Tikkabilla (2003)

Concept and creative process

Opening titles for ‘Tikkabilla’ (Hindi for Hopscotch), a daily magazine programme for pre-school children, with songs, rhymes, surprise guests, animals and things to make and do. The title sequence required children to be filmed in a green screen studio, directed to follow something they could not see as it was being described to them. They gave an amazing performance, even down to getting their eyelines correct. When the shots were edited and composited, the animation of the magic undulating ribbon could be choreographed precisely to their hand, body and eye movements. The layering of stars, glows, a rainbow arc and waves and the introduction of the ‘Tikkabilla’ house itself completed the charming child-centred sequence.