Cardiff Castle

Grab your ticket
to history

Strategy

2024

Character

Development

Motion Design

Bring the Past to Life with Animated Motion Graphics and Live Footage.

We have worked with Cardiff Council for many years on video, design, photography, and animated motion graphics projects. This latest project for Cardiff Castle is one we are especially proud of.

They came to us for support on a marketing strategy to attract visitors to the castle. The goal is to teach people about Cardiff Castle’s rich history. We want to make it fun for both kids and adults. The result is an immersive animation that blends real-world footage with custom character animation, telling the story of Cardiff Castle through time.

The Challenge

Cardiff Council needed a film that could attract new visitors and help them understand the castle’s story without feeling like a traditional heritage explainer. The content had to be accessible for all ages, with a tone that balanced education and entertainment, and it had to hold attention quickly across digital channels. A major creative constraint was that the story needed to land without voiceover, which meant every transition, historical beat, and emotional cue had to be communicated visually through motion design, text, and sound alone.

The Solution

We developed a clear narrative device that could carry the viewer through centuries without confusion: one ticket, caught by the wind, linking each period like a visual thread. We filmed high quality live action sequences around the castle and designed a cast of animated characters from different eras who could interact believably with real environments. To replace voiceover, we used motion design and dynamic on screen typography to deliver key historical facts at exactly the moments viewers needed them, supported by upbeat music and detailed sound design to maintain pace and energy.

The Outcome

The finished film gives Cardiff Council a versatile hero asset for digital marketing that makes the castle’s history feel immediate, approachable, and memorable. By combining authentic footage with motion design and character led storytelling, we helped the council communicate heritage in a way that encourages curiosity rather than overwhelming viewers with information. The piece also supports a wider visitor journey by framing the castle as something to explore in person, not just learn about online, and it provides a repeatable approach for future heritage content that needs to work for mixed audiences and modern attention spans.

The illustrated characters standing in a photo of the Castle grounds
The characters standing in front of a large ticket that has the url and says Plan your visit

Everything started with the ticket motif and the question of how to make time travel feel effortless. We explored story beats and visual transitions that could move the viewer through eras without relying on spoken explanation, then shaped the pacing around moments of discovery so it stayed engaging for children while still rewarding adults. Early development focused on character design that felt charming and human, but still respectful of historical context, with silhouettes, costumes, and details tuned so each era reads instantly on screen.

Creative Development & Planning


To bring this idea to life, we used a mix of high-quality live-action footage and well-made animated motion graphics.


The Celtic Girl and the Ticket


The video starts with a young Celtic girl finding a strange ticket. This begins her journey through time. This motif serves as a thread connecting various historical eras within Cardiff Castle’s storied past.



A Journey Through Time

As the ticket floats through the ages, viewers encounter animated representations of key historical periods. The designers carefully crafted each character to reflect the era authentically while maintaining a whimsical charm.



Dynamic Typography

Animated text appeared dynamically, providing historical insights as the ticket traversed through different periods. This approach not only informed but also engaged the audience with relevant information.



Final Reveal

The video ends with a strong image of the ticket filling the screen. It invites viewers to explore Cardiff Castle’s history in person.

Creative Development & Planning


To bring this idea to life, we used a mix of high-quality live-action footage and well-made animated motion graphics.


The Celtic Girl and the Ticket


The video starts with a young Celtic girl finding a strange ticket. This begins her journey through time. This motif serves as a thread connecting various historical eras within Cardiff Castle’s storied past.



A Journey Through Time

As the ticket floats through the ages, viewers encounter animated representations of key historical periods. The designers carefully crafted each character to reflect the era authentically while maintaining a whimsical charm.



Dynamic Typography

Animated text appeared dynamically, providing historical insights as the ticket traversed through different periods. This approach not only informed but also engaged the audience with relevant information.



Final Reveal

The video ends with a strong image of the ticket filling the screen. It invites viewers to explore Cardiff Castle’s history in person.


different steps of the illustration simplification process of the air raid warden and the Roman

As the animation evolved, we refined the visual tone so the characters sat comfortably inside the live action world. That meant careful compositing, motion tracking, and texture work so nothing felt pasted on, plus extra hand drawn touches in expressions and movement to keep performances lively. Feedback and testing helped us tighten transitions, clarify the story flow, and integrate typography as part of the motion design language rather than an overlay, resulting in a confident, cohesive piece that uses craft and storytelling to make heritage feel exciting.

Creative Development & Planning


To bring this idea to life, we used a mix of high-quality live-action footage and well-made animated motion graphics.


The Celtic Girl and the Ticket


The video starts with a young Celtic girl finding a strange ticket. This begins her journey through time. This motif serves as a thread connecting various historical eras within Cardiff Castle’s storied past.



A Journey Through Time

As the ticket floats through the ages, viewers encounter animated representations of key historical periods. The designers carefully crafted each character to reflect the era authentically while maintaining a whimsical charm.



Dynamic Typography

Animated text appeared dynamically, providing historical insights as the ticket traversed through different periods. This approach not only informed but also engaged the audience with relevant information.



Final Reveal

The video ends with a strong image of the ticket filling the screen. It invites viewers to explore Cardiff Castle’s history in person.

Creative Development & Planning


To bring this idea to life, we used a mix of high-quality live-action footage and well-made animated motion graphics.


The Celtic Girl and the Ticket


The video starts with a young Celtic girl finding a strange ticket. This begins her journey through time. This motif serves as a thread connecting various historical eras within Cardiff Castle’s storied past.



A Journey Through Time

As the ticket floats through the ages, viewers encounter animated representations of key historical periods. The designers carefully crafted each character to reflect the era authentically while maintaining a whimsical charm.



Dynamic Typography

Animated text appeared dynamically, providing historical insights as the ticket traversed through different periods. This approach not only informed but also engaged the audience with relevant information.



Final Reveal

The video ends with a strong image of the ticket filling the screen. It invites viewers to explore Cardiff Castle’s history in person.


The hand drawn animated element of the Roman character
The hand drawn animated element of the Roman character
The Roman character illustration standing on a photo of the bridge leading to the castle

See more of our work

OR

Tell us about your project

Back to top