Clean Bandit
The BBC's viral film "The Supporting Act" combined old-school craft with modern tech. Director Elliot Dear used real, physical puppets for the bodies but animated the faces digitally. This approach gave him the flexibility to refine the characters' emotions in post-production—like the girl's anxiety or the father's realization—rather than being locked into a specific expression during the high-pressure shoot. The film was produced by Blinkink, a London-based studio famous for its experimental mixed-media projects (like "Don't Hug Me I'm Scared"). The character designs were inspired by "urban vinyl" toys to give them a modern, tactile feel that stood out against the traditional festive background. The film became a massive viral hit in 2017, racking up tens of millions of views in mere days largely due to the dad's "dance mom" energy at the climax.