Fairy Wheels finishes Ciclic Residency

Almost a year ago, Fairy Wheels was one of nine projects selected to pitch at MIFA Animation Du Monde. The experience was incredible - and the project was one of three given a residency at Ciclic Animation.

This residency took place between 6th March and 7th April 2017. It was an amazing learning experience. I took story board artist Kay Carmichael along and the goal was to complete a first pass at the storyboard. Alongside Kay, I worked on the animatic.

We did it! We survived the chilly air and were welcomed almost immediately into the glorious French spring. We made friends, worked hard, ate lots of bread and cheese (delicious of course) and soaked up the history of creativity alive in the French air.

We were lucky enough to have Benjamin Renner as our mentor. His new feature Le Grand Mechant Renard (The Big, Bad Fox) will show at Annecy this year. We absorbed his incredible insight, clear feedback and simple solutions like two little sponges and feel very grateful Fairy Wheels has benefitted from his magical touch!

But now what? It's not easy to make an animation. Not easy or quick. Especially when you have a rather ambitious project such as Fairy Wheels. It's my first animated film - but it's not a 3 minute, cut out, no-dialogue affair. As Benjamin said, it is a simple story but the emotions are complex.

We are applying for production funding where and when we can - and hope that this project keeps up the momentum into the rest of 2017.