On the International Women’s Day, Esther Lalanne joins the diverse and inclusive NERD family, led by Executive Creative Producer/Founder Milana Karaica. NERD welcomes Esther Lalanne, body positive and whimsical visual artist.
Body Positive Visual Artist Esther Lalanne Joins Nerd Productions 6 - Nerd Blog
Esther is a prolific visual artist who accurately represents bodies and identities, primarily women, who make our society. Esther’s bubbly and quirky aesthetic is inspired by everyday life and human interactions.
Esther has always loved to draw women; she says: ‘Growing up, I have always felt frustrated in this all-white-cis-male world, and drawing has been a useful way of expressing myself and others like me.’
Body Positive Visual Artist Esther Lalanne Joins Nerd Productions 7 - Nerd Blog
Esther wants to depict a world where women, people of every race and sexuality, can be more visible and free to exist without expectations or limitations. She believes that the power of craft influences real life and people.
Body Positive Visual Artist Esther Lalanne Joins Nerd Productions 8 - Nerd Blog
She creates fun visuals that touch the soul and speak to a vast array of people. Esther has worked with Refinery29, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, The Body Shop, King’s College London, Green Peace, ITV, and NHS.
Prepare to be moved by the latest online commercial for the eco-conscious baby brand, Charlie Banana, where we are introduced to the heart-warming story of a mother bonding with her newborn baby while pledging to take action to create and protect the future of our planet, our home.
Watch our fun behind the scenes
Teaming up with Curiosity, we mixed two marvellous animation techniques; stop-frame and hand-drawn animation to develop the whimsical online commercial. This beautifully crafted piece walks us through what it takes to make a better world for future generations and celebrates motherhood and all-around sweetness.
Discover A Heart-Warming, Stop-Frame Spot Directed By Hayley Morris 16 - Nerd Blog
‘’ Am I choosing the right products to put on my baby’s skin? Am I taking action to protect the environment for future generations?‘’ Milana Karaica
This was a very relatable situation for Milana Karaica, Executive Producer at NERD Productions who was eight months pregnant when the script landed on her desk. We were thrilled to craft the ultimate maternal bond at this extraordinary time.
Discover A Heart-Warming, Stop-Frame Spot Directed By Hayley Morris 17 - Nerd Blog
‘’ Working with a brand that cherishes sustainability and has it as their mission statement feels very special.’’ Hayley Morris
Hayley is coincidentally, currently eight months pregnant and has a real passion for sustainability in her own work. Throughout the creative process, Hayley used sustainable and recyclable materials.
Every element in this stop-motion animation was entirely handcrafted, from the characters to the plants and flowers, using layering and watercolour techniques.
To bring this delightful film to life, even more, Hayley created jointed paper dolls to heighten the interaction between mother and daughter through to the end of the blossoming visual tale.
Discover A Heart-Warming, Stop-Frame Spot Directed By Hayley Morris 18 - Nerd Blog
Discover A Heart-Warming, Stop-Frame Spot Directed By Hayley Morris 19 - Nerd Blog
Milana says ‘’We were proud to be able to feature and hero a mixed-race family which is important for us at NERD. Even if they are animated characters, they are essentially our actors so we want to craft those carefully and make sure that we are representative and reflect the reality of our audiences.’’
At a time where diversity & inclusion is talked about a lot in the advertising industry, actions are more important than words. It was particularly vital to us to show characters that will make the world a more inclusive and tolerant one for the future generations to come. We believe that championing diversity is the key ingredient to producing powerful visuals that stand out and engage with real people across the world.
Discover A Heart-Warming, Stop-Frame Spot Directed By Hayley Morris 20 - Nerd Blog
Nerd's Black Stories: Animation Director, Corinne Ladeinde 25 - Nerd Blog
Although our peers feel that efforts for a more diverse industry are being made; we still think that the actions taken are surface level, and black people are a rarity in our industry.
We spoke to black creatives who contribute significantly to their field and have asked them words of advice for current and future artists of colour wanting to break through the creative industry.
Next up is Animation Director Corinne Ladeinde.
Corinne is an award-winning animation director with a passion for storytelling, design, animation and illustration. After working as a lead compositor on projects such as The Snowman and the Snowdog and We’re going on a Bear Hunt! for Channel 4, Corinne further pursued her directing ambitions and has since directed a range of commercials and online films for clients such as Dove, Bach, Bonjela and Liz Earle amongst others.
When did you decide to become an animator/illustrator?
From the age of 6 and growing up, I had in mind that I will become an animator; but once I had graduated and dive into the professional world, I realised that I love storytelling and from then on, started directing.
Nerd's Black Stories: Animation Director, Corinne Ladeinde 26 - Nerd Blog
How has your upbringing influenced the work that you do today?
My mum is a true stoic. She is my inspiration to always investing my time in the things I truly enjoy. My mother used my brother and me as an excuse to watch the latest animated Disney films at the time. I grew up on a diet of animation from the Lion King to Aladin and The Nightmare Before Christmas. When I was a kid, I was reading a lot, attended regular arts and crafts activities, theatre and galleries. All these things have influenced my vision as an artist.
What advice would you give your younger self?
“To act as if it’s impossible to fail”. This is an Anthony Hopkins quote, that I have learned to live by.
How has it been transitioning from composing to directing?
Working with NERD Productions has allowed me to work with other directors of different disciplines which have helped me to broaden my horizons and offer clients a more varied approach to their work.
After last year’s legendary collaboration, NERD’s Billelis, SEGA & Creative Assembly bring back some new epic artwork to support Total War Saga game: TROY launching on August 13th. Set against the stunning setting of the Bronze Age, TROY explores the epic conflict from both the Greek and Trojan’s perspectives.
The global pandemic didn’t stop our founder, Milana Karaica, find the drive to keep supporting our clients, motivates our team and talent, along with being heavily pregnant. In this candid, yet inspiring chat with Danny Edwards, Milana reveals it all.
This year’s Pride month marked the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – when transgender people, gay people, and drag queens protested against police brutality for six days after a brutal raid at NYC’s Stonewall Inn. Because this year’s celebration overlays with a global human rights movement, we should continue to liberate, educate, and celebrate voices of the queer community – stand in solidarity and, become better allies. Pride isn’t a one-off event and at NERD Productions we are proud all year round. We are committed to amplifying the voices of those who are underrepresented and produce work that reflects today’s society. In this heartfelt read, Live-Action Director, Brett de Vos, discuss the best ways to support friends/family coming out to you.
Starting a new job is usually nerve-wracking, yet, if the Prime Minister announces that a national lockdown will take effect on your first day, due to a global pandemic, that definitely adds an extra layer of anxiety. Prior to coronavirus getting cozy in the UK, I had been following how the pandemic unfolded in different parts of the world, and in all honesty, I didn’t think that Europe would get hit that badly. Never in a million years, I would have thought 2020 would be the year of the whole world getting shut down.
At NERD, we’ve been crafting in a flexible & remote approach for nearly 5 years now, due to our international talent & global clients. Our collaborative nature from our birth has meant that during these times, we have been continuing to bring to life visual delights, without risk to our teams, clients, and brands. With the working from home situation likely to be extended until later this year, we asked NERDs to share how they’re keeping productive and motivated while working from home. We hope their thoughts might empower you too!
Since this whole thing started, many of us around the world, even those who haven’t been infected by the virus, have had to self-isolate at home for the past few months. Before that, we’ve all had planned to travel the world, meet-up with loved-ones, attend weddings, parties or grab a coffee with a colleague – simply, enjoy our lives in different ways. Working from home for us, NERDs, was nothing new, although this situation is a bit different. NERD’s Executive Producer and avid painter Claire shares her tips to coping with self-isolation and anxiety, which we hope will help you or someone you know turn things around and enjoy the simple things we might sometime take for granted.
Dance is the ultimate activity to let loose, forget about inhibitions, and boost physical health. International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance and we are celebrating NERD style!
