2D Motion Design and VFX for LEGO x McLaren Racing comedy series
I contributed 2D motion graphics and visual effects (VFX) for two episodes of ‘The Lando & Oscar Show’, a high-profile collaboration between LEGO and McLaren Racing. It starred the team’s drivers as LEGO minifigs, with my work focusing on the ‘Mission Control’ and ‘Wind Tunnel’ episodes. I was responsible for designing and animating what we see on monitor screens in sets and close-ups, aligned with story, comedy, and both the LEGO and McLaren brands.
Working with director Sami Abusamra, I joined the project after principal photography where blank screens had been used as placeholders on set. Together, we sketched out ideas on how to execute the narrative beats and sight gags involving the monitors. I conceptualised the designs for these moments and co-presented them with Sami, and exec producer Ella Natalia Hopkins, on video conferences with senior LEGO creatives in Denmark. Then I illustrated and animated the screens, splicing them into work-in-progress edits and joining regular reviews.
Now, I should say that I didn’t do the 3D graphics. Those were done by a team of 3D artists at Blue Zoo Animation Studio—their brilliant contribution was produced by Shannon Reeve. For the fully CGI ‘Wind Tunnel’ episode, I supplied the monitor designs as animated textures so the Blue Zoo team could incorporate them into their render pipeline for realistic bounce lighting and reflections in their scenes. For the live-action Mission Control episode, I handled the VFX and compositing myself, placing the screens into the filmed footage. I also animated the swirling ‘Lando & Oscar Show’ card at the beginning of each episode.
Technical stuff aside, the most important thing was that these were funny and helped tell the story — I’m proud to have been part of a team making such an entertaining web series.
As of September 2024, the ‘Mission Control’ episode has 1.2 million views on YouTube.
Produced by creative agency Highly Unlikely, I worked as a contributor alongside lots of other specialists, expertly steered by the director Sami.
I was in a client-facing role in post-production. I didn’t get to meet all of the on-set, or pre-production, crew and I regret I don’t have a full cast and crew list to share.
But here’s who I do know:
Director: Sami Abusamra
Exec Producer: Ella Natalia Hopkins
DoP: Daniel Purse
Editor: Jon Dean
Live-action sets art director: Milly White
3D animation producer: Shannon Reeve
3D production company: Blue Zoo
2D Motion graphics design (for Mission Control and Wind Tunnel episodes): Nikolaus — that’s me!
Miniature model maker: Jake Claughton
Colourist: Adam Clarke
Online editor (and 2D motion graphics for Quiz Show episode): Fabio Liguori
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