Synopsis
A young girl and her enormous toad companion set off on a surreal journey after the creature floats away like a balloon. Chasing it through strange landscapes, rooftops, and increasingly perilous situations, the girl is pulled into a dreamlike adventure that shifts from playful wonder to unsettling darkness. The video's elaborate 3D world turns the bond between child and pet into a fantastical story about loss, pursuit, and the unpredictable logic of a dream.
Factoids & Trivia
- "Hey" was released as a single from Eatliz's debut album, "Violently Delicate," which came out in 2007-2008 depending on territory.
- The video was produced as a full 3D animation through Aiko Studio and involved a large group of freelance animators.
- Production took almost three years. The team reportedly gave individual frames and visual details unusually careful attention.
- The visual approach was influenced by the eccentric animation of Don Hertzfeldt, the surreal fantasy of Hayao Miyazaki, and Ben Hibon's "Codehunters."
- At the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, the video received the Spike Lee Award through the Babelgum competition. Lee personally selected it from approximately 12,000 international entries.
- The clip went on to receive several more international awards and was shown at around 70 animation and film festivals.
- Its imagery became part of Eatliz's wider visual identity, appearing in live-show presentations, posters, T-shirts, and online artwork.
- A separate MTV Art Break was created from the video's characters and visual world.
- The song's lyrics revolve around play, imagination, and a darker emotional undercurrent, which is reflected in the video's movement from childlike fantasy toward menace.