The owl and the pussycat
- United Kingdom
- 4"
- 2020
Synopsis
This shortfilm is a long-gestating project developing the waximation technique first used by Mole in The Fat Cat. Having repeatedly drawn on Edward Lear’s poem as a subject for paintings and drawings the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its publication gave Mole the impetus – and deadline – to turn the images into a film.
With most of the world under COVID lockdown restrictions Mole took to his garage and began the task of etching the film into a thin layer of wax one frame at a time. Shot on Dragonframe and edited in After Effects and Premiere the filming took about three months to complete. ‘Making of’ clips are available to view on his Instagram account (hill.mole).
Festivals and awards
Bafta Awards, Best Short Animation 2020
Mole Hill
This British animator has been working in animation for over 35 years. He began as an amateur tabletop animator and formed Hill Roberts Films with Julian Roberts, going on to produce a series of short films in the early years of Channel Four. This led to developing and producing children’s series through the production company CoG (The Consortium of Gentlemen with Mark Slater), including the award-winning Yoho Ahoy. Since 2005 he has worked primarily as a freelance director and animator on series and commercials, although he continues to make both short films and children’s series through CoG. His work spans a wide range of media, specializing in stop-frame, but also in Flash animation and, more recently, waximation.
2020 Short film The Owl and the Pussycat 2019 Red Tractor commercials 2017-2019 Two Minute Tales Animated adaptations of fairy tales 2015 -2017 Co-directed Clangers (BAFTA winner for 'Best Preschool Animation' in 2016) 1981-1997 Last Respects, Members Only and The Golem.
