Synopsis

Peter Gabriel performs in a surreal world where live action, clay animation, pixilation, and stop-motion collide. Lying beneath a sheet of glass, he appears to transform into a series of comic and dreamlike images, including oversized fruit, dancing chickens, animated clothing, colorful creatures, and shifting human forms. The video follows the song's playful sensuality rather than presenting a conventional narrative. Its rapid succession of visual jokes and handmade effects turns Gabriel's performance into a constantly changing pop-art spectacle designed to reward repeated viewing.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video combines several painstaking techniques, including claymation, pixilation, stop-motion animation, and live-action photography. Aardman Animations and the Brothers Quay contributed to the animated sequences.

• Peter Gabriel spent approximately 16 hours lying beneath a sheet of glass while raw fish and other elements were arranged above him for frame-by-frame filming.

• The production used no CGI. Its visual transformations were created through physical materials, animation, camera tricks, and incremental movement.

• The video was made to remain entertaining on repeated viewings, with numerous visual details and jokes packed into its fast-moving images.

• The chairs that appear to walk behind the backing singers were reportedly added after performers complained about having to stand for extended periods during the stop-motion process.

• "Sledgehammer" helped move Gabriel from cult-art-rock status into the mainstream pop audience. The song became his first US number-one single.

• At the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won nine awards, including Video of the Year. Gabriel also received the Video Vanguard Award that night, giving him ten awards in total.

• The video remains the record-holder for the most MTV Video Music Awards won by a single video.

• Aardman later became internationally famous for the "Wallace & Gromit" and "Shaun the Sheep" franchises, making "Sledgehammer" an early high-profile example of the studio's work.

• The original video was later restored and remastered in 4K by Aardman.