The Music Video That Changed It All: “Take On Me” | Neon Music Visual History

When “Take On Me” by A-ha first aired on MTV in 1985, few could have predicted that it would become one of the most defining moments in the evolution of music video artistry. The Norwegian synth-pop trio may have delivered a catchy, soaring track, but it was the music video—an ambitious fusion of live-action and pencil-sketch animation—that truly redefined what a music video could be.

As an online destination for thoughtful cultural commentary, Neon Music dives into the artistry and impact of visuals in music. “Take On Me” wasn’t just a hit single—it was a cultural shift. Let’s explore how this video helped shape the language of modern music storytelling and why it still resonates today.

MTV and the Rise of Video Culture

The early 1980s were an era of transformation in music consumption. With the launch of MTV in 1981, a new visual frontier opened up. No longer were songs only heard—they were seen, performed, and experienced in tandem with strong visuals. The channel became a gatekeeper, launching careers and shaping public taste. But with this new medium came a creative demand: musicians now had to think about how to visually represent their sound.

In this new environment, videos were more than promotional tools—they were cultural statements. Some leaned on performance footage, others played with fashion or rebellious aesthetics. But A-ha’s “Take On Me” took a daring leap into uncharted territory, offering a short cinematic story that blurred the lines between art and pop. It felt bold and new, but most of all, it felt like a revelation.

Rotoscoping and Live Action: A New Language

Directed by Steve Barron, the “Take On Me” video combined traditional film with a hand-drawn rotoscope technique—an animation process where illustrators trace over live-action footage frame by frame. This gave the video its iconic sketchbook appearance and allowed it to seamlessly transition between reality and fantasy.

The story follows a young woman who gets pulled from a café into a comic book world by a mysterious animated figure—A-ha's frontman, Morten Harket. The blending of live action and animation wasn’t just a gimmick. It told a story of escape, love, and transformation—a narrative structure not often seen in music videos at the time.

What made this revolutionary was the deliberate use of animation as metaphor. The hand-drawn universe symbolized dreams, possibility, and the intangible nature of art itself. It wasn't just eye candy—it was emotionally resonant, a narrative device that added layers of meaning to an already emotive song.

Visual Art in Music Promotion

By the mid-80s, music videos had become essential to an artist’s success, but they were still finding their identity. “Take On Me” established the potential for visual storytelling as an extension of musical creativity. It turned a promotional clip into a work of art, something fans would want to watch over and over again, not just for the music but for the journey it presented.

The aesthetics of the video became part of A-ha’s identity and helped catapult the song to global success. It was not their first release of “Take On Me”—earlier versions had underwhelmed commercially—but the music video provided the emotional hook that brought audiences in. Once MTV picked it up, it aired in heavy rotation and soon “Take On Me” topped the charts in 27 countries.

For Neon Music, which explores the intersection of creativity, culture, and music, this moment is more than historical. It’s a case study in how multimedia innovation can completely change the trajectory of a song, an artist, and a genre. It underscores the importance of vision—not just musical, but visual.

Long-Term Influence on Visual Storytelling

The influence of “Take On Me” is still visible in contemporary music videos, especially as animation and hybrid visuals have made a comeback in the streaming age. Artists continue to blend media, experiment with formats, and draw from graphic-novel aesthetics to add depth to their work.

Consider the rise of lyric videos, animated shorts, and interactive visuals. These forms owe a great deal to what A-ha helped pioneer. The idea that music videos can transcend mere performance and function as miniature films—imbued with narrative, tension, and emotional arcs—begins here.

Even decades later, fans and artists alike reference the “Take On Me” aesthetic. It's echoed in everything from TV ads to modern music videos using hand-drawn overlays or fantasy-driven transitions. In 2020, A-ha themselves released a 4K remaster of the video, breathing new life into its stylized world and introducing it to a new generation. The timeless appeal of the visual concept proves that innovation never goes out of style.

Moreover, the video’s story structure and emotional pacing continue to inspire filmmakers and visual creatives. It set a blueprint for music videos that do more than just accompany music—they tell a story that complements and deepens the musical experience.

Conclusion

At Neon Music, we believe that music is as much a visual medium as it is an auditory one. “Take On Me” represents a pivotal moment in this ongoing evolution—a track that, when paired with a visionary video, achieved something far greater than chart success.

It invited listeners into a world where animation met emotion, where visual metaphor carried as much weight as lyrical content. It proved that innovation in music video storytelling could elevate a song into the realm of legend.

A-ha didn’t just release a song. They crafted a moment—a cultural artifact that continues to inspire and inform how artists present their work. And for platforms like Neon Music that thrive on creative exploration, it serves as a reminder: when sound and vision come together in harmony, the results can be truly timeless.

So when we look back at the music video that changed it all, “Take On Me” remains a shining example of what’s possible when artists dare to imagine beyond the expected. It wasn’t just a hit—it was a statement. And today, it still resonates, pencil lines and all.