ROALD & BEATRIX: THE TALE OF THE CURIOUS MOUSE
TITLE SEQUENCE
This Bafta-nominated opening credit sequence for Roald & Beatrix was designed to transport the viewer to an imaginary world in a modern past. Layers of paper shape our landscapes as a nod to our two author protagonists, Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter. We approached the sequence in a way that complemented the film stylistically but did not govern what was to come. Perhaps our biggest challenge was having to craft a sequence using a 1920s aesthetic but presented in a contemporary manner. To do this, we composed two-dimensional illustrations and plains and placed them in a multi-layered approach to craft a three-dimensional world.
We created a visual language within the sequence full of clues and symbolism drawn from not only the content of the drama but also a nod some of Dahl’s most renowned characters and tales. For example, The Witches are reimagined and can be found lurking in the shadows, and Potter’s dog becomes a monster in line with the way she describes him. We were challenged by what clues and hints to include within the sequence, not wanting to give the audience any spoilers but by using the drama to create a unique expression, inspired by both Dahl and Potter’s imaginations.
AIRED ON
Sky One
DIRECTED BY
David Kerr (Johnny Engish Srikes Again, Inside No. 9)
WRITTEN BY
Abigail Wilson (Trollied, Stella)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Sue Vertue (Dracula, Sherlock), Dan Cheesbrough (Dracula, Man Up)
STARRING
Dawn French (French and Saunders, The Vicar of Dibley), Bill Bailey (In the Long Run, Hot Fuzz), Rob Brydon (The Trip, The Gruffalo, Cinderella), Jessica Hynes (Bridget Jones's Baby, Paddington 2, Years and Years)
