New York-based creative studio Mixtape Club recently produced the music video for “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog,” by They Might Be Giants. The track will also be included on the band’s kids album which is scheduled for a fall release.
With a “cast” of Mixtape Club’s own pets, the video is a playful retro-styled animation that complements the carefree summertime vibe of the song, originally recorded by Norma Tanega in 1966.
Mixtape Club, led by executive creative director Chris Lenox Smith, drew visual inspiration from classic 1960s artists and designers, including seminal author/illustrator M. Sasek.
“The song itself has such an odd sweetness to it. It was important to me that the video respected that,” said They Might Be Giants’ John Flansburgh. “What was great is how Mixtape Club brought new ideas and energy to the piece as well. Chris and his crew totally found the perfect balance with a storyline and a visual style that is both beautiful and constantly surprising.”
“By switching the typical behaviors of our favorite pets, everyone can be in on the joke,” explained Smith. “The goal was to make a piece not just for kids, but for everybody, particularly animal lovers like us.”
The team illustrated, animated, and textured the film using the Adobe Creative Suite and Flash.
“Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” marks Mixtape Club’s second collaboration with They Might Be Giants, including a suite of visual content for the band’s 2011 tour.
“As visual storytellers and musicians ourselves, we love working directly with bands and artists, especially long-time collaborators like They Might Be Giants,” said Smith. “They’re a great example and inspiration to all artists in the way they’ve continued to experiment and produce new material while sticking to their DIY roots.”