20th Television
Hulu
Main Title Sequence
Titling
Motion Design
Typography
CG (Computer Graphics)
Editorial

We Were the Lucky Ones

This series is based on a true story and real people. It was a huge responsibility, but an even greater honor and privilege to use this main title to artfully paint a portrait of the Kurcs – a Polish Jewish family fighting to survive the Holocaust and ultimately reunite.

The Main Title Sequence

The Kurcs embody a tapestry of joy, music, creativity, and beauty, seamlessly finding warmth and humor even in the darkest moments. The main title serves a pivotal role in constantly reminding viewers of the family’s resilient spirit, acting as a beacon that illuminates their essence amidst the harrowing adversities portrayed throughout the series.

Despite being a period show, the creators challenged us to steer clear of overly nostalgic elements that might evoke a mere gaze into the past. The objective was to immerse the audience fully, making them feel like active participants in that historical era.

The main title aligns with this vision, as our exploration from the outset prioritized solutions that exuded artistry, contemporaneity, and timeless elegance. Each frame resonates with a sense of living in the present moment within the historical backdrop, allowing the audience to connect with the Kurcs’ experiences on a deeply relatable level.

We settled on a treatment that cleverly weaves together a collage of images, vividly capturing the essence of each character and the entire universe of the show, which takes place across four continents.

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We took a unique approach to ‘We Were the Lucky Ones,’ treating this specific project not as a typical main title but as a canvas to craft a genuine work of art.

Original Styleframes
How it came together

After engaging in several productive brainstorming sessions with the show team, we landed on a script that skillfully incorporated diverse elements to define each character. This script served as a roadmap, guiding our researcher in the meticulous task of gathering stock and archival footage essential for each collage.

Talented collage artists, Barbara Gibson and Marta Kochanek, harnessed our extensive library of collected assets to design a full set of styleframes (see above). These styleframes served as the foundational elements for our initial boardomatic.  Throughout this creative process, we maintained a dynamic collaboration, exchanging ideas and feedback with show executives, including the book author, Georgia Hunter.

 

To enrich the collages further, we seamlessly integrated assets provided by the show’s production design team and from the family’s personal archives. This collaborative effort added a layer of authenticity and depth to the visual narrative.

Following an iterative process and with the full approval of the studio and network, our skilled animators breathed life into the designs, employing animation techniques and clever transitions to bring each collage to life.

Our overall experience in the creative industry, our immaculate research capabilities, intense brainstorming and professional attitude guided us through this incredible challenge and resulted in an outcome we’re truly proud of.

Easter Eggs!
Title Card

In two particular episodes, the intention was to extend the emotional tone from the previous scene into the show title. Rather than cutting to a  full main title sequence, the team chose to go for a minimalist approach, featuring a subtle and understated title card.

Chyrons

In addition to crafting the main title sequence, we took charge of setting type for all the chyrons featured throughout the episodes. Our primary goal was to establish a robust typographic system, ensuring there is visual consistency across all graphics.

Project Credits 
  • Executive Creative Director
    Erin Sarofsky
  • Executive Producer
    Steven Anderson
  • Creative Director
    Duarte Elvas
  • Producer
    Joel Signer
  • Collage Artists
    Barbara Gibson
  • Marta Kochanek
  • Lead Animator
    Ariel Costa
  • Animator
    Nick Gardner
  • Design/Typography
    Daniel Geiszler
  • Researcher
    Rita Sobreiro Souther
Client Credits 
  • Clients
    20th Television | Hulu
  • Showrunner/EP
    Erica Lipez
  • Director/EP
    Thomas Kail
  • “We Were the Lucky Ones” Book Author
    Georgia Hunter
  • Executive Producer
    Adam Milch
  • Music
    Rachel Portman
  • Producer
    Christina Fitzgerald
  • Post Production Supervisor
    Sherrell Hodges

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