A heartwarming surprise video for a birthday present: a roundup of recommended birthday movies
When it comes to classic touches for birthdays and birthday parties, nothing beats a birthday video!
Many people want to give a heartfelt video for a family member, friend, or that special someone’s birthday.
But when it actually comes time to make one, it’s hard to decide what kind of video to create.
So in this article, we’ve gathered moving surprise videos perfect for birthdays that you can use as inspiration.
From parodies of anime and TV shows, to voice-over dubs, to meticulously crafted short films—surprising, touching, and full of humor—these videos make wonderful gifts overflowing with the creator’s love.
You’re sure to find ideas for a video that will delight someone special to you!
- A moving birthday song to give on someone’s special day. A birthday song so heartfelt it could bring you to tears.
- Birthday video ideas: Popular birthday movies to gift to friends, family, and loved ones.
- Disney songs recommended for birthdays!
- [Also great as video BGM] A birthday song to give a friend on their birthday
- [For the best day ever] Surprise ideas recommended for birthdays
- Surprise gifts to give on a birthday: touching birthday ideas
- Brighten your special day with happiness! A birthday song born in the Reiwa era
- Background music for a birthday party. A roundup of recommended birthday songs
- Funny surprises that liven up birthdays. Prank ideas that get everyone excited.
- [For Gifts and Video BGM] A Song for Celebrating the 60th Birthday (Kanreki)
- Sample heartfelt birthday messages to send to a friend
- [For friends or a significant other] Recommended birthday songs for high school students
- Let's give with all our heart: Recommended Japanese pop birthday songs for men
For a birthday present, give a touching surprise video. Recommended birthday movies roundup (21–30)
Reverse playback movie
Add a creative twist to your message video! How about making a reverse-play movie? Write your message on a card, put it in a box, take it out, hold it up to the camera, and then throw it.
When reversed, it looks like you’re catching the message card flying in from off-screen and placing it into the box! The uniquely uncanny texture of reverse playback really grabs attention.
Happy birthday in sign language!
How about a congratulatory comment video using sign language for people who are deaf or who love sign language? Even if someone has never encountered sign language before, I think their feelings will come across more strongly if they do their best to learn it, even without fully understanding it, and express their congratulations with it.
From her older brother, for his little sister’s 17th birthday. A close, two-shot video.
If you’re making a birthday movie, why not use all those two-shot photos sleeping in your phone’s photo folder? Line up lots of two-shots like purikura and selfies in a slideshow, add some lovely music, and turn it into one piece—I’m sure they’ll love it!
Sand art
It’s an idea where you create a story with pictures drawn in sand, using a principle similar to flipping through a flipbook.
Since it’s a bona fide work of art, trying it yourself might be quite a high hurdle, but there’s something moving about the gentle colors created with sand.
A one-of-a-kind flipbook from the family to Mom
If you’re going to express your gratitude with a movie, giving that person something a little more elaborate will convey your feelings better.
For example, how about making a flipbook-style animation? Even if you don’t have old videos or photos of the person, you can recreate things with a flipbook.
It might take some effort, but your feelings will surely come through.
Behind-the-scenes video of the message board creation
For a birthday celebration, how about giving a group message from everyone—and along with it, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how it was made? Showing the effort behind a simple gift and the feelings everyone put into their messages through video will make the main group message even more special.
Memory movie
Turn your photo album of memories into a movie.
Flipping through each page to reminisce is nice, but reliving those moments as a film with effects and background music is wonderful too.
Rather than just switching photos like a slideshow, weave in little stories like “Remember when that happened?”, set the BGM to a meaningful song, or suddenly lower the music to insert video clips from back then—these touches will make it even more moving.
The very process of gathering everyone’s photos and videos and putting it all together will itself become an unforgettable memory.
A birthday surprise video from the dance club
If you have a special skill that can add a floral touch when giving gifts—like dancing or singing—by all means, put it to use! Making a dance video in the city or a singing video, and doing it together for that person will surely be rewarded.
Even if you’re a beginner or not very good at it, if you have fun and put your heartfelt “congratulations” into it, they’re sure to be delighted!
A car relay movie from a boyfriend to his car-loving girlfriend
Since you’re going to the trouble of making a movie, you want it to be something they’ll be genuinely happy to receive, right? In that case, you can’t go wrong by packing it with things they love! If you give them something personal that’s full of their hobbies and is fun for them to watch, I’m sure it’ll be a surprise that really delights them!
A video of a cat singing
One of the wonderful things about movies is that they let you make cats, dogs, and even stuffed animals—things that don’t normally chat or sing—sing or do voice-overs.
For a birthday movie, be sure to have them sing a birthday song or express words of thanks to create a heartwarming, enjoyable experience!