We were thrilled to join the LA based team for this Netflix series, directed by Katherine Kluber and produced by the wonderful Diane Becker and Melanie Fall – who we’ve worked with several times previously. The Program shed a light on systemic mental and physical abuse teenaged students experienced while attending a troubled-teen academy that treated students like prisoners.
We worked closely with the team for six months – providing over thirty finished shots and animated sequences.
Animation Sequences
Our early conversations with director Katherine Kluber revealed she was interested in fully animated 8 bit style animation sequences – and naturally we jumped at the chance! Designed and animated with our resident animating geniuses, Sylvain Doussa and Kevin Smy, these sequences were a little too much fun to make! During these sequences, we delve into the unfair and un-winnable points system at the IvyRidge disciplinary school. Katherine wanted this depicted through a humorous 8-bit animation, capturing the nostalgic charm of 80s video games. This retro style cleverly highlights the school’s cruelty and absurdity by juxtaposing its cheery visuals with the harsh reality of the students’ lives. Every aspect of life at Ivy Ridge is gamified, scrutinised, and surveilled, forcing pupils to meet unattainable standards, and the 8-bit animation underscores this by turning their struggle into a seemingly lighthearted game.
Documents + Letters
Within the series there were a considerable amount of official documents and also hand written letters, which were an important aspect of the narrative development across the series. As part of our creative process, we are always looking to pull our direction from the narrative.
Throughout the documentary, we follow former students as they wander the halls of their now derelict and abandoned school, recollecting about the suffering they endured within its walls. The school remains eerily intact, with furniture, documents, and classroom items scattered in disarray. To reflect this atmosphere in the documentary’s graphics, we aimed to emulate the feeling of chaotic memories being pieced together. We achieved this by layering letters, photos, anddocuments haphazardly, and highlighting excerpts using a torn paper effect. This approach mirrors the fragmented and tumultuous nature of their recollections. Alongside this intention, we wanted to explore an approach to the letters that brought an energy, to bring a retrospective moment into the present.
Animation and Motion Design: Past Curfew
Animation and Design Director: Allison Brownmoore
Creative Producer: Lucy Witts
Production Coordinator: Mark Hughes
Animators: Kevin Smy, Sylvain Doussa, John Quinn, Callum Welch