Institute of English Studies

London Screenwriting Seminar - Written by the Animationbot: Trials and Tribulations in the Animation Screenplay

Speaker: Professor Paul Wells (Loughborough University)

Inspired by a particularly damning review of The Lorax, this lecture will address the specific issues arising in writing for animation. Based on a series of workshops looking at ‘The Seven Deadly Sins of Animation Screenwriting’, and recent consultancies on animation features and ‘ani-docs’, the discussion will explore the practices of emergent and established animation screenwriters to address the challenges of working in a range of independent animation productions. Find out why Ren and Stimpy’s creator, John Kricfalusi thinks cartoon scripts cause narcolepsy, be amazed at why all scripts start as cathedrals and end up as garden sheds, gasp at the relationship between boobs and bubble gum, and much more….

Professor Paul Wells is Director of the Animation Academy, Loughborough University. He has written widely in Animation Studies including ‘Understanding Animation’, ‘Re-Imagining Animation’ and ‘The Animated Bestiary’, with a new book, ‘Animation, Sport and Culture’ forthcoming. He is also an established writer and director in film, TV, theatre and radio; his most recent work including The Oil Kid, Trios and a documentary on Mackinnon & Saunders: A Model Studio, featuring Tim Burton. Paul is also Chair of the Association of British Animation Collections, and is currently working on an animated feature script