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Here We Are
NOW SHOWINGWe have a new project with Oliver Jeffers, NOW SHOWING on Apple TV+
'HERE WE ARE: Notes for Living on Planet Earth'; is a 36min animated film based on Oliver's best-selling children's book. Exclusively on Apple TV+, the film coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day celebration. We have been lucky enough to work with the voice talents of Meryl Streep, Chris O'Dowd, Ruth Negga and Jacob Tremblay and we can't wait for you to see it!
Apple Press page HERE Trailer & info HERE
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Communication Arts Magazine Announces Winners of its 62nd Annual Illustration Competition.
PUBLISHEDStudio AKA Director Manddy Wyckens has been recognised by the Communication Arts Annual Illustration competition, for her stunning new work for Bellefaire JCB, a youth social service agency based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
The work will be featured in the May/June 2021 print and online issue. The panel of judges at Communication Arts, recognised the spot as 'an example of the best illustration work in the animation category'. To garner recognition at this level is outstanding. Out of 4,000+ submissions, only 128 projects were selected. Kudos to Manddy and the team!
The film, entitled ‘VALUE YOU’ sensitively raises awareness about the trafficking of vulnerable young people in North America and was commissioned by Ohio agency Catbird; to be shared by Bellefaire JCB, through educational programming delivered in schools to children, ages 11 to 18.
More HERE
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Raised By Wolves Title design
NOW SHOWINGFrom executive producer RIDLEY SCOTT, Raised by Wolves centres on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task. This highly-anticipated series is now showing on HBO Max.
For the series, STUDIO AKA was invited to design and animate the Main Title sequence. Studio AKA director STEVEN SMALL designed intricately hand-rendered shots depicting the destruction of our planet and all remaining life departing to find refuge elsewhere in the solar system. Along with a team of animators, Small drew reference from a wide array of source materials, using a combination of 3D, rotoscoping, and simple artwork to create these captivating sequences portraying chaos and destruction.
Watch the title sequence HERE
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"What's that Duggee? Deeply Anarchic?"
PRESSHEY DUGGEE recently featured in 5th August's Guardian.
'Its fans include Orbital and Evan Davies, and it has won awards galore. Now the CBeebies show Hey Duggee is the smash hit of lockdown.'
In case you missed it, Tim Jonze's lovely piece is HERE
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I'm Sticking with You
BOOKWritten by SMRITI HALL and illustrated by AKA Director Steve Small, I'M STICKING WITH YOU is a gorgeously warm, funny book about everything a friendship can be – for anyone who's ever had a friend.
More HERE
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An ode to living on Earth
TED TALKVisual artist OLIVER JEFFERS offers observations of the "beautiful, fragile drama of human civilization" in this poetic TED talk paired with his original illustrations and animations - brought to life by Studio AKA director KRISTIAN ANDREWS working in conjunction with NORTH HARBOUR PRODUCTIONS,
More HERE
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Giri Haji
NOW SHOWINGGiri Haji is a brand-new series for BBC2 and Netflix, produced by Sister Pictures and directed by Julian Farino. STUDIO AKA was commissioned to design and create a 1x60 animated insert for Episode 1 and a further sequence for Episode 5. The series airs October 2019 on BBC 2 and BBC iplayer followed by an international realease on Netflix
More HERE
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DUGGEE TRIPLE BAFTA WIN!...
AWARDSWOW! Congratulations to all the @HEYDUGGEE team for their amazing triple BAFTA wins! - A-WOOOOOF!
Studio AKA’s Hey Duggee, won three awards at the 2018 Children’s BAFTA's , winning in the Pre-School Animation, Director and Digital categories.
This is the third pre-school animation BAFTA win for Hey Duggee. Hey Duggee’s creator and director Grant Orchard also picked up the Director award. The educational app, Hey Duggee: The Counting Badge, was awarded the Digital Award. The app was created by digital agency Scary Beasties, in association with BBC Studios and Studio AKA.
Triple A-WOOF-WOOF-WOOFS!
BAFTA LINK
SERIES 2 TRAILER, HERE
DUGGEE APPS LINK
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Black Earth Rising.
NOW SHOWINGFor the series BLACK EARTH RISING, STUDIO AKA was invited to create four animation sequences, as well as the main titles. Produced, written and directed by BAFTA award winner Hugo Blick and produced by Abi Bach (The Honourable Woman) for BBC Two and Netflix, Black Earth Rising follows the prosecution of international war crimes and the West’s relationship with contemporary Africa.
AKA director Kristian Andrews created the show’s Main Titles, while the inset animation sequences - directed by AKA's Steven Small - depict events around the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath, imaginatively interpreting violent and tragic events – events where, as one character puts it: ‘words would fail’.
MORE on Sequence Animation HERE
MORE on Titles Animation HERE
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PLAYGROUNDS...
TALKKLOKGEBOUW, EINDHOVEN.
More than 40 international leading and inspirational artists gathered in Eindhoven, the Dutch capitol of design for Playgrounds 2017: The Art Department. This two day conference focused on the design and concept art for film, animation and media. The Art Department program cvers artist talks, industry workshops, demo’s, paint-overs, an expo, portfolio reviews and recruiting. We gave a talk...
FIND OUT MORE AT PLAYGROUNDS FESTIVAL
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...and the Tech-whizz-entrepreneur badge?
MAGAZINE FEATUREHEY DUGGEE is featured in @WIREDUK magazine’s annual list of summer picks that they just can’t live without. A-WOOF!...
"Meet Duggee, the titular character of award-winning TV show @heyduggee. The more eagle-eyed among you will notice that Duggee is channelling Steve Jobs here while surrounded by his tech-enthusiast pals from the Squirrel Club. We included the show, which is created by the UK-based @studioaka (who also created this illustration) in our annual list of summer picks that we just can’t live without. @wireduk."
Instagram Link DUGGE-GRAM
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EMMY's for DUGGEE...
AWARDS
HEY DUGGEE has TWICE won the INTERNATIONAL EMMY® KIDS AWARD for Kids Pre-School winning in 2017 and again in 2019 ...Hurrah!
Devised & Directed by AKA's GRANT ORCHARD, Hey Duggee is based around 'The Squirrel Club'; run by a big friendly dog called Duggee. It's a place where kids take part in all kinds of activities, have adventures and earn activity badges along the way. Duggee teaches the kids about being responsible, working as a team, and taking acceptable risks.
Exec Producer. SUE GOFFE & Series Producer. JANINE VOONG pick up the Award in 2017:: HERE
"Hey Duggee has been a huge success around the world and we’re thrilled to see the series receive international recognition from Emmy. Since first winning this award in 2017 Hey Duggee has continued to inspire children everywhere, and it’s a real privilege to be awarded again this year"
- Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Executive Producer, BBC Studios
FIND OUT MORE ON THE PROJECT PAGE
Devised & Directed by AKA's GRANT ORCHARD, Hey Duggee is based around 'The Squirrel Club'; run by a big friendly dog called Duggee. It's a place where kids take part in all kinds of activities, have adventures and earn activity badges along the way. Duggee teaches the kids about being responsible, working as a team, and taking acceptable risks.
Exec Producer. SUE GOFFE & Series Producer. JANINE VOONG pick up the Award in 2017:: HERE
"Hey Duggee has been a huge success around the world and we’re thrilled to see the series receive international recognition from Emmy. Since first winning this award in 2017 Hey Duggee has continued to inspire children everywhere, and it’s a real privilege to be awarded again this year"
- Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Executive Producer, BBC Studios
FIND OUT MORE ON THE PROJECT PAGE
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ITFS - Spotlight on AKA...
AWARDSAKA director KRISTIAN ANDREWS Picked up a Gold Award for our Johnnie Walker spot 'Keep Walking at the ITFS/SPOTLIGHT Animated Com Award International Gala Awards 2017 in Stuttgart. Hurrah! BBH London came to Studio AKA looking for a unique, abstract and sophisticated piece to tell the 200 year history of Johnnie Walker. With one uninterrupted camera move, we see an unbroken path - a relay race of wisdom - following the footsteps of each mentor and mentee as knowledge of the Johnnie Walker craft is passed between the generations from Scotland to Shanghai...and beyond.
ITFS: LINK
FIND OUT MORE AbOUT THE PROJECT ON THE PROJECT PAGE
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Cartoon Brew ...
INTERVIEW‘Hey Duggee’ Creator Grant Orchard On Creating An Unconventional Preschool Show...
CARTOON BREW INTERVIEW
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Dance yourself dizzy!...
MUSICDance-along with Duggee and the Squirrels to the NEW Hey Duggee album. Featuring 19 woof-tactic songs including ‘Snowman’, ‘Raindance’ and ‘Making Music’.
Available to pre-order now from:
iTunes Amazon Google Play
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AKA in MEXICO CITY…
TEACHINGThe Berlin based Pictoplasma Academy recently decamped to Mexico City and invited a selected group of participants for a unique 1-week CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT COURSE, supervised by tutors Rilla Alexander and Nathan Jurevicius. STUDIO AKA's Philip Hunt ran a course on character driven storytelling, as part of a program challenging participants to explore specific personal projects or their general style right across the media spectrum – from drawing and illustration to sculpture and visual storytelling – to find the right path for their further development.
PICTOPLASMA ACADEMY MEXICO.
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Pictoplasma Academy …
TEACHINGDid you know that we teach at the Pictoplasma Academy? In this week-long course,selected participants engage in workshops, lectures and other tasks - all to challenge them in how they create their work - whilst an exclusive ACADEMY GROUP-SHOW also forms part of the annual Pictoplasma Festival & Conference. The regular tutors and lecturers include: Rilla Alexander, Nathan Jurevicius, and STUDIO AKA's PHILIP HUNT, hosting a 2 day Lecture & Animation Workshop on Character driven story telling looking at “writing, sequencing & visual narration …” PICTOPLASMA ACADEMY.
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FMX ...
TALKAKA is honoured to be regular guest speaking at the FMX Conference in Stuttgart, Europe's most influential conference for digital entertainment. We have given a number of talks about what we do, showcasing a selection of work from the archives to the present day, illustrating how we got 'from there to here' … INFO
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OFFICIAL APP!
GAME ONThe first game app for Hey Duggee is NOW LIVE! Join Duggee and the Squirrels as they work hard to earn their six club badges. Fun missions include styling Duggee's hair, making your very own funny-faced Totem Pole, baking cakes for the Squirrels, hunting down Duggee’s leaf collection, colouring in your favourite characters, and even dressing up each of the Squirrels in their heroic Super Squirrel costume. Completing each activity wins you a badge and a Duggee Hug!
HEY DUGGEE APP
APP STORE
AMAZON
GOOGLE PLAY
More About HEY DUGGEE
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The Best Scarecrow Ever!
DUGGEE BOOKSThis HEY DUGGEE PICTURE BOOK comes with activity ideas and cut-out-and-keep badge so that little Squirrels can join in the fun at home! Duggee and the Squirrels want to grow some corn, but cheeky birds keep eating the seeds. This can only be a job for . . . the best scarecrow ever!
Penguin Books
Amazon UK
More About HEY DUGGEE
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PICTOPLASMA …
SHOW & TELLStudio AKA have lectured at the PICTOPLASMA festival since its launch in 2004 - with talks by Philip Hunt, Marc Craste & Grant Orchard at events in Argentina 2008, NYC 2009 & in Berlin 2004, 2006, 2012 & 2015 - and in 2020 as part of Pictoplasma Online..
For a candid slice of Marc Craste - Watch this10 min edit of his lecture at the 2009 Berlin Pictoplasma Conference on contemporary character design and art.
WATCH
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The Story ...
TALKStudio AKA’s Philip Hunt was honoured to be a guest speaker at 'THE STORY', a one-day conference about stories and story-telling. The day is an eclectic celebration of everything that is wonderful, inspiring and awesome about stories, in whatever medium possible - written, spoken, played, described, enacted, whispered, projected, orchestrated, performed, printed – whatever form stories come in. THE STORY 2015
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FAUX IMAGES XIV...
TALKSUDIO AKA was delighted to be a guest speaker at FAUX IMAGES on December 16th in Berlin. FAUX IMAGES is a quarterly meeting for local and international filmmakers, designers and artists from related disciplines, who are invited to present their work through lectures and screenings. FAUX IMAGES is organized by Mate Steinforth in cooperation with LEAP (Lab for Electronic Arts and Performance). MORE
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A Southbank Show...
TALKSTUDIO AKA's BAFTA-winning, animated adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ much loved picture book, LOST AND FOUND was screened to a packed house in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the 1st November as part of a weekend of events celebrating 10 years since 'The Boy' first appeared in Oliver's 'How To Catch A Star'. This was followed by a Q&A with Oliver Jeffers & Director Philip Hunt who adapted the book for the screen...Missed the screening? Fear not, it's but a click away...PAL DVD NTSC DVD About The Film
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Mucho Mincho...
FEATUREDIssue 02 of MINCHO - The Illustration & Graphic Arts magazine - has a feature on STUDIO AKA ( and as a bonus there's a piece on Chris Haughton too!) READ
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Moving Stories …
EXHIBITIONThe National Media Museum & Seven Stories (the National Centre for Children's Books) are again staging an exciting exhibition showcasing innovative & influential film and television adaptations, inspired by children's books. Featuring manuscripts, illustrations, storyboards, costumes and film footage from some of your favourite authors, including Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll and Julia Donaldson, as well as AKA's telling of Oliver Jeffers LOST AND FOUND … 05/04/2014 - 27/04/2015 Seven Stories, Newcastle upon Tyne. ABOUT SEVEN STORIES NMM
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A Morning Stroll Soundtrack...
MUSICFor those of you who've been asking about the availability of Composer NIC GILL's aeon-spanning soundtrack to the BAFTA Winning & OSCAR Nominated short: A MORNING STROLL… you can now listen to it & also purchase it as a download via Bandcamp and iTunes. BANDCAMP ITUNES
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Kristian Andrews Interview...
INTERVIEWThe Animation Research Centre visited AKA to talk to Kristian about his practice as an animator. He talked about his influences and inspiration and showed his fantastic collection of sketchbooks. Conducted as part of 'Oral Histories and Visible Witness' - an exploratory project into the documentation of the creative practice of current UK animators. WATCH MORE INFORMATION http://www.kristian-andrews.com
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WATCH: Varmints ...
VIMEO ON DEMANDAfter 123 Film Festival appearances and 27 Awards - including both BAFTA Nomination & OSCAR shortlist commendation - VARMINTS is now on both VIMEO-ON-DEMAND & iTunes.
VIMEO-ON-DEMAND iTUNES UK iTUNES USA
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Directors Notes...
INTERVIEWDirectors Notes invited AKA's creative powerhouse Kristian Andrews to become the latest filmmaker featured in their 'They Are Animators' series. READ
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BAFTA for A MORNING STROLL...
IN CONVERSATIONSue Goffe & Grant Orchard chat about their BAFTA win for our short animation, A Morning Stroll, and their trip to the Oscars...READ
WATCH THEIR BAFTA WIN
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Dpi Magazine …
FEATURETaiwan’s Dpi Magazine ‘The Variation of Comic Art and Animation’ - A collection featuring dozens of Eastern and Western artists and a selection of their work organized into the subcategories of "Sheer Vision", "Tangible Illusion", and "Satiny Boundary". Oh, and us...
DPI Magazine
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Orchard on Brew …
INTERVIEWCartoon Brew takes a closer look at Studio AKA’s A Morning Stroll with its writer/director Grant Orchard...
CARTOON BREW
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Library book: Animation In Process …
BOOKFrom Hollywood blockbuster to striving independent filmmaker, from mobile phone games to characters advertising products on television, from pseudo live action through to virtual environments, animation is able to transcend boundaries to reach new audiences. This book (featuring AKA's LOVESPORT by Grant Orchard) shows how artists, designers, filmmakers, programmers, directors, writers, and producers have seized the chance to entertain using a versatile and compelling medium.
BUY
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IDN - On the joy of conferences...
The unexpected change in direction forced by technical difficulties or spontaneous audience participation is always fun. Let’s be honest though, the most fun thing is just ‘showing off’ isn’t it?
READ
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Singing Heads...
INTERVIEWDIGITAL ARTS asked us a few questions about Sing Up - a government-funded music education organisation which aims to get primary school children to realise that singing is an infectious and liberating experience that has the power to build confidence and self-esteem and to assist learning. Sing Up delivers training and tools to teachers and works to inspire children all over the country to find their voice.
AKA Dir. STEVE SMALL was asked by agency AMV/BBDO to bring the campaign to life & DIGITAL ARTS asked him a few questions about it...
DIGITAL ARTS
PROJECT PAGE
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A BAFTA for LOST AND FOUND …
AWARDLOST AND FOUND was awarded the BAFTA for CHILDREN'S ANIMATION at the 2009 British Academy Children's Awards.
Accepting the award (Ifrom Mr Johnny Vegas no less...) were Producer SUE GOFFE & Director PHILIP HUNT of production company STUDIO AKA. This recognition from the British academy adds to an amazing 61 Awards for the film.
BAFTA PAGE
BAFTA INTERVIEW
About LOST AND FOUND
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Directors Notes...
INTERVIEWDirectors Notes invited AKA's Eamonn O'Neill to feature in their 'They Are Animators' series...READ
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The Book Of Varmints...
PUBLISHEDThe most overlooked threat in the world is the loss of peace and quiet…
Marc Craste & Helen Ward's beautiful book - Winner of the English Association's 4-11 Book Awards 2008 / Judge’s Top Choice for the Fiction and Poetry Ages 5-7 - Scholastic Best Books 2008 / Shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Awards 2008. / Shortlisted for the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. / Green Earth Book Award, Picture Book Category.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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Watch: JO JO In The Stars...
ONLINEAfter 86 Film Festival appearances & winning both the 2004 Short animation BAFTA and the 2005 CARTOON D'OR, JO JO IN THE STARS is FREE to watch on VIMEO and available to keep on iTunes. The debut film from Studio aka Director Marc Craste, 'JO JO IN THE STARS' was independently funded & produced by Studio AKA and plays out the heart wrenching tale of two unlikely lovers; Jo Jo, a silver-plated trapeze artist and the nameless hero who worships her. Together they make a desperate stand in the face of murderous jealousy within a beautifully bleak and brutal world.
VIMEO iTUNES UK iTUNES USA SHORT OF THE WEEK PROJECT PAGE
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WATCH: A Morning Stroll ...
VIMEO ON DEMANDA MORNING STROLL was awarded the Short Film Animation BAFTA at the 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards and was nominated for an OSCAR the same year. You can now download it via Vimeo-On-Demand & iTunes.
VIEMO-ON-DEMAND ITUNES UK ITUNES USA
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Library book: ANIMATION …
PUBLISHEDFrom scriptwriting through to production, Andrew Selby's introduction to animation for students surveys key technical processes and examines a variety of stylistic approaches. The book includes visual examples from key animators (ahem, including AKA) and illustrated features on how to create exciting animation for a variety of audiences...
ONLINE
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Varmints Soundtrack...
MUSIC"AND IN THE ENDLESS PAUSE THERE CAME THE SOUND OF BEES …" Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson draws the title of his latest album from the original VARMINTS book written by Helen Ward and illustrated by Marc Craste. The album is based on the music he composed for the 24-minute film version of Varmints Directed by Marc Craste at STUDIO AKA.
JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON STORE
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Semi-Permanent …
TALKSThe SEMI-PERMANENT design conferences are a week-long celebration of all things Graphic Design, Film, Art, Illustration, Web Design, Photography, Visual Effects, Animation, Graffiti, Motion Graphics, Stop Motion; tand more.
We fondly remember SEMI-PERMANENT's Aukland 2009 conference which featured a stellar line up from all over the globe including among others: Simon (Sanky) Sankarayya, Tim Beard (Bibliotheque) James Jean, Kate Moross, Arvind Palep & Aaron Duffy (1stAveMachine), Harry Pearce (Pentagram), Alexia Sinclair, David Carson and Philip Hunt of STUDIO AKA chatting to an intimate audience of 2,000...
SEMI-PERMANENT
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