This month we visit the world-renowned animation studio and chat to them about their latest venture into the world of video games, and how theyre doing things a little differently.
Within the ridiculously creative corridors of Aardman Studios, the team is feverishly putting the finishing touches to their first in-house developed game for consoles, 11-11: Memories Retold. in a collaboration with French developers Digixart and partnered with Bandai Namco comes a title that looks unlike anything seen before. Known for creating stories with heart, Aardman set out to tell a personal tale from the start, so although it’s set during the first World War, the game focuses on the lives of two main characters. the war is simply the background for it. aardman was also eager to continue its legacy of doing things a little differently and decided to invent a unique art style from scratch in order to convey a particular mood and feeling for the game. art director Bram Tthweam, senior producer George Rowe and interactive group creative director Dan Eefergan were on hand to talk us through it.
Bram, you’ve never made a game before - how did you get involved with the project?
Bram: Historically I’m more focused on traditional linear storytelling within the company. I work as director part of the time, as post-production for the rest, so I wasn’t really familiar with developing games. Dan wanted to mix things up and thought it would be great to get someone who’s not immersed in the gaming world and look at the art side of things to see what happens.
How has this differed from the work you’ve done previously with traditional animations?
Bram: The thing that’s taken me by surprise most of all, particularly working largely in post-production where I’m used to polishing things and making them better right up to the very last second, is I found it very difficult to take a step back whilst people have to deal with the technical aspect of things. I just want to get back in there and get stuck in.
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