Wild Child Animation Redefines Children’s TV with Stunning 2.5D ‘Philippines’
LONDON, UK – In a significant leap forward for animation technology, Wild Child Animation has revealed the innovative techniques behind its new children’s comedy series, Philippines. The show, a co-production with Eaglet Films, Red Monk Studio, and in partnership with Wild Child Animation, is already captivating young audiences on CBeebies and RAI, and is poised for international distribution through Banijay Kids & Family and PBS Distribution. This isn’t just another cartoon; it’s a showcase of how real-time technology is reshaping the landscape of animated storytelling – a genuine breaking news moment for the industry.
Blending Worlds: The 2D/3D Hybrid Breakthrough
Created by series director Massimo Fenati (known for Quentin Blake’s Treasure Chest), Philippines presented a unique artistic challenge. Fenati envisioned retaining the charm of his original 2D character designs while immersing them in a richer, more dynamic 3D world. Traditional animation methods fell short, unable to fully leverage the potential of modern tools. Wild Child’s solution? A custom-built Unreal Engine pipeline that seamlessly blends 2D and 3D animation.
“I designed the characters in 2D, wanting a clean, immediate feel,” explains Fenati. “But a flat 2D environment felt limiting. I needed the depth and nuance of 3D, and Wild Child delivered a perfect implementation of that vision.”
Unreal Engine: Powering a New Animation Workflow
The team didn’t simply overlay 2D characters onto 3D backgrounds. Instead, they created 3D environments and character bodies, then integrated 2D facial rigs. This allowed characters to interact realistically with their surroundings – sitting on furniture, picking up objects, and casting shadows – all while preserving the distinctive illustrated aesthetic. This approach demanded a fundamental shift in the animation process itself. Animators had to embrace a “2D mindset” within a 3D workflow, focusing on graphic intention and expressive gestures.
“Every decision had to serve the illustrated aesthetic,” says episode director Will Adams. “It wasn’t about smooth rigs, but about giving them an illustrated character. Small gestures bore the brunt of the performance.”
Technical Mastery: USD and Scalable Real-Time Rendering
Beyond the artistic innovation, Wild Child’s technical prowess shines through. The studio leveraged its experience with Unreal Engine to develop a robust and scalable real-time workflow. Crucially, they implemented Universal Scene Description (USD) to ensure asset consistency across Maya and Unreal, streamlining collaboration between teams and international partners. This is a key element for productions of this scale, ensuring a cohesive visual experience across all 52 eleven-minute episodes.
Ron Henry, Chief Operations Officer at Wild Child, notes, “We didn’t have to start from scratch. We had a proven Unreal pipeline and the right 2D experience to create something unique. This gave us the confidence to realize a highly stylized 2D/3D hybrid production at scale and without delays.”
The Future of Animation is Now
The use of Unreal Engine’s real-time rendering wasn’t just about speed; it provided the creative team with unprecedented flexibility to explore, refine, and evolve the visual style. This immediacy was instrumental in shaping the look of Philippines and enabling the ambitious 2D/3D hybrid approach. This project serves as a compelling case study for studios looking to push the boundaries of animation and embrace the power of real-time technology. It’s a testament to the fact that innovation isn’t just about *what* you create, but *how* you create it.
Want to dive deeper into the magic behind Philippines? Explore the behind-the-scenes process and see the innovation in action at wildchildanimation.com. This project isn’t just a children’s show; it’s a glimpse into the future of animation, and a prime example of how studios are leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver captivating and visually stunning experiences.
