Controversial Animator Bill Plympton Discusses Working With Kanye West

Bill Plympton's work has become synonymous with the 90's and Gen X culture. However, this famed animator has had an illustrious three decade career that has seen the release of numerous books and movies, capped off with two Oscar nominations. His Liquid Television and Spike & Mike circuit gained him a youthful cult-like following of the 90's, which included one very artistic youngster.

“He said, ‘Is this Bill Plympton? This is Kanye West. Are you the animator guy? I want to hire you to do my next music video.’” Bill Plympton is the man behind Kanye West's "Heard 'Em Say" animated video, and he recently opened up about the experience with the The Daily Beast. 

Plympton reminds us that Kanye already shot a video for the 2005 Late Registration single, which was directed by Michel Gondry, of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind fame. Unfortunately, the rapper was not feeling it and thought of a creative new take on the song, but he needed help. “He had to premiere the film in a week on MTV. He flew over to my studio for a couple of days to look over my shoulder as I was drawing and criticized them. He said, ‘I look more handsome than that—make me more handsome!’ I said, ‘Sure, Kanye.’”

Plympton would go on to praise Ye, even if he was a tad bit meticulous. “But you know, he really is a smart guy, and very visual; he could be a theater director. I trusted his opinion.”  You can read the full interview here, to learn more about adult comics and Plympton's relationship with Kanye.