BBC One and Magic Light Announce ‘The Snail and the Whale’ for Christmas 2019

Magic Light Pictures has announced the animated adaption of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s book ‘The Snail and the Whale’ is in production and set to premier on BBC One for Christmas 2019.

UPDATE:

Rob Brydon, Sally Hawkins, Cariad Lloyd and Dame Diana Rigg will be voicing the characters.

Rob Brydon, who has starred in all of Magic Light’s animated specials, says: “It’s always so wonderful to work with Magic Light on these animated specials for Christmas. The Snail and the Whale is a longstanding favourite in our house. It’s an epic journey across the globe, where the tiniest creature and the mightiest mammal experiences the vastness of our planet together.”

The book which was published in 2003 by Macmillan Children’s Books is a firm favourite of the Donaldson/Scheffler collection. The animated half hour will be produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures and directed by, Max Lang and Daniel Snaddon. Animation services will be provided by Triggerfish Animation in Cape Town. The special has once again been acquired by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama.

The half hour animated film is the tale of a tiny snail and a great big, grey-blue humpback whale. Longing to see the world, the tiny snail hitches a life of the tale of a humpback whale and together go on an amazing journey,

Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, says: “I’m thrilled to exclusively announce BBC One and Magic Light are teaming up once again to bring viewers The Snail and the Whale for Christmas 2019, a much-loved adventure for all the family to enjoy.”

We can’t wait to see the new half hour animated film next year!