Animated stories for a deaf audience

Apr 30 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

ANIMATORS in the region will be given the opportunity to work with the man behind one of the most famous children’s TV creations of recent years as part of a project aimed at a deaf audience.

A new £10,000 scheme will see North East animators produce original animated versions of nursery rhymes accompanied by text, narrative and British Sign Language translation.

The Handy Rhymes initiative is the product of a new partnership between Northern Film and Media and broadcaster ITV’s Signpost division.

Curtis Jobling, creator of worldwide hit children’s television show Bob the Builder, and the author/illustrator of numerous children’s books including the acclaimed Frankenstein’s Cat, will work with animators in the region.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Northern Film & Media and ITV, an organisation which up until now I’ve never collaborated with.

“I feel Handy Rhymes has huge potential to reach an audience who can sometimes be neglected, and I’m excited by the prospect of helping to provide deaf children with access to animated entertainment.

“The North East is a hotbed of talent as far as animation goes with great studios such as Qurios Entertainment coming out of the region, as well as many young animators emerging from the University of Teesside.”

Animators who are chosen to take part in the scheme will see their work featured on the Signed Stories website, signedstories.com.

Signed Stories was conceived and delivered in the North East by the ITV SignPost team based at the ITV Tyne Tees studios in Gateshead.

The website has the support of some of the UK’s biggest stage, screen, sporting and literary icons including Ricky Hatton, Jonny Wilkinson, Robbie Coltrane, Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Trevor McDonald and Newcastle footballer Steven Taylor.

The animation work will also be showcased on the national Campaign for Reading and Seven Stories Centre for Children’s Books websites.

For further information go to the Northern Film & Media website, www.northernmedia.org