"Shots" Turns 10: When Music, Fine Art & VFX Create Something Timeless

Some music videos do more than complement a song — they become a work of art in their own right. They stir emotion, spark imagination, and stay with us long after the final frame. 

That’s exactly what «Shots» by Imagine Dragons achieved. And this year, the video celebrates its 10th anniversary — a milestone for one of the most visually daring and creatively ambitious projects of its time.

What made «Shots» so unique was its conceptual foundation: the entire visual universe of the video was built from the paintings of contemporary artist Tim Cantor. 

His surreal, emotionally charged artworks became the backbone of the video’s aesthetic. But it didn’t stop there — through the power of VFX, the canvases came to life. Figures stepped out of frames, textures moved with breath-like fluidity, and viewers were pulled into a dreamscape that felt simultaneously otherworldly and deeply human.

This was more than a music video. It was a living gallery. A cinematic painting in motion.

«Shots» is a perfect example of what happens when artists from different disciplines come together with a shared vision. Every detail — from the color grading to the visual transitions — was carefully aligned with the emotional tone of the song and the symbolic nature of Cantor’s art. 

It’s a rare kind of synergy that can only happen when everyone involved sees beyond their own medium and into the bigger creative picture. Music, painting, and visual effects didn’t just coexist — they amplified each other, creating a multi-layered experience that resonated on both emotional and visual levels.

Ten years later, «Shots» still feels fresh, relevant, and daring.

Its aesthetic hasn't aged — it has endured. 

And when Max Colt was invited to San Diego this February to celebrate the 10-year anniversary alongside Imagine Dragons and Tim Cantor, it struck me just how powerful this kind of work really is. Projects like *Shots* don’t fade with trends. They stay with us, reminding us why we create in the first place.It was a beautiful reunion — filled with memories, reflections, and a shared understanding of the power of creativity to transform, inspire, and transcend.

It was a beautiful reunion — filled with memories, reflections, and a shared understanding of the power of creativity to transform, inspire, and transcend.

«Shots» remains more than just a highlight in the Imagine Dragons discography. It’s a reminder to all of us working in music, art, or VFX: 

When different forms of creativity collide, something extraordinary can happen.

A massive shoutout to Imagine Dragons and Tim Cantor for making something that still gives us chills a decade later. 

And hey, if anyone’s interested in turning my life into the next surrealist masterpiece — I’m ready when you are.