Shop Vac (kinetic typography animation)
Why Hacker News recommends it
Praised as a standout example of kinetic typography that holds attention, and known as the earlier work that led to the animator's Weird Al 'Word Crimes' video.
What it is
A kinetic typography animation for Jonathan Coulton's song 'Shop Vac', made by Jarrett Heather with Illustrator, After Effects and other tools over 500-1000 hours.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2011 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Recommends biturd · 2011-06 · on “How to Make Text Look Interesting: Minimalist Web Design”
For me, this Shop•Vac Pardoy Commercial thingy had really great typography. It kepy me interested the entire time. Granted, it had other elements keeping me interested, though I feel it was mainly the interesting use of type. [this video]
Recommends programzeta · 2011-09 · on “Y Combinator by the Numbers”
I think it's a ripe field for experimentation at this point, as it's a very entertaining way to present information. There is/was a series in Australia called Hungry Beast, which produced "Beast File" segments that used kinetic typography in the same manner as this video: Stuxnet: [LINK] Google: [LINK] Apple: [LINK] There are more of these segments, but a lot of them have to do with Australian politics / corporations. I've watched them all because I adore the style but it might not be for everyone :) In addition, there have been several labours of love which really showcase what's possible when you make a full production out of such a work, such as this amazing piece of kinetic typography /
Cites DonHopkins · 2020-04 · on “Jarrett Heather presents: Word Crimes (2014)”
Jarrett Heather is the artist behind Weird Al's "Word Crimes" video released in 2014 (at 48.4 million views now). Word Crimes: [LINK] Weird Al's spot-on parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" with T.I. and Pharrell Williams: [LINK] Weird Al contacted him after being impressed by "Shop Vac", his previous work with kinetic text (typographic animation), which he made using animation tools like AfterEffects. Shop Vac: [this video] This page on Jarrett Heather's web site tells the story and shows the art and technology behind the "Word Crimes" video. He's also published the Animatic storyboard-in-motion that took about 100 hours, to Weird Al's original home-made demo of the song! It's fascinating to
Cites DonHopkins · 2020-04 · on “Jarrett Heather presents: Word Crimes (2014)”
Jarrett Heather is the artist behind Weird Al's "Word Crimes" video released in 2014 (at 48.4 million views now). Word Crimes: [LINK] "Word Crimes" is Weird Al's spot-on parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" with T.I. and Pharrell Williams. I think Weird Al's version is better and more educational than the original -- smart and catchy like a modern Schoolhouse Rock. Blurred Lines: [LINK] Weird Al contacted Jarrett Heather after being impressed by "Shop Vac", his previous work with kinetic text (typographic animation), which he made using animation tools like AfterEffects. Shop Vac: [this video] This page on Jarrett Heather's web site tells the story and shows the art and technology behind the
Cites DonHopkins · 2020-04 · on “Jarrett Heather presents: Word Crimes (2014)”
I'm delighted your stopped by! Thanks to you and Weird Al for all of your dastardly animated criminal words. Your Shop Vac cartoon led me to discover Jonathan Coulton's other geeky music, like Code Monkey! He makes his songs available via the Creative Commons license, so people have made some really cool videos to them, including yours. [LINK] [LINK] Shop Vac: [this video] Code Monkey videos: [LINK] >Jonathan Coulton is a singer/songwriter who releases his songs via the Creative Commons license, which enables projects such as this video. Through his "Thing A Week" podcast, Jonathan has put out a clever, creative song like this one every week for a year. >Mike Spiff Booth is a Program Manager at A
Cites DonHopkins · 2023-05 · on “Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of””
Speaking of heroes who I could care less about: Jarrett Heather presents: Word Crimes (2014) (jarrettheather.com) Archive: [LINK] "Weird Al" Yankovic - Word Crimes: [LINK] >The Completed Music Video: In November 2013, "Weird Al" Yankovic asked me to direct an animated video for "Word Crimes", a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" about the supposed abuse of proper language. >The result of 500 hours of work in After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere goes by in 3 minutes, 44 seconds. I hope you find each one of them entertaining. Word Crimes Animatic: [LINK] >This storyboard-in-motion took about 100 hours. Al signed off on this design on January 25th, 2014, only 3 weeks after h