Hingston Studio is behind the visual identity and opening title sequence for Sky drama The Day of the Jackal, made by Carnival Films.
The series’ dynamic and ever-shifting perspective with its thrilling cat-and-mouse plot and the iconic ‘The Hunter, Hunted’ tagline lies at the core of Hingston Studio’s sequence.
The word Jackal serves as the graphic centrepiece. Letterforms are deconstructed – spliced and distorted into isolated fragments that drift through the frame. This evolving composition embodies a metaphorical game of concealment and revelation. Brief, fleeting glimpses of the lead protagonists heighten the tension and intrigue – like pieces of a moving jigsaw puzzle, the fragments gradually align to reveal the main title.
The sequence has a distinctive graphic language, drawing on 70’s cinema – it evokes a world of thriller and espionage, presented through a contemporary lens
The title track, This Is Who I Am, is scored by Celeste. Moving between nostalgia and contemporary, Hingston worked closely with the track to create a synergy between visuals and music. The onscreen sequence of moving geometry is meticulously choreographed to mirror the song’s haunting strings and vocals.
The final sequence combines footage from the series with the original portraiture of the lead cast members, shot by Tom Hingston.
From early concept development to final execution, the process was highly collaborative, involving close coordination with production company Carnival Films and Executive Producers, including Eddie Redmayne, Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant, Brian Kirk, Ronan Bennet, Sue Naegle, Sam Hoyle and Co-Executive Producers Lashana Lynch and Marianne Buckland.
Founded by Tom Hingston, Hingston Studio is an independent design practice based in London, specialising in motion, design, and creative direction. Over the past 25 years, Hingston Studio has collaborated with a roster of influential brands, artists, and organisations.
Its portfolio includes title work for The Darkest Hour, Atonement and Control and Life After Life.
The Day of the Jackal premiered in the UK on November 7th, becoming Sky’s biggest original on record with the first five episodes exclusively available on Sky Atlantic and Now, before five more episodes airing weekly.
Pippa Considine
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