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Doctor Who S1, S2 + Specials

Doctor Who S1, S2 + Specials

  • Visual development
  • Previs + Postvis
  • VP + Tech Labs
  • VFX Design
  • Graphics

PROJECT INFORMATION

Production Company

Bad Wolf

Executive Producer

Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, Russel T Davis, Joel Collins and Phil Collinson

Production Designer

Phil Sims

Broadcaster

BBC/Disney

VFX Supervisor "Specials", VFX Art Director "Boom"

Dan May

OVERVIEW

The return of Doctor Who under the BBC and Disney+ partnership showcases the full breadth of our creative expertise. From early conceptual design through to stunning visual effects and seamless integration across production; we played a pivotal role in reimagining the show’s iconic universe. Whether re-imagining unforgettable creatures, dynamic VFX sequences or immersive motion graphic, our work on Doctor Who is a testament to our end-to-end approach, uniting artistry and innovation to bring the Time Lord’s adventures to life.

For 60th anniversary specials separate page click here.

Visual Development

Under the vision of Production Designer Phil Sims, we worked across multiple worlds, timelines and dimensions to bring a bold new ear of Doctor Who to life. Our team developed a rich visual language for the series; crafting intricate environments, props and creatures with a balance of nostalgia and a fresh, modern edge.

Season 1’s Boom saw us building a richly detailed war-torn environment, while Empire of Death pushed character design and previs to new heights with the terrifying return of Sutekh.

In Season 2, our work expanded further, designing the intricate Time Chamber environment and Time Hotel/London exterior extension, seamlessly blending practical and digital elements to enhance the show’s cinematic scope. Each project challenged us to balance legacy with innovation, ensuring every design felt both fresh and deeply rooted in the Doctor Who universe.

Doctor Who

Previs + Postvis

Previs was key to planning Doctor Who’s most ambitious sequences, balancing impact and efficiency. From high-intensity action to complex practical and digital interactions, our team collaborated closely with directors and VFX team to realise the show’s bold vision.

Postvis refined sequences with temporary effects, shaping everything from gravity-defying stunts to seamless practical-to-CG transitions. Every detail ensured the series’ signature energy, scale, and cinematic flair stayed intact from storyboard to screen.

S1E8: Sutekh's Death

In Empire of Death, our team played a key role in bringing the return of Sutekh to life. We worked closely across the previs and postvis stages to visualise his dramatic final sequence—shaping the pacing, composition and narrative flow of the climactic VFX moment. Many of the shots developed during previs and postvis translated almost identically to the final screen, highlighting the strength of our collaborative visual storytelling process.

Doctor Who

Virtual Production

Doctor Who allowed us to embrace cutting edge virtual protection techniques to push the boundaries of storytelling. Our team developed custom Unreal Engine environments, allowing directors to step inside digital sets, spot cameras and plan VFX-heavy sequences with prevision. This real-time visualisation streamlined production to ensure seamless integration between practical and digital elements.

VFX Design

Our role in VFX design created a seamless bridge between concept and final execution and we developed designs that carried through the entire pipeline which helped shape the visual identity of this new era of Doctor Who. From initial sketches to fully realised effects and sequences, our work helped bring the show’s vision to life.

One of the most ambitious undertakings was Season Two’s Interstellar Song Contest. With VFX design led by Dan May, the entire episode required an extraordinary level of VFX craftsmanship; from designing a striking spaceship to the spectacle of the stage and meticulously planning camera and lighting design to immerse audiences in the Intergalactic event. Alot of this work had to be done up front so we can create motion graphics VFX for some of the arena shots to playout in the screens in one of the main sets. We also had to previs some complex sequences for all the anti Gravity set pieces.

Dugga-Doo Song Edit

Dugga Doo took centre stage in The Interstellar Song Contest.  From early concept development through to animation tests, our team helped shape the character’s performance. We also delivered the final VFX for the stadium environment, bringing the vibrant, otherworldly concert to life. You can watch Dugga Doo’s full song edit—crafted by Painting Practice—on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel.

Doctor Who

Graphics

Motion Graphics is woven into the fabric of Doctor Who, enriching it’s world with detail and authenticity. Our team crafted a vast range of bespoke graphics that enhanced the storytelling, while feeling seamlessly embedded in the universe. Whether seen on set or integrated in post, these designs help ground the show’s sci-fi spectacle in visually cohesive reality.

Highlights include motion graphics for Lindy’s Bubble in Dot and Bubble and the Dugga Doo’s performance in The Interstellar Song Contest. The latter featured a significant amount of in-camera motion graphics, requiring careful planning and execution to ensure they complemented the production seamlessly.

Related Work

  • Visual development
  • Previs + Postvis
  • VP + Tech Labs
  • VFX Design
  • Graphics
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  • Visual development
  • Previs + Postvis
  • VP + Tech Labs
  • VFX Design
  • Graphics

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