"Animals" is the second single from Maroon 5 from their album V.
The music video was released on September 29, 2014 on Vevo. Directed by Samuel Bayer, the video features Adam Levine and his wife, Behati Prinsloo who portrays the woman. The other musicians of Maroon 5 (including their touring member Sam Farrar, who appeared in a music video of the band for the very first time) also make an appearance - they are seen playing at a nightclub in some scenes of the video.
"The music video" contains examples of:
- Book Ends: The music video begins with Adam staring up at the woman's bedroom window and ending with him standing out in the rain staring up at the same window.
- Careful with That Axe: The "AAAAAOOOOUGH" in "Animals".
- Concept Video: A photographer stalking a woman and fantasizing about being with her.
- Fan Disservice:
- A shirtless Adam covered in fake blood and punching animal carcasses.
- Adam and Behati kissing whilst naked and drenched in buckets of fake blood.
- Fanservice:
- Adam and Behati's love making scenes.
- A half-naked Behati wondering around her apartment.
- Intercourse with You: Played to a disturbing effect. And animal metaphors.
- Lyrical Dissonance: The song sounds hot but the lyrics detailing the man's obsession towards a woman come off sounding rape-y.
- Obsession Song: The titular "Animals" which details Adam Levine's carnal lust for a woman.
- Shout-Out:
- The video starts an intro was based on the opening credits of Se7en (1995), with a noise of the Kodak 35 camera.
- The story of the video is inspired by the film American Psycho (2000).
- A shirtless Adam wearing horn-rimmed glasses, singing the song inside a meat locker and using animal carcasses for punching bags.
- Adam and Behati as obsessed lovers kissing — while disrobed and covered in real blood.
- Adam standing out on the corner in the pouring rain watching the woman's apartment.
- Stalker with a Crush: Levine's character continually stalks a woman after she visits his meat shop. It's played up to a frightening effect.
