Takashi Murakami is super influential Japanese postmodern artist. He's worked with Louis Vuitton, Kanye, G-Dragon, and Pharrell. Honestly, it's so cool his art is here. His whole thing is taking Japanese pop culture to the extreme- kind of like what Andy Warhol did with American celeb culture.
Pharrell never disappoints. Been rocking with him since ‘99 and he constantly produces/writes some of the best music I’ve ever heard. Original, creative and a genius. One of the greatest artist of our generation
It ain't just this whole anime MV thing that pharrell got ties with Japan, he's always had relationship with Japan in music, fashion and subculture as well. BAPE, BBC and the Teriyaki Boyz. He also was a huge success here in early 2000s with everyone wanting his collab shit.
I've ALWAYS loved this song and never knew there was a video for it. This is amazing. And that break down that continues to the end still gets me every time. Hits the soul just right.
"And in the video for It Girl we see a relatively normal night out for Pharrell, including shopping, a walk on the beach, and a trip into space in his dolphin ship."
"So, the reason why Pharrell Williams song It Girl uses anime is because Pharrel and Murakami, the guy behind the animation, have some history together. Like, a long history."
I'm amazed I'm only just now finding this 3 years later. It's clear just in the animation that they got some very experienced animators (and looking in the credits, that is very clear). This is justice.
Damn. You gotta appreciate the work done on this video. I'm not much of a fan of Pharrell, I just don't listen to his music, but watching this video with the song. Its really soothing. I like these kinds of videos, kinda reminds me of Kanye West's Heartless video also being an animated music video, not to confuse with amvs.
If you like this art you should check out the artist MisterYanen (or just Mr.) cause I’m pretty sure the characters and artwork was done by him and Murakami
I love how people are talking like this as if they're actual girls xD Plus how do you know if they're under age? You need to watch more anime haha I love this!
It doesn't matter if they aren't actual little girls. This is an insanely pedophelic promoting videos. They are using cartoons because why would they use real little girls? The media is so good desensitising the masses.
We could use reverse phshcology. Imagine a female artist doing this. Spying on half naked little boys and watch everyone call her a pedophile and lose respect for her.
xxjaycexx100 You obviously don't get it, because you need to watch anime to understand. This is more about Japanese pop culture and less about that. And how do you know how old those girls are? Very rarely in anime are girls who look young and are actually young. In fact, I'm one of those girls that could pass as maybe 5 years younger sometimes, but I'm an adult. All the "girls" in that video were different looking and probably the same age. Pharrell's just into lolis xD
I feel like defending women/little girls is a waste of time. You just don't get it, wow. So Japanese culture is showing little girls half naked in the beach? This isn't hentai and age seriously doesn't matter (in this video) because they look like little girls.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about this video?! Anime is just a Japanese style of animation and it's not exactly weird to see kids in swimming costumes.... just get over yourselves and enjoy the song!!
Looking at comments it looks like nobody has any problem with it. If you look closely you will notice it's mostly anime watchers that are trolling. It's very entertaining to read IMO.
fortris To be fair, Pharell is the same size as her in the video. They could both be portrayed as being young at heart (in the anime style) but mature on the outside. Basically they both look like they're 12 but they're both actually older.
This mix of Western music with Eastern visuals and trippy glow colors is pretty great. And I don't even like hip hop that much. I also have no idea how people think playing a dating sim game with underage girls automatically makes you a pedo, playing CoD doesn't make you a murderer or soldier, playing Civ5 doesn't make you a suitable national advisor.
People are always going to be on guard with things regarding females; especially with minors. Eh. I figured someone would mention it sooner or later, but I think the video is really cute.
Usagi Kurono True, it's quite sad. Do love the video as a whole, very cute. Miguel Guzman What genre is it? I just assumed Hip hop since I don't really listen to much Western music.
MasterYoshitaka it's commonly called r&b, that is rhythm & blues, though pharrell williams incorporates a lot of hip hop production techniques in his music so you're not totally wrong.
Finding a child attractive, and pursing a relationship with them virtually, is just one step away from being a pedo. All that's left is to act on that feeling irl. Which is why it's creepy. Playing a game like CoD isn't like that at all, because you aren't learning how to use a real gun, you aren't given access to heavy artillery, and you're generally fighting in a war. All things you can't just go out and do.
WasNotWhyNot Did not know this, thanks. I'm been trying to keep a good hold on music genres so I can keep my library correct. Realm Reborn That is bullshit and you know it. Thinking of something and acting it out are very different things.
Brandon Sessler first of all the people who would jack off to moutain dew & doritos are the ones who play CoD & Battlefield.second, there are many different genre of anime just like there are different genre of tv shows & movies. there are horror anime like Future Diaries and When They Cry.it's full of gore, beheading, murders.there might be some people in the anime that may say "onii-chan" but they're usually minor characters. you've got your action anime like Fullmetal Alchemist that is popular WORLDWIDE!! and you also got your mysteries like Detective Conan! if you actually take about 30 minutes out of your life and watch one, you might actually find an anime that you like! a popular youtuber by the name of AlphaOmegaSin is a guy who is a gamer, who listens to heavy metal!he watches anime of all kind! he is NOTHING like you describe as someone who watches anime!!
This video may seem weird, but it actually seems to have a very clear message. From a Japanese perspective (as the video was 'made in Japan'), It fights against traditional harem dynamics, where the main character shuffles between all the girls until he finds the right one, or seduces all of the girls. Instead, the main character, Pharrell, chooses one girl; the girl whose waves crash over him, the one that he knows is right. It says that you shouldn't be indecisive or greedy, but to choose right and shoot straight from the very start. Considering that Pharrell is not Japanese, I am assuming that the meaning of the song differs slightly from the meaning of the video. I believe that the meaning of the song is to not have indecisiveness in real life relationships, but instead be faithful to the one you're with. Both the video and the song share very similar yet culturally different themes.
I am also assuming that the 'lolicon' content of the video is a result of that being a generally accepted theme in Japan. I am fairly certain that Pharrell did not come up with the idea to include it in the video, but rather agreed to the idea after it was presented to him.
James Gooch It never states their ages so you can't know for sure. It is often the case that characters are drawn/animated young when in plot they are much older. The girl in the video could be 18.
Its amazing how 7 years ago, ppl weren’t commenting good things about this video, but now everyone is saying good thing. This song is wonderful. the last 2 min are golden 🎧⭐️
coming back to this just to see the people malding and moaning about pharrell just enjoying the simpler things in life, like cute anime girls without worrying about what the depressed fun police have to say about it, it puts a smile on my face :)
I dont know why people are hating this so much. This shows that Pharrell is open-minded and multi cultured unlike the douches in the comment thread. Thats what wrong with this society smh
Billy Mays all of what you said was irrelevant cuz thats not even what i was talking about and it was unnecessary. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. so stfu arent dead men not supposed to tell no tales >_>
If you say that, but then turn around and watch hentai on illegal streaming sites or you download/torrent Anime, your opinion means nothing because you're not an Anime fan, you're a parasite. Once you've seen half the anime I've seen, I might consider your opinion. #OtakuAndProud
As I said, until you've seen half the anime I've seen and watch it legally, your opinion is insignificant. And I believe I have 3 countries on my bio(which you clearly read, but mostly ignored): Japan, Finland, and Switzerland. Again: Your opinion > Insignificant, parasite.
+Margie Johnston No idea about Love Live, but Lucky Star has much junior high nostalgia for me (in college btw). Great nerd reference show, a little bit like Genshiken. Wendee Lee, Hynden Walch, Kari Wahlgren, & Lara Miller are fantastic in it as well.
The only thing I'm focused on is that this sounds like something Pharrell would've made a decade ago with The Neptunes, and that is bloody awesome. Period. You guys go on and continue arguing whether there's a meaning behind the video or not, I'll stay here enjoying the music.
***** In his defense, lolicon is an age thing, otherwise it is either a fake loli (that isn't the case here, as she is shown to be shorter than the others, but not necessarily younger), or just a shorter character, which is common in anime. That said, my first thought was along the same line, basically thinking "I love how he chose the pettanko character as his focus".
This vid is like everything I love rolled into one. Smooth awesome music, many kinds of video games and anime! Even though you probably will never read this, thanks for showing your love for something cool Pharrell! Also thanks for making such a cool, chill song, really loving it.
Holy, this is...this is great stuff. Music with soul and a great catchy video. I loved Happy but with this video Pharrell Williams has cemented himself as one of my favorite musicians.
I come back to watch this video from time to time and its insane that they actually got Mr. to help contribute to this, considering he rarely interacts publicly
Why are so many people hating on this because it's anime?I bet you haven't even watched anime apart from this,which isn't even fully anime.You say Japan is messed up,(and I'm not Japanese) when America has porn all over and shows like "Nall'd it!" which is a fuckin' show about nails.NAILS.Anime is actually really good if you at least try to watch it.So watch or don't but don't say that America doesn't have porn and dumb shows because then those shows have made you lose some brain cells.
That's not the fact it's anime, one side are the retards who think this is pedophilia (to be clear I don't ask anyone to know what moe is, but when you don't know this culture you don't comment shit about it^^). The other I can understand is from otakus who think our culture is badly represented, I don't agree as I like the clichés "ecchi-beach-volley-loli", but as a fan of serious psychological seinens mostly, it's true that all mainstream medias including present only the "moe" side of the otaku culture, what's a little sad.
+MadJack22 True,true.It did make him look sorta...you know.But I thought this was kinda a cute video.Other than the part where they were making boobs out of sand o.o
I also think that it is quite sad to see so many haters on such a splendid video. :) I think that it would be better if the comments were to be disabled for good.
Tim Slee hmm... I think everybody schould say their opinion. Its true that there is a lot of hating idiots but in the end thats just the world we live in ...disabeling the comments wont chance that. so I think we have to deal with it. its sad but you can tell if they are just hating loosers or good people so we cant take them to serious.
Tim Slee It's not hating. It's making the world see how bad those 13 year old "uber anime fans" are. It's okay to like anime, just not to be obsessed with it. Have a problem? I'm sorry. I was just telling you the absolute truth so no need to be butthurt about it.
Karkat Vantas I'm not obsessed with anime, but even I got a little irritated with this. What's so bad with being obsessed with anime? It's not harming anyone, and it's their lives so who cares? That's an opinion, not a fact. And what's wrong with thirteen year old anime lovers? What's so "bad" about them?? The whole controversy was about this being lolicon-ish with the underage anime girls, it had nothing to do with thirteen year olds, just people who think the artist is a pedophile for making this. Please explain, I'm a bit confused.
Guys he's not a weeb or a pedo he simply wanted to do a different type of style for this music video it's nice he's incorporating a Japanese art style in his music plus he's not doing sexual acts with any of the girls or really flirting with them plus THEY'RE ANIMATED
Rani Jones There are sexually suggestive lyrics sang over a video depicting half-naked 10 year-old girls: "hold my hand, and moan again, I'ma hold that ass". On top of this, like said before, he claims he is releasing his fantasy rather than acting it out. It sounds to me like Pharell may very well be a pedophile.
