Kids Media Club Podcast: Steve Smith on producing the animated series BIG LIZARD
Nov 7, 2024
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Steve Smith, an animation producer at Beakus, shares insights from his work on the animated series BIG LIZARD. He discusses the creative journey and development process, revealing the importance of humor and education for young audiences. Smith dives into the challenges of international co-productions, from funding complications to navigating cultural differences post-Brexit. He also emphasizes the delicate balance of production management and creativity in bringing animated stories to life. It's an engaging episode for anyone in the animation world!
Steve Smith discusses the challenges and strategies involved in securing funding and navigating international co-productions for 'Big Lizard.'
The series creatively integrates STEM education into its narrative, aiming to engage preschoolers while introducing scientific concepts seamlessly.
Deep dives
Introduction to Big Lizard and Production Journey
Steve Smith, the animation producer from Beacus, shares insights into the creation of the animated series 'Big Lizard.' After starting his studio over a decade ago, Smith initially focused on commercials but transitioned into children's content through collaborations with the BBC. The idea for 'Big Lizard' emerged from a director's concept about a dad living on an alien planet with a giant lizard, which later evolved into a preschool series with educational elements. The journey to bring 'Big Lizard' to life involved significant development, pitch meetings at Cartoon Forum, and collaboration with French broadcasters to secure funding.
Incorporating Education and Adventure
The series integrates elements of STEM education within its narrative, aiming to entertain while also introducing scientific concepts to young audiences. A key aspect is the loosely structured approach, where educational content is woven into adventures without being overtly instructional. The setting on an alien planet allows for creativity in showcasing prehistoric creatures and scientific phenomena, such as solar eclipses and friction. The producers prioritized making science fun and accessible, ensuring that children remain engaged throughout the series.
Understanding Target Audience and Co-production Challenges
Targeting children aged four to six, 'Big Lizard' aims to bridge the gap between preschool and early learning, acknowledging the varying expectations between UK and French audiences. The complexity of the narrative was designed to appeal to slightly older children, aligning with the interests of both CBeebies and French broadcasters. Navigating the logistics of co-production required careful planning, as Smith and his team needed to balance different cultural expectations and storytelling techniques. Building a coherent series involved collaboration between UK and French teams, which produced rich narratives that blend distinct storytelling styles.
Future Prospects and Rights Management
As the series begins airing, Smith emphasizes the importance of promotion and audience engagement to ensure the show's visibility beyond traditional broadcasting. With rights shared between Beacus and their French partners, there is ongoing work to explore further distribution opportunities and potential collaborations. Smith is focused on leveraging platforms like YouTube for audience interaction while maintaining the spirit of the content, with plans for future episodes already in the works. The collaboration experience demonstrated the potential for more co-productions between the UK and France, fostering partnerships that combine creative strengths and resource capabilities.
In this week's Kids Media Club Podcast, Jo, Andy, and Emily are joined by producer Steve Smith from Beakus to discuss his new series BIG LIZARD. They talk about the development process, the funding, and how he navigated the ups and downs and roundabouts of international co-productions.
Join us and find out just what it takes to hatch a series like BIG LIZARD.