An animated launch film for Tom Percival's Big Bright Feelings book series, bringing his much-loved characters to life through heartfelt animation that captures the warmth, wonder and emotional honesty of the books.
Challenge
Bloomsbury Publishing and acclaimed author and illustrator Tom Percival were launching Big Bright Feelings – a new series of children's books designed to help young readers recognise, understand and talk about their emotions. The challenge was to create an animated launch film that captured the warmth, empathy and imagination of the books, while introducing audiences to Tom's beloved characters and encouraging families to discover the series.
Solution
As Creative Director and Animation Director, I led the creation of a film that translated Tom's distinctive illustration style into motion while remaining faithful to his artistic vision. The character animation and the magical transitions were designed to preserve the handcrafted quality of the artwork, combining layered textures, expressive brushstrokes and bold colour with playful character design. Rather than simply promoting the books, the film creates moments of magic that invite children and parents into the emotional world of Big Bright Feelings, giving audiences a genuine sense of the stories before they've even turned a page.
Result
The finished film became the centrepiece of the book launch, helping introduce the series through a rich, cinematic piece of animation that celebrated everything readers love about Tom Percival's work. By extending the illustrations into motion with care and authenticity, the project strengthened the identity of the series, built excitement around its release and demonstrated how thoughtful animation can deepen the emotional connection between audiences, characters and story.
