Race Against the Tide – Illustration, animation and motion graphics for BBC Two
Working with Tern TV, we created a complete package of bespoke illustration and motion graphics for Race Against the Tide, broadcast on BBC Two and available on BBC iPlayer.
At the heart of the series are the incredible sand sculptures created by competing teams against the clock – and the incoming tide. To help viewers visualise each team’s ambitious plans, we created a series of hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the competitors’ original sketches and the finished sculptures.
Much like the illustrated showstoppers seen on The Great British Bake Off, these drawings needed to capture the personality and detail of each design while remaining clear and instantly readable on screen. Each illustration was created specifically for the programme, resulting in more than 30 unique pieces across the series.
We then brought the drawings to life by building a CG beach environment and animating each design as though it was being drawn directly into the sand – connecting the graphics naturally with the setting and subject of the programme.
Alongside the illustrations, Touzie Tyke created the show’s CG title graphics, animated tide sequences, additional motion graphics and sand-inspired lower thirds, developing a cohesive visual style that runs throughout the series.
The result is a graphic package that feels playful, handcrafted and rooted in the world of sand sculpture, while giving viewers a clear picture of what each team is attempting to create before the tide rolls in.
