So at this point we've looked at the openings for the American television show "Men In Black: The Series" and the British television show "Monty Python's Flying Circus." Continuing our journey around the world of animated television show openings, we arrive in Japan to check out the opening for the Japanese animated series ".Hack//SIGN".
".Hack//SIGN", which aired in Japan in 2002, is actually part of a larger multimedia project known as "Project .hack". The project presently consists of three animated television series and two series of Playstation 2 video games (7 games total), as well as several soundtracks and DVD-release only animated episodes. The central theme of both games and animated series alike is exploration of a futuristic virtual world in which players fully interact with one another in real-time over a single megalithic world-wide computer network.
The opening for ".Hack//SIGN", like that of "Men In Black: The Series", features both original animation and an original theme song. The song, "Obsession", whose exotic instruments and driving techno beat complement the futuristic animation, was composed by Youko Kanno, well-known for her work on many other well-known anime projects such as Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
From the other side of the globe, a stellar example of music and animation coming together to create a portal into an intriguing new world. Enjoy!
Composer: Youko Kanno, Performed by See-Saw
Song: .Hack//SIGN opening theme song
Animation: .Hack//SIGN opening animation
March 12, 2009
February 27, 2009
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Opening
In our last post, we looked at the "Men In Black: The Series" opening. It featured custom-created animation and original music for a modern-day animated science fiction series.
And now for something completely different.
British comedy group Monty Python became well-known in 1969 due to their television show "Monty Python's Flying Circus". Running for a total of four seasons, the show featured live action comedy sketches by the group's members.
However, the show's opening featured animation by the single American Python member, Terry Gilliam. Gilliam's animations, also featured in the show itself, were bizarre, surrealistic, and satirical, and his openings, set to John Philip Souza's "Liberty Bell", set the tone for the show. In all, four different animated openings were created, one for each of the show's four seasons.
Dust off your silly walks, return that dead parrot, and enjoy!
Composer: John Philip Souza
Song: Liberty Bell
Animation: Terry Gilliam, Monty Python's Flying Circus Opening Theme Song
And now for something completely different.
British comedy group Monty Python became well-known in 1969 due to their television show "Monty Python's Flying Circus". Running for a total of four seasons, the show featured live action comedy sketches by the group's members.
However, the show's opening featured animation by the single American Python member, Terry Gilliam. Gilliam's animations, also featured in the show itself, were bizarre, surrealistic, and satirical, and his openings, set to John Philip Souza's "Liberty Bell", set the tone for the show. In all, four different animated openings were created, one for each of the show's four seasons.
Dust off your silly walks, return that dead parrot, and enjoy!
Composer: John Philip Souza
Song: Liberty Bell
Animation: Terry Gilliam, Monty Python's Flying Circus Opening Theme Song
February 19, 2009
Men In Black: The Series - Opening
Up until now we've seen both music videos and music clips from movies. But there's another kind of Animated Music Video out there - television show intros!
Most Japanese anime shows feature fully custom-animated intros, set to either custom or contemporary music. However many animated TV shows in America, especially older ones, include clips from show episodes. This is primarily due to budget and time considerations, as it is both cheaper and quicker to re-use already-created animation for a show's intro sequence.
Some American animated series, however, have openings featuring completely custom animation and music. An example of this is 1997's Men In Black: The Series. MIB:TS's opening's beautifully-done animation is set to bizarre, futuristic techno riffs by composer Jim Latham, and it sets the tone for the series itself.
To paraphrase Agent J, "It makes this series look good." Click on the pic below to view the clip!
(Link to video on RetroJunk.com - embedding not available)
Composer: Jim Latham
Song: Men In Black: The Series - Opening Theme Song
Animation: Men In Black: The Series (original animation)
Most Japanese anime shows feature fully custom-animated intros, set to either custom or contemporary music. However many animated TV shows in America, especially older ones, include clips from show episodes. This is primarily due to budget and time considerations, as it is both cheaper and quicker to re-use already-created animation for a show's intro sequence.
Some American animated series, however, have openings featuring completely custom animation and music. An example of this is 1997's Men In Black: The Series. MIB:TS's opening's beautifully-done animation is set to bizarre, futuristic techno riffs by composer Jim Latham, and it sets the tone for the series itself.
To paraphrase Agent J, "It makes this series look good." Click on the pic below to view the clip!
(Link to video on RetroJunk.com - embedding not available)
Composer: Jim Latham
Song: Men In Black: The Series - Opening Theme Song
Animation: Men In Black: The Series (original animation)
February 7, 2009
The White Stripes - "Fell In Love With a Girl"
In 2002, the video for the White Stripes' song "Fell in Love With a Girl" off of their 2001 "White Blood Cells" album was released, causing an instant sensation. Directed by experimental director Michel Gondry, the video featured stop-motion animation consisting entirely of Lego blocks.
Though the concept itself was very simple and straightforward, it hadn't yet been seen in music videos, nor had it been done anywhere quite as cleverly as Gondry's clip. As a result, the video helped catapult the song - which was a hit in its own right - to the top of the charts, earning national awareness for the White Stripes.
As an interesting side note, the kid playing with the blocks at the beginning of the video is director Gondry's son. Enjoy!
Artist: The White Stripes
Song: Fell in Love With a Girl
Animation: Original
Though the concept itself was very simple and straightforward, it hadn't yet been seen in music videos, nor had it been done anywhere quite as cleverly as Gondry's clip. As a result, the video helped catapult the song - which was a hit in its own right - to the top of the charts, earning national awareness for the White Stripes.
As an interesting side note, the kid playing with the blocks at the beginning of the video is director Gondry's son. Enjoy!
Artist: The White Stripes
Song: Fell in Love With a Girl
Animation: Original
January 28, 2009
Paula Abdul - "Opposites Attract"
Many people know Paula Abdul from the hit reality TV show "American Idol". Many also know her from her string of hit songs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, far fewer know her as one of the early pioneers of animated music videos.
Though not nearly as experimental or surreal as the videos for "Sledgehammer" or "Yellow Submarine", the 1991 video for Paula's song "Opposites Attract" off of her 1988 debut album "Forever Your Girl" features a mix of live action and traditional drawn animation, with Abdul dancing and singing with an animated cartoon character known as MC Skat Cat. In this respect, the video is very similar to the 1988 animated film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", which was famous for its interaction between real people and animated characters.
The video won a Grammy for "Best Short Form Music Video" in 1991, and the song, like many others off of the "Forever Your Girl" album, was extremely popular. Over time, it has become a notable landmark in animated music video history.
Take two steps forward, take two steps back, and enjoy the video!
Artist: Paula Abdul
Song: Opposites Attract
Animation: Original
Though not nearly as experimental or surreal as the videos for "Sledgehammer" or "Yellow Submarine", the 1991 video for Paula's song "Opposites Attract" off of her 1988 debut album "Forever Your Girl" features a mix of live action and traditional drawn animation, with Abdul dancing and singing with an animated cartoon character known as MC Skat Cat. In this respect, the video is very similar to the 1988 animated film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", which was famous for its interaction between real people and animated characters.
The video won a Grammy for "Best Short Form Music Video" in 1991, and the song, like many others off of the "Forever Your Girl" album, was extremely popular. Over time, it has become a notable landmark in animated music video history.
Take two steps forward, take two steps back, and enjoy the video!
Artist: Paula Abdul
Song: Opposites Attract
Animation: Original
January 19, 2009
Lou Reed - "My Name is Mok"
Many people are familiar with the R-Rated animated film "Heavy Metal". Animated in Canada in 1981, the film became well-known for subject matter that went well beyond the typical kiddie fare.
However, far fewer are familiar with another Canadian-animated film called "Rock & Rule". Released in 1983, two years after Heavy Metal, it also featured an adult story line, as well as musical performances by Deborah "Debbie" Harry, Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, Earth, Wind & Fire and Iggy Pop. However, the film failed to perform well and nearly bankrupted its producer, animation house Nelvana.
As the name suggests, the story of "Rock & Rule" is sort of a futuristic, post-apocalyptic "battle of the bands." Lou Reed's song, "My Name is Mok", features a video where film's villain appears in classically self-aggrandizing fashion. The villain's full name is "Mok Swagger", and he is supposedly a parody of famous rock legend Mick Jagger - a fact which, at the time, didn't sit well with the Stones' front man's attorneys.
To paraphrase the villainous rocker, Rock & Rule and the "My Name is Mok" clip just might just be "the greatest things since World War III." Check it out!
NOTE: The music video itself only runs until about 2:03 in the above clip.
Artist: Lou Reed
Song: My Name Is Mok
Animation: Rock & Rule (feature film)
However, far fewer are familiar with another Canadian-animated film called "Rock & Rule". Released in 1983, two years after Heavy Metal, it also featured an adult story line, as well as musical performances by Deborah "Debbie" Harry, Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, Earth, Wind & Fire and Iggy Pop. However, the film failed to perform well and nearly bankrupted its producer, animation house Nelvana.
As the name suggests, the story of "Rock & Rule" is sort of a futuristic, post-apocalyptic "battle of the bands." Lou Reed's song, "My Name is Mok", features a video where film's villain appears in classically self-aggrandizing fashion. The villain's full name is "Mok Swagger", and he is supposedly a parody of famous rock legend Mick Jagger - a fact which, at the time, didn't sit well with the Stones' front man's attorneys.
To paraphrase the villainous rocker, Rock & Rule and the "My Name is Mok" clip just might just be "the greatest things since World War III." Check it out!
NOTE: The music video itself only runs until about 2:03 in the above clip.
Artist: Lou Reed
Song: My Name Is Mok
Animation: Rock & Rule (feature film)
January 14, 2009
The Beatles - "Yellow Submarine"
All right, so we've gone all the way back to 1986 with Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer". But what about before then? Was the world a dark, dreary place with no music set to animation?
Of course not.
MTV, in its original form, was instrumental (no pun intended) in bringing a great many animation-filled music videos to the TV-watching public. However, examples of animated music videos existed long before the cable network did. One such example is the title track from legendary band The Beatles's 1968 film, "Yellow Submarine". The clip is well-known for its trippy, psychadelic style, and the soundtrack for the film became an integral part of the Beatles' discography.
One of the hallmarks of the hippie-driven psychadelic era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Yellow Submarine clip is one of the great pioneers of animated musical synergy. Groovy, man, groovy.
Artist: The Beatles
Song: Yellow Submarine
Animation: Yellow Submarine (feature film)
Of course not.
MTV, in its original form, was instrumental (no pun intended) in bringing a great many animation-filled music videos to the TV-watching public. However, examples of animated music videos existed long before the cable network did. One such example is the title track from legendary band The Beatles's 1968 film, "Yellow Submarine". The clip is well-known for its trippy, psychadelic style, and the soundtrack for the film became an integral part of the Beatles' discography.
One of the hallmarks of the hippie-driven psychadelic era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Yellow Submarine clip is one of the great pioneers of animated musical synergy. Groovy, man, groovy.
Artist: The Beatles
Song: Yellow Submarine
Animation: Yellow Submarine (feature film)
January 6, 2009
Fluke - "Atom Bomb"
Another song featured in the soundtrack for the video game "Wipeout 2097", Fluke's 1996 single "Atom Bomb", was accompanied by a video that featured a mix of in-game animation, custom 3D animation, traditionally-drawn animation and live-action sequences.
There are actually two versions of this video. The embedded one below is the version that appeared on MTV's electronica show "AMP". The other version, apparently the official Caroline/Astralwerks version (embedding disabled, of course), features much of the same footage, edited differently, set to a slightly longer version of the song. Whichever version you prefer, enjoy this mid-90s electronica classic!
NOTE: As this is a production copy, the actual music video starts at about 0:30 in the above clip.
Artist: Fluke
Song: Atom Bomb
Animation: Original
There are actually two versions of this video. The embedded one below is the version that appeared on MTV's electronica show "AMP". The other version, apparently the official Caroline/Astralwerks version (embedding disabled, of course), features much of the same footage, edited differently, set to a slightly longer version of the song. Whichever version you prefer, enjoy this mid-90s electronica classic!
NOTE: As this is a production copy, the actual music video starts at about 0:30 in the above clip.
Artist: Fluke
Song: Atom Bomb
Animation: Original
January 1, 2009
Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood"
What do you get when the actual members of a band are animated characters? You got it - animated music videos! A collaboration between Blur frontman Damon Albam and comic book illustrator Jamie Hewlitt, the band Gorillaz features four virtual "members" - 2-D (vocals, UK), Murdoc Niccols (bass, UK), Russel Hobbs (drums, US), and Noodle (guitar, vocals, JP).
The song "Clint Eastwood" is one of the band's best-known tracks, and features the band's signature alternative electronic pop style, mixed with rap. The video for the song is done in the band's typically surrealistic style and features graveyards, gorillas, a blue rapping genie-esque ethereal being named "Del" (representing rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien) that is supposedly hidden inside Russel's body and, of course, the band itself. At the end of the video, the band's first, there is a "curtain call" of sorts, showing each band member and his/her name.
Original animation, original music, even original characters! Gorillaz is all about originality and breaking from the norm, in animated and real-world context. Click below to check out "Clint Eastwood".
(Unfortunately, Capitol Music has disabled embedding for this clip)
Artist: Gorillaz
Song: Clint Eastwood
Animation: Original
The song "Clint Eastwood" is one of the band's best-known tracks, and features the band's signature alternative electronic pop style, mixed with rap. The video for the song is done in the band's typically surrealistic style and features graveyards, gorillas, a blue rapping genie-esque ethereal being named "Del" (representing rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien) that is supposedly hidden inside Russel's body and, of course, the band itself. At the end of the video, the band's first, there is a "curtain call" of sorts, showing each band member and his/her name.
Original animation, original music, even original characters! Gorillaz is all about originality and breaking from the norm, in animated and real-world context. Click below to check out "Clint Eastwood".
(Unfortunately, Capitol Music has disabled embedding for this clip)
Artist: Gorillaz
Song: Clint Eastwood
Animation: Original
Happy New Year 2009!
It's 2009 - a brand new year full of brand new possibilities and, of course, brand new posts featuring amazing combinations of animation and music! There are still many great works out there, and AMV TV remains dedicated to bringing them to you!
Best wishes for a prosperous, music and animation-filled year!
Best wishes for a prosperous, music and animation-filled year!
December 29, 2008
Future Sound of London - "We Have Explosive"
Future Sound of London's 1997 video for the song "We Have Explosive" off of their 1996 "Dead Cities" album is one of the strangest videos ever to air on MTV's techno-themed video show "AMP". The song, which is one of the band's most popular, first became known due to its appearance in the 1996 video game "Wipeout 2097", and eventually found its way onto the first MTV "AMP" techno music compilation.
The animation for the video was directed by Run Wrake, a visionary London-based animator known for bizarre but fluid animation style and design. The combination of strange, gritty techno with insane, surrealistic animation makes for a truly unique and memorable animated music video experience.
Artist: Future Sound of London
Song: We Have Explosive
Animation: Original
The animation for the video was directed by Run Wrake, a visionary London-based animator known for bizarre but fluid animation style and design. The combination of strange, gritty techno with insane, surrealistic animation makes for a truly unique and memorable animated music video experience.
Artist: Future Sound of London
Song: We Have Explosive
Animation: Original
Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
Peter Gabriel's biggest hit in North America was the song "Sledgehammer" from his 1986 album "So". Part of the reason for the song's success was its wildly innovative animated music video, featuring stop-motion, live action rotoscoped, and clay animation. The clay animation was done by Nick Park and Aardman animation, now famous for its Wallace and Grommit films and California Raisins spots.
Peter Gabriel worked patiently with the animation team to create the video - it required holding poses and moving only very slightly at a time for hours on end. Apart from one brief sequence towards the very end of the video, everything is animated. The end result of the team's efforts was one of the most well-known animated music videos of all time.
Created only four years after the launch of MTV, this video is truly an old-school classic.
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Song: Sledgehammer
Animation: Original
Peter Gabriel worked patiently with the animation team to create the video - it required holding poses and moving only very slightly at a time for hours on end. Apart from one brief sequence towards the very end of the video, everything is animated. The end result of the team's efforts was one of the most well-known animated music videos of all time.
Created only four years after the launch of MTV, this video is truly an old-school classic.
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Song: Sledgehammer
Animation: Original
December 27, 2008
Pearl Jam - "Do the Evolution"
The video for the 5th track on Pearl Jam's 1998 "Yield" album featured a collaborative effort between Kevin Altieri, a director from Batman the Animated Series and Todd McFarlane, the well-known comic book artist.
The video, which took a total of 16 weeks to produce, was the first to be released by Pearl Jam after their catastrophic experience with the video for "Jeremy" off of their hit album "Ten".
Watching the video, Altieri's Batman directing experience and McFarlane's unique style shine through. The video and song were never monster hits, but it remains a shining example of a well thought-out merging of animation and music. Click on the image below to check it out!
(Unfortunately, Sony BMG has disabled embedding for this video)
Song: Do The Evolution
Artist: Pearl Jam
Animation: Original
The video, which took a total of 16 weeks to produce, was the first to be released by Pearl Jam after their catastrophic experience with the video for "Jeremy" off of their hit album "Ten".
Watching the video, Altieri's Batman directing experience and McFarlane's unique style shine through. The video and song were never monster hits, but it remains a shining example of a well thought-out merging of animation and music. Click on the image below to check it out!
(Unfortunately, Sony BMG has disabled embedding for this video)
Song: Do The Evolution
Artist: Pearl Jam
Animation: Original
December 26, 2008
KMFDM - "A Drug Against War"
The video for KMFDM's song "A Drug Against War" from their 1993 "Angst" album featured incredibly vivid 2D woodcut-style animation as well as 3D animation and 2D computer morphing effects, complementing the driving, heavy song.
Though a bit obscure now, it was an incredibly innovative music video, and stands the test of time. Keep in mind, it was made two years before Toy Story, and well before Flash animated clips were commonplace.
Song: A Drug Against War
Artist: KMFDM
Animation: Original
Though a bit obscure now, it was an incredibly innovative music video, and stands the test of time. Keep in mind, it was made two years before Toy Story, and well before Flash animated clips were commonplace.
Song: A Drug Against War
Artist: KMFDM
Animation: Original
Matthew Sweet - "Girlfriend"
The video for the title track off of Matthew Sweet's 1991 album featured footage from the Japanese animation series "Space Adventure Cobra". Together with his video for "I've Been Waiting", Sweet introduced many American viewers to the world of anime, which was still relatively new to the US at the time.
Song: Girlfriend
Artist: Matthew Sweet
Animation: Space Adventure Cobra
Song: Girlfriend
Artist: Matthew Sweet
Animation: Space Adventure Cobra
Matthew Sweet - "I've Been Waiting"
For the second AMV TV entry, a video featuring original music set to existing animation. The video for Matthew Sweet's "I've Been Waiting" song off of his 1991 album "Girlfriend featured animation from the Japanese animation (anime) "Urusei Yatsura".
At the time, anime was far less well-known in the United States than it is now, and it made quite an impression. To this day, Matthew Sweet is still known in anime circles for his innovative videos.
Nothing like being ahead of the curve!
Song: I've Been Waiting
Artist: Matthew Sweet
Animation: Urusei Yatsura
At the time, anime was far less well-known in the United States than it is now, and it made quite an impression. To this day, Matthew Sweet is still known in anime circles for his innovative videos.
Nothing like being ahead of the curve!
Song: I've Been Waiting
Artist: Matthew Sweet
Animation: Urusei Yatsura
Tom Petty - "Runnin' Down a Dream"
For the first entry on AMV TV, a video featuring both original music and original animation. Tom Petty's video for "Runnin' Down a Dream" from his hit 1989 album "Full Moon Fever" features animation reminiscent of 1930s and 1940s cartoons, and was extremely innovative for its time.
Original music, original animation, catchy tune... what more could you ask for? Click on the image below to view the video!
(Unfortunately, Universal Music Group has disabled embedding for this video)
Song: Runnin' Down a Dream
Artist: Tom Petty
Animation: Original
Original music, original animation, catchy tune... what more could you ask for? Click on the image below to view the video!
(Unfortunately, Universal Music Group has disabled embedding for this video)
Song: Runnin' Down a Dream
Artist: Tom Petty
Animation: Original
Welcome to AMV TV!
Welcome to Animated Music Video Television, or AMV TV (which is a lot easier to say!) This blog is designed to highlight and showcase some of the best examples of music videos that feature animated content.
Many of the videos featured on this blog are a combination of existing songs and animation edited together. However, some feature original music, some feature original animation, and some feature both!
While browsing through this blog, please keep in mind that both animation and music take a lot of time and effort to create. So, if you enjoy a video, please consider supporting the original artists by purchasing their CDs, mp3s or DVDs. After all, without them, none of these videos (or this blog) would exist!
And now, without further ado, on to the AMVs!
Many of the videos featured on this blog are a combination of existing songs and animation edited together. However, some feature original music, some feature original animation, and some feature both!
While browsing through this blog, please keep in mind that both animation and music take a lot of time and effort to create. So, if you enjoy a video, please consider supporting the original artists by purchasing their CDs, mp3s or DVDs. After all, without them, none of these videos (or this blog) would exist!
And now, without further ado, on to the AMVs!
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