I Can’t Stop Dancing to “Animal” by KATSEYE
I posted one dance video on Friday.
By the following day, it had already reached nearly 100,000 views.
The video was simple: me dancing inside a parking garage, wearing a fitted brown shirt, baggy jeans and leopard-print details while “Animal” by KATSEYE played in the background.
I added the words “Dancing to Animals by Katseye” on the screen, uploaded it to YouTube Shorts and continued with my day.
Then the views started moving.
More people watched. The comments multiplied. Viewers began calling me a diva, encouraging KATSEYE to notice the video and debating whether my freestyle was better than learning the actual choreography.
Honestly, I was just happy that other people understood how addictive this song is.
I have been replaying “Animal” by KATSEYE constantly. The moment it ends, I want to hear it again. The chorus makes me want to move, the production has the right amount of drama and the entire song carries an energy that feels polished without becoming predictable.
Then I learned that Ed Sheeran helped write it.
That made me love the song even more.
What Is “Animal” by KATSEYE?
“Animal” is a pop single by global girl group KATSEYE, officially released on July 24, 2026. The song was written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Blake Slatkin and Omer Fedi, with production by Omer Fedi and Blake Slatkin. It will also appear on KATSEYE’s third EP, WILD, scheduled for release on August 14, 2026.
The official title is “Animal,” singular.
Some listeners may search for “Animals by KATSEYE,” and I even used the plural form in the text on my original video. But anyone looking for the official song, music video or choreography should search for “Animal” by KATSEYE.
The song is bold, flirtatious and extremely easy to replay. It feels designed for dancing, but it still contains enough melody and personality to work beyond a short social-media clip.
That balance is part of why I think it connected with me so quickly.
Why “Animal” by KATSEYE Is So Addictive
Some songs take several listens before they settle into your mind.
“Animal” did not need that much time.
The chorus arrives with a melody that is easy to remember, while the production creates a sense of movement underneath it. There are clear rhythmic moments where a dancer can hit a pose, change direction, exaggerate a gesture or completely abandon the official choreography and freestyle.
Clearly, I chose the last option.
The song also understands restraint. It does not need to overwhelm the listener every second. Instead, it allows the vocals, attitude and central hook to carry the experience.
That makes it perfect for repeat listening.
I have played it while getting dressed, preparing to film, thinking about choreography and rewatching my own videos. At this point, hearing the opening immediately makes my body anticipate the chorus.
That is usually how I know a song has fully taken over my brain.
What Does “Animal” by KATSEYE Mean?
“Animal” explores the contrast between the polished identity someone presents publicly and the more uninhibited version of that person that appears privately.
It is about recognizing someone’s hidden wild side: the confidence, attraction, impulsiveness and freedom that other people may only briefly glimpse on the dance floor.
Universal Music described the song as exploring the tension between our controlled public images and the energy that emerges behind closed doors. Ed Sheeran similarly explained that the concept involves seeing a side of someone that almost nobody else gets to experience.
That idea makes the song more interesting than a basic dance track.
The “animal” is not necessarily something dangerous. It represents the unfiltered version of a person—the part that stops worrying about appearances and starts moving instinctively.
That is also what dancing feels like to me when I am fully connected to a song.
There is no time to calculate every facial expression or wonder whether every movement looks perfect. You hear the beat, trust your body and commit.
Did Ed Sheeran Write “Animal” by KATSEYE?
Yes. Ed Sheeran is one of the four credited writers of “Animal” by KATSEYE.
The complete credited songwriting team is:
- Ed Sheeran
- Johnny McDaid
- Blake Slatkin
- Omer Fedi
Ed Sheeran’s involvement also went beyond writing. The detailed credits list him as contributing guitar and background vocals to the recording.
According to Sheeran, he discovered KATSEYE’s song “Gnarly” while he was in Mexico. He liked it enough to reach out and ask whether he could write a song for the group. That connection eventually became “Animal.”
That is such an interesting detail to me.
Ed Sheeran is one of the most successful songwriters in contemporary pop music, but this collaboration reportedly began with him listening to KATSEYE as a genuine fan.
He heard something exciting in the group, followed that instinct and helped create a song that now has me dancing in parking garages.
The internet can be unexpectedly full-circle sometimes.
Seeing Ed Sheeran at Coachella 2025 Made the Connection More Personal
My love for Ed Sheeran is not new.
I was incredibly lucky to watch him perform during Coachella 2025 Weekend 2. His appearance felt especially exciting because he was added to the schedule late, and many people attending the festival had not originally expected to see him.
Ed performed on the Mojave Stage on Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m.
Seeing him live was one of those Coachella moments that made me appreciate how unpredictable a music festival can be.
You arrive with an entire schedule in your head. You think you know which performers will define your weekend. Then an artist such as Ed Sheeran gets added, and suddenly you are watching someone perform songs that have traveled across the world for years.
His ability to hold an audience through songwriting, melody and live performance made a strong impression on me.
That is why discovering his name in the credits for “Animal” felt personal. I had already watched him perform live, admired his music and followed his career. Now one of my favorite new KATSEYE songs had his creative fingerprints on it too.
I was already addicted to “Animal.”
Finding out Ed Sheeran helped write it gave me another reason to keep pressing replay.
The “Animal” Music Video Matches the Song’s Wild Energy
The official “Animal” music video expands the song’s idea of hidden identity through observation rooms, mirrored realities and changing personas.
Directed by Cody Critcheloe, the video moves between feminine and masculine archetypes while blurring the distinction between the observer and the person being observed. The visual tension between instinct and control reflects the same duality explored in the song.
The video also features a cameo from Demi Moore.
She appears during a chaotic wardrobe sequence and gives the command for the group to get wild before the video shifts into a glamorous dance performance.
It works because the music video does not interpret “animal” too literally.
Instead of placing the group in a jungle or surrounding them with predictable animal imagery, the video focuses on transformation, performance and the different identities people inhabit.
It feels fashionable, theatrical and intentionally strange.
More importantly, it gives KATSEYE another opportunity to do what they do especially well: connect music, styling, personality and movement into one recognizable visual world.
My “Animal” by KATSEYE Dance Videos
One video quickly became several.
That usually happens when I genuinely love a song. I film one version, notice another moment in the music and immediately start imagining how I could perform it differently.
Each video gives me another opportunity to change the movement, expressions, outfit, location or overall energy.
You can watch my five “Animal” by KATSEYE dance videos here:
- Watch my first “Animal” by KATSEYE dance
- Watch my second KATSEYE “Animal” dance
- Watch my third “Animal” dance video
- Watch another KATSEYE “Animal” performance
- Watch my fifth “Animal” by KATSEYE dance
The highest-performing version reached nearly 100,000 views in roughly one day.
That does not mean every movement was technically perfect.
It definitely does not mean I performed the official choreography.
It means I heard a song I loved and interpreted it in a way that felt natural to me.
My Dance Was a Freestyle, Not the Official KATSEYE Choreography
Several viewers noticed immediately that I was creating my own movement.
They were correct.
My videos are freestyle interpretations of “Animal” by KATSEYE, not tutorials or exact recreations of the official dance.
I listened for the musical accents and responded instinctively. Some moments became sharp and controlled. Others were dramatic, playful or slightly chaotic.
The song gave me room to perform rather than simply reproduce.
That has always been one of my favorite parts of dance. Choreography teaches precision, but freestyle reveals personality.
Dance has been part of my life since before I understood performance as a formal skill. Competitive dance later taught me discipline, precision and resilience, while balancing academics and dance at UC Berkeley made movement feel even more connected to my identity.
I wrote more about that journey in How Dance and Fashion Shaped My Life, My Energy, and Who I Am Today.
When I dance now, all those different parts of my history appear together: training, instinct, humor, confidence and the willingness to look slightly ridiculous when the moment requires it.
The YouTube Comments Made the Video Even Better
The views were exciting.
The comments were the best part.
The response felt overwhelmingly encouraging, but it also had exactly the kind of humor that makes YouTube Shorts entertaining.
@ZeetheCateYT wrote:
“Freestyle? Now that’s peak.”
That comment understood the assignment immediately.
@jilliantufro6842 said:
“Katseye needs to see this diva.”
@Pinkypie-ch1 wrote:
“Gonna miss this baddie when I scroll.”
Then @kats_vibes45 delivered the most accurate critique:
“He doing every move except the actual moves.”
I could not even disagree.
That was exactly what I was doing.
Other viewers wrote things such as “WHO IS THIS BADDIE,” “Absolute DIVAAA,” “You go king,” “GET IT QUEEN” and “He needs to get hired.”
@Val_iskindacool even said the video deserved more attention than basic lyric edits, while another viewer encouraged people to watch before it became viral.
The comments turned the video into something larger than a solo performance. People were complimenting it, joking about it, analyzing the movements and creating their own language around the moment.
That interaction is what makes social media feel rewarding when the community is positive.
I Am Grateful for the Kindness From My YouTube Viewers
Posting yourself dancing online requires a certain level of vulnerability.
You are not only showing people choreography. You are showing them how you interpret music, how you carry yourself and how willing you are to commit to a performance.
People can praise it.
People can misunderstand it.
People can also tell you that you performed every possible movement except the one you were supposed to learn.
Thankfully, my viewers have been incredibly kind.
I appreciate everyone who watched, liked, shared or left a positive comment. That support pushes me to become more confident and continue improving.
Even a short comment can make a real difference to a creator. It can encourage someone to practice again, try a new style or post the video they were afraid to share.
My audience has supported me through several dance trends and viral moments. My Zesty Sturdy dance reached 2.3 million views in three days, but every new video teaches me something different about movement and audience connection.
The biggest numbers may change from one video to another.
The encouragement still matters every time.
Why I Think My KATSEYE “Animal” Dance Connected
Nobody outside YouTube can know exactly why its recommendation system expands the reach of a particular Short.
However, I can identify several qualities that likely helped viewers understand and respond to this video.
The concept was immediately clear
The on-screen text told viewers that I was dancing to “Animal” by KATSEYE. There was no long explanation before the performance began.
The song was fresh and recognizable
“Animal” was a new KATSEYE release with an instantly memorable chorus, strong choreography and a major songwriting connection to Ed Sheeran.
My styling supported the song
The earth tones and leopard-print details connected visually with the “Animal” concept without turning the outfit into a costume.
The performance had personality
I was not trying to disappear behind perfect choreography. The expressions, gestures and freestyle choices gave people something specific to react to.
The comments extended the experience
Viewers did not simply say “good job.” They created jokes, identified references, defended the video and encouraged KATSEYE to notice it.
Studying Media Studies at UC Berkeley taught me to think about online content as more than an isolated video. Virality involves timing, identity, storytelling, audience psychology and human emotion working together.
But none of those elements matter if the creator looks disconnected from the moment.
The strongest part of a dance video is usually commitment.
My Next Goal Is Learning the Official “Animal” Choreography
The comments have convinced me.
I am making it a goal to learn the actual KATSEYE “Animal” choreography.
Freestyling comes naturally to me because it allows me to react without overthinking. Learning the official dance will require a different kind of attention: studying the timing, hand movements, formations, textures and smaller details that make KATSEYE performances look so polished.
Their choreography can appear effortless on screen, but that level of synchronization requires serious rehearsal and physical control.
I want to challenge myself to learn it accurately.
I will probably still add a little Jeremy Melodious energy because I apparently cannot help myself.
But the next stage is clear.
First, freestyle to the song repeatedly.
Then learn what I was actually supposed to be doing.
Final Thoughts on “Animal” by KATSEYE
“Animal” by KATSEYE gave me everything I want from a dance song.
It is catchy without becoming empty. It is polished without losing personality. It contains a clear concept, memorable choreography and enough attitude to make every performance feel different.
The fact that Ed Sheeran helped write it made the song even more meaningful to me, especially after I had the unexpected opportunity to watch him perform at Coachella 2025.
Then one of my dance videos reached nearly 100,000 views in roughly one day.
Suddenly, the song I had been replaying privately became a shared experience with thousands of viewers.
I loved reading every kind comment. I loved seeing people understand the freestyle. I even loved being called out for doing everything except the official moves.
That mixture of music, movement and community is why I continue creating.
You can explore more stories about dance, internet culture and unexpected viral moments through my Viral Video Trends blog.
For now, I will continue replaying “Animal.”
And yes, I am going to learn the real choreography.
Eventually.
— Jeremy Melodious
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Animal” by KATSEYE?
“Animal” is a 2026 pop single by KATSEYE. It was released on July 24 and will appear on the group’s third EP, WILD, scheduled for August 14.
Who wrote “Animal” by KATSEYE?
The credited writers are Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Blake Slatkin and Omer Fedi. Omer Fedi and Blake Slatkin produced the song.
Did Ed Sheeran write a song for KATSEYE?
Yes. Ed Sheeran co-wrote “Animal” after becoming a fan of KATSEYE and reaching out about collaborating with the group.
Does Ed Sheeran sing on “Animal” by KATSEYE?
The detailed song credits list Ed Sheeran as contributing background vocals and guitar in addition to co-writing the track.
What does “Animal” by KATSEYE mean?
The song is about seeing someone’s private, uninhibited side beneath the polished identity they show publicly. It connects that hidden freedom with attraction, secrecy and movement on the dance floor.
Is the song called “Animal” or “Animals” by KATSEYE?
The official title is “Animal” by KATSEYE. “Animals by KATSEYE” is a common search variation, but it is not the official title.
Was Jeremy Melodious performing the official KATSEYE choreography?
No. Jeremy’s original videos were freestyle interpretations of the song. His next goal is to learn and perform the official “Animal” choreography.
How many views did Jeremy Melodious’ KATSEYE dance receive?
One of Jeremy’s “Animal” dance videos reached nearly 100,000 views in roughly one day and continued receiving views and comments afterward.
Where can I watch Jeremy Melodious dance to “Animal”?
Jeremy has published five “Animal” dance videos on his official YouTube channel. All five videos are linked in the article above.
Author Bio
Jeremy Melodious is a Vietnamese American digital creator, dancer, musician and UC Berkeley Media Studies graduate based in Long Beach, California. He creates personality-driven dance videos and writes about viral trends, music, internet culture, fashion and authentic digital storytelling.
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