Roll up for an animated lecture

Are animated films just a polite name for children’s cartoons? Not so, says Professor Paul Wells from the University of Teesside’s School of Law, Arts & Humanities, who aims to disprove this theory in his Professorial Lecture ‘Fool Britannia: Themes and Trends in British Animated Film’, on Wednesday 5 April. The lecture is free and will start at 6.30pm in the University’s Europa Building/University Cinema on Woodlands Road, with light refreshments available from 6pm.

Professor Wells said: "In recent years, animation, and encouragingly, British animation has enjoyed a renaissance of growth and achievement world-wide. Further, it has finally transcended its position as children’s entertainment, television schedule filler, and ‘second cousin’ to live action cinema. The art of animation is at last being given the recognition it deserves.

"At the forefront of this achievement has been Nick Park’s Oscar winning successes, Creature Comforts, The Wrong Trousers, and A Close Shave. This is merely one aspect of a global success which embraces films by the New Wave of British Women animators – such as Joanna Quinn and Candy Guard, among others, and the extraordinary work of the Walking With Dinosaurs team at Framestore."

The lecture will address the traditions from which the above works emerged, with clips including the children’s animation of Oliver Postgate (Bagpuss), the more avant garde perspectives of George Dunning (Yellow Submarine) and the comic approaches of Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) and Bob Godfrey (Roobarb).

Professor Wells is Course Leader for the University’s BA (Hons) Media Studies degree and has a diverse background, including performing as a stand-up comic at London’s famous Comedy Store and working for BBC Radio 4, where he interviewed a range of movie stars and producers, including Michael Douglas and Steven Spielberg. He said: "Studying Media Studies at Teesside will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and experience that can enable you to enter a wide variety of careers in the media industries - these include, researchers, production assistants, editors, copywriters, presenters, archive assistants and PR officers."

For more details on the lecture contact Mark White in the Vice-Chancellors Office on 01642 342012.

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