Sensory Chaos

Gary blows a raspberry at Oliver. Image © Oliver Mariager/BBC Four.

In February 2020, I was commissioned by Screen South and the BBC as part of the New Creatives South East programme. I wrote, directed and animated Sensory Chaos. The production of the commissioned short film (originally named Necessity, Spook-a-Market, and Sensory Mayhem) was a satisfying creative process as well as an opportunity to be mentored by Visual Explainer Ali Assaf, who produced the film. Daniel Watts (known for his amazing tunes for television, including Wizards versus Aliens and The Sarah Jane Adventures on CBBC) composed the film’s soundtrack, did its sound design and editing, and provided some of the vocal effects. The film appeared on BBC Four in Animated Shorts: BBC Introducing Arts at 10:30pm on 12 December 2021. It was given an Honourable Mention at the International Children Care Film Festival on 26 June 2022, was selected to be screened at the 2022 Overmountain Animation Festival in August, was a finalist at the 16th International Chinh India Kids Film Festival on November 9-14, and was selected to be screened at the Oska Bright Film Festival in March 2024. During the screening at Oska Bright, I arrived just as the film was nearing the end, and everyone applauded it, to which I felt proud of myself. The film was screened at the Barbican in October 2024, and at the Encounters Film Festival at Cinema 2 on 25 September 2025. Sensory Chaos is available to view on demand on iPlayer. It was published to the BBC Introducing Arts web index (archived link), and can be viewed here.

The film begins with Oliver standing outside a big supermarket. Because of his autism and sensory processing anxiety, going to the supermarket is one of his biggest everyday challenges. Upon entering the supermarket and during his shopping, Oliver not only encounters the everyday sights and sounds, which are magnified and distorted to his mind, but also has to deal with Gary, a personification of his anxiety. Will Oliver get his shopping done without any trouble?

Sensory Chaos was screened at the Oska Bright Film Festival. Image © Oliver Mariager/BBC Four.
In Willow’s Tale: Willow Goes to Space, Willow sees a reflection of her face in the moon before daydreaming of being an astronaut… Image © Linda Malik.
…and saving the Earth from a meteor! Image © Linda Malik.
In Butch, a man turns into a werewolf and is joined by two other monsters before their disco performance begins. Image © Adam Cox.
In Sugar, a woman’s neighbour brings her some chocolate cake to cheer her up. Image © Cameron Carr.
The woman enters her neighbour’s house and looks around at her Christmas decoration-filled living room. Image © Cameron Carr.
In The Holiday Maker, Emily sees her balance on her online bank account and feels sad that she can’t afford to go on holiday. Image © Harry Mead.
Emily takes a saw out of her toolbox to build miniature models of her desired destinations. Image © Harry Mead.
Emily make a miniature model using the saw and some wood. Image © Harry Mead.
Emily’s miniature models of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Golden Gate Bridge and a the Queen Mary 2. Image © Harry Mead.
On Picagram Messenger, Emily receives a message from someone who loves her miniature models and wants to own one. Image © Harry Mead.
Emily packs her miniature model of a yacht in a box. Image © Harry Mead.

It’s Here!

Poster for Sensory Chaos. Image © Oliver Mariager/BBC Four.
Poster for Sensory Chaos with laurels. Image © Oliver Mariager/BBC Four.

Sensory Chaos will be appearing on BBC Four in Animated Shorts: BBC Introducing Arts at 10:30pm on Sunday 12 December. It will also available to view on demand on iPlayer from this time. Sensory Chaos will also be individually published to the BBC Introducing Arts web index.