Noah Media Group approached us with a bold idea: a Brothers Grimm-inspired paper world for a prime-time ITV Sports title sequence. The concept was already rich with imagination. Our role was to make it expansive, textured and cinematic - within the realities of schedule and budget.
Over sixteen weeks, we built a pop-up fairytale universe designed to unfold on screen like a storybook brought to life. Forests layered in cut paper. Hand-torn edges. A scattering of elves. Every frame crafted to feel tactile and theatrical, as though it could fold away at the end of the broadcast.
To achieve that depth efficiently, we blended 3D world-building with expressive 2D character animation - one of our favourite studio combinations. Using machine-learning tools, we translated illustrated assets into dimensional forms, building out environments that felt intricate without becoming unwieldy. Custom paper textures ran throughout, grounding the piece in a cohesive, handmade aesthetic.
Behind the scenes, spatial and camera data flowed from our 3D scenes into 2D animation, allowing characters to live convincingly within the world. Flexible render passes gave us precision in compositing, ensuring the final sequence felt seamless rather than stitched together.
Broadcast to more than 10 million viewers on opening night, the film carried real weight - and the response matched the ambition. Widely praised by audiences and critics alike, it proved that with the right balance of craft and technology, even the most elaborate worlds can feel intimate, playful and full of heart. Exactly how we like it.
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