A Cumbrian animation company is celebrating after receiving recognition at an international film festival.
Carlisle-based Plus 3K Animation won Best New Media award at the Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, an organisation which celebrates and promotes independent creators and storytellers around the world.
The award was for an animated TV commercial shown in the US called Growing Up. The story follows a young couple from when they move into their first home through having a family to realising they have outgrown their space.
“This was a fully hand-drawn commission which is very rare and is an area we specialise in,” Plus 3K co-founder and animator Lou Kneath, who produced the commission, said. “2D has a certain magic to it and creating illustrations to show how the family changed over the years was very challenging.”
Directed by Jeffrey Wallin with animation/storyboard/character design by Anthony Corrigan, the Cumbrian team spent most of last year working on the project, from storyboarding in March through to final delivery in October 2023.
Every single frame was created using a ‘clean and paint’ method which saw a team of nine animator specialists ensure each was perfectly produced.
With a name inspired by the company’s proximity to Cumbria’s three thousand feet high fells, Plus 3K were set up in January 2018 and have worked with brands and agencies from across the UK.
News of the award comes as the team continue to work on a series of projects which include an animated sequence which will form part of a documentary along with a commercial for a UK-based charity which is due to be shared early next year.
“I’m still keen to develop original ideas for broadcast media,” University of Cumbria graduate Lou said. “But we are delighted to receive this award for a project that was visually really gorgeous.”
The company are offering a behind the scenes look at how Growing Up was made on the website.
