duck & frog
trying to make it through the workday… with limited success.
overview
Duck & Frog is a 50 x 7' slapstick comedy series for children aged 7–12, created by our own extraordinarily talented Sam Shaw.
We were thrilled when Sam was selected for the BBC Ignite Animation Development Scheme. which was created to discover the UK's next standout animation talent. With Sam at the helm and with the guidance of ignite, Sun & Moon developed the show into a series ready format.
Once production started it was produced entirely in-house from script to screen. And it goes without saying that the series holds a special place in our hearts.
find the funny
As a silent comedy, Duck & Frog relies entirely on visual storytelling. Without dialogue to carry the action, every script was a series of visual beats. This made the animatic stage especially important as timing and character performance would make (and in Frog's case, break!) the episode. Animatics were the key to testing jokes, refining pacing and making sure every gag landed as effectively as possible before moving to the next stage of production.
give us a gurn
The series was animated in Toon Boom using an approach that combined rigged animation with traditional techniques. Rather than limiting ourselves to a fixed library of expressions, we developed a workflow that encouraged animators to create new poses and reactions whenever a joke demanded it. Making yourself laugh at your desk while giving the characters a bonkers expression is a perk of the job and also a sure-fire way to giving the audience a giggle too.
result
Sam has been drawing ducks since before he could waddle. In fact, an earlier version of this very duck helped him land his job at Sun & Moon through his university graduation film. Seeing Duck and Frog make the leap from sketchbook doodles to a fully realised television series is something the entire studio is immensely proud of.
The show represents everything we love about animation: strong characters, visual storytelling and making audiences laugh. It has also helped us refine the creative and production processes we use today, leaving us better equipped than ever to bring the next generation of memorable characters to life.
