07: Bedshaped, Keane / Butterfly

Bedshaped, Keane
Butterfly
Corin Hardy, 2004

When I think of my favourite animated music videos I think in particular of this one. I saw this when I was 14 and I was just starting to wonder about what I wanted to do with my life, and an absurd idea forming in the very back of my head whispered "I want to do THAT."

Bedshaped is one of many creepy stop motion videos that are floating around out there. Another one that pops to mind is Insanity (Which I have pondered blogging but it seems redunant seeing as I love the song more than the mind-boggling video), but of course this is a full on model based animation, rather than toys.

What I didn't know about Bedshaped at the time is that the models and the story ( I haven't seen the whole movie yet but I really want to now) is that they're from a previous movie directed by Corin Hardy.

In the interests of being a good blogger I found the trailer, and oh my...is it beautiful. When you watch Bedshaped you always wonder what the rest of that world is like outside the stall, and the trailer gives you a very good idea of what horrors are out there.

It's a very perfectly imperfect style. It's a very fine-artsy approach to an unrealistic world. Stop motion in general is supposed to be Jerky and incomplete movement, which is what gives it its charm. When you watch old movies like Jason and the Argonauts for example, especially the scene with the skeletons, you get the feeling the animator is trying too hard to be realistic. When you watch the tears fall jerkily from Boy's face in Bedshaped, you geniunely feel sad but its detatched in a way that feels real.

Heartbreakingly beautiful...I only hope that I can achieve such a wonderful work of art one day.

Go to Colin Hardy's Myspace to find out about more of the music videos he's produced for some very popular english bands.
Or to his website.

06: Flowers, Emilie Simon

Flowers, Emilie Simon
Cosa Productions, 2003

Oh god is it hard to find information about this video- I've had problems with it before, and its what made me give up the dA version of this blog. But that's all behind me now. I have completed the task, after completely forgetting everything the first time I tried finding it all out- I just ended up going back to the exact same blog I got the production company name from the last time. Oy Vey...
Anyway, Flowers is possibly my favourite video I've stumbled across this year. And it's easy to see why right? I'm only going to mention the Burton connection ONCE because its everywhere else I've come across people going on about it. YES it has that creepy cuteness that His Stopmotion pieces have- a child could point that out.

Being a music video, it has ALOT more detail, and dare I say skill in it. I'm also going to throw it out there and ask; Is this ACTUAL stop motion? I rather want to disagree, because even if it is only 2:47 long, Stop motion has a hell of alot of work involved. Considering the small amount of time between single release and the video coming out, I'm gunna say no. It's a very masterful imitation of StopMotion but it just can't be- Look how long Coraline is taking!

The video features some stunning settings, and has a very charming feel around it which echoes the timeless yet modern music. And has some very cute and creepy character design. Including...
...A Frankenstein Monster who plays the upright bass...
...A werewolf on the guitar...
...A Vampire on the Keyboards...

...And this guy who I love, but does nothing but play with his steampunky toys.

It's a beautiful video, and I urge you too go take a look- or if you've already seen it, another.
That song will stick in your head all evening.