Once we’d got the knack of the ‘new normal’, we wanted to take on the challenge of a longer-form narrative piece while working remotely as a team. We were able to refine our capabilities, delve deeper into character development and showcase the immense talent in the studio. We also got to draw a great donkey.

Selected for Pictoplasma's revered annual screening, Donkey Wrong is a charming study on luck, magic, and the human condition. Bucky’s journey shows us that life can change at any moment and that the difference between success and failure can be found between your ears.

Inspired by beach photographers such as Martin Parr and the illustration style of the New Yorker, we set the scene with a vivid and nostalgic seaside backdrop. We used filmic grain and a traditional screen ratio, and classic cinematic techniques (like the ‘Jaws’-style dolly zoom) highlight major comic and plot-based developments.

A realistic, relatable and diverse cast of secondary characters add to Bucky’s story. They all have their own shapes, sizes and personalities; it was important to us that the film was an inclusive reflection of real life.

In a soundtrack worthy of Donkey Wrong’s thrills and spills, Rob Flynn’s four fab compositions drive the story. Sound wizards Coda to Coda added effects as only they can—listen out for super squelches, donkey breaths and beachside bridle jingles.

While it’s no secret that we wanted to flex our technical and creative muscles, we didn’t want digital methods to make the film any less charming than a hand-drawn piece. We love making characters and raising smiles, so we put our heads together to make something that everyone can enjoy.