2025: The Sketchbook of a Hybrid Year
As the final embers of 2025 glow, we find ourselves sitting back with a cuppa, reflecting on a year that has been, in many ways, our most ambitious yet. At Plume Films, we have always described our blog as a sketchbook, a place for fleeting thoughts, hard-won insights, and the occasional predicament. Looking back through the entries of the past twelve months, that sketchbook is full to the brim. It has been a year defined by what we like to call "artistic joie de vivre," a genuine passion for the act of making that has seen us bridge the gap between the ancient charm of the pencil and the infinite possibilities of the virtual world.
The Heart of the Handmade
One of the consistent themes running through our 2025 was the "slow frame." In an era of instant generation, we have doubled down on the value of handcrafted thinking. We spent many an evening rolling ink, carving lino blocks, and sketching without the pressure of "perfection." This wasn't just a hobby; it was the fuel for our commercial work. We believe that for stories to truly breathe, they need space, and they need the human touch.
This philosophy was put to the ultimate test with "The Cowgirl Project." This film became a cornerstone of our year, a groundbreaking hybrid that asked a very specific question: how do you translate the imperfect beauty of handmade craft into a photoreal 3D environment without losing its soul? By merging Richard Jackson’s artisanal, cardboard cityscapes with the high-end photogrammetry and virtual production techniques of Racquet Studios, we found the answer. We didn't just make a film; we created a definitive guide to a new kind of filmmaking, one where "Handmade Charm Meets Virtual Production Wizardry."
Exploring New Dimensions
While our feet remained firmly planted in the tactile world, our imagination reached for the stars. The announcement of "MARBLE" marked a significant shift in our immersive storytelling. This project, a cosmic partnership with The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux, is a fusion of Art, Ecology, and Space. By projecting immersive film and visual art onto the grand facade of an iconic scientific site, we are bridging divides between disciplines. It is a project with soul, designed to engage cross-disciplinary audiences across Sussex and beyond.
Our work with Tate Britain on the J.M.W. Turner "On The Wing" project was another highlight. Here, we shifted our focus to the "unsung heroes" of animation: colour and texture. Bringing Turner’s world to life for a modern audience required a deep dive into the practical effects that made the Star Wars era so charming. We used ingenious, bespoke techniques to ensure that art history felt vibrant, bold, and immediate.
The Plume Collective
None of these milestones would have been possible without the collective of creative minds that make up Plume Films. We are, at our core, a boutique haven for the extraordinary and the offbeat. This year, the collaboration between our team members reached new heights. From Gemma Tacon’s 25 years of brand design expertise to Emmie Spencer’s strategic storytelling, from Chris Lewort’s ability to find comedy in the offbeat to Leanne Mulligan’s expressive linework and Jonty Tacon’s photographic precision, we have leaned on each other’s strengths.
We have always believed that the secret to an original, impactful result is simple: you must trust the process. This year, we shared that secret with our clients through our "Guide to Commissioning Animators," emphasizing that a successful partnership is built on trust, respect, and the courage to champion a creative partner’s expertise.
The Reality of the Lens
Of course, the sketchbook isn't just full of triumphs; it records the "nitty-gritty" too. We’ve been honest about the challenges of the creative life. We wrote about why we sometimes dislike storyboards even while we use them, the importance of "The Creative Pause" to learn new software, and the profound impact of simply stepping outside when the screen stalls. We shared our perspective on the patient, thorough process of writing funding applications and the "beautiful tussle" of maintaining creative diversity in a world that often wants to pigeonhole artists into a single "gang."
A Message for 2026: Moving Forward Together
As we look toward 2026, the horizon is wide and filled with promise. The "MARBLE" project will reach its spectacular outdoor live concert phase, and we are eager to see our fusion of music and film set against the backdrop of astronomical wonder.
But beyond the specific projects, our message for the coming year is one of continued, passionate collaboration. We are moving into 2026 with a renewed commitment to our "boutique" approach. We don't want to be the biggest, we want to be the most imaginative. We want to continue being a place where your unique narratives are treated as handcrafted masterpieces.
In 2026, we will continue to listen closely and collaborate openly. Whether we are working on a mini-documentary, a quirky social media campaign, or an immersive virtual production, our goal remains the same: to bring your story to life using the full breadth of our creative tools, crafted with care and shared passion.
We invite you to join us on this journey. If you have a story that needs a soul, a project that requires a bespoke touch, or simply an idea that is currently just a sketch in your own mind, let's start that conversation.
The darkroom is ready, the ink is fresh, and the virtual worlds are waiting to be built. Here’s to a 2026 filled with more curiosity, more collaboration, and more extraordinary visual stories.
Thank you for being part of the Plume Films family.
