Grandes Chilenos

“Grandes Chilenos” (in English “Great Chileans”) was the Chilean adaptation of the BBC series Great Britons which narrated the story of 60 notable Chileans through history. Grandes Chilenos de Nuestra Historia is a Chilean TV programme, produced and broadcast by state channel Televisión Nacional de Chile during 2008.

Following the success of my work for another TVN project based on the British series, FeelsTV called me again to direct the animation team for this ambitious historical documentary series. The success of this project would later lead to my involvement in Algo Habrán Hecho, another major TVN historical series.

The Challenge: Speed and Volume

The challenge: to create 60 animated ads, each one 25 seconds long in 30 days. Based on the original BBC licence for the programme 100 Greatest Britons, TVN created a programme whose objective was to elect the “Chilean who has most contributed to building the country” as a way to commemorate Chile’s bicentennial.

I directed a team of two animators and another art director. In that way, we would achieve two ads a day, that were shown on TV over the following 24 hours. The production pace was relentless, broadcast schedules were non-negotiable, and each piece needed to capture the essence of a significant historical figure in just 25 seconds.

Production Workflow and Testing

We started some days ahead to test the production flow and techniques. I had half a morning to develop two draft concepts based on the voiceover and historical information available, then produce the “set” to be animated the next day.

It was based on a television poll conducted to determine who the British people at that time considered the greatest Britons in history, and our Chilean version followed similar democratic principles, allowing the public to vote for their greatest national figures. This meant we didn’t know all 60 figures in advance, adding another layer of complexity to an already demanding production schedule.

Monty Python Aesthetic

By the end of the month, we successfully broadcast on air more than 60 Monty Python-esque ads on national television. The Monty Python style was perfect for this project because it allowed us to work quickly with historical imagery, create surreal juxtapositions, and inject humour into serious historical content without diminishing the importance of the figures.

The cut-out animation technique, popularised by Terry Gilliam’s work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus, meant we could leverage existing historical photographs and illustrations, manipulating them into absurd but meaningful narratives. This approach was both artistically distinctive and practically necessary given our compressed timeline.

Historical Research Meets Creative Speed

Each morning began with research. Who was this person? What defined their contribution to Chile? What visual elements could instantly communicate their significance? Then came the creative leap: how do we make this memorable, entertaining, and historically respectful in 25 seconds?

The voiceover scripts provided narrative structure, but the visual interpretation was where we added value. We created visual metaphors, historical mashups, and surreal sequences that helped viewers understand complex historical legacies through animated storytelling. 

This integrated creative approach ensured each ad worked both as entertainment and education.

Broadcasting on National Television

The programme, presented by Consuelo Saavedra, faced various controversies from its beginnings, both due to the exclusion of some historical figures and the refusal of some representatives of the finalists to participate in the documentaries. Our animated segments provided a neutral, playful counterpoint to these political tensions, using humour and surrealism to navigate Chile’s complex historical narratives.

The ads aired in prime time on TVN, Chile’s national public broadcaster, reaching millions of viewers and helping drive public engagement with the voting process. Our work became part of Chile’s bicentennial celebrations, contributing to how Chileans understood and celebrated their national identity during this significant cultural moment.

Project Vitals

Project: Grandes Chilenos de Nuestra Historia
Client: TVN (Televisión Nacional de Chile)
Production House: FeelsTV
Role: Animation Director, Art Director
Country: Chile
Year: 2008
Animation Delivered: 60+ ads (25 seconds each)
Duration: 30 days
Team: 2 animators, 1 art director
Style: Monty Python-esque cut-out animation
Tools: Adobe Creative Suite