This project is presented in partnership with Stash Media, publishers of Stash Magazine and the Stash Permanent Collection, the planet’s only streaming platform dedicated to design, animation, and VFX.

Nexus Studios’ director Fx Goby, whose wide-ranging character work you can see here and here, captures the passion and pain of 36 athletes in this rousing spot for the BBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Check out their new spot below and read on to go behind the scenes:

Fx Goby: “This film epitomizes craftsmanship. Achieving its elegant final design required hundreds of hours, meticulously refining frame by frame, to preserve the essence of the original designs. Unlike typical 2D animation that relies on outlines, we used light and shadow to suggest volume, effectively recreating each illustration 25 times per second.”

“Unlike typical 2D animation that relies on outlines, we used light and shadow to suggest volume, effectively recreating each illustration 25 times per second.”

From the team at Nexus Studios: “Drawing a close parallel between romantic love and the love athletes have for their sports, the film depicts the trials and challenges they face, followed by the rewards and sheer joy that come from being at the top of their game.

“The film is set to timeless French love song ‘Hymne A L’Amour’ (Hymn to Love) by Edith Piaf, which was inspired by the love of her life, French boxer Marcel Cerdan. It sees snapshots of love interrupted by Olympians practicing their sports, depicting the kind of love that makes your heart race.”

Client: BBC

Agency: BBC Creative
Brand Director: Justin Bairamian
Head of Production: James Wood
Head of Planning: Scarlett Spence
Executive Creative Director: Rasmus Smith Bech
Creative Director: Tom Espezel, Nina Beyers
Creative: Paul Bailey, Russell Hendrie
Producer: Rachel Roberts
Project Manager: Matt Totterdell
Planner: Lloyd Scott
Production Manager: Michael Lucas
Coordinator: Emma White
Head of Design: Tanya Holbrook
Designer: Mirjami Qin
Motion Designer: Chloe Brooks

Production: Nexus Studios
Director: Fx Goby
Executive Producer: Jason Bartholomew
Producer: Rebecca Archer
Production Manager: Ruyi Meer
2D Lead: Bethany Levy
Art Director: Callum Strachan
Designer: Antoine Bonnet
Storyboard Artist: Jorge Duran
Cleanup Artist: Laura N-Tamara, Clara Schildhauer
Compositing: Jesse Richards
Editor: Zaki Fulford

Edit: Picture Shop
Editor: Olalla Del Valle

Sound design: Factory Studios
Creative Director: Anthony Moore
Sound Designer: James Utting
Producer: Deborah Whitfield

Audio: Picture Shop
Audio Director: Ben Maughan

Music: SIREN
Music Supervisor: Rebekah Fitch: Sian Rogers, Alice Benton