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.
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- [For Gifts and Video BGM] A Song for Celebrating the 60th Birthday (Kanreki)
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For a birthday present, give a touching surprise video. Recommended birthday movie roundup (1–10)
Toy Story 3-style movie
How about making a birthday movie using the Toy Story teaser footage? If the birthday person’s name and the date appear in the video, they’ll surely be surprised and delighted! There are also videos on YouTube that explain easy ways to make this, so be sure to check them out.
If you’ve edited videos on a computer before and know how to use keyframes, you should be able to try it right away.
Achieving a perfectly natural finish can get complex, but if you’re okay with a reasonable level of quality, it’s surprisingly easy!
Monsters, Inc.-style movie
How about inserting your own original subtitles into the English version of “Monsters, Inc.”? If your name suddenly appears in the footage of a movie everyone knows, it’ll be surprising and exciting! Plus, adding subtitles for lines the characters would never actually say can make it even funnier—highly recommended.
You can give this video as a standalone gift, or use it as the opening for a message video from a group of friends.
Countdown & Film
A movie that starts with a cinematic countdown and then looks back on memories in chronological order.
It’s also nice to place photos inside film-shaped frames.
This could work not only for birthdays but also for anniversary celebration videos! If you browse free stock video sites, you’ll likely find film-style slideshow templates like this.
Sing “A Little Love Song” in a relay
It’s a movie where different people sing sections of an existing song, you film each part, and then edit them together.
If you prepare it as a surprise, it’s sure to be moving! The more people who appear, the greater the joy will be.
If you’re making it yourself, start by choosing the song.
Pick a bright, upbeat song that the birthday person knows!
post-recording (ADR/dubbing)
How about a parody movie where you add your own voice to an existing anime? If you create a video using the recipient’s favorite anime or movie, the impact will be even greater! Carefully refine the content and performances to craft a film full of laughs and tears.
A surprise video where we walk around collecting congratulatory messages
I think making it into a drama-style movie would be unique and wonderful.
For example, if you create a single movie where the presenter wakes up in the morning, gets ready, heads out, and receives messages from many people along the way, it could be really fun to watch.
Put lots of love into the filming and editing, and make it a beautiful movie!
A video where friends pop out from various places to celebrate
This is a birthday movie where people appear from various places, each holding a sheet of paper with one character of “Happy Birthday.” As you watch, you can’t help but get excited, wondering, “Who will come out next, and from where?” If the message is short, it seems easy to make, and it could be a fun video even in limited spaces like a school or workplace.
If there are many participants, you can lengthen the message and add a short note besides just “congratulations.” Having people appear from different memorable spots would make it a moving, heartwarming video!
