THE WORLD OF ASTLEY BAKER DAVIES
WED 20 APRIL
YOUR HOST
Phil Davies is our local animation guru.
With years of experience as an animation lecturer, producer and director, Phil formed ABD with Mark Baker and Neville Astley. They invented Peppa Pig and the rest is history!
Phil has given us some great evenings in the past two years and returns as part of the HERE FILM FESTIVAL to talk about the work of his animation company. He will introduce and ask questions about how they developed from their early days to become a global brand.
THE PROGRAMME
This retrospective programme brings together highlights from their BAFTA-winning and Oscar®-nominated artistic careers, including work made separately – The Hill Farm and the joyously upbeat Mobile Home – to work made together including the little known, but hilarious chivalric satire The Big Knights.
Although ostensibly made for a children’s audience, their later work (here represented by selections from Peppa Pig and Ben and Holly) is notable for its lightness of touch, humour, social satire, observation and an incredible ability to cut across social divides, whilst their earlier work demonstrates considerable sophistication as well as being informed by a deep craft and love for the art of animation.
Peter Lord, co-founder Aardman Animations says:
‘I love what Astley Baker Davies do. It’s so English! Gentle, subtle, clever, beautiful and extraordinarily funny. From The Hill Farm to The Big Knights to Peppa Pig they’ve always found a tone that respects and charms their audience.’