Animation students film to be screened in colleges highlighting alternative routes into HE

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Wallace and Gromit had better watch out ““ Cornish animation students have come up with their own animated characters, Mutant and Warthog.

The students from Cornwall College are hard at work producing a recruitment film for would-be animators starring a series of clay animated figures, to be screened at colleges across the country.

The film is aimed at attracting students who would not normally consider a career in animation or multimedia by focussing on people’s unusual routes into higher education.

Like the Creature Comforts series of TV adverts from Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman Animation, the five-minute “short” will feature animal figurines miming to the pre-recorded voices of the people interviewed for the project.

Stephen Howard, programme manager for the foundation degree in multimedia and animation, said: “This is being developed to a proper client brief and it’s a brilliant way of showing that what we teach is relevant and meets employers” needs.”

The project is the brainchild of nine first-year students on the two-year foundation degree at the college, which fought off stiff competition to win £2,000 funding for the film from the government’s Higher Education Academy.

Project organiser Mr Howard added: “Cornwall College is getting noticed in the real world by employers, both for animation and multimedia. Starting in September, we will be launching specialisms in computer game design and commercial web design.

“A project like this is fantastic for helping the college gain recognition throughout the UK as a high achieving college.”

Student Steven Ayres said: “It would be good if this video helps our future careers. Not only that, it’s been great fun. Where else would you get to make a breakdancing gorilla?”

Alan Woollcombe.

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