The 50th Anniversary of The Dark Side of The Moon Animated Music Video Competition

Speak to Me (2023) 1:12min animation

Finalist

Brain Damage (2023) 4:24min animation

Eclipse (2023) 2:14min animation

Over 12 months I created three animated music videos for The Dark Side of The Moon 50th Anniversary Animated Music Video Competition (2023). This was a solo project meaning I took on all roles of production without assistance; director, animator, compositor etc. 

My interest in animation can be traced back to my early exposure to Gerald Scarfe’s animated creations for Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” (thanks to my dad’s enthusiastic fandom). As I’ve matured, I’ve come to realise the profound impact that “The Wall” animations and Pink Floyd’s music have had on my art practice. It was a pleasure to work on these animations and I feel like I am giving a little back to something that has had such an impact on my life.

Play Video

Method

A large amount of the animation has been drawn frame-by-frame in Photoshop and then edited in Adobe After Effects. In character scenes, I’ve manually rotoscoped frames from live-action footage, nearly all of which I recorded personally. Certain background environments and elements in the animation are 3D rendered, with drawings layered over the top. The majority of the 3D modelling created by myself using Blender, while a few assets were purchased.

Software used:

  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Blender

Participating in this competition has reignited my passion for animating and has equipped me with new valuable skills and knowledge. The connection with my initial inspiration has made this creative endeavour all the more meaningful.