Motion by Natasha
Old Town Road (Area 51 Video) for Lil Nas X
Natasha designed and animated full sequences and individual assets used for the "Old Town Road (Area 51 Video)" by Lil Nas X.
About the Project
The animated music video for Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road," uses a blend of Western and Sci-fi elements to depict cartoon versions of Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Young Thug, and Mason Ramsey participating in a raid on Area 51. The video is littered with imagery from 2019 meme and internet culture and became an instant viral sensation.
Challenge
Directed by Somehoodlum, my role was to design and animate scenes and elements for the Lil Nas X "Old Town Road" remix music video. With a 48-hour turnaround, we had to work very quickly in order to accomplish the cultural impact we wanted to achieve. The content of the animation was inspired by memes and internet culture trends of that same week, most notably the "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" event on Facebook.
Execution
We aimed to create visuals that complimented the blend of hip-hop and country used in "Old Town Road" while portraying the significance the song has in pop culture. Mixing sci-fi and Western elements and using bold, bright colors and consistent line work, we crafted a very silly story. The project was created using Illustrator and AfterEffects.
Process
During the design process. my goal was to make scenes and elements that fit into the playful, colorful world director Somehoodlum created. I designed and animated aliens, the exterior of Area 51, the panning desk shot, and several other key moments and visual elements in the video.
Success
After its July 2019 release, the video gained instant notoriety. It secured the top trending spot on YouTube and was featured in notable publications like Dazed, People Magazine, and Time. "Old Town Road" had a record-breaking 19-week run as the #1 song on Billboard's Hot 100 and Summer 2019 was dubbed "The summer of Lil Nas X."
"It's so dumb that it's practically perfect."
-Dazed Digital