Octopus!, an Amazon MGM docuseries narrated by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and featuring comedian and octopus aficionado, Tracy Morgan. Mighty Oak partnered with Jigsaw Productions to bring one-of-a-kind animation and design to the screen, enhancing the series' exploration of the mysterious and intelligent world of octopuses and the people who love them.
I created Doris, a handcrafted stop-motion Giant Pacific Octopus who guides viewers through key stages of octopus life—from birth and growth to mating, reproduction, and death. Built with an uniquely and intricately designed hand-made textile exterior over a durable ball-and-socket armature, Doris evolves from baby to adult, striking a balance between realism and anthropomorphism. Her world was brought to life using handmade materials and found objects, creating immersive environments that feel artful, tactile, personal, and emotionally resonant.
ANIMATION TEAM:
Executive Creative Lead: Michaela Olsen
Stop Motion Design & Fabrication Lead: Hayley Morris
Lead Producer: Megan Barbour
Producer: Kelsey Usher
Executive Producers: Emily Collins, Daniel Shepard
Lead GFX Artist: Julie Gratz
GFX Artists: Liz Klein DiBello, Chad Sikora, Ivo Stoop
Cinematographer: Anthony Galante
Gaffer: Michael Popp
Storyboard Artists: Maria Jose Esquivel, Anthony Galante
Fabricator & Set Stylists: Minkyung Chung, Anthony Galante
Armature & Rig Fabricator: Maxwell Sorensen
Fabrication Assistant: Molly Schneider
Production Assistant: Nic Luna
Stop Motion Animators: Anthony Galante, Matt Christensen, Mikail Ekiz, Victoria Arslani
Lead VFX Compositor: Sabrina Chaney
VFX Compositors: Lili Boisrond, Julia Chien, Alejandro De Hoyos Lechuga, Conor O'Kelly-Lynch