Magic Light Pictures to bring ‘Stick Man’ to Screen
Magic Light Pictures, the Oscar-nominated entertainment company which continues to build the Gruffalo property, today announces that it has optioned the rights to adapt Stick Man, the much-loved children’s book also written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The company is producing a half hour animated film version for delivery in 2015. The rights were bought from the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency and Scholastic.
Michael Rose, co-founder, Magic Light Pictures, says: “We‘re delighted to have the opportunity to adapt this wonderfully witty and emotional story about a ‘stick man’ who has to get back to his family in time for Christmas. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s books offer abundantly rich material for adaptation, and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with them for the fourth time.”
Stick Man (1 x 30’) will be directed by London-based Jeroen Jaspaert, co-directed by Daniel Snaddon, and produced by Magic Light’s Martin Pope and Michael Rose, with animation taking place at Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town.
First published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Stick Man is the latest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book to be adapted by Magic Light. Together Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the UK’s number one bestselling picture book pair. Room on the Broom, which premiered on BBC1 in Christmas 2012, received a 2014 Oscar nomination and won a BAFTA, an International Emmy and an RTS Award. Previously, Magic Light produced The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, with the former winning over 15 awards as well as nominations for an Oscar, a BAFTA and the Cartoon D’Or.
Magic Light’s most recent win was for The Gruffalo, where this week they received the special Prix Jeunesse 50th anniversary award for The Best Children’s TV Fiction Programme of the Last 50 Years; cementing its status as a true children’s classic in its own 15th anniversary year.
Jake is a Researcher and Interactive developer at Wonky Films and the face behind all of Show Me The Animation’s online platforms and website. So if it breaks he’s probably to blame! Aside from running the SMTA online, Jake make’s interactive things for Wonky Films.
