Synopsis

Against a stark white background, Bjork appears in an intense close-up, singing directly into the camera with an increasingly primal energy. As her head jerks and her expression shifts, digital fur and animal features begin spreading across her face. She gradually becomes a futuristic polar bear, then reverses the transformation and returns to human form. The deliberately limited framing places all the emphasis on Bjork's performance and the unsettling, seamless movement between human, animal, and machine.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was created to reflect the tension between the organic and technological qualities of "Homogenic." The polar bear represents the song's hunter persona and also connects with Bjork's longstanding identification with the animal.

• Bjork's live-action performance was filmed against a green screen in London. Makeup was used to create the appearance of a shaved head, while tracking markers were placed on her head and face to guide the later animation.

• The computer animation was produced by Digital Domain, the effects company known at the time for its work in major feature films. The bear was rendered with Pixar's RenderMan software.

• A holographic shader was used to make the bear's skin change color and appearance as the transformation progressed.

• The live-action shoot took place in 12 takes and was completed in a single day. The post-production, by contrast, lasted several months.

• The original concept called for Bjork to transform fully into a bear. The idea was scaled back because a full-body transformation would have exceeded the production budget.

• The reported production cost rose to approximately 250,000 pounds, largely because of the extensive computer-animation work.

• The video was a runner-up for the Prix PIXEL-INA Vidéoclip at the 1999 Imagina festival and received an Audience Choice award at the 2000 Fantasporto film festival.