Sometimes, when two talents collaborate on a project they can produce a product that seems to be greater than expected. For example, when film director John Landis, composer Elmer Bernstein, film actor Vincent Price and a young man from Gary, Indiana named Michael Jackson worked together, you got the music video, Thriller.
But sometimes when two very talented people collaborate, you end up with a “wow, what is that? And why can’t I stop watching this?” That’s the case when noted animator and creator, John Kricfalusi worked with Icelandic singer and songwriter, Björk for the music video for her 1995 song, “I Miss You.”
The resulting video clearly shows the “John K” style of animation that was successfully used in Ren & Stimpy, Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures and The New Adventures of Beany & Cecil. The dance beat of Björk’s song is infectious (the tune rose to number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play). And yet, to me this video misses because of the animation. John Kricfalusi’s typical animation style involves sexual innuendo, toilet humor, body fluids and violence. This is his craft and he is a master of it. And to me, that is the problem with this music video. The animation, that is John K’s animation, overwhelms, not compliments, the music. If you don’t know that Ren & Stimpy worked as rubber nipple salesmen or that there is a cameo of George Liquor, noted for the banned episode, Man’s Best Friend, you miss the point of many of the homages Kricfalusi pays to his own work. Nevertheless, because I am a fan of John K’s early work, I liked this video, but it is not for everyone.
If you are a Björk fan, you should probably watch any of her other music videos such as All is Full of Love (which is really creative) or BEACHELORETTE , where the emphasis is on her music. However, if you are a fan of Ren & Stimpy and John Kricfalusi, you will probably like this video. But watch at your own risk and assume that it is not completely safe for work.