ZDF Label Idents

Client: ZDF Year: 2025 Country: Germany

We’re proud to present our redesigned on-air labels for Germany's largest public-service television broadcaster ZDF, transforming them into immersive, cinematic experiences that connect the network’s programming with its audience.

At the heart of each motion identity is a surreal circular portal, a conceptual bridge that seamlessly transports viewers from their living rooms into the worlds of Bergkino, Montagskino, and Herzkino. From alpine adventures to Hollywood spectacle and Europe’s rich storytelling heritage, each label captures the essence of its genre with striking visuals and dynamic motion.

This project blends bold design, thoughtful animation, and compelling storytelling to create a modern, cohesive look for ZDF’s iconic programming.

A Circular Design System

At the core of our motion graphics lies a meticulously crafted circular layout system, seamlessly connecting both worlds, the viewer’s space and the cinematic universe of each label.

Inspired by ZDF’s iconic circle, we built upon the brand’s existing circular motion language, ensuring consistency with the network’s visual identity. Through countless iterations, we refined the system to achieve the perfect balance of ratios, perspectives, and proportions, allowing for a dynamic yet structured visual experience.

Initial concept sketch

ZDF_Labels_Bergkino_Still_Exterior_Only_HiRes_4k

Building Immersive Worlds

To bring each label to life, we crafted richly detailed CGI environments that seamlessly blend photorealism with a subtle illustrative quality. Each portal reveals a distinct world, lush, expansive panoramas that embody the essence of their respective genres while maintaining a unique illustrative touch.

Our process began with rough animatics, serving as blueprints for each scene. From there, we meticulously populated the landscapes with thousands of individually placed elements, creating depth, texture, and realism. The scale and complexity of these environments pushed our studio’s hardware and rendering pipeline to its limits, ensuring that every frame delivers an unparalleled level of detail and immersion.

Exploring the Possibilities

Every project begins with a broad conceptual exploration, and this one was no exception. In the early stages, we tested a wide range of visual and narrative approaches, experimenting with different styles, compositions, and motion principles.