"Shakespeare the Animated Tales"
Hoho Rights is continuing its dynamic multi-platform strategy by launching, on Wednesday, 1st October, a new animated classics channel on YouTube, which will showcase a number of landmark animated series which were produced by S4C in collaboration with major broadcasters including the BBC and HBO.
Covering a range of topics including religion, literature, opera and history, the carefully-curated collection will feature major series which were ahead of their time in terms of animation techniques, including the largest broadcasting co-production ever undertaken – "Animated Tales of the World" - which featured 39 stories from 39 countries and won two Primetime Emmy Awards in 2001.
Appealing from both a nostalgic and educational point of view, much of the content will be linked to the curriculum, providing a valuable resource for educators and students.
The ground-breaking S4C-originated productions include: "Operavox" (6x30’), an unforgettable animated journey into the world of opera; "Shakespeare the Animated Tales" (12x30’), the internationally-acclaimed series which brought Shakespeare to a vast new audience in twelve animated masterpieces; "Animated Epics" (6x30’), the mixed animation series retelling some of the most widely-read literary works in the world including "Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales", "Moby Dick", "Beowulf" and "Don Quixote"; "Animated World Faiths" (10x15’), a series encouraging children to explore faiths other than their own; "Animated Tales of the World" (39x15), the epic, multi-country co-production featuring tales from 39 countries which have been passed down through generations; and "Testament – the Bible in Animation" (9x30’), in which nine Old Testament tales are re-told using a rich variety of animation techniques.
Initially, the channel will feature all S4C’s classic titles, but Hoho will look to extend the offering by bringing more classic content to screen from third party producers.
“For some time, a significant part of our strategy has been to find ever creative ways to bring high-quality content to new audiences on platforms with which they are increasingly familiar,” says Helen Howells, Joint Managing Director, Hoho Entertainment. “Having begun my career at S4C, I am absolutely thrilled to give new life to these incredible landmark series, which because of their ground-breaking animation and timeless subject matter have absolutely stood the test of time and are now accessible for new audiences to discover”.
Llion Iwan, S4C’s Chief Content Officer, added: "These much-loved programmes hold a special place in the hearts of viewers in Wales and beyond, and we’re delighted to introduce them to new audiences on YouTube. In today’s digital world, it’s vital that quality educational content is accessible online - and we’re excited for a whole new generation to discover, enjoy, and learn from these classic animations."
