Aardman Animation’s latest commissioned work for the BBC is out of this world – a pulp fiction-style film for BBC Radio 4 to accompany its season of programmes about Mars.
Narrated by William Shatner – Star Trek’s Captain Kirk – the three-minute short is described by its creator Danny Capozzi as a “retro mash-up mockumentary”. It takes the audience on a fact-fuelled cosmic journey to the mysterious red planet, celebrating all that is mysterious and evocative about Mars. 
With a colourful collage of live action and animation set to music, it is an exciting visual journey covering interesting facts and trivia about one of the most contemplated planets in our solar system.
William Shatner on Mars is Bristol-based Aardman’s third film for the BBC and showcases the exceptional and diverse talent of the studio’s stable of directors.
Watch William Shatner on Mars here
Designed and directed by Danny Capozzi, the concept features an explosive graphic look, vintage style typography and a low-fi cut-out animation technique that pays homage to the B-movies of the 1950s.
Danny Capozzi said he was delighted to be given such an open design brief for the film.
“It’s not often you get a free reign on a wonderful brief, better still a three-minute film about Mars,” he said.
“BBC Radio4 was planning a Mars season and only 10 weeks ago commissioned me to create a factual sci-fi animation with an impactful graphic edge using B-movie and pulp/sci-fi comic references.
“The final piece is a retro mash-up mockumentary and the icing on the cake was that the legendary William Shatner came on board to do the voice over!”
Radio 4 digital commissioning editor Rhian Roberts added: “We love Danny’s colourful, bold interpretation of the brief.
“It presents Martian facts in a whole new way, shouting out to a different audience. The design has informed all the online content and helps the Radio 4 Mars programmes hang together beautifully. Again, it’s been a total pleasure to work with Aardman, we enjoy the creative journey we go on together.”
BBC Radio 4’s Mars season runs until this Sunday.
