Blink Industries create animation for ‘Inside No. 9’ series 7 finale ‘Wise Owl’
Skwigly
Back with a brand new series, the beloved BBC comedy/horror anthology Inside No. 9 has partnered with Blink Industries to create its first ever part live action/ part-animation episode.
The series’ final episode, Wise Owl takes the viewer on a journey back to the 1970s and tells the story of a man’s bitter relationship with his father.
Animation director and League of Gentlemen enthusiast Sam O’Leary was the perfect candidate to take on the challenge of bringing the 1970s aesthetic to life. Throughout the episode, which switches between the two different mediums, Sam’s creations reflect the actors in the live-action perfectly, blending the two worlds and the time state of past and present. With a true-to-era hand-drawn style, viewers are reminded of the unintentionally harrowing animations that so often haunted public services announcements of the ‘70s.
Animation was uncharted territory for writers Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. However, with the story hinging on PSAs from the ‘70s it was important to be authentic in style and execution. Blink and Sam worked alongside episode director Louise Hooper to develop a technique and style of design which embodied the creepy nostalgia of the era.
Working with Louise was an utter delight. Always upbeat and steady, she steered us all in the right direction. I know she’s also a huge fan of Reece and Steve, so it just felt like we were giddy kids in a fan club. Also, both of her episodes (Mr. King & Wise Owl) feature uncensored penises! What am I getting at!? I don’t know, but you’ve got to admit it’s interesting.
-Sam O’Leary (animation director)
The episode was produced by BBC Studios and aired on BBC Two on the 1st June. The animation was produced by Leah Draws for Blink Industries and directed by Sam O’Leary.
Finding the perfect talent to help solve a tricky brief is what makes us tick. and building a visual technique to bring that brief to life is our speciality. we’re huge fans of Inside No.9 so this was a dream project. Sam O’Leary is a wizard of the Blink family and we knew he’d chime creatively with the Inside No. 9 team. we’re so honoured that Steve and Reece trusted us to accompany them on their first foray into animation.
-James Stevenson Bretton, Blink Industries exec and managing partner
Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer