Client: France 4 Agency: 17 Mars Role: Art Direction / Illustration
The team at 17 Mars approached me with a playful brief after being commissioned by France 4 to create a series of Christmas jingles.
The concept featured 12 short stories starring 12 different animals, each designed to bring a fun, energetic moment to the channel during the holiday season.
For this project, I developed the entire visual direction, including character design, backgrounds, props, and storyboards. Working closely with the team at 17 Mars and the animation team, we ensured the visuals translated smoothly into animation despite a tight production schedule.
The project came together beautifully, and it was a real joy to see the jingles broadcast on TV during Christmas.
Character Design
A good story starts with a strong character. The first step was to design the 12 lead characters for the 12 different scenarios. They needed to feel friendly and appealing for a young audience, while still being fun and engaging for a broader one. The designs also had to remain simple and expressive to work well in animation.
Style frames
The style frame is the final step before animation. At this stage, all visual elements are designed and assembled to ensure everything works cohesively. It’s the moment where the characters, backgrounds, and props come together, creating a clear visual reference before handing the project over to the animation team.
Storyboard
Storyboarding is a key step in the animation process. It helps establish pacing and transitions, identify the necessary visual elements before the design phase, and provides a clear guide for the animation team during production.
