Meet our Friends . . . Fox & Co.
‘Meet our Friends’ series is where we take a moment to celebrate and share a little about the diverse studios who make up our DA Friends. Today we spoke to our friends, Fox & Co., to learn more about their studio team, culture, and design philosophy.
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Where are you based and what shape does the Fox & Co. team take?
Fox & Co. is headquartered in New Zealand, but our dynamic team is spread across various locations including Australia and the USA. This international presence gives us a unique edge, with diverse talents converging to create groundbreaking work. We’re more than just animators; we’re storytellers, innovators, and pioneers in the world of animation and visual effects.
Can you share with us what a typical day at your studio looks like?
A day at Fox & Co. starts bright and early with a fist bump, coffee [or tea] and team check-ins. These 15 minute huddles help us plan each day, making sure the team is aligned and working towards project milestones. From here we jump into workload – whether this is creative concepting, animating or production planning – motivated by a stellar office Spotify playlist selected and curated by the team. Around 11:30am, you can be guaranteed someone will be calling out ‘What’s for lunch?’ on the #lunchnoms slack channel – which is usually followed by a poll of local eatery options. Fuelled up and ready to tackle the arvo, the team jump back onto pushing out project deadlines, with afternoon approvals and client reviews prepped and sent off. With ‘end of day’ status checkins and progress WIPs posted to project channels on Slack, we close off the day with good old fist bump and a ‘Great job today team!’
What projects have you been working on recently?
We’ve had our hands full delivering our first ever animated films, and are currently in production on the third. We’ve also been working on a variety of commercial projects from 3D animated product videos for tech brands to visually compelling motion graphics for educational campaigns. We’ve also pivoted our pipeline to an Unreal Engine workflow, with motion capture and virtual production front and centre of what we do – bridging the gap between creative and technology.
What does the Fox & Co. design process and philosophy look like?
Our philosophy is rooted in storytelling. We believe that beyond the dazzling visuals, it’s the story that resonates. Each project kicks off with an in-depth understanding of our client’s goals. From there, we brainstorm, storyboard, and design – always keeping the narrative at the heart of it all. Feedback loops are integral at every stage, ensuring that the final piece doesn’t just meet but exceeds client expectations.
With our motto, ‘Makers of eMotion,’ we remain unwavering in our commitment to crafting each frame with the intent of evoking an emotional response. This philosophy drives our dedication to producing impactful and resonant visual stories that leave a lasting impression.
Favourite tools in the studio to help your team manage the day-to-day?
Given our dispersed team, communication tools like Slack are indispensable. For project management, we rely on tools like Click Up and Google Suite. Our creative team use Miro to brainstorm and workshop creative ideas. And, of course, Unreal Engine, C4D and the Adobe Creative Suite remain our mainstay for all things animation and motion design. Lastly, our client management team use Figma or Frameio to share reviews and collect consolidated feedback from our clients.
What recent achievements or projects are you most proud of?
Some of our most noticeable recent achievements are winning Silver at the 44th Annual Telly awards for Motion Graphic / Design and Title Design categories for our Motion for Mobile Promotional video and Wild N Out Season 16 Title sequence. We’ve also been shortlisted as a finalist in a local film festival for our film, Malapan – watch this space!
Where to next for Fox & Co., what is your team working towards for 2023/24
We’re on an upward trajectory! As we delve deeper into Unreal Engine and virtual production, our goal for 2023/24 is to establish Fox&Co as a pioneer in this field. Having shifted our workflow into Unreal Engine, we are helping our clients leverage this technology to its full potential. We’re working on films, virtual productions, and commercials that utilise this exciting new technology. We’re also looking at expanding our collaborations with brands and agencies who share our passion for pushing boundaries. The future is vibrant, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of the next wave of animation and VFX innovations.
Lastly, where can people connect with you on socials?
Website – foxandcoanimation.com
Facebook – @foxandcoanimation
Instagram – @foxandcomotion
LinkedIn – Fox & Co Animation
