Combining Live-Action and Animation in 'The Trial' Promo: Bob Geldof Meets Gerald Scarfe's Ink

For the promotional film of “The Trial” from The Wall, the crew used a direct cel-overlay technique. They shot Bob Geldof performing the song against a black background, then printed those frames onto paper. Gerald Scarfe and his team hand-drew their animation on clear acetate cels placed directly over these printed frames, letting the live-action guide the timing and movement of the grotesque characters.

The result is a seamless blend where Geldof’s real face twists into a Scarfe caricature during the chorus. The animators didn’t rotoscope—they traced key poses and then filled in the exaggerated, fluid lines on top. That’s why you still see Geldof’s actual eye flickers beneath the drawn judge and lawyers: the live footage was never fully replaced, just framed and embellished by the ink.