Greatest Music Video Ever (and it’s animated)
A-ha’s “Take On Me” is the greatest music video ever made.
A bold statement, I know. The year was 1985 and music videos were still neuveau. Then this rotoscoped-inspired video hit the air. It’s less a display of the band and music itself than it is a short film, a mini-fairytale with heroes, villains, and true love in an original fantasy land. The editing is also very sharply executed, from the initial animatic-like comicbook drawings throughout the rotoscoped and live action sequences, up through the dramatic transformation at the end. Seriously, I LOVE this video. We can still learn from it today.
The video was inspired by the animated film “Commuter” created by Michael Patterson and the movie “Altered States.”
Also, check out what happens when Chris Griffin enters A-ha’s universe.
-Jake
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On January 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
From what I understand of the video it was not rotoscoped at all. The animator himself was a really good artist that worked as a medical illustrator. That is what I heard.
On January 24th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I cry every time I see this.
On January 27th, 2007 at 12:00 am
MAN; THIS TAKES ME WAY BACK TO THE MID 80′S.
I ALWAYS LOVED THE TECHNIQUE OF THIS AH HA VIDEO. DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS DIRE STRAIGHTS MONEY FOR NOTHING AND THE ROLLING STONES’ HARLEM SHUFFLE THAT JOHN K DID WITH RALPH BAKSHI; IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN.
POST THESE TOO IF YOU CAN.THANKS!
YOUR CARTOON PAL……JEFF
On January 29th, 2007 at 12:00 am
This was directed by Steve Barron, who also did Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and later went on to direct the Tenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.