02 // SnowGran
Client // O2
Director // Joseph Mann
Agency // VCCP LONDON
Production Company // BlinkInk
On Set
Capturing Data
During shooting, we spent several (long) days at the always brilliant studio on Clapham Road. We were blown away by the beautiful set that had been built for Snowgran. All shots were filmed on this epic street, with the Snowgran being controlled by up to three puppeteers at a time. Later, we tracked all the shots and added the other characters. To make everything work together, we gathered extensive references to match the lighting, lenses, and attention to detail used in crafting the miniatures.
Characters
Crafting CG Minatures
We spent time establishing a consistent scale for details to ensure the CG characters and environment felt grounded in the same world. This focus on believability was crucial to capturing the tactile nature of the characters.
For each character, we carefully considered how a real miniature would be manufactured—examining the size of hair strands, eye construction, and other intricate details.
This attention to scale and detail was applied across all characters, especially in adding festive ornaments and accessories.
Animation
Stop Motion in CG
The animation presented unique challenges. Traditionally, stop-motion uses a 'forward animation' process, where the animator moves the character frame by frame to create motion and weight. This method introduces a natural looseness, as it's difficult to achieve the same smooth precision as 2D or 3D animation. We aimed to recreate this organic quality in our 3D animation to evoke the timeless feel of stop-motion.
Compositing
The Final Touch
Many of our artists have VFX backgrounds, so by combining their expertise with the detailed set work, we captured all the necessary data. Our CG elements were integrated to seamlessly fit into each shot, enhancing the lighting and visual cohesion achieved on set.