Tate Movie
In 2009, Legacy Trust UK announced that Tate, award winning animation company Aardman and creative agency Fallon had been successful in securing £3 million from the Trust to create a ground-breaking film created for and by children. Together, these organisations have created the Tate Movie, which is aimed at primary school-aged children, and encourages them to get involved in London 2012 by taking part in new creative opportunities.
The project has held workshops at schools, galleries and at local festivals and events in 2010 and early 2011, using great artworks to inspire 5-11 year olds across the UK to contribute their ideas to an animated movie. Children have created every aspect of the film, from the hand-drawn characters and plot twists, down to costumes and comic sound effects. Children who haven't been able to go to workshops have submitted thousands of ideas, drawings and sound effects via the interactive Tate Movie website.
The film, called 'The Itch of the Golden Nit' is almost complete, and will be screened for the first time at a premiere in Leicester Square in late June 2011.
Story synopsis
11 year old Beanie’s bland life changes forever when Evil Stella and her flaming side-kick Fireboy show up in his back garden one day after school. Evil Stella is after The Golden Nit and kidnaps Beanie’s Mum and Dad thinking they have it.
But this is no ordinary nit. The Golden Nit is the battery that powers the sun and if Beanie doesn’t get it home by sunset the sun will die and the universe is doomed.
Aided by his shouty older sister Beryl, who has been shrunk to the size of a doll by one of Stella’s electric bubbles, Beanie sets out on a crazy adventure to rescue his parents and save the universe.
Armed only with a tube of lazer lip gloss and some blend-in pants, their quest takes them across galaxies via a superhero supermarket, through wormholes, and up the Hairy Scary River escaping from moody mermaids and gold-thirsty pirates along the way. Beanie is helped, and hindered, by Ten Heart Hero who isn’t quite the hero Beanie first thinks he is. When it comes down to it – there really is only one hero who can save the day!
The cast so far
A stellar cast has been lined up to voice the characters:
The Golden Nit – David Walliams
Mum (Julie) – Miranda Hart
Dad (Bill) – Harry Enfield
Evil Stella – Catherine Tate
Mummy Socks – Miriam Margolyes
Captain Iron Ears – Vic Reeves
Narrator/President Pinky – Rik Mayall
Ten Heart Hero – Sanjeev Bhaskar
Fireboy – Ralf Little
Planet Jimmy – Alexei Sayle
Stressed Alice – Lucy Montgomery
Beanie – Bobby Fuller
Beryl – Rachel Rawlinson
The project will ensure a long-term legacy by creating resources for young people and teachers which will be sustainable beyond the life of the project. Visit the Tate Movie website for more information.
