New Zealand animation studio Stretchy set up a studio at the University of Canterbury (UC) and was responsible for producing the features Kiri and Roo Lalalala!
As part of the collaboration, starting next year, students in UC’s Honors Digital Screen degree program will have the opportunity to attend guest lectures and workshops with Stretchy animators.
Handcrafted in stop motion, Kiri and Lou feature clay creatures in a whimsical world made from paper cutouts. The upcoming movie “Kiri to Lou La La La La!” It tells the origin story of Kiri and Lou’s friendship and adds depth to the beloved characters.
Animation director Anthony Elworthy, whose credits include Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” will be joined by screenwriter/director Harry Sinclair and producer Fiona Cope. He joins Rand and composer Don McGlashan in a creative team settled in Coawa (as the company was formerly known). Digital Screen Campus) Precinct.
UC’s partnership with Stretchy is based on an exclusive five-year agreement with Aardman Academy, the training arm of Aardman Animations, creators of the classic stop-motion films “Wallace and Gromit” and “Chicken Run.”
Kevin Watson, dean of the University of California School of the Arts, said professional exposure is essential to developing the next generation of animators.
“Learning from talented animators and industry experts allows our students to grow in their creative fields,” he said.
“We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring to the next generation of filmmakers and animators.”
Koawa Director Sam Witters welcomed the production team to campus and further emphasized the opportunities the film presents for the next generation of film professionals.
“We are delighted to welcome Anthony and the entire Kiri and Lou team to the Koawa Creative Technologies precinct,” he said.
“Home to the Digital Screen Bachelor of Arts students and staff, this precinct will enable the university to foster collaboration between the best talent in film, animation, game development and digital production, while fostering collaboration between the University of Aotearoa’s next generation of creative visionaries. Zeeland. ”
