Blinkink director Nicos Livesey and BBC Creative (who teamed on this breakout 2018 World Cup work) just dropped another craft-heavy soccer spot, a stop-motion spectacle for BBC’s coverage of the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro.

Bart Yates, EP at Blinkink: “With AI threatening to reshape so much of the creative world, we wanted to go in the opposite direction, producing something tactile, raw and handcrafted. Going down the claymation route allowed us to craft something with real intention and personality, at a time when it matters the most.

“It’s physical, full of character and energy, just like football. This film is about celebrating human effort and the finished product is a testament to everyone involved, from the crew behind-the-scenes to the players on the pitch.
 

“With AI threatening to reshape so much of the creative world, we wanted to go in the opposite direction, producing something tactile, raw and handcrafted.”

 
“Before model-making began, the concept team worked to set a core 2D style that would cement the striking compositions we see in the film. Similarly, model puppets were first illustrated and then crafted into clay, with a strong likeness to the players. The art department spent seven busy weeks building the sets and puppets, using 100 kilos worth of clay to sculpt all the elements across the 13-day shoot.

Jess Oudot, CD at BBC Creative: “Through this campaign and the BBC’s coverage of the Women’s Euros, we hope to help close the gender fame gap. Rather than taking a very earnest approach, we were keen to champion female stars in a way that feels just as confident and playful as the men’s game.”
 
 

 
Client: BBC

Agency: BBC Creative
ECD: Rasmus Smith Bech
Acting ECD: Dave Monk
Head of Production: James Wood
CD: Jess Oudot, Matt Leach
Creative: Steve Lownes, Aron Sidhu
Producer: Jenny Broad
Production Manager: Sam Dobbyn
Project Manager: April Forsyth
Production Coordinator: Alfie Flynn
Senior Designer: Ronnie Law, Dan O’Mara
Static Designer: Dan Cooper, Georgina Hall
Motion Designers: Graham Joy, Daniel Betts
Retoucher: Kristina Stankeviciute-Polezajeva
Design Traffic Manager: Hattie Buxton

Production: Blinkink
Director: Nicos Livesey
EP: Bart Yates
Head of Production: Alex Halley
Producer: Rebecca Little
Production Manager: Thijme Grol
Production Coordinator: Charlie Herbert
DOP: Matthew Day
1st AC: Toby Howell, George Warren
1st AD: Sandy Liddle
Gaffer: Aldo Camilleri
Spark: Rob Collins
Moco Op: Max Halstead, Stuart Galloway
Stop Motion Animator: Steve Warne
Animator: Mark Wearing, Andy Biddle, Laura Tofarides, Honor Price
Puppet Build: Nathan Flynn
Puppet Maintenance: Joshua Flynn, Adrian Piqueras
Stop Motion Rigger: Robin Jackson
Stop Motion Rigger/Puppet Build: Andrew Spradberry
Production Designer: Gordon Allen
Art Department: Rosie Tonkin, Emma Niemis, Lulu Senft, Evelyn Hurst, Maya McAllister, Demangeat
Runner: Hannah Cooper
VFX Supervisor: Alasdair Brotherston
BTS Photographer: JoeEckworth
Lead Compositor: Alasdair Brotherson
Compositor: Tom Fisher, Andy Hague, Luke Simpson, Simone Ghillardotti
2D FX: Reg Isaac, Hozen Britto, Chiara Sgatti, Ed Roberts, George Johnson
3D Modeler: Florent Rousseau
Previs Artist: Klaas Boeur, Alex Puig
Storyboard Artist: Joe Totti
Concept Artist: Tiago Calliari, Ryan Quickfall
Background Artist: Camille Perrin
Colorist: Andi Chu
Color Producer: Oliver Whitworth

Edit: The Picture Shop
Editor – Mark Ferns
Dubbing/Mixer: Lewis Clark

Sound Design: Sam Ashwell @ 750MPH