I worked in-house at Ragdoll Productions from 2008-2011 and was Creative Producer, Animation Performance Director and Head Writer on The Adventures of Abney and Teal, broadcast by CBeebies, 2011. I worked closely with director Joel Stewart to develop the world, characters and tone of voice, and oversaw the writing of 52 episodes.
I loved writing these characters and this world, the landscape is based on Victoria Park in London, where the directors and I used to meet to come up with ideas. We were inspired by Yuri Norstein's Hedgehog in the Fog, the 2D multi-plane animated series of Tove Jansson's, The Moomins. It was a joy to work with Joel Stewart, Steve Roberts and Chris and Anne Wood. 'The Moon' episode is inspired by Italo Calvino, and a snowy moment in 'Snow Neep' was inspired by James Joyce's Dubliners. 'Spots' was inspired by a bush covered in ladybirds, that my twin nephews enjoyed :) - my favourite episodes are 'Frogs', 'The Camera' and 'Bop's Babies'
I pitched, developed and scripted the following episodes:
The Porridge Party
The Poc Pocs' Holiday
The Storm
Stuck
Firefly Lullaby
The Radio
Neep's Birthday
Abney Finds A Hole
Faraway Island
Bop's Best Bubble
The Slide
The Moon
The Snow Neep
The Perfect Tree
The Artwork
The Very Cold Day
The Visit
The Enormous Sneeze
The Handbag
The Mysterious Mist
The Very Hot Day
The Enormous Cabbage
The Summerhouse
Bop's Babies
Sleep Digging
The Porridge Tower
Abney's Aquarium
Shadows
The Café
Abney's Precious Things
Frogs
The Camera
Spring Cleaning
Spots
I was co-writer the following episodes:
The Star Stick
The Rainbow Whistle
Sky High
The Poc Poc Hunt
The Train
The Mystery
The Enormous Neep
The Buzzing Thing
Abney's Magic Show
The Woolly Tangle
The Leaf Sweep
Straw Hat Trouble
Porridge Machine