ELDRADOR CHRONICLES
Bringing Toys to Life with Unreal Engine Animation
Service
Animated production, VFX, storytelling
Client
Schleich
Platform
YouTube - Unreal Engine
Year
2024-2025
By using Unreal Engine, we were able to deliver an animation style that felt both premium and dynamic, enhancing realism while staying flexible for rapid content production.
The Challenge
One of the biggest technical challenges was sourcing high-quality 3D versions of the figurines. Since not all models were available digitally, we used advanced 3D scanning techniques to capture the toys with extreme accuracy ensuring their presence in the digital world matched their physical counterparts.
Additionally, delivering a six-episode season across multiple languages (English and German) on a tight timeline required a streamlined previsualization and feedback workflow.
The ELDRADOR Chronicles is a cinematic YouTube series developed for Schleich to reimagine the beloved ELDRADOR toy line for a new generation. Designed to coincide with the launch of the 2024 BattleCaves, the goal was to deliver high-quality episodic content that mirrors the imaginative spirit of the toy universe.
Inspiration
Our idea was to let the characters move as if they were being played with, like invisible hands guiding their every move. This led us to a playful-yet-realistic animation style that gives life to the characters and connects deeply with how kids experience the toys.
How It Was Built
Concept & Design:
We developed the initial visual narrative using Gravity Sketch in VR, to create immersive 3D storyboards which saved time directly in Unreal Engine by working spatially from step 1. These storyboards allowed the client to explore the scenes before animation began, bridging the gap between traditional shot planning and 3D environment creation.
Optimization Workflow:
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Environments and props were built in Unreal Engine
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Character animation, lighting, and cinematic shots were rendered directly in-engine
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Post-production, captions, and VFX polish were done in After Effects
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Renowned voice actors were cast for both the English and German versions to give each character distinct personality across regions
Integration & Testing:
Our iterative process relied on continuous feedback loops with the client, facilitated through stage-gated deliveries:
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Gravity Sketch for storyboards
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Previs cuts in Unreal Engine
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Final compositing with real-time reviews in After Effects
This allowed for responsive edits and fast approvals, even when managing dual-language deliverables.
Interactive Elements:
While this was a linear YouTube series, the animation and staging choices were crafted to simulate interactivity:
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Character movements mimicked how a child would play with the toys Battle Caves and crystals were activated with exaggerated, game-like mechanics
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Environments were designed with layers of detail that teased interactivity and lore
Accomplishments & Results
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Over 1 million views in the first week after launch
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Released in multiple languages and celebrated for cinematic quality
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Successfully renewed for Season 2 in 2025
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Used as marketing support for toy launches including the Battle Caves
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Helped elevate the ELDRADOR brand into a story-first, digital-native IP