here's why this music video took over a year to draw

video by Lubalin and Denise Audette
illustration and animation: Denise Audette
special thanks: Andrea Zhu

see how the animated video was made:

[lubalin]

shoutout @hotgluegone for making this incredible video 🫡

[demoneon]

30 min per frame for 1000+ frames is over 500 hours of work.

[camp-bepsi]

Yep, this technique was used in the late 1980s music video for the song “Take on Me” by A-Ha. The video only took three months to make because it likely had an entire team to animate it but it’s been around for at least 35 years and it pretty cool. It’s incredibly labour intensive and worth it.

[Poppacap]

That’s dope. Good job and congratulations!

[markkelly]

Rotoscoping with no prior knowledge is true dedication to the craft

[carmengogeidnas]

I could absolutely tell that it was hand drawn when I saw it! Looks so much more rich and organic than anything you can do with computer applications. I assumed it was a few people who worked on it though, NOT ONE PERSON, HOLY COW!

[metheoneandonly]

As an animation major graduate I love how you knew nothing about animation yet just decided to try the most time consuming version of animation, did it with markers and paper, took pictures with your phone, and it looks AMAZING. Ok Queen 💅💅

[end.olives]

Fuck that was so incredible, the way she animated the hair moving part was smooth as fuck

[beetothetee]

With all the AI that’s taking over creative spaces, it’s so so so nice to see actual artists get to create cool things with great people.

[beep]

That would be, consecutively, 2 weeks, 6 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes. So almost 3 weeks, that is also 500 hours of tracing

[SAIMONch]

I thought this shit was rotoscoped with a program, jesus christ. Sounds so painful but maddest respect for going through with it.

[HighTher]

Love it! You straight up killed it! Also the contrast was sooo good I thought you rotoscoped on the computer not on paper. Absolute legend!

[rakibulislam]

The movie 'loving, Vincent' used this technique & it took 6 years to complete

[HeoBaby]

Imagine doing a 1 to 2 minutes music video that to you a year to make because it's hand drawn

[usonthebus]

It’s giving off the same energy as take on me by aha

[Joeljaboy]

This is why if you’re waiting to try something bc “i dont have the equipment”, you’ll be waiting forever. Create the art that you’ve always wanted to make. Work out in your bedroom. Use what you have around you. And even if no one notices, be proud of yourself for doing it.

[scanorugaming]

Wow accidentally did one of the coolest and oldest methods of animation. Well done!

[moosedraw]

Rotoscope music videos always make me so happy.

It is clear dedication to the art and just makes me so happy.

[soyndtivke]

What an amazing work. It looks awesome!

[darcosx]

First off, AMAZING
Second, the bird’s wing movements (particularly during the above/overhead shot) were so smooth and natural. like wow