# What is Magna Carta?

> Two animated films for the British Library exploring Magna Carta and its legacy over 800 years, narrated by Terry Jones.

Canonical page: [What is Magna Carta?](<https://gergely-wootsch.com/projects/what-is-magna-carta>)

Project ID: bea\_mag

Year: 2015

Role: Director & Designer

I directed both films and designed their characters, scenes, storyboards and color palettes.

Production: [Beakus](<https://www.beakus.com/>)

Client: British Library

*What is Magna Carta?* and *800 Years of Magna Carta* are animated explainer films commissioned by the British Library for the charter's 800th anniversary in 2015. Produced by [Beakus](<https://www.beakus.com/>), both are narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python.

The films explore Magna Carta’s development from a medieval charter into a symbol of rights and freedoms.

## What is Magna Carta?

[What is Magna Carta?: Explainer Film](</media/video/bea_mag_medieval.mp4>) (Beakus for the British Library)

## 800 Years of Magna Carta

[What is Magna Carta?: 800 Years of Magna Carta](</media/video/bea_mag_legacy.mp4>) (Beakus for the British Library)

## Design

[Villagers in blue coats watch a figure in red hold up a sheet, beside three roundels of a fish, a ship and a purse.](</media/image/bea_mag_design7_xxl.webp>) — Villagers and trade icons. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A man in a blue sash raises a scroll before shadowy figures in ruffs, beside a tree with red and blue leaves.](</media/image/bea_mag_design8_xxl.webp>) — Scroll bearer and tree. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A king in a red cape tumbles backward through mounds of gold coins, chains and goblets.](</media/image/bea_mag_design12_xxl.webp>) — The king among gold. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A king in a red cape strains to lift a large blue house above his head.](</media/image/bea_mag_design13_xxl.webp>) — The king lifting a house. (Beakus for the British Library)

[Three red-bearded barons in blue and teal robes, one holding a sword and another an axe.](</media/image/bea_mag_design2_xxl.webp>) — The barons. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A golden castle with red pennants rises from blue hills under a teal sky.](</media/image/bea_mag_design3_xxl.webp>) — Castle on the hills. (Beakus for the British Library)

[Black-cloaked knights on horseback surround the Tower of London, with the river Thames curving below.](</media/image/bea_mag_design5_xxl.webp>) — The Tower of London. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A king sits at a red table on a blue rug while armored barons with banners and shields stand before him.](</media/image/bea_mag_design6_xxl.webp>) — The king's court. (Beakus for the British Library)

[The date 1838 in large white numerals over blue factory chimneys and black smoke on a red ground.](</media/image/bea_mag_design9_xxl.webp>) — Title card for 1838. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A crowned king in a red cape rides a brown horse and holds a golden sceptre, beside a leafy sprig.](</media/image/bea_mag_design17_xxl.webp>) — The king on horseback. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A seated man in an orange coat and a standing knight in gray holding a lion-emblazoned shield.](</media/image/bea_mag_design18_xxl.webp>) — Character designs. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A brown saddled horse stands among scattered blue arrows and a white ribbon on a cream ground.](</media/image/bea_mag_design14_xxl.webp>) — Horse and arrows. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A white ribbon loops across a cream ground with a single blue arrow and red brush marks.](</media/image/bea_mag_design15_xxl.webp>) — Ribbon and arrow. (Beakus for the British Library)

[A king lies fallen among arrows, a crown, a sceptre, a wooden box and a roll of paper.](</media/image/bea_mag_design16_xxl.webp>) — The fallen king. (Beakus for the British Library)

## Making Of

I directed and designed the films, working with producer Steve Smith and animators [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), Franky Swan and Isaac Holland.

I designed the characters, scenes and storyboards for both films, using two color palettes to give each film its own look.

[Grid of black-and-white storyboard frames showing documents, crowds, maps and dates from 1536 to 1964.](</media/image/bea_mag_storyboards_xxl.webp>) (Beakus for the British Library)

[Color palette of maroon, black, gray, red, white and yellow blocks.](</media/image/bea_mag_palette1_xxl.webp>) — Color palette, first version. (Beakus for the British Library)

[Color palette of navy, cream, red, indigo, teal and blue blocks.](</media/image/bea_mag_palette2_xxl.webp>) — Color palette, second version. (Beakus for the British Library)

## Links

More on the British Library's YouTube channel and on Beakus' website.

- [Watch on YouTube](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xo4tUMdAMw>)
- [Project on beakus.com](<https://www.beakus.com/work/britishlibrary-magnacarta>)

## Credits

- Client: British Library
- Production Company: Beakus
- Narrated By: Terry Jones
- Directed and Designed By: [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Producer: Steve Smith
- Production Manager: [Laura Thomas](<https://www.behance.net/laurathomasproducer>)
- Sound Design: [Marian Mentrup](<http://marianmentrup.com/>)
- Animated By: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), Franky Swan, Isaac Holland
- Additional Design By: Isaac Holland