After their success, topping the Icelandic charts with their debut single, "Little Talks", the band signed with Universal Music Group and the album was released internationally through Republic Records on 3 April 2012.

[5] The single propelled the band to nationwide popularity in the US, and has so far sold a million copies there.

"Dirty Paws" served as the second single from My Head Is an Animal in the UK and Ireland.

[18][19] The previous chart record was held by Björk's Volta, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 in 2009.

[18] In January 2014, the band announced via Facebook that the album had achieved platinum certification in the United States.

To create the video series, WeWereMonkeys drew inspiration from Nordic Mythology, suggestions from the band members and lyrics of the songs, to which they listened "over and over".

Several techniques were employed in the production, from live action to CGI, from stop-motion to digital painting.