The wonderfully quirky Amazon series Octopus! compliments its fresh take on nature documentaries with charming stop-motion sequences by director/animator Hayley Morris produced thru NERD Productions in London with NYC studio Mighty Oak.

From the team at Nerdo: “The series follows the eight-armed protagonist Doris a Giant Pacific Octopus from babyhood to adulthood. Mighty Oak created Doris as a visual aid in exploring various aspects of octopus life. Mighty Oak also collaborated with Kaleida Studio in Madrid to develop titles, data visualizations, and archival treatments.
 

“I aimed for Doris’ surface to feel rich and tactile, realistic from a distance, yet on closer inspection reveal delicate details like lace and yarn that emphasized her handmade origins.”

 
“When designing the puppet for Doris, Hayley wanted her to resemble a real octopus but incorporate subtle human traits creating a sense of emotional connectivity with the audience. The surrounding ocean environment is also made from the same love and care using a mixture of found objects and hand made materials.”

Hayley Morris: “I aimed for Doris’ surface to feel rich and tactile, realistic from a distance, yet on closer inspection reveal delicate details like lace and yarn that emphasized her handmade origins.”
 
 

 
Client: Jigsaw Productions, Amazon MGM Studios

Production: NERD Productions, Mighty Oak
Director: Hayley Morris

Motion design: Kaleida Studio