Technique
CLIENT
Animation studio
Animator
YEAR
We were contacted by Open University in regards to a new research project they were going to launch with BBC One. The commission was to help create assets in the shape of 1 short animation video, some social media gifs and illustrations to accompany the project “Linford” where BBC One and Open University looks at athletic performance over time. The animation focused on the 1960s Olympic race vs. today’s Olympic race and the illustrations focused on the changes throughout that time in sports, also including more women and different approaches to athletic performance.
Open University wanted a hand drawn animation where motion and movement played a pivotal role in bringing everything to life. They handed us a very interesting brief with a clear overview and specific requirements, but the overall style, texture, colour palette and design was left open for us to develop. We were given a deadline and references to understand the concept of the Open University.
One of the challenges was to accommodate everything within budget and timeline. We had presented different options during the briefing round, containing different amounts of elements and complexity to show what the “animation packages” would cost. Open University chose one package and from there on we developed the different elements. We were in touch with Matthew in Broadcasting and from the very beginning it was an easy going and kind communication. However, Open University had several people behind the project and we needed confirmation on the progress throughout with different professors to make sure that facts and reality matched the animation and illustrations. Everything from background colours and architecture to outfits, distance, movement, skin colours, body size and shape, equipment and sound had to be true to reality of the 60s and today. Being able to keep developing assets and amending within the timeframe was of essence and the way to do that was creating an open source art direction deck for the client to look at and follow the progress. This way, we could continue working while assets were being reviewed and not slow down the production process.
Open University delivered a bunch of references in video, photos, text and sound to work from so the animation and illustrations could mimic reality.
Flying Duck brought in the talented illustrator and animator Romane Wach to do the visuals and animation. Based on all the references given we could start developing initial hand drawn sketches of athletes, then body types, outfits and required situations to set tone and style that would also define storyboard and styleframes. Next step was creating the storyboard and once approved, we moved into Styleframes and animatic. Once the colours had been greenlit, we then developed background textures and transformed numbers and statistics into visually engaging elements. Early on Romane did movement tests of the runners to make sure they looked real. In order to save time and be efficient, we replicated the original character and changed details, colours and slight movements to give the feel of individuality. When the animation was done, it was passed to Josephine who then did the sound design and Romane finalised the additional illustrations and gifs.
We designed everything in Illustrator first and then we brought the elements to After Effects where we composed them and played with different colours, textures and animation to have more flexibility.
Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro
Open University were extremely happy with the result and workflow, as were we. It was an absolute pleasure working with them throughout and a really cool brief to work from.
Creative Director: Alixe Lobato
Creative producer: Josephine Amalie von Bülow
Illustrator/Animator: Romane Wach
Sound Design: Josephine Amalie von Bülow
