Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed!

For around half of 2019 and most of 2020, I was working as the animation director on a series called Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed! It was a fantastic experience where I had the opportunity to supervise a team of around 30 talented animators and layout artists whilst creating 52, 11 minute, episodes. Even once you have removed the titles and credits, that’s over eight and a half hours of animation!

The series is based upon characters from the long running Beano comic which I grew up reading as a child. Since I was slightly obsessed by the Beano when I was younger, this was obviously something of a childhood dream come true!

Not only did I want to do a good job for my own satisfaction and for that of my childhood self, given the long history of the comic, I also felt the pressure to honour that legacy.

In addition to the usual pressures of trying to produce a series of this complexity, we were around half way through animation when the country went into lockdown as a result of the pandemic. This led to the second half of the series being animated with the entire team working remotely. The fact that we not only stayed on schedule but also maintained the quality of the animation being produced is a real testament to the team involved.

Toward the end of 2020, once animation on the series was complete, I moved on to start another exciting project, the details of which I will save for its own dedicated post!

If you are interested to watch the series, it is available on the BBC or Netflix in the UK and clips can also be found on the Beano website.

Rainy Day

Toadstools are ideal as umbrellas for small woodland creatures. They even come in a range of colours. Maybe it's time for a name change? I'm pretty sure that toads don't really need stools anyway!

Mine!

Whenever I see that blood red flash on a Herring gull’s beak, I wonder about the fate of the last person who tried to defend their fish and chips against the unwanted attentions of one of these formidable birds.

Back again

I made my first sketch for this back in the Spring when the woodland floor was awash with a sea of bluebells.

Those bluebells are now long gone but, over the past couple of months, this little mole has been patiently awaiting my return. I finally committed some time to finishing this off and I'm really glad that I did.

I often feel a bit like this little mole. He spends his time working away, hidden from view and you never know quite when he'll pop his head back up again.

My posts have been far from frequent recently but, hopefully, it will not be too long before I pop my head back up again with something new to show.

Signs of Spring

Spring is on its way! The first signs of spring are always a welcome sight and, I'm sure, they will be especially welcome for these little birds who have spent their Winter months huddled together for warmth.

Jumping head first

Apparently foxes are able to jump like this and plunge, head first, as much as three feet into the snow when hunting for mice. It's a clever way to find a meal when food is scarce but I'm pretty sure that most of them do it just for fun!

Since this is my first post of the year, I'd like to thank everyone who liked, followed or commented on my work during 2018. Like this fox, I'm excited to jump head first into a fresh New Year and I hope that 2019 is a great one for all of you too.

Snow people

It has been quite a while since I shared any personal work but I couldn't let the year end without posting something festive. 

Robin's are such inquisitive and friendly little birds that I can't help but smile whenever I see one. I wonder what they make of the snow people who start appearing everywhere at this time of year.

Fishing lessons

Kingfishers are highly territorial so there's not much time for fledgelings to learn how to fish before they are driven out of the adult's territory. These two had better start paying attention!

Hiding in the grass

Fallow deer fawns are typically born during June or the first week of July. Newborn fawns are hidden in dense cover for the first few days of their lives with their mothers only returning to feed them. I'm assuming that the fawns must just pass the time by chatting with the neighbours.

Buzz off!

What does an owl need to do to get a little sleep around here?

Don't you just hate it when you've been up all night and just need a little rest, but the neighbours are all being busy little bees?

Who can resist?

Can anyone resist a dandelion clock?

Is this big enough?

Apparently, goldfinch nests are exclusively made by females. I'm guessing bitter experience has convinced them that male help is more trouble than it's worth.

The Circle of Life

I visited a pond the other day which was absolutely teeming with tadpoles. Many had their hind legs already. I'm looking forward to returning so I can keep an eye on them as they develop into little froglets.

Peekaboo!

If I had to pick a favourite season, it would be a tough choice between Spring and Autumn. What I really love about Spring is the abundance of new life everywhere after the starkness of Winter. Ultimately, there are few things in life to rival the cuteness of little ducklings taking their first steps in the world.

Little Explorer

I love walking in woodland at this time of year. The ground is carpeted with bluebells and looks amazing. The bluebells are not the only things to have emerged from the ground recently though. Young badgers born during the Winter are now old enough to venture out of their sett and begin to explore the world.

Don't Move!

I was watching a heron in a local park the other day and I'm pretty sure that the fish have nothing to worry about. It was so tame and used to being fed that I doubt it would know what to do with a fish.

What's that?

The world can be a scary place. Often it feels like hedgehogs have the right idea, curl into a ball and wait for the danger to pass. But, staying in our comfort zone, risks missing out on so much in life. Sometimes we just need to push those boundaries and try new things.

The Sound of Spring

The woodpeckers have been busy lately. I seem to hear them wherever I go.

Great spotted woodpeckers drum at this time of year to mark territory and attract mates. Recent research also suggests that the drumming of each woodpecker may well be unique and enable individuals to identify one another.

Otter relaxation

Otters are so at home in the water they will casually cruise around on their backs. They look so relaxed, they remind me of Baloo drifting down river in The Jungle Book.

Bottletop Bandits

A common sight when everyone's milk was delivered to their doorstep, blue tits in the UK learnt to open the bottles and drink the cream. Sadly, everyone buys their milk from supermarkets these days so the blue tits are missing out.