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Groundbreaking pencil-sketch animation, soaring vocals and a cinematic love story combine in one of MTV’s defining achievements.More

A-ha's Take On Me paired one of synthpop's most recognizable melodies with a music video that redefined what MTV audiences expected. This commentary explores how its pioneering blend of live action and pencil-sketch animation built upon earlier techniques before helping inspire a new generation of visual storytelling. It follows the video's fantasy romance as Morten Harket's illustrated hero crosses into the real world, highlighting the cinematic pacing, expressive animation, and memorable chase sequences that made the video an instant classic. The commentary also examines the song itself, from its sparkling synthesizer hook and remarkably clean production to Harket's restrained verses and spectacular high-register chorus, whose precision remains a challenge for singers today. Along the way, it places A-Ha within new wave history, discusses the band's worldwide success beyond the United States, and explains why Take On Me continues to stand among the most celebrated and influential music videos ever made.

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