takes a lot of work, but listen, the effects can be amazing. Done well, 2D animation has this flowing, almost dance-like aspect that is just captivating.
Consider classics like Disney’s “The Lion King” or more current masterpieces like “The Secret of Kells.” Hand-drawn figures have such emotive quality their features may expand and squish in ways that just sparkle in feeling.
It takes longer, but for artists who want a classic, hand-made look, there’s no better way to make an animated music video.
"Shelter" by Porter Robinson & Madeon
This video tells a beautiful, heart-wrenching story using gorgeous 2D animation.
2- 3D Computer Animated Music Video
Now, 3D Computer Animation? That’s a whole different ballgame. Artists use fancy software to build digital puppets and entire worlds from scratch. It’s mind-blowing what they can do these days!
3D animation can look super realistic, like in Pixar films, or go totally wild and abstract. For music videos, it opens up endless possibilities. Want your singer to morph into a spaceship and zoom through galaxies? No sweat!
"Zero" by Imagine Dragons
This animated music video, made for the movie Ralph Breaks the Internet, features 3D animated characters in a video game world.
Daft Punk's "One More Time" Official Animated Music Video
It is for a fun, colorful take on a 3D animated music video.
Tool's "Vicarious"
This animated music video is for something darker and more surreal.
3- Stop-motion Animated Music Video
Things get really hands-on and weird with stop-motion animation. Imagine slowly moving tiny figures or items and taking a picture every time. When you play it back, boom!
It’s hard not to admire its sharp, handcrafted charm. Though the level of patience required is ridiculous, the outcomes might be rather original.
"Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie
This animated music video uses stop-motion with a real person lying on a bed, creating a dreamy, surreal effect.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas"
This effect can give music videos a dreamy, slightly off-kilter feel that works well with some songs.
White Stripes "Fell in Love with a Girl"
The White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl” uses Lego bricks to make a super cool stop-motion video that matches their raw, DIY sound perfectly.
4- Rotoscoping Animated Music Video
Rotoscoping is like animation’s cool cousin who hangs out with the live-action crowd. Artists basically trace over real footage, frame by frame, to create this weird halfway point between reality and drawing. It can look super trippy or surprisingly realistic, depending on the style.
"Thought of You" by Ryan Woodward
Although it’s not really a music video, many fans have adapted this short film to music, and it employs rotoscoping to create a lovely effect.
5- Motion Graphics, Animated Music Video
If animation had a hip, artistic relative, it would be motion graphics. It’s all about realizing visual design with movement. See soaring lettering, throbbing forms, and abstract patterns dancing to the rhythm.
It’s ideal for those psychedelic techno tunes or when you want to see a song’s mood rather than convey a narrative.
"The Music Scene" by Blockhead
This trippy video uses constantly morphing shapes and patterns to create a mesmerizing visual experience.
Chemical Brothers' "Star Guitar"
The Chemical Brothers’ “Star Guitar” is a prime example – it turns everyday scenes from a train ride into a rhythmic visual feast.
6- Pixel Art Animated Music Video
Pixel Art Animation travels entirely via memories. The big, blocky graphics make it feel like you’re in an old-school video game, but they’re also very expressive. This approach emphasizes accomplishing more with less; every pixel matters!
"Level Up" by Vienna Teng
This video skillfully tells a tale about personal development and conquering challenges using pixel graphics.
7- Cut-Out Animated Music Video
Cutting-out animation is like using paper dolls to make a music video, but it’s a lot cooler. Often derived from images or paintings, artists produce a clear collage-like appearance using flat figures and backdrops. It has this unique, handcrafted quality that can be really lively and enjoyable.
"Move Your Feet" by Junior Senior
This video’s crazy, vibrant cut-out technique exactly complements the aggressive attitude of the music.
Beastie Boys' "Sabotage"
The Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” video uses this style to hilarious effect, creating a parody of 70s cop shows. It’s proof that sometimes the simplest techniques can be the most entertaining.
8- Whiteboard Animated Music Video
You can see someone’s drawings come to life in whiteboard animation. Watching it on a whiteboard in real-time makes you very delighted as an unseen hand seems to be drawing on it.
This approach is fantastic for simplifying difficult concepts or clearly and interestingly presenting stories. Music videos sometimes use the same style, though it’s more popular in explanation videos.
OK Go's "All Is Not Lost"
Even though it’s not really a music video, OK Go’s “All Is Not Lost” video has some parts that look like this.
Lily Allen's "Fuck You"
“Fuck You” by Lily Allen has a hand-drawn style that looks like whiteboard animation. This style gives the song’s snarky lyrics a playful, do-it-yourself feel.
9- Claymation Animated Music Video
The playdough of the animation industry is claymation. Artists give clay sculptures a sense of motion by shaping and manipulating them in small steps.
Whatever way you use it, it has this one-of-a-kind physical quality that can be adorably cute or deeply disturbing.
"Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel’s famous “Sledgehammer” is a mind-bending example, combining different methods with claymation for an absolutely crazy experience. It’s like seeing someone’s fever dream realized in squishy, vibrant beauty.
10- Experimental/Mixed Media
Experimental/Mixed Media is where animators really let loose and break all the rules. These videos mash up different styles, techniques, and even live-action footage to create something totally unique.
It’s like animation’s wild child, always pushing boundaries. These videos often leave you wondering, “How the heck did they do that?” – in the best possible way.
"Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden
This legendary video offers a remarkable and rather disturbing watching experience by combining strange, twisted, distorted animation elements with live-action.
Björk's "I Miss You"
“I Miss You” by Björk is a great example of this because it mixes strange 2D animation with warped live video to make a really strange and interesting experience.
What Is the Best Software for Creating Animated Music Videos?
Here’s a table with some popular options used by animators and companies:
Software | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Adobe After Effects | Motion Graphics/Compositing | 2D animation, VFX, motion graphics |
Autodesk Maya | 3D Animation | 3D modeling, animation, rendering |
Toon Boom Harmony | 2D Animation | Traditional 2D animation, rigging |
Blender | 3D Animation | 3D modeling, animation (open-source) |
Adobe Animate | 2D Animation | Vector animation, interactive content |
Cinema 4D | 3D Animation | Motion graphics, 3D modeling |
TV Paint | 2D Animation | Digital hand-drawn animation |
Houdini | 3D Animation | VFX, particle simulations |
Moho (Anime Studio) | 2D Animation | 2D rigged animation |
Dragonframe | Stop Motion | Stop motion animation |
What Is the Whole Process of Creating an Animated Music Video?
This amazing adventure blends art, technology, and a great deal of imagination. Here are the main components and steps that top animated music video companies follow:
1- Music Synchronization
This is where it all begins. You really must get that ideal connection between the rhythm and the images. It’s like choreographing a dance but substituting 3D models or drawings for humans.
Animators schedule their images to meet certain marks and often indicate significant events in the music using software, maybe a drum beat or a vocal crescendo.
2- Visual Storytelling
Here is where you decide on the visual narrative to provide. Are the lyrics taken literally? Or are you making up a whole new world based on the mood of the song? Even if it’s abstract, a good animated music video has a narrative arc and is not just random, amazing graphics.
Consider films like Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” whose paint animation chronicles a romance disintegrating.
3- Character Design
This is very important whether or not your video has people. You essentially are building actors from nothing! Whether they are human-like or pure imagination animals, they must be expressive and complement the mood of the music.
4- Storyboarding
Making a storyboard is like making a plan for your movie. Animators plot camera angles, character positioning, main events, and crucial scenes. It’s not perfect, but it shows how the whole video will move.
It’s better to know that every music video for a three to four-minute song might have between 100 and 200 plot frames.
5- Color Palettern
The atmosphere is determined by colors. While strong primary colors could increase the intensity, a pastel palette might provide a dreamlike sensation.
Smart animators consider color psychology, maybe using blues for peace or reds for passion. The color scheme might even change as the mood of the song does.
6- Art Style
This is your video’s general appearance. Are you intending for sleek 3D? Hand-drawn two-dimensional design? Grungy stops-motion? The image should complement the tale you’re telling and the song. Certain videos even combine techniques for maximum effect.
7- Visual effects (VFX)
These are the elegant elements that boost oomph. Particle effects, like sparkles or smoke, lighting tricks, or crazy cuts between scenes, are some examples. VFX can transform a decent film into a “How did they DO that?!” experience.
8- Lyric Visualization
You may choose to underline the words at times. This might be as simple as well-timed words on a screen or as intricate as having the lyrics change into objects or characters. It’s a fantastic approach to guarantee the song’s message is loud and clear.
9- Mood And Atmosphere
These concerns elicit an emotion. It’s in the illumination, the backdrops, the movement of objects. An aggressive rock song may have a darker, more dynamic mood; a relaxing lo-fi tune could have a pleasant, warm ambiance.
10- Editing and Tempo
At last, you have to put it together. Here, you choose the duration of every shot, the way transitions operate, and the general flow of the whole project.
How Much Does It Cost To Create Animated Music Video?
In some cases, making a cartoon music video can really hurt your wallet. On the low end, you may get away with spending around $3,000 to $5,000 if you’re discussing a basic motion graphics film or a straightforward 2D animation.
The truth is, however, that the price tag increases quicker than a rocket as soon as you begin adding more complex animations, 3D features, or a longer running length.
You may get paid anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 for a mid-range animated music video with reasonable production value. But if you really want to wow people with something amazing, like a full 3D movie with great effects, it will cost you at least $30,000.
And about those videos like mini-movies? The heavens are the limit; some upscale shows may go much over $100,000.
Read More: How Much Does an Animated Music Video Cost?
Need Animated Music Video Service at the Best Price?
We are here to get you to your answer. Pixune animated music video company is nice in that they are not only producing formulaically perfect work. Their first concern is working with artists to produce something original.
Whether your vision is a hand-drawn 2D masterpiece or a surreal 3D fantasy, they have the ability to realize it. Pixune, however, is all about discovering the ideal balance between affordable costs and striking images.
They understand that every project is unique, having worked with both independent musicians and well-known stars. These people aren’t just tech nerds, even though they’re good at tech. They’re artists who are excited to make your creative ideas come to life on screen.
Last Words
What a ride, correct? My head’s still whirling in the nicest conceivable manner; we have just sped through the crazy world of animated music videos. I’m not sure about you. We’ve seen everything, from pencil sketches that come to life to mind-bending 3D worlds.
Simply put, there’s a way to make your music shine on film, whether you’re a big-shot with funds to spend or a penniless musician with stars in her eyes. Now is the time to be creative, find the right team (hello, Pixune!), and let your mind run wild.
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