Mr Special was created by Maggie Rogers (F&E’s creative director) as a personal project. The story was inspired by the idea of creating a heart-shaped character who glows when he's happy. The addition of his umbrella led to the story's narrative where we see Mr Special turning a sad and lonely situation into one of warmth and hope.

Mr Special is a 30cm high furry model with a wire armature. He has a little pouch in his back for a light. Using a dimmer, this allowed his glowing body to be animated in-camera.

Mr Special was animated at 12 frames per second and shot against a green screen. This enabled his performance to be keyed and placed within a CG forest setting in After Effects. Once in his new home, scenes were brought to life with atmospheric lighting and layered effects to form a rich cinematic environment. The addition of his (soon to be) little creature friend completed the narrative hook that leads to the film's cosy conclusion.

Take a look at our other handmade projects HERE.