Lived Experiences

Essex Youth Offending Services asked Hocus Pocus Studio to make a series of 4 animations about young people caught up in criminal gangs and county lines in particular. Over 50 young people, social workers, teachers and police officers were interviewed and their stories were turned into four films. The animations take a non-judgmental and unflinching look at the rapidly escalating situation. The often bleak and frustrating world we discover is reflected in the striking art direction and sound design, calculated to engage rather than glorify those involved.​​​​​​​

Episode 1. Bereavement

Episode 2. Motivation

Episode 3. Exploitation

Episode 4. Hope

CREDITS

Client - Essex Youth Offending Services
Production - Hocus Pocus Studio and Sugar Blood
Director / Art Direction - Pedro Allevato
Creative Director - James Murphy
Production Manager - Miles Paulley
Animation - Pavelas Laptevas, Pedro Allevato, Alejandro Imondi
Texture Artist - Myungeun Kim
Title Design - Theresa Hilsden
Montage Edit - Justin Lowings
Sound design - Bruno Allevato
Sound engineer - Alan Leer
Voice Actors - Andrew Sensie, Alexander ‘X’ Lobo Moreno, Ilani Mariott-Lodge, Tyrese Taylor
Essex Youth Offending Services - Tanya Gillett, Jane Ryan, Charlotte Day, Jane Bernardes Jenni Allen, Naomi Simmons, Natalie Robertson, Rhys Baker, Chrissie Gavriel