Eyeballs, tentacles and weird machinery inhabit the peculiar forest Roof Studio designed for Empire of the Sun's High and Low music video.

The film follows a group of people as they are led into the woods by a shaman to enjoy a "mind-bending journey". The trip blends elements of live action and computer-generated animation, and is overseen by the Australian duo – who assume the role of "emperors".

"Empire of the Sun wanted a psychedelic film with a strong connection to nature to visually, yet indirectly, represent the experience of being on mind-changing substances; however, they were open to our ideas on execution," said the animation studio.

Roof Studio had previously worked with the band on a similarly bizarre Honda Civic advert.

"The only constraints they conveyed were not to take a too-literal approach to the visualisation of the lyrics," the studio added.

"In contrast to their previous album's desert landscape art direction, this time around they wanted to explore a tropical environment."

As the film progresses, more and more unusual elements are added, from a giant eyeball embedded in the moss to infinite pathways, floating boulders and machinery that seems to be made from plants.

The band watches the action from strange hovering platforms and spiralling telescopes.

The studio used a mixture of software to create the film – including After Effects, Maya and Corona – and shot live action in both Los Angeles and Costa Rica.

The band was 3D-scanned to create the telescope shots, which blended simulated cloth blowing in the wind with shots of the pair's faces. The entire film took one and a half months to finish.

Similarly psychedelic visuals feature in German animator Moritz Reichartz's film for musician OY, which turns balls of goo into "lively beings".

Director Kamiel Rongen also experimented with trippy imagery for Tunisian band Yuma, mixing materials inside a fishbowl to create hypnotic visuals.