Watch Arcade Fire’s Kooky Animated Music Video for “Chemistry”

It seems like Arcade Fire are always aiming to surprise us.

The last year has been a bewildering one for the band: First, there was that bizarre Everything Now rollout (you remember: $109 fidget spinners, the fake Stereogum review, etc.), then came the actual left-turn LP, then they tossed around the idea of implementing a concert dress code. As of Monday, it would seem the stimulatory excess of the Everything Now universe is not yet behind us. The band has shared a quirky new music video for “Chemistry,” animated by Starburns Industries, the studio behind Rick & Morty. Watch it below.

The “Chemistry” cartoon tells the story of the unlikeliest pair of lovebirds, a dog and a cat—or, rather, a half-human, half-dog hybrid and a likewise interpretation for the cat—as they escape the cat’s wedding reception and flee to outer space. What we might call a bizarrely endearing short film, the Wes Anderson-esque cartoon was directed by Ray Tintori (who has worked with MGMT and Moses Sumney, among others) and stars Tootie Tootz of Big Freedia fame. Following the oddball couple’s journey and run-in with a gang of sharks (read: shark-human hybrids), they return safely to Earth just in time for Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. We’re wondering if herein lies an alternate ending to Isle of Dogs.

Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler said of the video’s collaborators and creative inspiration:

We’ve been big fans of Ray’s work since his early videos and there was talk of collaborating during The Suburbs shoot—we were going to film it in New Orleans but then it got moved to Austin at the last minute, and Ray was caught up working on Beasts of the Southern Wild. So it was very full circle to finally be working with him in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. There is a playful, carnivalesque energy to the song; to capture that by filming literally during carnival felt right.

Arcade Fire are touring throughout the summer, toggling between shows in Europe and North America. Check out their entire schedule further down below, and revisit our review of Everything Now right here. While we’re on the topic, grab some earbuds and listen to our favorite songs by Arcade Fire.

Arcade Fire Tour Dates:

June
11 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Ahoy
13 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
15 — Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
17 — Budapest, Hungary @ Budapest Sports Arena
18 — Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle
20 — Bucharest, Romania @ Romexpo
22 — Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany @ Southside Festival
24 — Scheessel, Germany @ Hurricane Festival

July
07 — Clarkston, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theater
08 — Milwaukee, Wis. @ Summerfest
10 — Pittsburgh, Penn. @ Stage AE
12 — Raleigh, N.C. @ Red Hat Amphitheater
14 — Birmingham, Ala. @ Sloss Festival
15 — Louisville, Ky. @ Forecastle Festival
18 — Boston, Mass. @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
19 — Philadelphia, Penn. @ Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
20 — Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live
22 — Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage

August
04 — Moscow, Russia @ Afisha Picnic
06 — Riga, Latvia @ Mezaparks Green Theatre
08 — Oslo, Norway @ Toyenparken
10 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ HAVEN Festival
11 — Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West
13 — Berlin, Germany @ Zitadelle
15 — Paredes De Coura, Portugal @ Praia do Taboao
16 — Kiewit-Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop
21 — Reykjavik, Iceland @ Laugardalsholl

September
21 — Berkeley, Calif. @ The Greek Theatre
23 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ Life Is Beautiful