From his 2019 album, Lookin’ Up, St, John’s singer-songwriter Adrian House has released a new video for his single “Short Back & Sides” and snuck a few tracks out of the toolbox of Hayao Miyazaki in the process. The video gets the full anime treatment. While we’re not seeing any talking cats, flying dragons, or forest spirits—though quite possibly a cameo by Jake the Dog—House has done his best to capture the familiar, touching spirit of Studio Ghibli’s collection of films.
Rather than seeking out an animator in Japan, House was able to tap the talents of the considerably more local Mike Feehan. The St. John’s-based artist is best known for his work drawing for DC Comics, but he did he best to pull off the Ghibili look on his own.
“When I heard the song I immediately thought of a Japanese animation / Studio Ghibli kind of look, with a summery vibe,” says Feehan. “I had a lot of fun with it and I’m really pleased with how it came out.”
Despite the lack of forest spirits, there’s a colourful cast of characters, including a pet tiger, a business exec that’s little more than a suit set of wind-up chompers, and a show-stealing goat. They all figure into the developing relationship of our two protagonists who, presumably, overcome their social anxieties to be enshrined as the astrological symbols for having successfully navigated dating. It might not make a conventional champion of the zodiac, but just imagine being able to name these two then next time someone asks you what your sign is.
“This video has been a while in the making, but I really think it’s been worth the wait,” says House, “It’s fun, zany and I think it captures the upbeat spirit of the album perfectly.”
House currently has plans to spend his summer performing throughout Newfoundland, with a show coming up at Newfoundland Sound Symposium’s Night Music at the Ship Pub in St. John’s on June 17th.