Long gone are the MTV days of music videos where an “in-your-face” approach was the norm, and Anna Eijsbouts takes this opportunity to slow things down and deliver a somber, heartfelt video for Bell X1’s upcoming track “The Upswing”. Subtle animation moves and macro shots of the characters’ sad eyes draw us in to feeling the pain and uneasy tension in relationships. The track itself is reminiscent of a Radiohead song; moody, yet hauntingly beautiful.

This is yet another video where there is a symbiotic juxtaposition of media forms. Hand crafted puppetry meets photographic landscapes meets cel animation, to produce a dreamy visceral piece. Is it all a dream, and if so who will accompany us in our upswing?

Official Music Video for “The Upswing” by Bell X1
Directed / Animation by: Anna Eijsbouts

Blog by Amun Levy