Member Article

Brass has ‘The Pets Factor’ with digital animation of two CBBC series

‘The Pets Factor’ starting on 20th June, is a children’s documentary series that provides insight into some of the very best vets practices in the UK, featuring everything from a constipated snake, a balding chicken and a dog that’s swallowed a smelly sock. The educational and observational series aims to convey the intensity of a real working vets practice, using a light hearted and engaging spin with each animal being introduced through a fun, digital animation.

Leeds-based Brass was appointed by True North, the production company behind the series, to create the digital animations depicting the animals and each of the 4 vets (Cat, Rory, James and Cheryl) featured. In addition to the animals and vet characters, Brass also created the introductory title sequence.

The high quality animations which took 5 months to create, were developed using a special puppeteering technique. To ensure they carried the key characteristics of each animal and vet in real life. On receiving the real life footage of each animal, Brass then devised a style-frame and storyboard using a detailed animation script, animating each one frame by frame. Each animation was then cut into the real live footage with music, sound effects and voice-overs added.

Andrew Brown, Creative Director at Brass said: “The animals appear in the show at the point where they are ill or injured. We were asked to bring out the personality of the animals and tell the stories that led to their visit to the vets.

“This was a huge but incredibly interesting and fulfilling project. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to practice the latest animating techniques and to have our work featured in a mainstream programme for someone as prestigious as CBBC is a true honour.”

Previous work by Brass for CBBC has included animation work on an episode of the award winning documentary series ‘My Life’ and an original online game for the CBBC characters ‘Hacker and Dodge’ which was shortlisted for both a Webby Award and a Children’s BAFTA.

The Pets Factor is a 2 x 10 x 20 series, produced by True North. The first episode is aired on Tuesday 20th June on CBBC at 5.30pm and will be available on iPlayer and Children’s iPlayer.

The Pets Factor series is produced by Sima Ray and is executive produced by Jess Fowle for True North and Hugh Lawton for CBBC. It was commissioned by Cheryl Taylor, Controller, CBBC.

Brass can be contacted through its website www.brassagency.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Brass .