Thunk of the Day is OFFICIALLY SELECTED for Broadway Cinema’s Short Stack Festival

Posted on January 13, 2023 by sojoanimation

Thunk of the Day “Favourite Year” has made the OFFICIAL SELECTION for Short Stack – Independent Short Film Night at Broadway Cinema This Sunday at 5:30pm!

This wonderful Thunk was one of a series commissioned by Small Steps Big Changes to celebrate chatting with our kids. It was dreamt up by Emily Taylor who is probably my biggest hero of creativity! I have been working with her now for a couple of years on a multitude of projects and have yet to meet her in person, so Sunday feels like a pretty big deal!

This is Emily! Her mum said, “This is the face of one excited little lady after reading your email! How bloody exciting!!”

Sojo in LeftLion Magazine

Posted on September 30, 2018 by sojoanimation

I do love LeftLion Magazine so very much! Each issue is bursting with everything that needs shouting about in Nottingham. They champion awesomeness and help artists like me reach new eyes and ears. I was so very chuffed to be invited in to LL HQ, along with some of Nottingham’s finest illustrators to discuss a new, mammoth collaborative project! Let me tell about it…

The Goose is Loose

See the whole cartoon

For each issue of LL magazine a new version of ‘The Goose is Loose’ would be taken on by a different illustrator (or illustrator/writer team).

Our brief was this…

You know that goose on the goose fair round about? Well he’s gone missing. Now make a cartoon about it. Make sure the first frame is two people in a pub discussing the fact that he’s missing.

My Sojo version was mostly made on my iPhone 6, with a cracked screen, using an app called Adobe Sketch. It hit the streets of Nottingham in the September issue, which of course is the big run up to Goose Fair.

And now that the Goose is actually back, I thought it was the perfect time to share a little Sojo post all about it.

I hope you all enjoy it.

Kids Tell the Best Stories!

Posted on January 8, 2018 by sojoanimation

kids tell the best stories flyer.jpg I’m on a new mission. I’m collecting stories. Spontaneous stories told by children.

I am animating a few of them too! Plus, once the animated series is out I will publish a beautiful book through Sojo Publishing Mouse, so you guys can read the stories every night!

Here is story number 1, written by a 3 year old called Morris.

“The Baby, the Sound and the Bird”

Sojo Animation and Lakeside Arts @ Woodlands School for a ‘World Book Day’ themed Workshop.

Posted on March 4, 2015 by sojoanimation

Tomorrow Sojo Animation will be joining Lakeside Arts at Woodlands School to run a World Book Day themed workshop. We’ll be diving into the world of Roald Dahl and creating some of our own particularly horrible characters! I feel very proud to be involved. Thanks to the West 8 Education Improvement Partnership, which aims to: Raise standards of literacy. Increase parental involvement to improve school attendance and raise standards of achievement. Raise aspirations of children, young people, and their families in the community. Further develop the extended schools and and services in the area.

Update:

Wow! What a lovely day. I met some wonderful kids this morning, who created some fantastic characters. I wish I could share with you the presentations the children gave when sharing artwork with the group. Agh well… Here are a few pics…

This is a 35 year old lady who works with children and has 198 of her own children. She has red eyes, but not because she’s evil.

These dogs were all drawn by the same child. You wouldn’t believe how quickly he could create these sketches. I was completely blown away.

This was an evil platypus who was able to plug himself up to a conductor and harness the energy from lightening to do terrible things.

So it turns out that Woodlands School, a special needs school in Aspley, is full of the most incredibly brilliant children.

Thank you for having us.

‘Finish me, colour me!’ T-shirts: Are they a good idea?

Posted on February 18, 2015 by sojoanimation

Everybody loves a good scribble on their clothes, right?

…Just me?

Well it was my birthday last week (Valentine’s Day actually, incase you want to pop it into your diaries for next year) and we had planned a great big family walk and play in Rushcliffe Country Park

Bro and M :) followed by a pub lunch.

Now here’s something every sneaky mama knows…if you’re taking the kiddos to a restaurant, bring fun stuff to do at the table. Standard.

I thought this would be a fabulous opportunity to test drive a new Sojo product idea I’ve been toying with…

…”The No-headed (but potentially 3 Headed)Monster- Finish me, Colour me, T-Shirt” and a bundle of lovely fabric pens.

Ok, the name needs a bit of work.

Anyhoo, everybody LOVED them (apart from my little girl, who was “…FAR too hungry to draw monster heads, are you crazy mummy?!”)

Here are some sneaky pics I took of the lunchtime madness 🙂

The 4 year old’s approach: First things first, let’s swishle (new word) some colour all up on this Tee.

6 year old’s know their stuff when it comes to designing a monster. Easy peasy!

My 9 year Old hard at work.

The 32 year old’s approach: Serious. Very serious.

Tadaaaah!

So tell me, what do you reckon…Should I go for it and develop these bad boys into a crafty product?

Is it the type of thing you might consider buying?

What age range would most enjoy it?

Tell me, tell me 🙂

‘Boo’s Nativity’ is to be screened @The Beeston Film Festival.

Posted on January 2, 2015 by sojoanimation

What a wonderful start to the year. ‘Boo’s Nativity’ has been selected to be screened at The Beeston Film Festival. Look at the lovely laurels! Click the link to find out more!

I am a lot a bit excited about this!

Holly’s Glowing Snowman

Posted on December 4, 2014 by sojoanimation

As ‘The Glowing Snowman Workshop’ fast approaches I thought you might like a sneaky peek at one of the little snow-fellas. This one is called Tom. He is six, lives in the woods and is apparently best friends with a bear. He is definitely not a baby duck and he doesn’t fancy wearing a hat.

I wonder what your snowman is going to be like 🙂

To reserve your place on the workshop click here. Alternatively you can send an email to hello@sojo.pro

Such a fun commission from The Spark Arts…I had to share.

Posted on October 31, 2014 by sojoanimation

A little while ago The Spark Arts asked if I would create an animation to promote ‘Word Wednesday’ sessions in Leicester Libraries. This meant I had the chance to listen to loads of fabulous stories written by children in Leicester and then pick one to animate. Obviously I was delighted with such a project and will happily share it with you all.

Take a peek at Joseph’s story. Clever fella 🙂

Thunk of the Day #3 ‘What Not to Name Your Teddy’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by sojoanimation

The third ‘Thunk’ in a series of short animations celebrating the imaginations, artwork and voices of young children in Nottingham.

This ‘Thunk’ features the artwork and voice of a particularly brilliant 6 year old girl.

The Mythical Creatures Puppetry Workshop with The Spark @ The Brite Centre, Leicester.

Posted on August 21, 2014 by sojoanimation

There is something magical about shadow puppetry, I have always said that, but my goodness, when kids get involved it is just wonderful. Children are so eager to explore new ideas and so playful with their approach to a new art form. It’s such a shame that we all have to grow up.

When the children at The Brite Centre noticed the big black box in the corner of the room with a funny little window in it’s side, they weren’t sure what it was doing there. When I switched on the torch and let them have a peek at a couple of pre-made shadow puppets that was it….their brilliantly creative minds were busy thinking about what they were going to create.

“Can I have a go with the torch?”

Me “Sure.”

“Are we going to make our own shadow puppets?”

Me “You bet we are.”

“Do we have to make one of these mythical creatures or can we make up a new one?”

Me “Well that’s up to you. You are the boss of your puppet.”

“Let’s make some theatre curtains for the front of the black box!”

Me “Super idea, let’s do it!”

Here’s a big thank you to Jayne at The Spark and all the wonderful people working with The Spark for having me along for the day.

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sojo animation

Celebrating the imaginations of children through puppetry and digital animation.

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