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BBC Two: Life After Life

Title Sequence

  • CGI / Animation
  • Film

Based on the acclaimed novel by Kate Atkinson, Life After Life is a four-part BBC drama directed by John Crowley. Founded on the simple truth that existence is fragile, it follows the story of Ursula Todd, a woman in the first half of the 20th century who experiences an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. HS was commissioned to create the opening title sequence for the series.

Taking the central motif of a Snowdrop, the flower is presented in various states of bloom – each representing the fragility of a different life cycle. A series of elemental layers were then introduced –water, snowflakes, smoke – making reference to a specific moment in the story.

Created entirely in CG, the Hingston team undertook an extensive research and development process into flowers and petal structures, as well as photography from the early part of the century, specifically the still life work of Edward Steichen. Typeface ‘Louize’ designed by 205TF foundry was used for the titles themselves.

Credits

Sequence Created by: Hingston Studio
CG Director of Photography: Markus Lehtonen at Hingston Studio
3D/CG Motion Design: Markus Lehtonen at Hingston Studio

Director: John Crowley
Writer: Bathsheba Doran
Producer: Kate Ogborn
Series Music: Volker Bertelmann
Series Cinematography: Stuart Bentley
Series Film Editing: Nick Emerson
Produced by: House Productions
Commissioned by: BBC Two

Dark still-life composition of a drooping white snowdrop beside a glass jar, with the name JAMES McARDLE set in small serif capitals on the right.
Close-up of a white five-petalled flower against a dark background, with soft focus, pale green centre and subtle film-like framing.
A pale flower blooms against a dark background, with floating bubbles or droplets creating a stark monochrome composition.
Close-up of a white flower against a dark background, with the names SEAN DELANEY and ISLA JOHNSTON set in small serif type on the right.
A dark composition with a pale flower or petal cluster at the bottom and stacked serif credits reading executive producers, Bash Doran, John Crowley and Kate Atkinson.