Guy Ben Shetrit, left, with filmmaker and judge Spike Lee.

“Hey” is a brand-new, 3D-animated music video from Israeli band Eatliz. It’s a cool sci-fi fantasy journey of a young girl with a special pet friend—a huge toad. The project took nearly three years and a 15-member crew to create. But it turned into a success—“Hey” was recently awarded the Spike Lee Award for animation from the Internet-TV platform Babelgum. The Babelgum Online Film Festival, for which famed filmmaker Spike Lee is a judge, awarded Guy Ben Shetrit, the founder and main composer of Eatliz, who wrote the winning song and directed the video, 20,000 euros and a trophy. The short film, which was chosen from 12,000 international submissions, has since been accepted to more than 40 international film and animation festivals. (You can check out the video here.) I recently chatted with Guy about this monumental achievement.

What was your inspiration for the music video?
When I worked at animation studio Crew 972, they encouraged us to create. During one of the breaks between productions, a group of animators wanted to produce a short film. The group included Eitan Weinshtock, who later became one of the “Hey” art directors. This initiative made it to the advanced storyboard [phase] but stopped there. One year later, I decided to make an animated music video for Eatliz, an art-pop group I founded. Then I remembered this unrealized project. One morning when I got to work, I found Eitan’s sketchbook wide open on his table. I took a peek and saw sketches [of] a little girl who climbs on the back of a toad, which is two heads bigger than her. At this point, all my lights were turned on; the metaphors, scenes and scenarios of “Hey” were running around my head.

What past experience do you have with animation?
I’ve been in the animation industry for 13 years now, starting right after my mandatory military service. I was one of the first 3D animators in Israel, specializing in character animation. I’ve worked in several animation studios, on music videos, TV programs, computer games and commercials.

How does the Eatliz song connect to the music video animation?
I see a great connection. The video’s editing also complements the style, cutting rapidly during fast-action sequences and letting the eye rest just enough before the next outburst of chaotic events. The transitions between different locations and time periods are blended sometimes through a special cut and sometimes through motion. Since I wrote the song and the script, I feel that I linked my vision to the audio-visual combination.

How would you describe what the music video is about?
“Hey” is a fantasy story of adolescence and the lost innocence of a lonely little girl who creates imaginary friends and symbols—the toad that will never grow into a prince, the balloon that explodes together with the innocence of adolescence and a heroine girl who acts like a tomboy.

What advice would you give to any aspiring animation artists?
Make sure you really want to do it!

Tell us more about your band.
Eatliz’s complex compositions and arrangements move between various musical arenas. Different songs feature influences from hard rock, surf, punk, Goth, power pop and other genres. At times, several of these turn up in a single song! Eatliz’s first album, titled Violently Delicate, was released in November 2007. As of 2008, the album is being distributed in Germany and Austria as well.

Besides animation and music, what else do you enjoy?
I’m a huge cinema and TV fan. I also like to explore mental and spiritual matters in the human spirit.

Jill Weiss is a sophomore at Rutgers University. She’s very active in the Chabad on campus and works as an executive board member. She’s also a member of the JVibe Teen Advisory Board.