The Challenge
For over 20 years, Zeppotron has produced some of the most loved comedy shows on TV, including Would I Lie to You? (BBC One), 8 Out of 10 Cats (& Does Countdown) (Channel 4), The Mash Report (BBC Two) and Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe (BBC Four).
For their latest project, they teamed up with comedian and cycling enthusiast David O’Doherty to create a comedy-entertainment series showcasing some of the most beautiful cycle routes in the UK, while sharing stories and laughs with well known guests along the way.
Vox Pops International was brought in to design and produce the show’s intro titles and a suite of animated route maps that would reveal each cycling journey.
The Approach
Stage 1: Developing the Concept
We explored several creative routes before landing on the idea of a rotating “round world” – a playful, stylised globe featuring a montage of key landmarks from the series.
From the outset, we planned for David to remain central in the frame, cycling on the spot, while the world rotated and transformed around him. As each episode introduced a new guest – Richard Ayoade, Grayson Perry, Mel Giedroyc and Joe Wilkinson – they would join David on the bike, resulting in four variations of the title sequence built from a shared visual language.
Stage 2: Character Animation & Rigging
Each guest needed their own bespoke character rig, but we wanted David’s animation to stay consistent across all four intros. At the same time, his outfit needed to change to match his look in each episode.
Using a combination of plugins and clever rig setup, we created a flexible system where David’s clothing colours and details could be updated in just a few clicks, while the underlying animation remained identical.
Technically, the rigs posed an interesting challenge. Rather than animating the legs to drive the pedals, we flipped the logic: we built a single rotating object to drive the pedal motion and linked the legs to it. This gave us far more control, allowing us to move the cyclist up and down or in and out of the saddle while the pedalling stayed smooth and believable.
Stage 3: Mapping Each Route
For the route maps, the brief was to clearly communicate each journey while keeping the playful tone of the series.
We highlighted key landmarks, indicated changes in terrain and used simple, bold icons to represent David and his guest travelling along the route. The result was a set of maps that were easy to follow, visually distinctive and full of character.
The Impact
The finished intro sequence brings everything together: a rotating round world populated with scenery from the series, a cycling David O’Doherty at the centre of the frame, and each guest joining him in turn. The Episode 1 titles featuring Richard Ayoade set the tone for the show – warm, funny and visually memorable.
Client Testimonial
– Leo McCrea, Series Director (Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty)
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