Principles of Animation: Pet Shop Boys — Love etc.

There are some examples of the principles of Animation in the Pet Shop Boys music video, “Love etc.”

Squash & Stretch

Throughout the video, the main singer shown as the ball can be seen bouncing in tune with the music. The squashing and stretching of the bouncing ball can be seen in plane view. This is the movement that the singer uses to navigate through the music video.

Arc

The bouncing ball is also an example of arc, for it moves in a circular path.

Staging

The main focus appears to be the bouncing singer. However, it really isn’t. It is used to guide the viewers’ eyes towards various visual elements throughout the song.

“a Gulfstream jet to fly you door to door,”

The bouncing singer may appear distracting, but it’s really used to guide the attention to the background elements.

“Don’t have to be, a big bucks Hollywood star,”

You should be looking at the staged events in the background.

Secondary Action

“Boy it’s tough gettin’ on..”

In this scene, the eyeballs are shown blinking as the lyrics are sung. This gives the idea that these are eyes and not circular frames.

<blink> “…in the world…”

<blink> “…when the sun doesn’t shine”