Teaching animation in a suitcase

Bristol's future animators will be trained using a portable animation studio which can be taken into schools.

The Animation in a Suitcase idea from the University of the West of England (UWE) aims to offer children a hands-on experience with an animation expert.

The suitcase contains everything needed to shoot simple stop-motion sequences, or can be set up to capture flat techniques such as cut-out animation.

The camera stand and lights clamp on to desks and can be set up in 10 minutes.

'Technical obstacle'

Parson Street Primary School will be the first school to benefit from the scheme at an introduction to animation workshop.

The Animation in a Suitcase idea is the brainchild of Mary Murphy from UWE's Bristol School of Animation who piloted a similar idea when she was working in Ireland.

"One of the biggest problems with doing animation in schools is the technical obstacle course that means so much time is wasted setting up and getting equipment to work," he said.

"Animation in a Suitcase will give children get the opportunity to create their own animated films and benefit from learning how to use specialist equipment from animation experts."