RL | Network Rail

Celebrating stations as sustainable hearts of communities.

Direction✦ Campaign ✦ Motion ✦ 3D

Client: Network Rail

Agency: Studio Hansa

Role: Creative Lead

Partner: Somewhere

Illustration: Pablo Thomas

▉ Brief

As part of a nation wide architecture bid, produce a film which sets perceptions of stations as vibrant, sustainable spaces at the heart of local communities.

▉ Creative Process

Even as an animation, this shouldn't feel hypothetical; rather be a charming vision of reality. Partnered with Somewhere's director and 3D team, I co-lead conceptualisation, and refinement of this film.

Following diverse archetypes, everything in the story revolved around a sense of community. This showed how stations encourage casual socialising, grow local businesses, plus champion various forms of environmental travel.

Naming our characters helped inspire unique animation traits. Subtle texture gave life to environments. And all scenes were animated as if filmed practically.

▉ Result

Telling the story of how stations bring about positive change, this film became part of a nationwide push where the HUB Station concept won several new station builds across the UK.

We focused on moments of sustainability and connection, showing how stations contribute to everyone's wellbeing.

Grounded in reality, details like camera movement and soft textures created a relaxing perception for visiting stations.

Our illustrated characters were developed in picture locked 3D scenes, so CGI lighting and texturing plus 2D animation could evolve in natural harmony.