Concept and creative process
This is the long HD branded version of 'Magical Forest' first broadcast in 2007. It was one of the on-screen channel identities for the BBC One 'Circles' Campaign which ran from 2006 to 2016. The creative brief was to devise and film sequences of people, plants, machines and animals which ended in a circular image incorporating the new BBC One logo. This brief gave free rein to the imagination and resulted in a memorable series of channel idents which were used successfully throughout the decade. The fairies were based on Photoshop illustrations which designer/ director Matthew Losasso created by fusing insects and humans. The intention was to make them as fleeting as possible, almost like a trick of the light, requiring several viewings to take in all of the action. To create the fairies, hired acrobats were shot in insect-like costumes against blue screen and then, using stock footage of insects, their forms and movement were combined in post-production. The ‘Magical Forest’ background was shot on location in Italy outside Rome.
Compositor and Digital FX - George Roper (Framestore).
Creatives - Charlie Mawer (Executive), Ruth Shabi, Greg Millar.
Producer - Ella Littlewood.
Lighting Cameraman - Clive Tickner.
Costume Design - Vicky Russell.
Music - Imran Hanif.
Director - Matthew Losasso.