PostDoc Blues Rendered in Animation

Beginning with that relic sound of a pop-up springing on up on desktop, an animated music video takes the viewer through the many stages of postdoctoral studies. The short video, titled after its namesake song, Postdoc Blues sung by John K. Samson, visualizes the many nuances and snapshots collected from a long time ensconced in academia. Animator Nathan Boey heads the directorial process with his creative partners Kevin Langdale and Kaho Yoshida. Postdoc Blues uses uncomplicated white outlines to compose many of the foreground images, while filling the remaining frame space with melon-colored tones, mirroring the song’s upbeat vibe. The video’s animation, including images of sweaty presentations and mind-clearing open road drives, is a pitch-perfect partner to the song’s lyrics, which detail the rise and hope of bringing a research project to fruition. Overall, the animation serves as a reminder to stay determined and trust in the pay-offs of hard work.

Take a look at the full video, and cope with your own hard-won battles with a listen to Postdoc Blues.

See more animation work from Nathan Boey on his Vimeo page, here.

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