‘With a first-class script, this is the perfect Christmas treat and a welcome investment in felt stop animation’
Aardman for Netflix
Producing a stop-motion Christmas musical is no easy feat, unless you’re a four-time Academy Awardwinning animation studio like Aardman.
The UK studio behemoth, in conjunction with Netflix, created the story of Robin Robin, a beguiling little bird with a slight identity crisis – likely due to the fact that she was raised by a family of mice after rolling out of her nest as an egg. As Christmas looms, Robin Robin and her family of mice sneak inside a house in a bid to grant her heartfelt wish to learn how to fly and ultimately understand her true identity.
The 30-minute short boasts a stellar cast, headed by Bronte Carmichael as Robin Robin, with Oscar nominee Richard E Grant as an obsessive magpie and Golden Globe winner Gillian Anderson providing the voice of a villainous cat.
Robin Robin’s award-winning creators, Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, designed the characters as old plush toys using needle felt, which helps to give it that Christmas feel.
Commended for its “first class” script, the film thoroughly impressed the judges, who labelled it the “perfect Christmas treat”. The fact that it is Aardman’s first ever stop-motion musical film makes it even more impressive, they said, and the film represents a “welcome investment in felt stop animation”.
SHORTLISTED
Efaciwîs (Evacuees)
Wildflame Productions for S4C
Wildflame has finessed the art of bilingual production by examining how British children from London, Liverpool and Birmingham would cope if they were evacuated to a country where the people spoke a different language – in this case Welsh.
FYI Investigates Escape From Ukraine
Fresh Start Media for Sky Kids and Sky News
Sky Kids’ news programme FYI explores Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through the eyes of children. In one episode, 13-year-old presenter Scarlett travels to the border between Poland and Ukraine, developing real bonds with the child refugees she meets and delivering powerful pieces to camera in her own words.
Gym Stars
Drummer TV for CBBC and BBC iPlayer
This series following top young gymnasts addresses universal themes such as friendship, rivalry and family relationships, alongside a message about working hard to follow your dreams and not expecting success overnight.
My Life: Dancing Queen
Big Deal Films for CBBC
A sensitive and compelling portrayal of a young native American girl who has a relentless passion to dance, despite living with a rare condition called hyperthyroidism. The judges were inspired by the depiction of Laleeyah’s resilient nature and pursuit of her goal while dealing with a serious illness.
Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas
Aardman for BBC & Netflix
The world’s favourite sheep returns for his latest Christmas adventure, in which his cousin Timmy goes missing. One judge said the show “continues to be original, inventive and entertaining, as well as outstanding in its production”.
Award sponsored by Dock10
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