BBC2 Zapper and Fly ident (1997)

Concept and creative process

In 1997 the ‘2’ appeared in the guise of a zapper, glowing eerily on a clean tiled wall as a fat bluebottle fly buzzed erratically around. Inevitably drawn towards the irresistible zapper, the fly ventured too close but survived the resulting explosion it caused on contact and managed to fly away unsteadily, leaving a looping trail of smoke in its wake. A channel ident with a touch of dark humour. No flies were harmed in the making of this channel ident! It was achieved with a model shoot, some visual effects and a computer animated fly composited with its smoke trail in post-production.

Creative Director - Martin Lambie-Nairn.

Designer/Directors - Daniel Barber and Rob Kelly.