Cee-Lo and DJ Danger Mouse, the duo that make up Gnarls Barkley, are known for their eclectic costuming and powerful stage presence, so it's curious that they opted to create a mixed-media animated music video for "Mystery Man."
The video depicts a masked urban superhero saving a city. It's an alter ego whose shoes Cee-Lo could easily fill. In his 10+ year career as a recording artist, Cee-Lo has gone from rapping with Goodie Mob to belting out soulful tunes with Gnarls Barkley, transcending hip-hop culture norms all the while.
Animated Urban Superheroes
"Mystery Man" by Gnarls Barkley
Trend Themes
1. Animated Superheroes in Music Videos - Music video creators can leverage mixed-media animation to create a unique superhero narrative that can attract viewership and create virality around the video.
2. Mixed-media Animation - Artists can explore innovative mixed-media animation techniques in music videos to create a unique visual identity for their content.
3. Urban Superheroes - Artists can create urban superhero identities in their music videos that connect with the current zeitgeist of urban culture that signal innovation to attract viewership.
Industry Implications
1. Music Industry - The music industry can drive engagement and virality by creating unique animated music videos and leveraging mixed-media animation to creating brand identity.
2. Animation Industry - The animation industry can create innovative mixed-media animation techniques that can be leveraged by music video creators to create new kinds of visual storytelling.
3. Gaming Industry - The gaming industry can leverage the boom in superhero culture by creating games that feature a new breed of urban superheroes that can resonate with a younger audience.