13 Iconic Musician Animated Music Videos, From Anime to Videogames

Kapanlagi.com - High-quality music works from world-class musicians are becoming more relevant with the interpretation of their listeners. Therefore, it is almost mandatory that the release of a song is accompanied by supporting visuals through a music video, or commonly known as a video clip.

Often, the concept presented by musicians to support their music works is very unique. One that always catches attention is the brilliant animation concept.

Of the many animation-concept music videos, some of them fall into the category of iconic, capable of attracting the attention of fans and casual music enthusiasts. What are some of these music videos?

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

Talking about legendary bands, the name Red Hot Chili Peppers certainly cannot be left out. For over 20 years, Flea and the gang have successfully become psychedelic rock icons through the music they presented.

One of them is through the single CALIFORNICATION which was released in 1999. This single was also released in the form of an animation-concept music video. In this music video, it features a free room video game concept that is synonymous with the gaming industry at that time.

2. Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter

In 2016, two talented young electronic dance music producers, Porter Robinson and Madeon, collaborated on the single SHELTER, which successfully shook the music industry through the presented MV.

This MV features a heartwarming Japanese anime short movie format. The making of this MV and short movie also involved two major film studios in Japan and the United States, A-1 Pictures and Crunchyroll.

3. a-ha - Take On Me

The song TAKE ON ME is inseparable from the senior band a-ha. Not only is the song iconic for topping the world music charts and being the OST for the James Bond film titled THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, but the single TAKE ON ME also has an amazing MV concept.

The MV, released in 1985, has an animation concept that was still rarely used at the time. As a result, a series of achievements were achieved. At the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, this single won several awards such as Best New Artist in a Video, Best Concept Video, Most Experimental Video, Best Direction, Best Special Effects, and Viewer's Choice.

4. Avenged Sevenfold - A Little Piece of Heaven

Although animated, the music video for this single is not recommended for children under age due to its gore and violence. This is because the music video for A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN has a concept of gore that is full of violence here and there. It is reasonable, as Avenged Sevenfold as a hardcore band is synonymous with something fierce in both performance and artwork produced.

5. HONNE- No Song Without You

In 2020, the alternative pop duo HONNE released a romantic single titled NO SONG WITHOUT YOU. Released together with a lyric video, the concept taken is simple animation that tells the story of two people who are always together. The purplish-blue color tone adds a romantic impression to this single.

6. Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit

Taken from the album METEORA, the single BREAKING THE HABIT is the flagship number from the numetal band Linkin Park. Telling the story of the ups and downs of life, the animated music video released also became iconic for fans. It is no wonder that this music video was able to enter the nomination for Best Rock Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Award.

7. Billie Eilish - My Future

Since OCEAN EYES was released in 2016, Billie Eilish's career has dramatically increased over time. Through the album CALM MORNINGS, there are several flagship songs including MY FUTURE. Interestingly, the MV offered in this song visualizes the animated version of Billie Eilish complete with all the life problems she faces.

8. Daft Punk - One More Time

Daft Punk has decided to retire from the music world since early 2021. However, their music will always be everlasting, especially since this French duo is a pioneer of electronic dance music in the world.

Their second album released in 2001 also became iconic, one of which was through the single ONE MORE TIME. In addition to its ear-catchy song, ONE MORE TIME was also released through a brilliant MV with a classic 80s anime concept.

9. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

The music project of the Blur frontman, Damon Albarn, named Gorillaz was a sensation in the MTV era. Especially if not the animation concept starting from MV to performing on stage.

One of the most iconic works is certainly FEEL GOOD INC. Practically, this song also helped Gorillaz spread its wings in the world of music.

10. Lady Gaga & BLACKPINK - Sour Candy

SOUR CANDY, which is the iconic and debut collaboration of Lady Gaga and BLACKPINK, is included in the CHROMATICA album released in 2020. The unique aspect of this song is not only through its rich character instruments, but also through its lyric video.

In the lyric video, BLACKPINK and Lady Gaga are portrayed as animated characters with different colors. Such as Jennie with blue color, Rose with red color, Jisoo with purple color, Lisa with yellow color, and Lady Gaga who appears with pink color.

11. Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

It feels incomplete without including a work from the famous Australian psychedelic unit, Tame Impala. Through the single FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS, Kevin Parker, the leader of Tame Impala, brings listeners into a trance with his music. Not only that, but the visualization displayed through the MV also makes this song perfect for those who want to relax.

12. Stephanie Poetri - Straight To You

The sudden pandemic that emerged in 2020 made a series of musicians think creatively, including Stephanie Poetri. The single STRAIGHT TO YOU, which already had a concept for an MV, had to shift gears through a visual theme of a 16-bit video game with iconic pixels.

13. Radiohead - Paranoid Android

The last entry for this MV list comes from the single PARANOID ANDROID by Radiohead. Taken from the album OK COMPUTER, Thom Yorke made this song iconic throughout the ages by being the only Radiohead single with an animated MV concept on that album.

(kpl/jef)