framestore

Characters are at the heart of all great stories and at Framestore we pride ourselves on crafting animated performances that engage audiences across genres.  The directors we work with demand the same from these characters as they do from human actors: emotionally driven, captivating and authentic performances that just feel real. In Directing the Invisible Art we sat down with six very different directors - Alfonso Cuarón, Dean DeBlois, Marc Forster, James Gunn, Spike Jonze and Paul King  - each of whom have collaborated with the Framestore team.  We asked them about their approach to marrying live action worlds and on set actors with the animated characters that inhabit them.  From the importance of light, the search for a feeling to the significance of doing very little and why great is better than good, each tells us what it takes to bring characters like Paddington, the Wild Things, Rocket, Groot, Cosmo, Toothless, King Shark, the Hippogriff, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger to life.  At Framestore we have immense admiration for the Directors with whom we work and would like to share a special thanks to Alfonso Cuarón, Dean DeBlois, James Gunn, Marc Forster, Paul King and Spike Jonze for giving their time to us. #vfx #filmmaking #animation #directors #animation #film #animatedcharacter

Introducing the second film in our Directing the Invisible Art series with Spike Jonze, with whom we collaborated on Where the Wild Things Are. Spike Jonze initially envisioned his Wild Things being brought to life by actors in suits with animatronic faces.  When the animatronic heads were too heavy for the suit actors to wear he came to Framestore for the subtle, naturalistic facial performances of his Wild Things. In this film, Jonze discusses what it takes to elevate animated performance, and how the film’s animators were an essential part of the creative process. “Animators are embodying the character they’re in. They’re owning the character like the suit actor did or the voice actor did.   “They either bring something to life or they don’t - it’s either electric or it’s flat.” Big thanks to Spike Jonze for taking time out to talk to us. Watch Spike Jonze: Directing the Invisible Art and find Directing the Invisible Art and James Gunn: Directing the Invisible Art over on our YouTube Channel a tour link in bio.  The remaining films featuring Alfonso Cuarón, Dean DeBlois, Marc Forster and Paul King will follow in the coming months. #vfx #filmmaking #animation #directors #animation #film #animatedcharacter #behindthescenes #spikejonze #wherethewildthingsare

James Gunn is a frequent Framestore collaborator having entrusted us with characters such as Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Cosmo, King Shark, Weasel and Rat Sebastian.  In our third film of the Directing the Invisible Art series, we talk to James about the ‘invisible art’ of VFX animation and what it takes to truly make a CG character a living, breathing member of a film’s cast “Having worked with countless VFX companies and countless VFX artists, they all have the same tools available to them,” he says of his experience. “The difference is in the people. It’s the craftsmanship. It’s the time and effort they put into it. Those are the things that make the difference.” Huge thank you to James Gunn for taking part in our film. Watch James Gunn: Directing the Invisible Art and Directing the Invisible Art and Spike Jonze: Directing the Invisible Art at our link in bio. The remaining films featuring Alfonso Cuarón, Dean DeBlois, Marc Forster and Paul King will follow in the coming months. #vfx #filmmaking #animation #directors #animation #film #animatedcharacter #JamesGunn #GOGT3 #RocketRaccoon #Groot

This week, we’re excited to share the breakdowns of some of the most memorable characters from Imaginary Friends. These reels take you behind the creative process that brought these beloved characters to life—from initial design to animation, VFX, and integration into the live-action world. Starting with Lewis, the sentimental IF who stole hearts with his deep emotional connection. The challenge? Bringing his expressive eyes to life and capturing his heartfelt performance in every glance. Our team meticulously crafted every detail—from the texture of his fur to the micro-squints in his eyes—to create a character that feels both realistic and endearing. #IF #VFX #CharacterDesign #Animation #BehindTheScenes #vfxbreakdown

Cornelius the cockerel returns with an epic reimagining. Collaborating with Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. at @mjzworldwide and @leoburnett we were entrusted to refine the look and character of Cornelius the cockerel whilst ensuring he remained instantly recognisable as the Kellogg’s mascot. Achieving this involved preserving his signature Kellogg’s crown and iconic colors while reimagining him in a more photorealistic style—an approach that had never been undertaken before. Credits Client: Kellanova Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett CCO: Mark Elwood Creative Director: Marcus Aitman Senior Creative: Joe Miller Production Company: MJZ Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Producer: Donald Taylor VFX: Framestore Executive Creative Director: William Bartlett 2D Supervisor: Jonni Isaacs CG Supervisor: Joel Savage Animation Supervisor: Rocky Vanoost Executive Producer: Alexia Paterson Line Producer: Robyn Borrageiro Colour: @company_3 Colourist: Jean-Clément Soret Supporting Colourist: Matthieu Toullet Executive Producer: Ellora Soret Edit House: WhiteHouse   Editor: Russel Icke Edit Assistant: Thomas Sheriff   Sound: Steve Perski @ Harbor #vfx #Kelloggs #SeeYouInTheMorning #characteranimation #creativeadvertising

Director James Gunn has helped shift the needle for modern VFX, making fully-realised CG characters central to his storytelling. A frequent Framestore collaborator, the director has entrusted characters like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Cosmo, King Shark, Weasel and Rat Sebastian to our teams in London, Montreal and Mumbai. 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 took this trust further, making Rocket Raccoon the film’s de facto star and earning an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects along the way. In James Gunn: Directing the Invisible Art he talks about what it takes to truly make a CG character a living, breathing member of a film’s cast.  Catch the full interview and other films in the series at our link in bio.  #JamesGunn #VFX #GOTG3 #RocketRaccoon #animation #charateranimation #behindthescenes #CGI

While the Civil War VFX team sought to catch as much as possible in-camera, some shots just weren’t practical - like blowing up prominent American monuments. The climactic scene involving the Lincoln Memorial was shot in an Atlanta backlot, and demanded both canny on-set wrangling and impeccable VFX artistry. This shocking, explosive moment relied on brilliant environment, comp and FX work, but also an encyclopaedic knowledge of how weapons ‘work’ and their devastating real-world impact. The team wanted to avoid the language of action cinema in order to deliver Alex Garland’s documentary-style vision, which meant painstaking (and often harrowing) research into areas like muzzle flash, tracer fire, missile launches and explosions. #civilwar #vfx #compositing #animation #cgi #filmmaking #filmproduction #storytelling #vfxbreakdown #behindthescenes

Congratulations to VFX Supervisor Jonathan Fawkner and the entire team on their nomination for Best Visual Effects at the @criticschoice Awards, recognizing their work in bringing Jon M. Chu’s grand and green Wicked to life. We’re also incredibly proud of our team’s contributions to Gladiator II, which has also been nominated in the same category. A huge round of applause to our partners, clients, and everyone who collaborated with us on these incredible projects Winners will be announced on January 12th. #CriticsChoiceAwards #BestVisualEffects #Wicked #VFX #GladiatorII

SXSW London Panel Picker voting is now open! 📣 See our speakers delve into everything from beloved characters and pre-production insights to the transformative power of AI in advertising and how the metaverse will change the media landscape. Vote for each panel at our link in bio 👉 #SXSWLondon #panelpicker #vfx #preproduction #AI #workshop #sxsw #visualeffects #technology #filmmaking #animation #metaverse #visdev

Wishing everyone the very best this holiday season. You’ve helped us bring a startling array of creative, innovative projects to life this year, and we’ve enjoyed collaborating with you every step of the way. In lieu of gifts this year we’re donating to a number of charities that are close to our heart: @centrepointuk , @nokidhungry, @cityharvestnyc , @iskcon_annamrita , @_danslarue , @offthestreetclub and @forchangeco_ . #christmas #happyholidays #vfx #motiondesign #animation

Framestore has been behind some of cinema’s best-loved animated creatures, from Paddington Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Rocket Raccoon to Tinkerbell, Fantastic Beasts and some Wild Things. Creating the illusion of life and believable character performances is a complex process involving many disciplines and incredible artistry. Join our host, CG Supervisor, Prashant Nair who will explore the Invisible Art of Animation with Animation Supervisor, Nathan McConnell and our Mumbai studio’s Head of Animation, Riyad Chalakkara. Sign up at our link in bio. #animation #webinar #vfx #characteranimation #CGI

Congratulations to James Razzall, President of Advertising USA, on being named Chair of the 2025 AICP Post Awards—the first-ever appointment of an executive or artist from the VFX sector to the role. This milestone underscores the growing influence of visual effects in reframing the landscape of advertising and creative storytelling. In addition to his role for the Post Awards, Razzall, alongside SMUGGLER’s Patrick Milling-Smith, will co-chair the AICP Awards Committee, a global group composed of production, post, agency, and brand executives serving as ambassadors for the AICP Awards. Alongside this achievement, Razzall also celebrates 25 years at Framestore! Read the full release at our link in bio. #AICP #Framestore #AICPAwards #Advertising #Production #Commercial #Producers