This fantastic project was funded by First Light
We worked with four primary schools to make four short animated films based on fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm, German folklorists from the 19th Century.
The schools were Clapham Manor, Mowlem, Rockmount and St Johns Roman Catholic School.
Fairytales have often been the basis of animated films because they are established and successful stories containing universal themes that everyone can identify with.
The four stories contain very rich imagery and strong visual elements and the young peoples interpretation of each story and it’s characters and landscapes add a unique primitive charm to these established old tales that is very much in keeping with the spirit of passed down understanding.
By using animation the young people are free to fully explore their version of the stories unchallenged by practical production problems and able to concentrate on their own creative vision. The marriage of fairytales and the young peoples interpretation of them will make for some highly entertaining cinematic works that will strike a chord in both adults and children alike.
The ideas for the films came out of workshops we held with four classes from four different schools. Prior to the workshops the teachers had worked on fairy tales and the process of animation. During the workshops the children were shown work by other young people and had an inspiration session to help them come up with unique and personal stories, each one then created their own storyboard. The class then voted for the favourite and then there was a session where the class brainstormed to improve and add to the chosen story.
To draw out the young people’s ideas and their own interpretation of the tales, we particularly focused on the themes of humour and honesty, which are the basis for most fairytales. We looked at common themes which can be translated visually into animated films and which will have a resonance with their lives and their own stories they wish to tell.