Best Animated Music Videos of the 2010s

The Golden Age of Ink and Beats: Why the 2010s Were a Masterclass in Animated Music Videos

The 2010s will forever be remembered as a transformative era for digital culture, and nowhere is that more evident than in the evolution of the animated music video. Freed from the constraints of traditional television syndication and propelled by the explosive growth of YouTube, Vimeo, and global streaming platforms, artists and animators unlocked a new realm of visual storytelling.

Animation in the 2010s wasn’t just a stylistic alternative to live-action; it became a limitless canvas capable of visualizing the abstract, surreal, and deeply emotional depths of music.

Breaking Boundaries: The Rise of Global Collaboration

Before the 2010s, high-end animation in music videos was often reserved for high-budget pop acts or indie darlings like Gorillaz. However, the democratization of digital software changed everything. Independent creators, international studios, and musicians from vastly different genres began treating music videos as short-form cinematic art pieces.

• Electronic and Synthwave Landscapes: Electronic music, in particular, found a natural home in animation. Projects like Porter Robinson & Madeon’s Shelter (2016)—produced in collaboration with A-1 Pictures—delivered heartbreaking narrative anime that elevated electronic pop into a profoundly emotional experience.
• Indie Psych-Rock and Hand-Drawn Surrealism: Bands like Siames (The Wolf) and Stuck in the Sound (Let’s Go) utilized dynamic, high-energy 2D cell animation that mirrored classic Saturday morning action cartoons, subverted with mature, dark, and thrilling narratives.

A Convergence of Mediums: From Stop-Motion to CGI

The decade showcased a staggering technical variety. Creators spanned every conceivable sub-genre of animation, proving that the medium had no singular definition:

1. Claymation and Dark Satire: Radiohead’s “Burn the Witch” (2016) utilized eerie, vintage-style stop-motion animation reminiscent of classic holiday specials to deliver a chilling allegory about mass hysteria and modern paranoia.
2. Psychedelic Digital Art: Childish Gambino’s “Feels Like Summer” (2018) used soft, melancholic hand-drawn animation to construct a neighborhood walk filled with animated cameos of contemporary hip-hop and R&B icons, balancing a chill vibe with underlying environmental and social commentary.
3. Gaming and Virtual Realities: The lines between video games, internet culture, and music blurred entirely. Virtual bands and heavily stylized 3D rendered worlds became commonplace, setting the stage for the virtual idol culture that dominates today.

Why the 2010s Animation Wave Still Matters

The animated music videos of the 2010s succeeded because they offered pure escapism combined with profound artistic depth. Without the physical limitations of sets, gravity, or budgets, animators could literalize lyrics in ways live-action cameras never could. A song about heartbreak could transform into a sci-fi interstellar journey; a track about anxiety could manifest as a monster battle.

Ultimately, this decade proved that animation is a vehicle for all emotions—capable of making audiences laugh, cry, and reflect through the simple magic of moving art synced to sound.

Porter Robinson & Madeon – Shelter (Official Anime Music Video)

This beautifully crafted animated masterpiece tells a poignant, emotional science-fiction story that perfectly matches the soaring, melodic electronica of the track.