About This Project
Koala worked with Pan Macmillan to create a bold and imaginative TV commercial for The Boy with Wings, a children’s adventure story written and voiced by comedian, actor and author Sir Lenny Henry. Aimed at inspiring young readers and capturing their imagination, the advert brought the book’s characters and world to life through dynamic character animation, all adapted directly from the original illustrations. From initial concept through to final broadcast delivery, Koala led the entire creative process including scripting, storyboarding, animation and production.
The brief was to excite children and families about the book in a way that felt fun, energetic and true to its superhero spirit. Our team developed a unique animated concept built around key scenes from the story, turning static artwork into lively, expressive sequences that reflected the humour, heart and high flying adventure at the core of the book. The hero, Tunde, and his friends were brought to life with characterful animation and visual storytelling that captured the pace and energy of Lenny’s writing.
Sir Lenny Henry’s own voiceover performance added warmth, wit and unmistakable personality to the commercial, anchoring the visuals with humour and emotional connection. Paired with comic style sound design and vibrant motion, the film struck a balance between action and storytelling, giving viewers just enough to spark their curiosity and drive excitement around the book’s release. Every frame celebrated the original illustrations while reinforcing themes of friendship, identity and self discovery.
This project demonstrated Koala’s expertise in children’s publishing campaigns, character animation and full service TV commercial production. By combining expressive motion design with illustration led visuals and the voice of the author himself, we helped Pan Macmillan and Sir Lenny Henry connect with young readers in a joyful and memorable way. The Boy with Wings soared from page to screen, landing as a standout campaign for one of the UK’s most celebrated creative voices.
