Following on their standout titles for Yellowjackets, the Digital Kitchen team conjure more mystery and intrigue with this open they describe as a “forensic puzzle told through fire” for the Apple TV+ crime drama miniseries Smoke.

Mason Nicoll, ECD at Digital Kitchen: “We wanted to visualize the duality of the show’s core idea: one character trying to unravel destruction, the other accelerating it. That meant designing a sequence that felt both clinical and poetic, where every frame pulls the viewer deeper into the psychology of the arsonist.

“Rather than relying on visual effects to simulate fire, the burns were captured with practical experiments on different materials, accelerants, torches, and carefully created and sourced props. Color was used sparingly to focus attention on texture, heat, and rhythm. The result is a meditative visual loop where combustion becomes choreography.
 

“We wanted to visualize the duality of the show’s core idea: one character trying to unravel destruction, the other accelerating it.”

 
“A track by Thom Yorke serves as the emotional spine of the piece. Editorial pacing and design were built around the track’s haunting tempo, which deepens the psychological pull and allows the imagery to linger.

“The typography draws inspiration from both the crime and political thrillers of the 70s and evidence department labeling, adding a layer of graphic boldness that echoes the show’s vintage detective genre roots while maintaining a modern edge.

“We crafted the opening using a combination of tools including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve for compositing, animation, color, and edit. The fire sequences were filmed using RED Raptor 8K VV, RED Komodo, Blackmagic Pocket 6K, and Sony A7SIII cameras with Canon prime lenses.”
 
 

 
Client: Apple TV+

Production: Digital Kitchen
ECD: Mason Nicoll
Art Director/Cinematographer: Rachel Brickel
Art Director/Designer: Peter Pak
Motion Artist: Simon Chan
Designer: Ana Criado
Editor: Justin West
Senior Producer: Matthew Lynch
Managing Director: Ally Malloy

Music: Thom Yorke