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Based in Berlin.
International Friends&Family.
Available Worldwide.
zdf
We've been working with ZDF for a while now on their seasonal branding, creating bespoke animations for their spring and summer slots. The initial idea was to reimagine the "Lerchenberg", where the ZDF resides, in a miniature world. Nitted hills, wool-textured characters, little wooden details. Handmade, lived-in, specific.
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We pulled apart the knitted blanket of snow and revealed different, lighter materials — embroidered grass instead of snow, linen-textured figures and intricate crafted flowers.
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Embedded in this world where some prominent faces of the ZDF programming, reimagined as puppets brought to life by digital strings.
What we cared about most was that this miniature world rewarded attention. We created something with enough going on that a viewer catching it for the twentieth time between programs might still notice something they hadn't before. That kind of density takes a while to build, and it only works when the client is willing to be in the weeds with you. The ZDF team was.
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The spring campaign ended up feeling like a breath of fresh air with it's handmade quality. ZDF's visual identity got a little more layered, and viewers who'd grown up with the channel had something that acknowledged that history without being sentimental about it.
Client
ZDF
Year
2025/26
Creative Direction
Christian Zschunke, #Saskia Kretzschmann
Producer
Stephanie Baumgarte
Artists
Philipp Brates, #Ignas Blažys, #Quinten Delahaye, #Tania Shapovalova, #Anastasiia Vorobeva, #Guilherme Todorov, #Saskia Kretzschmann, #Christian Zschunke
What we cared about most was that this miniature world rewarded attention. We created something with enough going on that a viewer catching it for the twentieth time between programs might still notice something they hadn't before. That kind of density takes a while to build, and it only works when the client is willing to be in the weeds with you. The ZDF team was.
In the middle of winter, right before christmas
we sought refuge in creating a digital spring
that wasnt supposed to feel digital at all.
Half the fun was in reintroducing analog imperfections to our perfect digital images.
The first seasonal animation was beloved by the audience, so we extended it for a second.
By keeping the structure that the audience loved the first time, we made it easy for them to reconnect.
process
There is a certain kind of magic in seeing our vision come to life.
Do you want to know more or have an idea that needs to be told ?
Let's talk about it.
Based in Berlin.
International Friends&Family.
Available Worldwide.