Studio AKA director Manddy Wyckens leverages her sharply graphic illustration style to set a tone of enigmatic elegance in the opening titles for Shondaland’s newest Netflix series Queen Charlotte: a Bridgerton Story.

The highly anticipated prequel to Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton series, the show tells the story of the young Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence.

Manddy Wyckens: “The original idea was to create a sequence that retraces the steps of Queen Charlotte in a similar fashion to the show, which has been done by weaving vignettes in such a way that we glimpse at the story and blur the lines between the Queen from the past and the one in the present.

“We kept it subtle, connecting shots with match cuts and glimpses in mirrors and shadows, all the while maintaining a regal pace to the sequence.

“We accomplished this with a sharp illustrative style that stays elusive and blurs the lines: some things will stay in the shadows, indiscernible, and some things will boldly take their place in the light – all the while keeping a single point of focus on the Queen.

“This is served by plenty of contrast and negative space to let the titles shine. And yet, every little detail bears symbols, references, or clues about the show.”
 
 

 
Client: Shondaland
Series director: Tom Verica

Production: Studio AKA
Director/AD: Manddy Wyckens
Storyboard Artist: Marcus Armitage
Coordinator: Justine Waldie
Designer: Joe Dennis, Manddy Wyckens
2D Animator/Assistant: Janina Putzker, Matthias Cuciniello. Matthew Armitage, Aylen Solander
Compositor: Will Eager, Ignatz Higham-Johnson
EP: Nikki Kefford-White
Producer: Lara Salam
Editor: Nic Gill
Production Coordinator: Ren Pesci
PA: Sarah McDonald