Wallace and Gromit creator meets budding animators at Preston festival

Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park CBE spoke to budding animators during the Preston Animation Festival at the University of Lancashire.

Mr Park, a four-time Academy Award winner, toured the University’s animation studio and stop motion suite, as well as watching pupils from Penwortham Priory Academy during animation workshops in the University’s young creative centre. 

Mr Park, an honorary fellow of the university who is originally from Preston, said: "Attending the festival was a joy. Watching young people experiment, collaborate and tell original stories reminded me how vibrant the future of animation is.

"With accessible technology, strong academic courses and growing industry demand, there are more routes into a career in animation now than when I started and that gives me great hope for the next generation."

Also at the event was Barry Purves, an honorary fellow of the university, who has been involved with many films and series for television, includeing The Wind in the Willows, Rupert Bear, Postman Pat and Bob the Builder. He directed 52 episodes of the children’s series Toby’s Travelling Circus, screened on Channel Five and was supervising director on 100 episodes of ‘Twirlywoos’ for the BBC.

The UK animation industry is the second largest in the world, renowned globally for its distinct storytelling, stop-motion innovation, and character development. The sector supports thousands of jobs and animation course leader Mario Kkounnous, who organised the visit, is keen to inspire the next generation of animators to consider choosing Preston as the city for developing creative skills such as sculpting and 3D digital modelling.

He said: “Wallace and Gromit are world-renowned, and it is wonderful that Preston has such a close connection to their creator, Nick Park. It was a pleasure to meet Nick, hear his story, and see the original models of Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw. I hope the experience inspired the audience to keep telling stories, develop their creative talents, and pursue their ambitions as artists.”

Mr Park spoke to Lancashire Business View last year, having just reopened the The Harris in Preston following its £19million transformation. To read that interview, click here.