My chosen animation comes from the Documentary Series ‘Monster Bug Wars’. What differentiates my animations from the ones we viewed last time is the particular style. As the name suggests, MBW is a tv series showcasing real battles between bugs in a ‘nature documentary meets wrestling’ style. It features standard 3D animation on all black background. The animation plays at the begging and middle of fights to showcase anatomy and the different weapons each bug utilizes. Yes, it is very dramatic and often cheesy. But that’s what makes it a fun watch. The animations play their part in making the fights appear like a huge spectacle, and the simplicity the cgi enhances the main focus of the short stories.
The animated music video “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”, music by Tame Impala and animated by many people including Joseph Pelling, Becky Sloan, Azusa Nakagawa, Theo Nunn, and many others, is a clay animation that follows the story/message of the song. It is to show the feeling of being stuck in a loop and feeling as though you don’t go anywhere. In my opinion, the unique and psychedelic visual style and approach to storytelling have left a lasting impression and mark on the animation and music video industry. Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling in particular are very noticeable for their work on don’t hug me I’m scared, the reason why they are so impactful because they are one of the brightest examples of youtube animators/creators that started out with youtube and with their success from youtube were able to move up in the animation industry and build their career from starting out independently. This is even more of a reason why this was a big impact on the industry. Their work not only captivates viewers but also to be able to inspire more people to create more experimental animations. I also think it is interesting how they used the repeating of patterns to reinforce the concept of the song only going backward and creating a feeling of being stuck in a loop, however, they also show although we feel stuck there can still be joy and beauty in the journey. The bold colors create a sense of joy and sadness to show a message about love and loss. This animation is important to me because I can not only relate to the message of feeling stuck in a loop, but i also see it as a inspiration for me , and it is so interesting to see all the possibilities as to where it can be taken. This animation inspires me to practice and become better at claymation to someday be able to create something to this skill level.
Works Cited
Amidi, Amid. “”Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Becky & Joe.” Cartoon Brew, https://www.cartoonbrew.com/music-videos/feels-like-we-only-go-backwards-by-becky-joe-73447.html. Accessed 19 September 2024.
“Becky Sloan.” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5355336/. Accessed 19 September 2024.
“Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared press pack interview with Becky Sloan, Joe Pelling and Baker Terry.” Channel 4, 23 September 2022, https://www.channel4.com/press/news/dont-hug-me-im-scared-press-pack-interview-becky-sloan-joe-pelling-and-baker-terry-0. Accessed 19 September 2024.
Glover, Donald. “Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Official Video).” YouTube, 8 November 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycjnCCgUes. Accessed 19 September 2024.
https://www.channel4.com/press/news/dont-hug-me-im-scared-press-pack-interview-becky-sloan-joe-pelling-and-baker-terry-0. Accessed 19 September 2024.
Glover, Donald. “Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Official Video).” YouTube, 8 November 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycjnCCgUes. Accessed 19 September 2024.
The music video I chose is from the Rhythm game, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA. While there are many different versions of the game, the specific game i pulled from is Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F. All the music videos are played in the background of the game.
I chose one of my favorite songs, “The MMORPG Addicts Anthem”.
The animation studio who did most of the animating for this game is Marza Animation Planet, a japanese based animation studio who also is under video game company, SEGA. Founded in 2005, they do CGI for SEGA video games and some movies, notably the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
They collaborated with Crypton Future Media, the creators of the Vocaloid software that helps make the songs in the games, the songs in the games are made by composers who used the software to make them. In order to make the music videos they start with a motion capture of a person dancing, and they CGI on top of said motion capture. The choreographer for the game would listen to the song and then make a dance to go with it, then send it to the dancer and then the dancer would send it to the animation studio.
I think that the animation studio has impacted a lot of people, they had let open the gates for people who never animated before, to try out 3D/CGI animation. I also find it unique how they use motion capture as a base for their animation.
This is important to me because its been a huge impact of my life from the music, all the way to the art and fanbase.
Studio Killers is an electropop virtual band of British-Finnish-Danishorigins founded in 2007, featuring multimedia animated characters; vocalist and designer Cherry, keyboardist Goldie Foxx, and DJ Dyna Mink. The band members keep their identities unknown, and all fan interaction is done via their cartoon alter-egos.
While the fictional character Cherry is credited as the band artist, the actual character designer and animator behind the band is Finnish animator, visual, and character designer Eliza Jäppinen, who’s very prolific in her own right, having co-founded Anima Boutique, one of the top animation studios in Finnland. (Studio Killers lineup, biography | Last.fm)
During an interview, Jäppinen describes pinning down Cherrys’ design, and the experience of drawing her; “[Cherry] – to me she’s a real person. She’s not me, she’s not one of the singers. She’s like a spirit. When I drew her, when I heard her song, I was like, ‘There you are! Let me look at you! I’ve finally caught her, like a Pokemon.’” (Motionographer® SPECTRUM: Eliza Jappinen)
In an overview of Studio Killers’animated music videos, there is a delicious combination of 2D and 3D work, and some incredibly excellent-looking interaction between their different methods, especially in their debut 2011 animated music video “Ode to the Bouncer”
Beholders beware, it’s very saucy. Warning for references to violence, sex, drugs, and dancing.
Studio Killers work is illustrative, innovative, and goregeous. It has a flow, and they have the ambition to branch out (look them up, they have a 2D animated series pilot!) I love the mixed styles, the texture, and the grittiness that they add to their 3D models. I delight in the symbolism and artistic flair in their music videos and character designs.
