Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive!

What this video is

Released in January 1984, 'Hyperactive!' arrived at the height of MTV's transformative influence on Anglo-American pop music. The video crystallises the era's fusion of art-school surrealism, emerging computer graphics technology, and theatrical performance — a convergence driven by British new wave artists who treated the music video as a creative medium in its own right rather than mere promotion. Thomas Dolby's…

Why it matters

A landmark artifact of British synth-pop's visual identity at its commercial and creative apex. The video's early computer graphics and surrealist theatrical staging helped define the aesthetic template for tech-inflected new wave promotion, earning industry recognition and contributing to…

The director

Daniel Kleinman (born 23 December 1955) is a British music video and television commercial director. After graduating from Hornsey Art School he began directing music videos in 1983, pioneering post-production special effects across more than 100 videos for…