How we feel about the weather now has a whole new expression thanks to a series of enchanting animations storming the digital skies. The Met Office, an acclaimed weather authority, has collaborated with the Manchester-based creative studio Flow, delivering a delightful batch of animations that convey our daily climate sentiments with a dose of adorable charm.
The campaign, aimed at tapping into a younger audience’s engagement, spotlights Christopher Cumulonimbus—an animated cloud character with personality as diverse as the British weather. As a fresh face on the GIPHY platform, Christopher has amassed over 450 million views, placing the animations on the trending throne. This initiative demonstrates the potential of digital artistry in fostering an entertaining yet emotional connection with everyday elements like weather.
To achieve a visual appeal that resonates on social platforms, Flow adopted a minimal yet expressive design approach. Their creative pivot ensured that the GIFs stand out in an ocean of prevalent weather icons, with the added flair of animation enhancing the emotional impact. By integrating the Met Office brand colors into the animations, these visuals do not just depict weather conditions; they echo our reactions to them—sunshine joy, rainfall gloom, or the whimsy of a blustery day.
Throughout the crafting of this project, character design was pivotal. While alternatives like a walrus or a duck were considered, it was Christopher who flew—quite literally—above the competition, becoming an emblem of weather-related expressions. Beyond his overcast or sunny displays, Christopher brings a sense of heartfelt empathy to our screens, shining or showering in synchrony with our feelings.
