When Pal Studio contacted us, their brief was - 'Gary Lineker having a conversation with a battered fish….’ It piqued our interest immediately! The project in question was a TV spot created for the International Rescue Committee.
Our character design and animation brought to life the film’s unexpected heroes; Fish (voiced by Jo Brand) and Chip (voiced by Yasmin Kadi) who tell the story of our quintessentially ‘British' cuisine’s refugee past. Highlighting the International Rescue Committee's campaign to draw compassion and awareness to their critical work responding to some of the world's worst crises, delivering aid that saves lives while paving the way for long-term recovery.
Read more about the IRC and this project HERE.
Shift.ms is a social network offering support and a community hub for people living with multiple sclerosis. As part of their online content, Shift.ms produced a series of films called “Animated Symptoms”. Featuring talking-head stories from members of the community, sharing their experiences of common MS symptoms and how they cope with them.
Within these films we added animated sections, creatively visualising the narrator's experiences. Producing cartoon style characters and settings that accentuate key parts of the stories. Resulting in engaging and positive films.
The stories were also designed to be shared on social media to help inform viewers beyond the Shif.ms community to understand the symptoms and impact of living with MS.
F&E created 6 of the 12 films. Watch the full series HERE.
Our animation for children's charity, NSPCC is the second in a series we’ve created for use in workshops, where professionals introduce key child development concepts. Using simple metaphors, the concepts are explained clearly and in a memorable way.
The "overloaded" metaphor conveys the idea of parents being burdened with problems which impact their capacity to care for their children’s basic needs. Going on to explain how unloading, or sharing a load can ease stress from overloaded parents, and improve their capacity to care for their children.
Watch our Tipping the Scales animation here.
Netflix commissioned F&E to create a code of conduct training film for all new and existing employees. The narrative called for a large “cast” which we created in the form of a mis-matched team of multi-shaped characters. The animation combines serious and factual moments, with more light-hearted character sequences designed to add humour and keep the viewer engaged in the narrative.
The final version was over half an hour long, so we’ve created an edit featuring a selection of our favourite characters throwing some shapes….
Fred & Eric were commissioned by the agency Wax/On to bring Matt Blease’s illustrations to life for a new online household shopping service - Bother. As part of the company’s launch, we produced a range of animations for a wider digital and social media marketing campaign.
Using a combination of typography, line illustrations, and a restricted colour palette, our animation showcases the advantages of using this simple service for delivering bulky basics. Before going on to explain the benefits of Bother, which is on a mission to create a quicker, cheaper, and more environmentally minded way to shop.
They Bother… so you don’t have to.
Introducing Green and Blue Bla! A loveable plasticine duo designed to advertise car sharing service, BlaBlaCar. F&E brought this spirited pair to life in a range of 3D animated commercials and online virals. Advertising the company’s people powered transport network through humorous and quirky scenarios.
In a time just before a torrent of emails flooded into inboxes and "GDPR" had not reached the main-stream, F&E were commissioned by NSPCC to create a 2D communication film to highlight the new privacy laws coming into effect.
The film's purpose was primarily to explain the new regulations and ask for permission to keep on contacting supporters; emphasising how important this contact is for the NSPCC to carry out their vital work. In characteristic style, our animation strikes a balance between creating a colourful and informative narrative with a clear emotional undercurrent that ties the new regulations back to the real people the NSPCC helps.
We love a gadget here at F&E, so were thrilled to collaborate with our friends at Retailistic on a 2D animation for the UK’s leading Smart Shower brand – Aqualisa.
Our explainer animation introduces Aqualisa's Smart Shower range, demonstrating the product features with simplified illustrations and a cast of (mostly very clean) characters. The animation flows seamlessly between typography, product sequences, and characters enjoying the many benefits of a smart shower experience.
Collaborating with creative agency Kream, F&E created this cel animated TV spot for the mindfulness app MindPilot. Our creative features a hand drawn illustration style and frame by frame animation, reflecting the charm and serenity of the narrative.
Once in a while it’s great to try something new. Like a fresh haircut, a cool pair of spectacles… or that twirly new moustache you’ve wanted for a while. BlaBlaCar also decided it’s time for a change. They’ve re-branded with a beautiful new look, complete with a 2D animation produced by the team here at F&E.
Working in collaboration with BlaBlaCar, our animation brings to life the story of BlaBlaCar’s founder Fred (good name) and his journey (pun intended) in founding the world’s leading car-sharing network. We used a fun and playful animation style to portray the story of how BlaBlaCar connects millions of people, going the same way.
The animation has a continuous flow and surprising moments of perspective change. Characters were key to this film, highlighting the scale of humans connecting and how they are creating networks between towns and suburbs all over the world.
Oh, and if you haven't seen our previous work for BlaBlaCar re-rebrand (where have you been?!) Take a look HERE.
UHC2030 (International Health Partnership) is a global movement to build stronger health systems for universal health coverage. The organisation contacted us to create a 2D communication animation describing the key aspects of their work, to be shown at the UN General Assembly in September 2018 and subsequently on social media channels.
Drawing on UHC2030’s branding and palette, we developed a friendly and refined illustration style. The narrative features Nina and her family, who have all experienced different health problems but are now able to sit and enjoy a happy and healthy meal together, thanks to having access to good healthcare. However, this is not the case for many people around the world, which is why this film aims to highlight the huge importance of universal health coverage.
Allocate Software approached us to create an online explainer animation for the launch of their upgraded eRostering software, HealthRoster 11. Our animation promotes the top-line benefits of this latest incarnation of the software, which includes an updated user interface.
We adopted an isometric design style to create a high-end 3D feel. Highlighting key messaging in the script using clear iconography and conceptual illustrations. In addition, realistic character design connects the healthcare professionals, who will be using the upgraded software, to the narrative. Creating an informative and engaging animation for the product’s launch.
This animation created for NSPCC, sets out to explain the Tipping the Scales concept which describes the outcomes of child development. Think of a child’s development as a scale. The way the scale ends up tipping is like the outcome of the child’s development, so we want it to tip towards the positive side. Positive things like supportive relationships get loaded on one side and negative things like abuse, neglect or community violence get stacked on the other. The goal of every community is to have development tip positive for as many kids as possible.
We created an illustration style that would engage a wide target audience. Visualising the narrative through real life moments to emotionally engage the viewer, before describing the more scientific themes using the Tipping Scales metaphor. The balance theme evolved into our animation; a flowing journey with unexpected changes of scale and perspective creating twists and turns. Resulting in a serious but hopeful film which can be easily understood and shared as a tool to help children speak out and adults to take action about abuse.
Channel 4 commissioned Fred & Eric to make a 20 second competition TV ident. Leaving the brief open for us to work out a creative we’ve always wanted to do; a live-action shoot featuring a cast of handmade objects and a gang of human controllers with impeccable timing! Shot in one take (albeit number 38!), the creative features a near-seamless flow of handmade cardboard and paper gadgets which appear in time to the voice-over. All made possible by lots of helping hands, a sliding set, strategically placed magnets, fishing wire and a hair dryer.
This series of online animations commissioned by Greenpeace, titled “Renewable Energy Mythbusters”, sets out to debunk the common misconceptions around renewable energy. Our lighthearted and concise animations are designed to cut through complex issues and present the audience with simple, unarguable myth-busting facts. A multi-sized master format for the animations means they can be exported for all social media dimensions. Scroll down to see them all!
F&E were commissioned by international media planning and buying agency Mindshare, to produce an agency film explaining their new communications philosophy – Storytelling. Using a combination of kinetic typography, illustrations and paper textures to create a balance between corporate and creative. Resulting in a playful graphic treatment which brings the words and story to life.
With increased dependence on MS Society's ‘What is MS?’ (multiple sclerosis) content, F&E were commissioned to design the branding and series of animations for all ‘What is MS’ content. Our creative wrap visually link sall of the vital resources established under this headline.
Working closely with MS Society, our series of explainer animations help to explain what MS is, over a series of three short films. Simply visualising the science, symptoms and possible treatments for multiple sclerosis. While also providing an insight into the emotions that come hand in hand with diagnosis and treatments, using real voices from the MS community. Ending with the overarching message, whoever you are and whatever you’re going through, ‘you are not alone’; the MS Society is here to help.
www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms
Scroll down to watch the full series of films.
A series of three short communication animations created for Octopus Group. Highlighting their key 'Values & Behaviours' for an internal campaign. F&E designed a cast of characters to illustrate these important company values in a clear and humorous way.
Agency: SouthPaw
Sounds Design: soundcanvas.co
This 60 second animation commissioned by Childline was created to grow awareness of family relationship problems. Aimed towards young people and designed to be shared across multiple social media platforms. Ultimately bringing awareness to Childline’s support network.
The square format was created as a solution to deliver different aspect ratios for all of Childline’s social platforms; YouTube (16:9), Instagram (1:1), Facebook (4:5) and Snapchat (9:16). The design ensured the animation could be cropped for all formats without losing any of the vital messaging.
Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk
When disaster strikes, people turn to the internet as an invaluable source of information. With this in mind, Google created Crisis Response; an online tool which uses technology to collate and share information in times of emergency. Working closely with Across the Pond we created this short film to demonstrate Google's life-saving technology. Briefing us to create a sketched illustration style to communicate the key features of this technology.
Working in collaboration with BBC Worldwide, F&E cooked up these tasty visuals, designed to create excitement around the launch of The Great South African Bakeoff. Whisking up a playful animating logo to encapsulate the colour and chaos of a bake-off challenge. In addition, we teamed up with the master-baker of food typography, Noah Camp, for our technical challenge. Creating a promo designed to whip up excitement around the show's launch. Tantalizing typography describes the essential ingredients required for a perfect Bake Off series. All perfectly piped into a live-action edit. We're hoping for the Star Baker award (or at least a handshake).
Writing a Will is not the first thing on your average to-do list. Which is why The NSPCC briefed us to create a fun and friendly film to highlight the importance of moving this task to the to-do top-spot!
Our animation sets out to simplify the process of writing a Will. Providing a quick "how to" before going on to explain the benefits of how gifts in Wills can also benefit charities like the NSPCC.
The design features morphing and uses scale changes to create surprising transitional moments. Creating a 3D feel to the 2D animated sequence.
Meet Melvyn, he’s a watermelon and the star of two animations we have produced for…. Watermelon! Our two quirky films showcase the whats, hows and whys of the service Watermelon offer, in juicy and perfectly proportioned packages.
Keep Calm and Unwind is the sixth compilation album in the hugely successful Keep Calm series. F&E were chosen to create the TV spot for this latest release, with a creative that perfectly combines our house style with the album’s chilled out tracks.
Relocating our studio to a deep dark cave in the middle of a dark dark wood, was the only way F&E could hone their creative juices and cook up these two commercials for Bear Nibbles. In our trademark paper-craft style, F&E brought a series of 3D papery illustrations to life using quirky animation inspired by traditional techniques. Tracking Bear’s Big World Adventure where he sniffs out only the best ingredients for his delicious baked fruity yoyo snacks. Now F&E just have to find that trail of delicious berries which leads back to our Charlotte Street studio…
F&E created this live-action commercial for Oxfam Presents: Stand as One - Live at Glastonbury 2016 album. Made to promote Oxfam's Stand As One Campaign in support of people forced to flee conflict, disaster and poverty. The album is dedicated to the memory of Jo Cox, MP, a former Oxfam activist, who campaigned tirelessly for refugees.
Star of this commercial is the album vinyl sleeve, plus a cast of helping hands that help to reveal the line-up along with a few Glastonbury inspired props.... The full festival experience, without the soggy socks.
International law firm, Dechert LLP commissioned F&E to create their print and digital Holiday Card for colleagues and clients. The animation stars our line-drawn ballerina, brought to life through a combination of traditional cel and CG animation techniques.
Her graceful movements transport the viewer through a magical world; the dance breathing life into a troop of energetic soldiers, whilst magical presents burst open with her touch. Each frame was drawn by hand, before embellishments and 3D elements were added to bring her world to life. The animation resolves on the physical Christmas card, featuring a still image of our ballerina. Creating a beautiful tie-in of print and animated materials to spread festive magic to all of its recipients.
IHP + is a group of partners committed to improving the health of citizens in developing countries, so Fred & Eric were delighted to produce a this animated communication film which helps to explain their vital service.
Our designs strike the balance of a serious tone with a friendly illustration style to ensure the animation is engaging and sharable. All brought to life using flowing 2D animation.
Fred & Eric like to tick every box, so when Channel 4 asked us to create a animated promotional video to encourage viewers to check the box and receive more communications, we jumped at the chance. Branching out from the handmade, we created a stop-frame look using 3D animation and real paper textures.
When it comes to finding the right insurance cover, you've come to the wrong place.... but if you're looking for animated characters with a range of quirky accessories to breathe life into a brand, we're your people!
Working with the team at Policy Expert, F&E designed a range of characters complete with a full range of accessories. Designed to be used online and for direct mail, these loveable plasticine characters can be endlessly adapted to a range of themes and scenarios.
This powerful campaign film was produced for Greenpeace's Great Northern Forest campaign. Introducing the world's largest forest to a wider audience that may not be aware of its global importance in the fight against climate change.
This huge, ancient boreal forest is referred to as our planet’s green crown, storing more carbon in its trees and soils than all the tropical rainforests put together. Our film introduces this precious forest, highlighting its diverse ecosystem and cultural heritage. Before going on to describe how it’s being threatened and what this destruction means in the battle against climate change.
Our animation called viewers to action by signing a petition urging governments to protect this unique habitat and global treasure. read more about this project on Greenpeace’s website HERE.
F&E worked with Embolden Agency in collaboration with Counter Terrorism Policing, to create a film teaching 11 to 16-year-olds how to react if caught up in a gun or knife terror attack. Using "Run, Hide, Tell" as the key messaging theme.
The 6 minute film combines live action and animated sequences. Our animated “flashback” sections follow three teenagers, Nur, Edih and Llet as they relive a terrorist incident in conversation with each other.
This graphic novel style was designed to hit the right tone with the young audience; depicting complex and emotionally charged subjects in a serious and non-patronising context. Accurately illustrating the scenarios and utilising animation to add a sense of space and movement in the scenes. Combined with a lesson plan, the film will be used as a teaching aid to engage a young audience with the film’s important messaging.
For more information visit: http://www.npcc.police.uk/CounterTerrorism/actforyouth.aspx
Drum roll please! Introducing our digital ad campaign for new (even tastier) KitKat Bites. Working in collaboration with JWT, team F&E produced two commercials promoting KitKat’s tasty treats. The dual spots played over digital channels and were designed to be re-formatted to fit varying social media screen sizes.
The spots share a cut-out collage creative and stopframe feel, whilst getting their own separate identities through the use of jazz hands and aerial acrobatics (as you do). Creating a campaign which uses creative pizzaz to tempt viewers into taking a break and trying these newly improved tasty treats.
Always keen to stand out from the crowd, Fred & Eric relished this opportunity to create unique characters to voice the opinions of Channel 4 viewers. Our lively animation aired across all Channel 4 platforms and was created to promote their Core4 scheme, encouraging viewers to give feedback. The spot features a cast of eccentrics including a bespectacled Scottish triangle, a rectangle with wind and an impressive moustachioed man who is ‘down with the kids’. Look closely and you might even see our very own Fred & Eric hidden in the crowd….
Sundrop Farms invited F&E to create this promotional video for their website; explaining what they do, how it's done and why they do it.
F&E were contacted by the lovely folks at WWF (not Hulk Hogan, but the infamous Panda), to create an animation to promote their Green Ambassadors Scheme. This project aims to encourage a new generation of green-minded primary school children to get involved with the scheme and become a ‘Green Ambassador’; recycling, energy saving and living a ‘greener’ lifestyle. Our film introduces Earth and his sprightly team of characters with their own individual ‘green’ specialisms, to showcase the scheme’s objectives.
This trailer was created to introduce the release of computer game, Little Big Planet 2. Taking the viewer on a journey through gaming history, paying homage to the iconic design of computer games and consoles. The trailer was designed and directed by Fred & Eric’s Creative Director Maggie Rogers and took on the handmade aesthetic behind Little Big Planet's game design. Maggie devised a narrative that combined real handmade settings, stopframe transitions and specially designed gameplay sections. Allowing Sackboy to embark on this handmade journey through gaming history.
Creative Agency: Maverick
Greenpeace UK approached us to create a short film for their 'Restore Forests: Restore Hope’ campaign. Targeting hundreds of the world's biggest consumer goods companies and revealing their devastating lack of progress in getting deforestation out of their supply chains. Addressing the increasingly urgent need to protect and restore our forests and other ecosystems, to keep our planet habitable, managing the climate crisis.
Our film was timed to be released during the 2019 Consumer Goods Forum’s Global Summit; an annual event that brings consumer goods retailers and manufacturers together globally. Nearly 10 years earlier, these companies made a commitment to remove deforestation from their supply chains by 2020. With only a few months left, these companies are nowhere near this goal. Instead they are still expanding into new areas of forest and savannah, converting once pristine landscapes into cattle ranches and land to grow commodities like soya and palm oil.
Working with Greenpeace we created a sharable film that showcased the empty environmental claims of these huge companies that are driving deforestation for the sake of profits. Urgently bringing attention to the catastrophic effect caused on the planet and in particular the forests, by their failure to act decisively.
The narrative is split into two distinct halves: The first half being a tongue-in-cheek take on a corporate film; a pastiche of films produced by the big companies being targeted. However, early on in this section we see the the video being ‘hacked’, interrupting the vague and generic promises of this fictitious corporate, with footage of the deforestation happening right now, to clear land for industrial farming.
The second half is where Greenpeace take over and the tone takes on a gritty and urgent edge. The visuals are powerful and strong. Focusing on the broken promises of these companies and demanding they commit to zero deforestation rather than continue with their ‘business as usual’ attitude. Creating an impactful, high energy call to arms; urging the world’s biggest companies to: Change now, or go extinct.
Working with our friends at Impact BBDO, F&E created this colourful school chalkboard inspired commercial for retailer Centrepoint. Featuring a combination of live action footage, chalk illustrations, 2D and stopframe animation, this energetic sequence shows off the store’s Back to School collection.
Paper, cardboard and plenty of glue went in to the making of this little animation for Tesco Clubcard. Combining handmade paper models and stop-frame animation to showcase five easy ways to boost your Clubcard points.
F&E were very eager to work with NSPCC on a series of films for their Schools Service, tackling incredibly difficult and emotive subjects for their young audience. To show sensitivity towards the individual stories, we have created a montage to showcase the poignant work this essential service provides.
This animated campaign was designed to showcase Christian Aid's ethical charity gift website, presentaid.org. With the help of a choir, a touch of Christmas Carol creative licence and some snappy animation, we introduce a selection of the essential (and slightly unusual) gift choices on offer. Shopping to help end poverty around the world. Now that's a gift worth giving!
There’s nothing like creating characters that look good enough to eat, as proven by this bite-sized animation we created as part of Jack Morton’s 75th Anniversary collaborative short.
Fred & Eric were commissioned by VCCP to produce a handmade TV spot for Southern Railway, showcasing Southern’s free children’s activity book. Our team of top paper engineers began building up the dense jungle, before changing their blades to create an adapted version of the activity book. Filling it with fun jungle characters (and a crab) alongside the book’s puzzles and games. Over at Clapham Road Studios, the scenes were brought to life using stopframe animation and some added panache in the form of moustachioed Mexican wrestler, Loco Tolido.
An animated short created for the Making Noise Research Project; an initiative highlighting the experiences and perspectives of children and young people who have been sexually abused within the family environment.
The narrative was created by real children and young people, who shared their stories to help professionals better understand their experiences after sexual abuse. F&E illustrated and animated visuals that sensitively convey the strong emotions and feelings their experiences describe. Enhanced by creative sound design to amplify feeling and meaning. Producing a film that strikes a balance between the seriousness of the subject matter and a drive for positive change.
This film was produced for the Making Noise Project, as a collaboration between NSPCC, the University of Bedfordshire and The International Centre researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking.
Sound Design: Aaron Lampert
A series of 10 idents for the Toon Disney channel, Scandinavia. Each narrative was constructed using footage of characters who feature on the channel. With the characters and narratives brought together into a handmade cardboard world.
Built and shot at Clapham Road Studios.
Mr Special was created by Maggie Rogers (F&E’s creative director) as a personal project. His glowing heart and helpful nature was designed to brighten up rainy days. Mr Special is a 30cm high furry model, complete with a wire armature and internal dimmable light. He was brought to life using stopframe animation, with the final animation taking on a mixed media approach to create the final look.
As part of MS Society's new strategy to help people better understand Multiple Sclerosis and share the charity’s vision of their future goals, we collaborated with their creative team to produce a series of three short films.
These films use the brand style we devised for MS Society's suite of "What is MS" content. Creating cohesion between all of their animated and illustrated content. The shorts were split into two parts: Live action talking heads combined with animated backgrounds. Leading into a fully animated sequence that describes MS Society's goals for addressing the wider issues raised by the opening stories.
