Thank you to Dan Good for Absolutely Cuckoo and a festive Designer Breakfast
INSPIRING
It hasn’t been plain sailing for Dan and his wife. Like the best stories, there are ups and downs. Their first venture folded, but following a short period of working for publishers, they have followed their muse and set up Absolutely Cuckoo. This journey has brought them into contact with their creative heroes Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin of Bagpus fame. Dan said that he has become friends with the celebrated creative team and has been motivated by their friendship. With a series in production with the BBC and no shortage of ideas, Absolutely Cuckoo are set to create a new generation of pre-school programmes that will one day be fondly remembered by students everywhere.
UPLIFTING
We were given a spellbinding preview of ‘Way to blue’, a pre-school programme commissioned by the BBC and due for broadcast in 2009. The programme featured a group of characters that levitate when they do an act of kindness. The CGI characters are beautifully integrated with the real world and live action children, the interplay is mesmerising. This is sure to have a calming effect on the intended viewers and lead to some happy parents! Apparently Michael Carrington (Controller of Cbeebies) was moved to tears by ‘Way to Blue’. Not always the desired effect at a presentation, but this was all positive.
INTEGRITY
Dan explained that their intention is not to create characters with the sole purpose of merchandising and avoid making programmes that look like adverts for toy shops. The preview of ‘Dinosaur Days’ with the voice of James Bolam displayed a keen sense of wit and charm. I was happily reminded of Aardman Animation and the voicing of the Wallace character by Peter Sallis. And like Aardman they appear to be sticking to what they do best with conviction.
