Inspired by a classic
Or:
Why I started puppet building and animating
Back in 2015, before I took up animation, I went with a class of young people from Venture Arts (a studio for leaning disabled artists, where I’m an art tutor. More info on Venture Arts) to visit the BBC in Salford. We met with Chris Tichbourne, the director of the 2015 ‘Clangers’ reboot to hear about how they were bringing this classic stop-motion back to our TV screens. (Watch this great little film for more info ‘Bringing Back the Clangers’ Documentary)
If you don’t know, the original Clangers is a beloved children’s series from the early 1970’s made by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate of Smallfilms productions. I’m not a film & TV historian by any means, but stories from the production of this series are a testament to the innovation, invention, and inspiration that came about due to the restrictions of a very small team and limited resources. (First episode of the original Clangers)
Later in the year I heard Peter Firmin talk at a conference at Waterside Arts Centre where he spoke with love and enthusiasm for his work and the ‘Make-Do’ attitude of himself, his wife and his late friend Oliver Postgate. I loved Peter’s anecdotes, and he struck me as a kindly, eccentric inventor from a childrens book… Unfortunately, Peter has also passed away now, but the work he and Oliver made at Smallfilms is still inspiring people today. (More info on Smallfilms)
So, back at the BBC in 2015, Chris talked about the way he and the team at Factory (an animation studio in Altrincham, Greater Manchester) approached updating a classic without losing the magic. (More info on Factory) I became inspired by the way Chris talked about the importance of tactility in the Clangers puppets and sets (The Clangers are knitted), and how despite using occasional CGI, practical ‘in-camera’ effects were used as much as possible (cotton wool dust clouds etc.). It delights me to know the updated Clangers has been a huge success and is still in production. (Trailer for the 2015 Clangers)
I left the BBC trip with something burning within me, and I decided there and then to stop putting off a dream I had for a long time and have a proper go at stop-motion. More about how I decided to approach this in a unique way in my next blog…
P.S
Obviously the group of kids from Venture Arts had a great time too! Haha.
Update on my current work
*FILM PRODUCTION* I am in pre-production on the new Whibbits film- Mory Episode (This film was made possible by the crowd funded by my amazing supporters). Danny the composer will send the new score this week, at which point I will be able to do an animatic based on the storyboard. I will also be able to test some of the liquid and cloth effects I have made. The ‘liquid’ will have replacement top parts to give the effect of movement. The cloth also has various different shaped versions to be replaced during the animation- more info on this process when I do the test filming.
Mory with 2 of the prototype props- these are still a work in progress!
*MODEL MAKING* I had decided to not make any whibbit models for a while, however, after I was approached to make one for a christmas gift I put another batch on sale. I sold a Mory, Otto and Connie model which I am currently building, ready to send to their new homes in December. I also sold a Rox model to be sent out in the new year. I wanted to make the same amount of each design so there is one Cora model available to pre-order on my shop if anyone is interested. (***UPDATE- CORA IS NOW SOLD***)
Hip joints from cork, washers, nuts, bolts and wire.
Ears being made from pins, beads, card, electrical tape and tread.
Cora model- image taken to highlight Cora’s Dia de Muertos influence.
A few views of the Cora model.
*MERCHANDISE UPDATE* The new Rox badges arrived- I love the orange and coppery combination. They have sent out and should all be with customers now. They have been taken off sale till I make the Rox film. There are still 10 Connie badges left to pre-order via my shop page. Like my other badges the sale of 25 of these will fund the production of the badges. After that they will be taken off sale till I make a film with the Connie puppet. This is the 5th in the set of ‘Whibbit Run’ metal and enamel badges.
Rox badge.
The design for the Connie badge.
Thanks to you all for reading! Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below and share with anyone you think might be interested.
This is my first blog post, so please let me know if there are any glitches or if you have any advice, feedback or suggestions for future posts.
Love and best wishes
James