Roller Skates by Nick Hakim, from Hakim’s debut album Green Twins (ATO Records).

The music video debuted in Pitchfork and was shown on Adult Swim.

► Subscribe to Micah Buzan on YouTube!

Concept for Animation

The song gave me a really lonely, nostalgic feeling. The feeling one has while longing for something just out of reach.

While making this animation, I was thinking about how everyone’s alone. No matter how much you reach out to someone, they’ll never completely know what it’s like to be you from the inside.

I wanted to tell a simple story about lonely characters who all desire something they can’t seem to get – be it love, a stuffed animal, or the ability to skate well. I also tried to make it kind of funny how expectations don’t live up to reality.

In the end, rollerskating unites all the characters as they join together in the roller rink. We might feel alone, but we’re all in this life experiment together.

Behind The Scenes:

I had 4 weeks to animate this video (not much time to animate 4 minutes worth of footage). It’s my 4th music video this year (2017). Feeling drained yet eager to get started on the next project.

Peace,

Micah Buzan

Press For Roller Skates

“Roller Skates” comes complete with a color-burst of a video, courtesy of animator Micah Buzan. Nick Hakim’s avatar in the video flashes fluid dance moves that transfix a cast of cartoon characters, coaxing them to step into his brightly lit world.

– Pitchfork

“At first glance, it seems director Micah Buzan‘s only intention is to screw with our minds through an animated acid trip that features psychedelic hues, swirling patterns, eyeballs and mutated animals. It sounds weird, but honestly, you won’t be able to look away.

Eventually, the cartoon clip centers its focus on a roller rink where various storylines play out as Nick’s vocals keep us spellbound. “