SHADOW AND BONE

TitleSHADOW AND BONE
BrandNETFLIX
Product/ServiceNETFLIX: SHADOW AND BONE - BEYOND THE FOLD
Category A01. UI
Entrant MEDIA.MONKS Hilversum, THE NETHERLANDS
Idea Creation MEDIA.MONKS Hilversum, THE NETHERLANDS
Production MEDIA.MONKS Hilversum, THE NETHERLANDS
Credits
Name Company Position
Celeste Acosta Media.Monks Head of Client
Alice Andersen Media.Monks Project Manager
Vincent Quak Media.Monks Creative
Mischa Loppies Media.Monks Designer
Iris Du Media.Monks Copywriter
Jack Carr Media.Monks Copywriter
Alexandra Dobriyanova Media.Monks Copywriter
Mattyn Klaassen Media.Monks Illustrator
Veerle Zandstra Media.Monks Illustrator
Melle Baas Media.Monks 3D Artist
Ricco Antz Media.Monks Frontend Developer
Johan Holwerda Media.Monks WebGL Developer
Vincent Jacobs Media.Monks Sound Designer

Describe the creative idea

One of the most significant challenges we overcame was the huge amount of content that came with creating Shadow and Bone’s digital world. Both the books and the Netflix series carry vast amounts of information, so we had to become superfans to deliver the best results. To ensure seamless consistency between the books, the series and the virtual experience we had to strike the right tone. With eagle-eyed fans paying close attention, precision was key. We imbued our content with charm and detail in order to engage even the most loyal and hardcore fans. We honed in specifically on designing the avatar creation tool. Our strategic goal was to deliver a truly personalised experience so that everyone can see themselves reflected in their Shadow and Bone avatar. Creating a gender spectrum that also includes non-binary features helped us ensure that all of the tool’s rigorously illustrated features are completely customisable.

Describe the execution

Our work on Beyond the Fold combines meticulous craftsmanship with a real love for the project. Diving into the world of Shadow and Bone, we became superfans ourselves and wanted to do the books and Netflix series justice. We were dedicated to meeting fans’ needs, so we took advantage of every opportunity to reference lore and entertain. We recreated key symbols from the books and the series in code and added interactive quizzes, games and features that personalised the user experience. When designing the virtual experience, we wanted to make it as immersive as possible. That’s why we crafted photorealistic 3D environments that transport fans into the Shadow and Bone universe. We also recorded the actors welcoming users into those environments, making the experience feel even more real. Our team meticulously crafted all the illustrations within Beyond the Fold, including the intricate map of the Grishaverse, custom avatars and portraits of the characters. Paying specific attention to small details, we created an inclusive range of interchangeable avatar features for the avatar builder tool. We were committed to delivering a fan-worthy experience on every level and across all disciplines—from design and illustration to 3D environments, music and special effects—our approach was detail-driven and cohesive. To allow Beyond the Fold to roll out alongside the upcoming launch of Shadow and Bone Season 2, we further constructed the website in a buildable way that supports expansion and growth.