We do some interesting work here at Piano Shop Bath. Still, it’s not everyday we’re approached by a British icon. So when Aardman Animations asked for our help with an upcoming project of theirs, we jumped at the chance to get involved with this legendary Bristol-based studio.
A talented team at Aardman have been working with Sky Kids to bring Morph (the clay stop-motion hero of the art show, Hartbeat, fame) back to life for a new generation. (Perhaps we should have said icons, plural.)
The team were in need of some old piano keys to animate a musical scene. So, we donated a few full sets on which they could have a play around (as it were).
The keys had to appear as if they were moving on their own, in sync with the movement of the puppets. This meant that Aardman were tasked to come up with a built-for-purpose keyboard.
First, they had to fit the old keys to a downsized, custom-made piano. Then those keys were rearranged to make the black / white ratio work better for the screen.
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But how to make the individual keys move of their own accord? Animation Art Director, Helen Javes, explains:
‘Our expert Rigger, Roxy, developed a winder system for the keys, allowing us to make them animatable. By isolating each key with its own metal “threaded bar” rig, we were able to control their rise and fall with precision. Our Set Dresser, Phil, then worked on the bespoke piano, to make it look authentic for the camera.
This paved the way for Emanuel, our Animator, to work his magic with our brilliant puppets, alongside Andy, our Director, Camera Assistant, Beth, and Charles, our Director of Photography.
We couldn’t have completed this project without the help of the team at Piano Shop Bath. Their generosity really saved the day! We look forward to giving them a tour of the studio once it’s safe to get together again.’
To that we say: You’re welcome! We were delighted to be able to help.
The Epic Adventures of Morph is available now on Sky Kids. Watch the episode Rainy Day to see our keys in action.
