What's Happening?
Animator Bill Plympton, an 80-year-old veteran known for his distinctive Plymptoons style, has directed and animated a new music video for the Los Angeles indie pop duo Average Friends. The video, for their song “u know i luv u,” was entirely hand-drawn
by Plympton, with every frame reflecting his signature loose, wobbly line work and absurd, rubbery characters. The project was successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign and premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival. Plympton co-produced the video with George Kosturos and Owen Andrejco, who also handled editing with Kosturos. Kutan Katas mixed and mastered the track, Josh Aude managed sound design, and Nora Avissar, Brooke Murphy, and Caden Zips provided color. This marks Plympton's tenth music video, adding to his extensive resume of over 50 short films, eight features, 18 commercials, and nine 'couch gags' for The Simpsons.
Why It's Important?
This collaboration highlights the enduring appeal of traditional hand-drawn animation in an increasingly digital world, demonstrating that established artists can leverage crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter to bring unique projects to fruition. For Average Friends, working with a renowned animator like Plympton provides significant exposure and artistic credibility, potentially broadening their audience beyond typical indie pop circles. For Plympton, who was recently inducted into the Animation Hall of Fame, the project reinforces his legacy as a fearless and independent artist whose work continues to resonate across generations. The success of the Kickstarter campaign also underscores a public appetite for distinctive, artist-driven content that stands apart from mainstream productions, offering a model for independent creators seeking alternative funding and distribution avenues.
What's Next?
The music video's premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival suggests a strategy to gain critical acclaim and visibility within the independent film and music circuits. Following its festival run, the video will likely be released on broader platforms, potentially reaching a wider audience through music video channels and online streaming services. The success of this project could inspire further collaborations between established animators and independent musical artists, fostering a niche market for artistically unique music videos. Additionally, the project's funding model via Kickstarter may serve as a blueprint for other independent creators looking to finance their artistic endeavors outside traditional studio systems, emphasizing community support and direct engagement with fans.
Beyond the Headlines
The project serves as a testament to the artistic principle of 'make it short, make it cheap, and make it funny,' a guiding rule Plympton has followed for over five decades. In an era dominated by AI-generated content and high-budget productions, Plympton's hand-drawn approach emphasizes the value of human craftsmanship and individual artistic vision. The collaboration also bridges a generational gap, with Average Friends acknowledging Plympton's work as 'outside the mainstream' and 'fearless,' suggesting a continued appreciation for authentic, unconventional art. This venture subtly challenges the notion that animation must be technologically advanced to be impactful, proving that simplicity and character-driven timing can be profoundly effective in storytelling and entertainment.
