JO1 “ANIMAL” MV Review: JO1 in their latest “ANIMAL” throws itself into a world of instinct, movement and unapologetic energy, and if there is one thing this MV absolutely refuses to be, it is boring.
Released as the title track of JO1’s US debut EP ANIMAL, the central idea around it essentially appears to be about embracing the animal inside you: being loud, expressive and unapologetically yourself, and the MV understands that perhaps a little too well.
JO1 “ANIMAL” MV Review: When the Energy Hits Immediately
Some music videos need 10 seconds to settle into their vibe, but “ANIMAL” seems like one of those that has absolutely zero patience. The second this MV begins, it feels like somebody has plugged JO1 directly into a power socket and forgotten to switch it off.
There is a very particular kind of energy running through the MV. It is not just loud or fast for the sake of it, but there is momentum, and the song keeps pushing forward as the visuals follow it without ever feeling like they are “trying to keep up”.
The entire MV revolves around letting go of restraint and unleashing the instinctive, wilder side of yourself, and JO1 does not whisper that message; they throw it at your face.
The Choreography Is Doing The Major Talking
The choreography that the MV brings is ridiculously energetic, but what makes it work is how clean the execution remains. There is so much happening at once that the performance could easily become visually messy; instead, the members stay remarkably in sync. Every formation hits; every transition feels intentional; and every moment seems to have a path.
There are animal-inspired movements woven into the choreography with the Afro-influenced movement, giving the choreography a fascinating combination of sharpness and looseness. It does not feel like JO1 is simply pretending to be animals. The choreography actually plays with the metaphorical idea and the physicality of the idea: the sudden movements, the grounded energy, the sense of instinct. This is where the MV works creatively well for me.
JO1 Is in Complete Sync
One of my favourite things about watching a large-group performance is seeing whether everyone can move in unison without making every person look the exact carbon copy of one another.
ANIMAL has the balance maintained. The synchronisation is tight enough to make every formation look satisfying, but the members still have enough individual movements where each personality can show up neatly. You can focus on any member and find something unique happening around them, which obviously makes you replay the MV.
The choreography also benefits from the sheer physical commitment of the members. There is absolutely no idea of “conserving any energy for later”.
The “Cage Concept Actually Works
The central idea behind ANIMAL is about breaking away from the “cage” or restrictions and entering a wider world. The visual storytelling plays with that movement from confinement to freedom, giving the song’s “unleash your wild side” message an actual visual language.
There is enough symbolism to understand what JO1 is doing, but the video ultimately lets the movement and the visuals communicate the emotions without over-explaining. The members do not stand around dramatically announcing their freedom, but they dance like it, which adds flavour to the video.
JO1 Brings Out Dancers
The final stretch expands the scale of the performance with dancers joining JO1, turning the ending into one giant burst of movement. This is where the MV fully commits to its concept, with the performance getting bigger; the formation becoming more expansive and the energy reaching the kind of finale stage where subtlety officially leaves the chat.
But for a song like this, especially when it is called ANIMAL, subtlety is no angle, and the last minute especially feels like somebody opened the gates and fired “GO” in the air.
Final Verdict
ANIMAL MV’s biggest strength is perhaps the performance. The visuals support the song, the concept gives the choreography a reason to exist, and JO1 has enough stage presence to make all the movement feel exciting rather than exhausting.
The choreography is sharp, synchronisation is satisfying, and the energy barely lets up. ANIMAL knows exactly what it wants to be: a high-energy performance piece about breaking free, embracing instinct and letting JO1 loose.
Watch JO1 “ANIMAL” MV on YouTube.
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