Project Description
Aims and objectives
The aims were to let the children come up with an original idea, create the characters from plasticene and a box of ‘magic’ objects! Then use the animation equipment to make their story come to life. The films were made as part of an animation festival that Light House runs called Flip and we shown during the festival in October 2005.
What actually happened
Each group worked together as a team to invent a lively story with characters such as pirates, monsters, under water adventures and aliens! The groups really enjoyed making their models and sets.
Planning
The idea came from a brainstorming session with the Flip festival team. It was simply to provide the schools with a ‘Magic Box’ of materials that would inspire the children to make a short story. Along with plasticene and wire, these objects had to feature somewhere in the film. As Light House’s Educational Projects Co-ordinator I contracted 5 animators to work with 75 primary school children. After sending information to all primary schools in Wolverhampton, the schools who took part were: Birches First, Castlecroft, Goldthorn Park, Ettingshall and Lanesfield Primary Schools, with groups of 15 from each school.
Delivery of the project
The ideas for stories came from the children themselves. In each first session with the groups the animation tutors asked the children to come up with an idea for a story and collectively they shouted ideas out as they came to them. All the children then decided on the best one and designed and made the characters and sets. They were taught about the stop motion equipment and took it in turns to use is and move their models. Music and sound effects were added afterwards by the animation tutors, but nothing was altered from the children’s original ideas.
Any follow up work
Watching the screening of their work on a cinema screen at the Flip; showing their parents and friends what they’d achieved. The project received interest from the BBC. There is a BBC pilot scheme running in the Black Country called BBC Local TV. The Community Content Editor, Tim Burke got in touch with me at Light House asking if he could show the films and interview the children involved. I got in touch with the schools, who all agreed and the films were broadcast on BBC Local TV – a service available on digital, satellite and broadband. The films are also due to be shown in Birmingham city centre on the BBC Big screen in August.
Any skills/training necessary to deliver the project
Experienced animation tutors led the sessions and assistant animators who are learning in the field of teaching animation helped.
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