Rose Blake directs BBC4 Pop Art Season ident using her dad's illustration

As part of BBC4’s week-long celebration of Pop Art, illustrator Rose Blake has directed this short ident to advertise the season of programmes. Animated by Andy Baker, the ident is based on an illustration her dad, artist Peter Blake, created in the 1950s. Rose was keen to steer clear of the obvious side of Pop Art: “I liked the idea of it looking quite 50s, but also feeling contemporary, as though it could have actually been an advert back then,” she explains.

Starting with the hand-drawn portrait of a girl, the animation travels up into multiple thought bubbles of various references to Peter’s work. “The illustration isn’t necessarily the first image you would think of relating to dad’s work, but it incorporates his drawing, collage and sense of fun,” Rose says. “I liked the idea of a girl thinking up new ideas and linking back to BBC4’s themes of ideas, knowledge and discovery.”

It’s beautiful how the girl’s face fills the screen in the initial frames – it captures the viewer’s attention and Rose recognises it’s strength. “It’s just a great graphic. Although funnily enough the illustration was made for Vogue in the 50s and they rejected it!”