Raymond Briggs’ Ethel & Ernest Trailer debuts, film released 28th October

By John Freeman on September 1, 2016

The trailer for the new Ethel & Ernest animated film, based on the award-winning book by acclaimed British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs has just been released, available to view on the project’s Facebook page.

Exclusively trailed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier this week, to the obvious delight of critic Richard Arnold, this hand drawn animated feature film is an intimate, engaging and affectionate depiction of the life and times of his parents.

Based on the beautiful graphic novel about Briggs’ parents published in 1998 by Jonathan Cape, the film follows Ethel and Ernest, two ordinary Londoners, from their first meeting in the 1920s, through the tumultuous events of the 20th Century from the Depression and World War Two to post-war prosperity and the swinging 1960s.

Ethel & Ernest features the voice talents of Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Luke Treadaway, Macready Massey, Harry Collett, Roger Allam, June Brown, Karyn Claydon, Simon Day, Pam Ferris, Gillian Hanna, Alex Jordan, Virginia McKenna, Peter Wright and Duncan Wisbey.

Directed by Roger Mainwood, who also write the screenplay and has worked on all the other Briggs film adaptations, the film has been produced by Lupus Films, developed with the support of BBC, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Film Fund Luxembourg and the Welsh Government.

Ethel & Ernest is in cinemas in the UK from 28th October 2016.

• Check out the film’s production blog here, which is packed with behind the scenes information and news

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.