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Manchester Animation Festival returns in November, offers chance to find out “The Wombles” secrets!

By John Freeman on October 16, 2017

Love Animation? Want to experience as many screenings, panels, workshops, networking events and all other animation themed excellence taking part at Manchester Animation Festival 2017 as possible? Then book yourself a Full Festival Pass now.

Manchester Animation Festival takes place 14th-16th November at HOME Cinema, Manchester and the line-up this year includes highlights such as the presentation of the Festival’s Fellowship Award to Josh Weinstein (writer on The Simpsons, Gravity Falls, Dangermouse and more), and screenings of films such as the short, vibrant animated film originally aired as a “Coming to America” story at the start of Episode 5 in the critically-acclaimed television series American Gods based on Neil Gaiman‘s books; Loving Vincent, plus a Masterclass with its directors Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman; Don Hertzfeldt‘s The World of Tomorrow 1 & 2 and The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales.

Ivor Wood animating The Wombles (Orinoco, Wellington and Tobermory around 1970-72. Photo: The World of Ivor Wood

Included in the line up is the chance to take a trip down memory lane to explore the work of the master of British children’s television. Ivor Wood, co-creator of The Magic Roundabout with Serge Danot, also created such beloved works as Postman Pat, Charlie Chalk and was the animator behind The Wombles and Paddington Bear. Alongside his collaborator Josaine Wood and experts Tom Sanders (who’s documenting Ivor’s life online and runs his own 2D animation studio, Tinmouse Animation, currently crowdsourcing funding to create Rex Factor) and Joseph Wallace, the Festival will explore his works.

There will also be Masterclasses looking at the workings of studios such as Aardman Animation, Blue Zoo, Nexus and others plus many more screenings, panels, workshops across the three days of the festival.

• The full Manchester Animation Festival 2017 programme is here

• A Full Festival Pass allows you to get the most out of the festival and offer a much cheaper alternative to several individual tickets! Grab them here

• There’s more about the work of Ivor Wood online here

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.