Synopsis
Set in a stylized dystopian world, Stepdad's "Must Land Running" follows a clash between the band and a squad of masked ninjas. The futuristic setting, stark locations, and choreographed confrontations give the video the feel of a compact science-fiction action film. Rather than treating the song's bright synth-pop as a simple performance track, the video turns its energy into a playful dance battle, with martial-arts movement and exaggerated physical comedy matching the song's buoyant, larger-than-life character.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was built around a dystopian concept developed in collaboration with Stepdad's members.
- Real ninjas were cast for the production and trained to perform the video's dance-fighting sequences.
- The production company described the central idea as a "dance fight," combining martial-arts imagery with deliberately playful choreography.
- "Must Land Running" appeared on Stepdad's 2012 debut album, "Wildlife Pop," released through Black Bell Records.
- The video premiered on MTV2.
- Production credits list Gabriel Berghuis as producer, with Collin Mauro and Caleb Slain handling editing. Chad Terpstra was the cinematographer, while Chandler Forbes served as gaffer.
- Kyle Copeland is credited with production design, and Seth Johnson with art direction in the official video credits.
- The song later reached a wider commercial audience when it was used in BMW's national "Moments" television campaign, which began airing in December 2013.