ManvsMachine

ManvsMachine
Name	ManvsMachine
Industry	Motion design, Visual effects, Animation, Film
Founded	2007
Founders	Nic Walshe, Robert Bäckström
Headquarters	London, England
Locations	London; Los Angeles; New York

ManvsMachine is a creative studio specializing in motion design, visual effects, and animation for advertising, film, and interactive media. The studio became known for integrating 3D animation, kinetic typography, and immersive cinematography to produce commercials, title sequences, and brand content. Its work has bridged collaborations with technology companies, record labels, fashion houses, and film studios, earning industry awards and influencing contemporary motion graphics.

History

Founded in 2007 by Nic Walshe and Robert Bäckström, the studio emerged amid a surge in digital media and the rise of agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Droga5, and BBH adapting cinematic visuals for advertising. Early projects linked the studio with creatives from R/GA, AKQA, IDEO, and Pentagram, positioning it within networks including D&AD, One Club for Creativity, and Clio Awards. Expansion into the United States built ties to production hubs such as Los Angeles, New York City, and agencies like BBDO and McCann. The studio evolved alongside software developments from Autodesk, Maxon, and Adobe Systems, and hardware trends from NVIDIA and Apple Inc..

Notable Works

ManvsMachine produced a variety of high-profile commercial and title projects. Campaigns and sequences include work for Nike, delivering visual spots alongside athletes represented by Wasserman, and collaborations with Adidas and Puma on product launches marketed through Nike, Inc.-adjacent media. They created brand films for Google products and platforms, content for Samsung device launches, and immersive visuals for Apple Inc. advertising initiatives. Entertainment-related projects include title sequences and motion graphics for productions associated with Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Netflix, and HBO. Music videos and visuals were developed in conjunction with labels and artists on XL Recordings, Interscope Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and performers linked to Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group.

Style and Techniques

The studio’s aesthetic blends procedural 3D, motion typography, and photoreal compositing, making extensive use of tools from Cinema 4D, Houdini, Adobe After Effects, and renderers like Arnold (software), Redshift, and Octane Render. Their process incorporates techniques popularized by practitioners associated with Buck, Psyop, Studio AKA, and The Mill, including node-based workflows from SideFX Houdini and GPU-accelerated rendering developed by NVIDIA. Cinematic approaches draw on influences from filmmakers and title designers tied to Saul Bass, Kyle Cooper, David Fincher, and studios such as Imaginary Forces. Integration of motion capture and realtime engines references technologies from Epic Games and Unity Technologies.

Collaborations and Clients

ManvsMachine’s client roster spans technology, fashion, and entertainment sectors. Notable clients include Google, Apple Inc., Samsung, Nike, Adidas, Audi, BMW, Puma, Sony, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon (company). Collaborations with directors and producers connected to Ridley Scott Associates, RSA Films, Anonymous Content, and Pulse Films placed them on projects with creative leads from Jonathan Glazer, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, and advertising directors associated with Traktor. Partnerships with agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy, Droga5, BBH, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, and DDB Worldwide further expanded their commercial footprint.

Awards and Recognition

The studio has received accolades from organizations including D&AD, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The One Show, Clio Awards, Andys Awards, and AICP. Individual projects earned honors at festivals and showcases like SXSW, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, SIGGRAPH, and OFFF Festival. Industry press from Creative Review, Adweek, Campaign (magazine), and Empty Kingdom highlighted their technical innovation and visual storytelling. Juried awards recognized both creative direction and technical execution, with nods from bodies such as Royal Television Society and BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) in categories for title design and graphic identity.

Team and Organization

The founding duo led interdisciplinary teams combining creative directors, art directors, 3D artists, compositors, technical directors, and producers. Talent recruited from institutions like Royal College of Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, Central Saint Martins, and University of the Arts London contributed to studio culture. The company has maintained project-based rosters collaborating with freelancers and specialists represented by The Mill, Framestore, Blue Zoo, and smaller boutique practices. Leadership engaged with industry networks including D&AD Workshops, AICP Show, and educational partnerships with schools such as RMIT University and School of Motion.

Influence and Legacy

ManvsMachine influenced contemporary motion design aesthetics, informing practices at studios like Buck, Psyop, The Mill, Framestore, and Passion Pictures. Their adoption of procedural pipelines and GPU rendering anticipated broader shifts across studios integrating workflows championed at SIGGRAPH and discussed in Motionographer features. The studio’s work contributed to the visual language of brand cinema seen in campaigns by Nike, Apple Inc., and Google and influenced title design trends showcased at festivals such as Annecy International Animation Film Festival and OFFF Festival. Future designers and agencies reference their approaches in curricula at Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins, and online platforms like School of Motion and Skillshare.

Category:Motion design studios