As part of the BBC’s celebratory programmes to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure tells the remarkable story behind one of BBC’s most famous wildlife blockbusters.
Made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in a co-production with PBS, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure goes behind the scenes on the ground-breaking landmark series.
Executive Producer Mike Davis and Series Producer Victoria Bobin commissioned Lux Aeterna, steered by Line Producer Tish Marsh, to craft the film’s motion graphics. Their task: create a design language that captured the spirit of the 1970s without feeling retro or nostalgic.
From animated script scans to period-inspired maps and stills treatments, the team created a visual toolkit that grounded the documentary in its era while giving it a fresh, contemporary feel. A bespoke title card nods to the original Life on Earth opening, while keeping the overall aesthetic clean and textured.
The most prominent feature of Lux Aeterna’s work was the use of sequences built from original photographic transparencies, echoing the documentary filmmaking style of Attenborough’s early programmes. The team used real images and transcripts from contributors alongside archival materials from the shoots, bringing them to life with rostrum-style camera moves, creating the impression of images being examined on a lightbox.
One creative challenge was distinguishing the visual identity of Attenborough’s early BBC Controller years from the 1970s production period. Working closely with director Victoria Bobin, Creative Director Steve Burrell, and Senior Designer Laurie Gibbs developed 62 individual sequences. They drew from over 500 archival items, including handwritten notes and transparencies, ensuring the graphics didn’t just decorate the film; they carried the story forward.
One moment sees an archive shot of a typewriter dissolve into an animated version of the script, subtly highlighting the pre-digital effort behind the original production.
Created in After Effects, the sequences were built using real scans and lightbox photography to enhance authenticity.
Staff Reporter
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