About

Welcome to Giants at Play!

Over the last 20 years, I have worked as an Animation Director, Stop Motion Animator, and Designer for Aardman Animations and Agencies: Havas Lynx, 21 Grams, JWT, Publicis, Grey, Wieden & Kennedy, VCCP, Leo Burnett, Fallon, Mother, Driven, Revlon, Disney, BBC, Unilever, MTV, Adidas, Dyson, Gates Foundation, Rimmel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, CBBC, and a host of other top flight agencies in the UK, Europe and USA.

Having this experience and working with such a fantastic collective of creative people has taught me a wide range of disciplines which has allowed me to work in all manner of mediums: Stop Motion / 2D / CGI / Live Action / Puppetry / Mixed Media / Graphic Design / Illustration. I love mixing the mediums to create a totally fresh and bespoke look for every client and each project. Working closely with my clients and the creatives at the agencies is key to executing the best work. Listening to their needs for their brand and collaborating our ideas to craft something special. With this ethos in mind I opened my own Stop Motion annd CGI Studio called ‘Giants at Play’ here in Bristol.

We create Award - Winning Beautifully Crafted Stop Motion and CGI commercials, Awareness Films, Idents, Short form for TV and Online. Alongside these productions we also offer ‘Behind the scenes / Making of’ films which show the craft and care that goes into each bespoke project we lovingly make. We find these mini ‘making of’ movies really capture the heart and soul of the films we create, which clients and viewers love which make perfect content for Social Media and marketing.

Bit of backstory : I was fortunate enough to hit Bristol at the time of the Urban Art explosion in the early 90’s. I was a Stop Motion Animator and Puppet Maker for The Puppet Factory but my background was as a Street Artist and Illustrator. I had success alongside other very renowned Bristol Street Artists, sharing a studio with five of them and holding art exhibitions. This exposure led me to running my own Urban Art / Streetwear store and clothing label In Covent Garden, London called Bionyc Industries* / bionyc.co.uk ). My Art works gained commercial interest and commissions from reputable clients for branding, commercials and series and Feature film development.

I was employed by Aardman Animations to become production designer on a series for Cartoon Network called Chop Socky Chooks which was successful in the UK, Europe and USA.

It was nominated for a BAFTA and won the Gemini award for best CGI animated series.

Shortly after completion, I was invited to develop my own animated show 100Head Eddie in the European Cartoon Network HQ for Turner Entertainment and am currently developing another secret show and funding a teaser trailer.

Other Awards include The British Animation Award for New Mind Set for Global Mental Health Foundation which also took home Silver and Gold Drum Rose Awards.

Also a Bronze Clio Award and Finalist at Cannes for Turalio film Siobhan Blooms / 21 Grams New York.

On Characters in Advertising:

I have always believed that "words and slogans are powerful in advertising, but characters have the ability to reach out and connect with the viewer on an emotional level.

If they like the design of a character they start a subconscious relationship with it. Whenever they see it pop up, they are drawn to it and take notice. The beauty of a character in advertising is that you can grow it's personality creatively and organically with the client and watch it's development as the campaign grows from strength to strength. 

It's all about the laws of attraction, and my aim is to put a 'face' to brands to boost their identity and add personality." 

If you like what you’ve read and are interested in collaborating, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

07790003991

danny@bionyc.co.uk