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Passion Pictures has provided an exclusive look at the making of 400 Boys, an Emmy-winning contribution by Robert Valley to the latest season of Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots. The behind-the-scenes video showcases how Valley and his team effectively integrated his signature 2D artistic style with advanced 3D techniques, enhancing the overall visual storytelling.

In this featurette, Valley articulated the creative and technical challenges encountered while adapting Marc Laidlaw’s 1983 story. He stated, “There’s no such thing as limitless freedom in these jobs. You have to thread the needle in a way, and to be honest, I actually really enjoy that.”

The video highlights Passion Pictures’ workflow, detailing how sequences were meticulously separated between traditional hand-drawn animation and 3D camera movements. Technical director Christian Mills identified opportunities to enhance Valley’s 2D artistry with greater dimensionality, while animator Martial Coulon‘s work in After Effects was praised for its ability to simulate depth without compromising the film’s aesthetic.

Valley’s influences are evident in the behind-the-scenes footage, with references to cinematic classics such as The Warriors and City of God, which shaped his approach to narrative character development. Color design was another focal point, as art director Patricio Betteo encouraged Valley to experiment with bold palettes, which he had not used comfortably before. Valley remarked, “On this one, we ventured into some other colors that I’ve never really used before comfortably. It was very much about restraint.”

This new featurette illustrates that 400 Boys was a project defined by experimentation, blending familiar aesthetics with innovative storytelling techniques. Valley remarked that the narrative essentially comprised “two films”—the first establishing characters and the second culminating in spectacle. The video captures the intricate balance of these elements, portraying a highly technical yet uniquely creative process.

Persons: Robert Valley, Marc Laidlaw, Christian Mills, Martial Coulon, Patricio Betteo, Jamie Lang

Company Names: Passion Pictures, Netflix

Titles: 400 Boys, Love, Death + Robots, The Warriors, City of God

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