BBC unveils first look at Julia Donaldson Christmas animation Tiddler – with Hannah Waddingham and Lolly Adefope

BBC unveils first look at Julia Donaldson Christmas animation Tiddler – with Hannah Waddingham and Lolly Adefope

As a movie buff with a penchant for animated films that resonate deeply with both children and adults alike, I eagerly anticipate the arrival of Tiddler, the latest offering from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s collaborative repertoire. The synopsis alone is enough to pique my curiosity, as it promises a tale about a little fish with an oversized imagination who finds himself lost in the depths of the ocean, only to be rescued by his own storytelling.


If there’s one part of the BBC Christmas schedule that is pretty much guaranteed every year, it’s the dawn of a brand new Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler animation.

Currently, Magic Light Pictures has revealed a sneak peek into their upcoming animation titled Tiddler. This exciting adventure follows the tale of “a small fish bursting with creativity who finds himself lost in the vast, unfathomable ocean until he’s rescued by his own storytelling”, as per the plot summary.

The announcement about the upcoming animation was made in August, and since then, we’ve been eagerly waiting for any updates. Now, we’re thrilled to share with you an early peek (above) at the lively animation that’s on the horizon! We catch a sneak peek of Tiddler and Johnny Dory as they swim around in the ocean depths.

The recently released cartoon special draws inspiration from the highly acclaimed picture book with the same title, penned by Donaldson and beautifully illustrated by Scheffler.

Once again, the half-hour special also boasts quite the star-studded voice cast.

BBC unveils first look at Julia Donaldson Christmas animation Tiddler – with Hannah Waddingham and Lolly Adefope

In a new twist, Hannah Waddingham, known for her roles in Ted Lasso and Game of Thrones, will take on the role of narrator. Meanwhile, Lolly Adefope (Ghosts) portrays Miss Skate, Jayde Adams (Ruby Speaking) is Plaice, and other characters. Additionally, Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey), who is back for his 12th Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation, will lend his voice to multiple roles, including Fisherman, Whale, Starfish, and Anchovy.

Child actor Reuben Kirby will voice Tiddler while Theo Fraser is Johnny Dory.

Upon the unveiling of Tiddler, Waddingham expressed: ‘The stories and movies by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have undeniably formed the strongest foundation for my life with my daughter.’

The animation and voice acting in this series blend seamlessly and beautifully. Each character is perfectly chosen. Often, there’s a theme where the main character doesn’t fully grasp their uniqueness, which makes it delightful to help children understand from an early age that they are wonderful exactly as they are.

The Donaldson and Scheffler animation, Tabby McTat, from last year, was a massive hit for the BBC, attracting 8.6 million viewers. Therefore, one can confidently assume that devoted fans of these animations are eager to find out what this year’s enchanting new journey has in store for them.

Andy Martin and Alex Bain are set to direct, while Michael Bohnenstingl pens the script for the film titled “Tiddler.” The production is under the supervision of Barney Goodland and Martin Pope at Magic Light Pictures.

Tiddler will be coming to BBC One and iPlayer.

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2024-10-11 02:33