Lion talks his way to awards final
A LOVEABLE lion mascot that can do sign language has helped put a Stockton animation firm in the running for a top award.
Back 2 Front Animation was approached by the Talking With Hands charity - which provides access to cinemas and museums for deaf and hard of hearing children - to revamp their old website.
Sarah Tyson, art director at Back 2 Front Animation, said the charity wanted to make the website “more fun, colourful, child friendly and accessible for all ages”.
“They were clear they wanted a mascot figure for the children to relate to, and for that mascot to spread the message of the work they were doing,” she said.
“This in turn led to an animated movie of that mascot using sign language and subtitles to let everyone understand the work they where carrying out.”
Back 2 Front Animation, based in Stockton Business Centre, received lots of help from the actual users of the site - the children themselves.
“From workshops we did with them, they decided they wanted an animal, a lion - and that animal was a strong and confident figure, like the deaf community itself,” said Sarah.
“We are extremely happy Talking With Hands are excited by what the use of the animated mascot can do for them to spread the message of the work they do for the deaf community.”
Now Back 2 Front Animation has joined the race to be named the region’s top digital talent at the very first North East Digital Awards.
The awards celebrate the achievements of businesses and organisations that have recognised, developed and used digital techniques to generate and maintain an effective online presence.
Voting is taking place online and those with the most votes will be shortlisted for review by a handpicked panel of judges. Back 2 Front Animation has been nominated in the Best use of Animation for a Digital supplier category.
The awards are supported by regional development agency One NorthEast. To vote and find out more about the awards log on to www.northeastdigitalawards.co.uk
