How We Make BooSnoo!
BooSnoo! is a unique show made by a passionate team of model makers, computer graphics specialists, custard wranglers and ball rollers. It is made in the United Kingdom, largely by teams near Manchester. The show was created by Julian Bashford, who came up with BooSnoo!, based on his experiences being a parent in a family with autism, and learning from the toys (including Thomas the Tank Engine) and methods that worked to calm their first son (now a tall game developer!) Julian also loved art on TV when young, Tony Hart on BBC for example (in the US, think Bob Ross!), and fantastical mechanics and technology. They have all gone into the melting pot that is - BooSnoo!
We hope you and your children enjoy our show, and PLEASE, we would love to hear from you, on social media or via the Contact link above. It makes our day!
Follow the ball!!!
BooSnoo!’s Real Physical Effects and Models
Yes, half of the moments in BooSnoo are real physical effects. As you will see, it takes patience and creativity to pull off some of these physical moments.
BooSnoo!’s CG World Building
Our talented CG team create all sorts of treats within the world of BooSnoo! from the pinball at the start to the pipework, and moments like this, where all sorts of fruits and vegetables become the most abstract and fun farm!
Sandy Explains Making the Music of BooSnoo!
BooSnoo has no voiceover, so the music and sound design tell the story, working intrinsically together in a symbiotically tight relationship.
All of the music was written directly to picture using musical sources that mirror the ‘moment’ or world. The tube sequences have been created with analogue synthesizers and apreggiators, whereas the clockwork moments use real metalophones, array mbirras, bells and glockenspiels. Our goal was to create interesting and creative sonic soundscapes , and wherever possible have taken organic musical sources and played live to create our worlds.
To be accessible for diverse audiences the music is very descriptive following closely BooSnoos movement, ups and downs, speed and journey. It can be calming, playful and even make jokes!
The score has a slightly hypnotic quality that settles and calms children (and adults) down, providing a moment to reflect on beauty and gentleness in an all too busy world. When guests came into the studio, the composer would simply press ‘play’ and watch as the guest would be totally drawn in.”
Please enjoy this wonderful film of Sandy Nuttgens creating the music to BooSnoo! Music and the general soundscape was always central to the show and we hope you enjoy seeing this sneak peak into Sandy’s musical world.
Simon Couzens Explains Making the Audio Sound FX and Mix for Clockwork in Season 2
“When the running order for Series 2 was announced I was excited about the Clockwork episode. Boo Snoo is a creatively magical mix of hypnotic visuals and immersive music, my job as Sound Designer and Mixer is to add some appropriate sound effects to make the watching experience stimulating but relaxing.
I try and record as much original sound as possible, all the ball rolling is recorded on corresponding surfaces and the sound fx are a combination of FX libraries and foley I spent a few weekends at car boot sales collecting clockwork devices. I’m always excited to hear Sandy & Jonathan’s music for the first time with the SFX, the Pipework music sections have a very Wendy Carlos feel to them, the bell in Moment 1 is Sandy & Jonathan’s too. The clockwork cars are different wind up toys recorded to picture. My aim is to make the foley fx and music feel like it’s one entity. With no principle dialogue, Boo Snoo is the most creative project I have had the pleasure to work on with the added gift of a 5.1 surround space to place music & fx in.”
