Konx-Om-Pax: You Got Me Up
It’s the simple things in life. Cats purring in your arms. Black and white doodles in your notebook. Rotoscoped video of cats in your arms made to look like black and white doodles in your notebook.
Okay, so maybe that last one wasn’t so simple, but for some reason, Konx-Om-Pax’s new video for Warp’s Jamie Lidell is oddly entertaining.
m4v format (for your ipod, if you’re into that sort of thing)
mov format (for your computer, if you’re into that sort of thing)
It’s nothing new, really. Rotoscoping’s been around about as long as animation, and technically speaking, there are better examples of its capabilities out there. Who can forget A-Ha’s legendary Take On Me video? (Oops. It appears I just gave away my age.)
I think it’s the video’s unique combination of subject matter and style that does it for me. The subject matter is deceptively dumb at first: a guy holding his cat while singing a song. But as the cat grows ever more agitated and the guy juggles it more and more, the whole thing becomes oddly amusing. I start to sympathize with the cat about halfway through the song. And that’s pretty rare for me, because usually I don’t give a shit what cats are thinking. I figure since they don’t give a shit what I’m thinking, we’re even.
The sketchy style works, too. The music is a mish-mash of rhythms and sounds, uneven and rough around the edges but somehow coherent at its core. The visuals work this way as well, clearly representing true-to-life form and movement while suffering from agitated scratches and juts of black. I don’t know. It just works.
Visit Konx-Om-Pax’s site | Jamie Lidell on Warp Records
Big ups to Emmanuel Dumont for bringing this video to my attention.
Thursday, May 18th 2006 at 7:01 am |
Hmmm. You post quite a lot of good stuff… this one sure wasn’t post worthy dude!
Thursday, May 18th 2006 at 12:46 pm |
Your play on words are always entertaining to read Justin, whether the links are universally pleasing to “Those Guys” or not… keep it up.
Those who like to sketch, own cats, and rotoscope every once in a while may have more of an appreciation for something like this.
It made me smile, that’s for sure.
Thursday, May 18th 2006 at 1:43 pm |
It’s entertaining for about 30 seconds.
Funny how motion designers get fixated about style, form and animation technique over content and ideas.
Thursday, May 18th 2006 at 3:29 pm |
It doesn’t really break free from home movie (look what I can do!)
still, it held me captivated, but maybe that’s cus i like cats.
Thursday, May 18th 2006 at 7:29 pm |
“Funny how motion designers get fixated about style, form and animation technique over content and ideas.”
Wow, worst generalization of the year. (So far.) Normally I let shit like that slide, but you’re getting a little personal for a guy who has a degree in creative writing and has made dozens of posts in the past lauding the importance of narrative in mograph.
I try to be inclusive (rather than exclusive) when it comes to categorizing work. Not every piece needs a narrative. Not every piece even needs a concept. Sometimes style does the trick. Sometimes it doesn’t.
I will now flog myself for responding to your comment at all. I should have just let it slide, but hey, you pushed a button. Congratulations.
Friday, May 19th 2006 at 7:50 am |
Simple and cute; I completely disagree with the comments that there is no “content or ideas” in it–that’s all it is really. The technique is nothing new, and it’s certainly not a virtuoso use of it either–but how many other music videos have you seen with someone singing to their cat?
Sunday, June 11th 2006 at 9:08 am |
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Wednesday, October 10th 2007 at 11:30 pm |
spamming much.
Anyway, back to the video. I’d also have to disagree that the video lacks in content.. I guess, you also have to listen to the song for one. I find it rather sweet that he is singing to his cat – that it got him up…
The rotoscoping and sketch like effect only gave the video its needed pizazz. I like it.