Our Animation Director, Chris Fenna, led this project and put to use his extensive skills and experience within the TV and film animation industry.
We began the re-design process by producing some inspirational concept material. Once approved by Cosgrove Hall and Entertainment Rights, it seemed only natural that we started with the main character of the show, Rupert Bear. Rupert needed a complete new look but still had to retain the identifiable hallmarks of the original. His red jumper, yellow tartan trousers and scarf were essential but changing his boots to trainers brought him thoroughly into the modern age. His face was the biggest challenge, keeping Rupert's identity but making him younger with appealing cuteness.
Rupert was the main challenge but there were a host of other characters to be designed. Rupert’s well known friends Bill Badger, Ping Pong, Edward Trunk and Ming the Dragon all needed updating from their original designs. New characters were also introduced which had to fit into the line up. They included Raggety the Wood Elf, The Fox Twins and Miranda the Mermaid.
The initial design work established the characters in action poses but for the next stage accurate turnaround drawings were required. It was from these drawings that the final Rupert model was created. Internationally renowned puppet makers McKinnon Saunders had to create 3D maquets from the designs and needed to see how the characters looked from behind, face on and in profile. Chris's experience in working on puppet shows and extensively in drawn animation gave him a full understanding of the needs of the model builders.
Cosgrove Hall also commissioned us to produce a colour press shot. For this the characters had to have a 3 dimensional quality within a 2 dimensional image.
