Johnny Kelly gets to the core of things at Nexus
Johnny Kelly - the director of London-based production company, Nexus - has created a new title sequence for the popular, long-running Dutch children's programme, Het Klokhuis.
Dutch agency KesselsKramer approached Johnny with the brief as part of a rebrand for the programme, with the show's new logo to be lifted from the animation for the title sequence. An apple is the basis for the new identity, as the programme’s title literally translates as ‘The Apple Core’.
The bright and eye-catching animation sees a series of apples, all with a different experiment happening at their core to wet the appetite for what’s to come. Once Johnny had decided on which experiments to use he called on the talents of established model-maker, Jethro Haynes, and the pair retired to the laboratory to collaborate on the look and design of the piece and how each of the elements would be animated.
Taking an appropriately scientific and experimental approach, the apple shells were created using 3D rapid prototyping technology (to maintain the logo shape) and this was the framework used to build up each apple. A variety of different materials were then used to portray each apple experiment, including stone, clay, rubber, clockwork machinery and many more.
The animation was almost entirely done on set and in-camera, working with a great pair of animators at London's Clapham Road Studios.
Johnny says: "Het Klokhuis has been running for over 25 years in the Netherlands and is very fondly remembered, as most people grew up watching the program. I told one Dutch person I met that I was working on the programme and his stern parting words were: "Don't mess it up".
No danger there - the title sequence is a creative triumph and a tribute to this much-loved programme. To view: Nexusproductions.com/site/bespoke-reel/1270/.
