Inspector Norse
I’ve been a fan of The Gene Dudley Band’s rendition of Inspector Norse for a while, drawn to its raw, brassy energy.
The song’s methodical build inspired us to explore a series of animated loops, each featuring different musicians, using a rough-and-ready animation style. We created a few test animations, and after sharing them on social media, the overwhelmingly positive response made it clear that this was an idea worth pursuing.
The Idea
The song likely features drums, wah-wah guitar, bass, and trumpets—but we never let reality limit our creativity when it comes to animation. Embracing artistic freedom, we decided to throw a trombone and French horn into the mix, adding to the visual excitement. We built a series of animated loops that could be layered onto the timeline as different sections repeated. While none of us are musicians, we had fun crafting our ramshackle band—so we hope you can forgive their less-than-perfect technique!
The Band
We wanted each musician to have a unique style, and luckily, the world of live performance offers plenty of iconic looks to draw from. Each character grooves in their own world, moving with their own distinct energy, yet together, they form a visually cohesive and dynamic ensemble.
DuIK & Joysticks’n Sliders
The character style embraces a deliberately rough and raw aesthetic. To achieve this, we deconstructed and warped a mix of stock images and AI-generated textures, crafting each character with a unique, eclectic look. Using Inverse Kinematics software Duik, we roughly rigged the band members, while Joysticks’n Sliders allowed us to animate their heads and facial features with expressive movement. The result isn’t hyper-realistic, but instead delivers a playful, exaggerated style that gives the characters a distinct and memorable personality.
The Design
We chose to incorporate hand-animated shapes and line work to complement the intentionally rough, hand-drawn aesthetic of the characters while also echoing the band’s signature album artwork. This approach creates a cohesive visual style that feels both organic and true to the band’s identity.
The Final Piece
We hope you enjoy the short animation we created.
Unofficial music video created for an abridged version of The Gene Dudley Group's cover of Inspector Norse.
Recorded & Performed - The Gene Dudley Group
Composed - Terje Olsen
Animated - Cub Studio
You can stream the track online or download the digital album here.