Kudlian Soft - Animate IT '08

Bob the Builder Designer Urges Kids to
Get Creative with Animate IT '08

Curtis Jobling, designer of Bob the Builder and creator of the soon to be aired CBBC animation Frankenstein's Cat, has teamed up with independent educational software developer Kudlian Soft and Film Street the website from First Light Movies designed to engage under 12-year-olds with film and filmmaking, to launch a fantastic new competition for children - Animate IT '08.

Read some great hints and tips on animation from Curtis...

What's it all About?

Animate IT '08 challenges keen young animators to design their own 3D character for an animated, claymation film.

The competition is open to children aged 12 and under with both school and individual categories with two winners being chosen from each category.

Author and Illustrator, Curtis Jobling, commented:

"I'm really excited to see what sensational and imaginative characters the children come up with. The great thing about animation is that it gives children their first taste of movie making. Most children in the UK have built models from plasticine at some point in their early years, and by using claymation as a starting point, the whole task of making a film is inspiring and fun.

It's accepted that not all children have the same level of skills with a pencil in their hand, but literally anybody can attempt animation with claymation.This superb competition will provide young people with the perfect equipment to make their very own films.

I Can Animate and Stop Motion Pro are so user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing to work with that even a bona-fide technophobe like me can pick them up easily. Watching how quickly children are able to make their own short animated films with the software is quite simply breathtaking.

With the help of this fantastic prize children can grab a lump of plasticine, turn on a camera, and get animating - it's never been easier. If I'd have had a sniff of a competition such as Animate IT! when I was a short, skinny, freckly urchin growing up in Warrington, I might have been able to start playing with animation sooner than when I went to art college!"

Curtis Jobling

Roger Young, Managing Director of Kudlian commented:

"Animation and film-making enables children to develop creative, team working and technical skills. Animate IT '08 gives children the opportunity to design and make their very own claymation character and will give the winning animators the chance to see their own creations on the big screen. Creativity is a vitally important part of primary as well as secondary education and with the help of film-making and animation children can bring their imaginations to life. We hope that schools and individuals make the most of this fantastic opportunity to become the next Curtis!"

Prizes

The two individual winners will receive an iMage webcam and a copy of either Kudlian Soft's I Can Animate or Stop Motion Pro.

The two winners from the school category will win six iMage webcams and a school site licence for I Can Animate or Stop Motion Pro each.

The animation software will enable the creators of the best designs to make a mini animated movie starring their very own 3D character with the completed movies being premièred at a special cinema screening event.

Find out more

Competition Entry Details

Read some great hints and tips on animation from Curtis...