Horrid Henry is in the frame
HORRID Henry, the 21st Century version of Dennis the Menace, is a full-time industry, with books, a stage play and a series of over 100 TV cartoons.
The men behind the ten minute TV shows, producer Mike Watts and the Sheffield-born animation director Dave Unwin, appear at the city's Showcomotion young people's film festival next Tuesday to talk about their work.
And award-winning Dave has a nugget of news up his sleeve. He's drawn Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon in a yet-to-be seen show in the second series of 52 films.
"She appears as TJ Fizz, Henry's favourite author. She also voices it," says 62-year-old Dave who first took up drawing as a schoolboy in Gleadless and hasn't stopped since.
They'll be giving two talks to children and one to the general public. He expects the kids will keep him on his toes. "It's interesting what they ask. They make their own little films these days so they know what they're talking about."
With Henry he was taking on an established success which already had illustrations by artist Tony Ross.
"We couldn't use his illustrations exactly as they were because of certain technical aspects," he explains.
The TV cartoons also used more storylines than were in the original so he and the team at animation company Novel Entertainment have brainstorming sessions to invent new ones, most of which get approved by Francesca.
He's still working on the remaining shows in the series, which has yet to be recommissioned – Childrens ITV is going through difficult times – after a career which has seen him win a Children's BAFTA for directing and scripting the adaptation of The Little Reindeer, as well as working on cartoons such as The War Game, Father Christmas, The Wind in the Willows and A Child's Christmas in Wales, based on the Dylan Thomas story, for which he won a Welsh BAFTA.
"I never thought of being a film animator," he remarks, looking back on an education which took him from Owler Lane Secondary Intermediate School to art college in Sheffield and Newport, Wales.
"I just drew all the time, on whatever I could lay my hands on. I was a member of (The Star's) Gloops Club, bought Dandy and Beano comics and when I was older loved the Giles cartoons.
"When I left art school I looked around for a job and saw an advertisement for animators. I thought I would do it for a couple of years until I got a proper job. I'm still doing it and it's the only full time job I have ever had!"
Showcomotion, now running, is in its 11th year at the Showroom cinema in Sheffield.
It not only shows films for children but also films made by them. This year's festival includes 109 made by them, says festival director Kathy Loizou.
"Schools, colleges and youth groups have been working all year on their films. Showcomotion is an opportunity to celebrate all their hard work and a proud moment for kids to see it on the screen," she adds.
Dave Unwin and Mike Watts are at the Showroom next Tuesday, July 7, at 7pm. Tickets cost 3.50 for
adults, 2.20 for children on 0114 275 7727.
BUY ONLINE: Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. Sign up on line by clicking here.
READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
