Brand Story

Story of a National Travel Group

Telling the Story Behind a Growing Travel Brand

We were asked to create a brand animation for a national travel group, aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in the travel industry. The objective was to show how the company grew from a small startup into a thriving, nationally recognised brand, while staying true to the founding values that continue to guide its journey. The animation needed to inspire connection and trust, illustrating how the business has evolved while keeping its original ethos at its core.

Two people collaborate at a desk in a bright, modern office with natural light, indoor plants, and a sign reading “High Flying Holidays” on the wall.
Two people shake hands outside a white house, set in a scenic countryside with green hills and a colorful sunset sky in the background.
Colorful hot air balloons float above a picturesque countryside of rolling green fields, a winding river, scattered houses, and distant mountains under a soft, pastel sky.
Two people review a travel website on a laptop and smartphone, examining vacation property listings and destination details, seated at a table in a bright, modern setting.

Bringing the Founder’s Journey to Life Through Design and Story

We worked closely with the client to shape a clear, authentic narrative from the founder’s original stories. Real UK locations were researched to ground the animation in familiarity and make it resonate with the target audience. For more conceptual messages, we used the landscape in creative ways and introduced a hot air balloon motif. This visual thread helped symbolise growth and perspective, allowing us to keep the story engaging while conveying the brand’s evolution and values.

Colorful hot air balloons float over a scenic countryside with rivers, hills, farmland, and scattered houses under a soft blue sky.

Visual Direction Inspired by Classic Landscapes and Travel Imagery

Our art direction blended influences from traditional English landscape painting with a contemporary low-poly illustration style. This created a grounded, honest aesthetic that nods to familiar holiday visuals. To ensure the animation resonated with the audience, we crafted each scene to feel unmistakably British, using real locations and cultural references. The transition of lighting from dawn to dusk subtly reinforced the passage of time, helping to shape a warm, nostalgic tone throughout the story.

A man, woman, and dog enjoy a scenic hilltop view at sunset, surrounded by rolling mountains and a calm lake below.
Illustration of a man and woman chatting outside a white cottage with a kayak-topped car nearby, a hiker in the background, and a hot air balloon in the sky.
Illustration of a blue and white hot air balloon floating over a coastal countryside with green fields, scattered houses, and the ocean in the background.

Bringing Scenes to Life with Integrated 2D and 3D Animation

We combined 2D and 3D animation techniques to create a visually rich and engaging style. Concept sketches and blocked 3D scenes set the foundation, while environments were built using illustrated planes and textured 3D models. We animated 2D characters over these scenes, then added lighting, grading and effects to bring all elements together. This hybrid approach allowed us to deliver narrative clarity and visual depth, ensuring the animation felt cohesive, immersive and aligned with the storytelling goals.

Character design sheet showing a man in a blue shirt, with multiple head angles and sketch outlines illustrating the facial structure, expression, and styling process for animation or illustration.
Animated sketch of a narrow street lined with buildings, featuring a "Getaway Cottages" sign, as the camera smoothly moves forward through the alleyway.