“Feels Like Summer” – Childish Gambino
None of the videos on this list have been animated, but leave it to Childish Gambino to want to switch things up a bit. For his 2018 single “Feels Like Summer,” he went the cartoon route and it kind of made us wish for a Childish Gambino animated series. (We almost came close to getting an animated Deadpool series from Donald Glover, but that got canceled. So this will have to do.)
The music video shows a toon Glover walking through his neighborhood on a summer day, watching everyone out and about on the streets. There are younger kids bothering the older kids, who are too busy smoking in the car to pay attention. Some guys are playing basketball in their driveway, others are barbecuing and washing their cars. It’s like any average summer day!
The video ends as the sun is starting to go down, and Childish ends up back at his house taking in the sun one last time before he goes inside.
If you thought some of these cartoon characters looked familiar, that’s because they were all modeled after real rappers, singers, and other notable black figures. Some of those celebrities featured include Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Will and Jaden Smith, Drake, Soulja Boy, Azealia Banks, Zendaya, Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Janelle Monáe, SZA, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Jackson.