Music videos have long been a great showcase for all kinds of animation. The main task of a music video is to sell the song through eye-catching visuals, and what’s more eye-catching than animation set to music, especially in a sea of live-action footage of bands performing? As their popularity and budgets grew, music videos became experimental short films designed for the general public, with animation playing a major role. Here are some of the finest animated music videos ever to grace the small screen.
Some of these songs contain language not suitable for all audiences. View at your own discretion. Bring on the videos!
Before I get started with this week’s regular (and early) article, I have an announcement: I’m on a podcast! The MuppetCast is a podcast devoted to the appreciation of Jim Henson, the Muppets, and everything related to them. MuppetCast host Steve Swanson kindly allowed me to come on his show and talk with him about the very best animation from acclaimed granddaddy of all educational children’s shows, Sesame Street.
To hear the show, you can either go to the MuppetCast website and listen to it there, or you can search the iTunes store for “MuppetCast” and download your 100% free copy of Show #164 for playback on your listening device of choice. You can also find links to help you subscribe to The MuppetCast with either iTunes or Zune at the MuppetCast website. (Just scroll down a little.)
Huge thanks to Steve Swanson for letting me crash his podcast and for being such a gracious host. I had a great time recording the segment and I hope all of you will have just as much fun listening to it.
In honor of my podcast debut, I’m keeping with the Sesame Street theme for this week’s article. We’ll be looking at a recent contest that offered animators the chance to see their work air on Sesame Street/
Yesterday brought the sad news that Art Clokey, best known as the creator of Gumby and Davey and Goliath, had passed away at age 89. This obituary gives a nice overview of his life and work. Above is Clokey’s short film “Gumbasia” – the name being a combination of “gumbo”, the nickname for the clay-like mud Clokey used to play with when visiting his grandfather’s farm, and the Disney film Fantastia. Clokey’s work was a huge influence on the world of animation and he will be greatly missed.
