BBC Ideas - Boolean Logic

BBC Ideas – Boolean Logic

George and Mary Boole: The Logic That Built the Modern World

Artful Being’s latest film for BBC Ideas brings to life the remarkable story of George and Mary Boole — and the elegant mathematical insight that quietly underpins every computer ever built.

The Project Objective

Artful Being’s fruitful relationship with BBC Ideas continues with this five-minute animated film exploring the life and legacy of self-taught Victorian mathematician George Boole and his wife Mary — and how George’s revolutionary method of representing logical arguments through symbols laid the foundations of modern computing. A story hiding in plain sight inside every digital device. It also explores the lesser-known achievements of Mary Boole, and the family’s incredible mathematical legacy.

The Creative Approach

Artful Being’s business model and ethos are about collaborating with artists with the vision to guide the work from first idea to finished piece. The work of artist and animator Amy Tibbles had recently caught the eye, and the studio was keen to develop the relationship. Amy’s beautiful art incorporates an Artful Being signature, it has a tactile, painterly, hand-crafted feel. However, in this case, BBC Producer Bethan Jinkinson had a very specific look in mind for the film.

The Result

A five-minute film that makes one of the most consequential ideas in the history of human thought a spellbinding and informative animation. Amy’s use of cutouts masks a deceptively complex animation structure. Her unique colour palette makes the film stand out, and all supported by Sound Designer James Roger’s delightful soundscape. George Boole deserves to be a household name. This film makes the case.

See the film on its native digital platforms on BBC Ideas YouTube channel, or BBC Ideas website.