We are living in the era of remakes. Especially in movies, tv shows, music, and all other consumerist mediums. Or converting animes, comics into movies and tv series while leaving their essence behind. Everyone can list at least five remakes without quality or adding an extra touch. But there’s a thin line that separates great remakes and bad remakes. Great remakes use references, tributes, covers, and add something unique from the original source. Bad remakes just embody nostalgia and are filled with fan service. The music video of Kuricorder Quartet’s cover of SOUTHPAW stands beyond that line and shows its greatness. The music video of SOUTHPAW is animated by Sawako Kabuki, and if you don’t know the original song or video, it doesn’t matter. Because the music video gives it all.

The song Southpaw is originally by Pink Lady and was a huge hit in Japan back in the ’70s according to Wikipedia. You can watch the original music video below. But then after nearly 40 years Japanese Pop band Kuricoder Quartet covers Southpaw and the song reborn from its ashes.

Sawako Kabuki’s animation is just brilliant and hilarious. Watching the movement, changes in the color palette and facial expressions of the figures are just fascinating. When I first watched the music video I was inspired and entertained at the same time. But the more I researched Sawako Kabuki, my amazement skyrocketed. I’ll happily continue to follow her work and career growth. This music video is the winner of the 2020 Staff Pick Award at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and awarded with Music Video Special Jury Recognition for Pure Joy at SXSW.

SOUTHPAW by Kuricoder Quartet

I will quote her bio from her website and leave you alone with her work. You can learn more about the production process of the music video, go visit the Vimeo Blog, and also can follow her on Vimeo and Instagram and check her website.

“Sawako Kabuki graduated with a Bachelor of Graphic Design from Tama Art University, and later completed her master’s after working for a porn video company. Her films have been selected and awarded at festivals in more than 20 countries such as Annecy, Ottawa, Animafest Zagreb, Rotterdam, Sundance and SXSW. She is known for her distinct directorial personality in hand-drawn animation.”