Plume Films' Animation Takes Flight in Tate Britain's New Turner Film
JMW Turner: On the Wing Now Showing at Tate Britain
Step inside the world of Turner, reimagined for the screen. We are proud to share that JMW Turner: On the Wing, a new film presented by Tate, is now open to the public at Tate Britain. As the animation partner on this ambitious project, Plume Films was delighted to contribute to a work that celebrates one of Britain’s greatest artists in bold, visual form.
The film is now playing daily on a loop in the Clore Galleries, as part of Tate’s permanent Turner displays, and will remain on view until 31 May 2026. It is free to attend, with no ticket required.
See the World Through Turner's Eyes: A Journey Through Art and Travel
In this gallery, you will find a specially commissioned film charting Turner’s life and career through his abiding love of travel. Born in Covent Garden in 1775, the artist lived and worked in London. However, he spent a large part of each year visiting different parts of Britain and Europe. Turner’s passion for landscape accompanied a restless urge for exploration and adventure, and he became one of the most prolific artist-tourists of his generation. Leaving home and heading off on tour with his sketchbooks was an essential part of his working practice.
The film features interviews with curators, conservators, writers, and historians. It introduces various works by Turner and takes us to the locations that inspired them. Alongside descriptions of the challenges of 19th-century travel, some dramatic, some humorous, we share in his impressions of the people and scenery he encountered. From the Braitai’s rolling hills to the grandeur of the Swiss Alps, and from the hazy Italian countryside to the English seaside at Margate, the film recreates the sights and sounds that characterised Turner’s experience of place, and which influenced his innovative approach to painting.
A Global Journey Begins
Before arriving in London, the film made its debut in Shanghai at the Power Station of Art in 2023. It also recently opened at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, as part of Tate’s international touring programme, with more stops around the world to follow in the coming years.
We are honoured that our animation is now being seen by such diverse audiences across the globe, helping bring Turner’s imagination to life in new cultural contexts.
Our Role as Animation Partner
While the film itself is a multi-disciplinary collaboration under the direction of Tate’s curatorial and creative teams, Plume Films was brought on to provide animation, bringing movement and energy to archival imagery, drawings, and visual interpretations of Turner’s work. This commission reflects a growing appetite within cultural institutions to use animation as a means of expanding access and engagement, particularly when dealing with historical or fine art subject matter.
Our team worked closely with Tate to ensure the animation stayed true to Turner’s spirit: fluid, expressive, and full of motion, capturing the essence of his explorations across Britain and Europe.
Collaboration at Scale
Working on this film has been a rich and rewarding experience, an example of what is possible when animation is brought into dialogue with curators, educators, and museum audiences. We are incredibly grateful to everybody at the Tate for their vision, collaboration, and for inviting us to play a part in realising such a contemporary, moving portrait of Turner’s world.
See the Film at Tate Britain
Whether you are a Turner aficionado or simply curious about the intersection of fine art and animation, we highly recommend a visit. You will find the film playing on loop at the rear of the Clore Galleries, seamlessly integrated into the broader Turner displays. If you are visiting, do let us know, it would be lovely to say hello.
Want to learn more about how animation can enhance your cultural or educational project?
Explore our work on The Turner Project or get in touch to discuss your next brief.
