Children's animated films for the Cultural Olympiad

Talking rocks, shipwrecks off Chesil Beach, a stolen Olympic torch, and moonlit fishing for squid all feature in a trilogy of animated films by primary school children for the Maritime Mix - the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad by the sea.

Children at three schools overlooking the Olympic sailing events have been working with artists from Dorchester Arts over the past three months to write, draw, animate and create The Portland Race, The Helpful Dead and The Big Splash. The films, which premiere on April 23, 25 and 26, are one of the projects awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark, which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

They will be screened over the summer at the big screen live sites, the National Sailing Academy and the ICCI 360 dome on Weymouth beach.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said the project had helped the young filmmakers fulfill their potential. “I am proud that with the help of partners such as Dorchester ARTS, we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in animation and filmmaking in this way.”

Project co-ordinator Alastair Nisbet said the project had been a transformative experience for the children involved. “They have produced three wonderful stories with terrific drama, beautiful drawing and extraordinary soundtracks - they should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”

The Portland Race, by eight and nine year olds at Underhill Junior School tells of a fisherman and his son and their moonlit adventure in search of squid off Chesil cove.

The Helpful Dead, by nine and ten year olds at Wyke Regis Junior School - loosely based on the sinking of the Royal Adelaide - is the story of a grieving mother, a drowning boy and an Olympic sailor in trouble.

The Big Splash, by nine and ten year olds at St John’s Primary School tells of a stolen Olympic torch, a naughty seagull, and four best friends determined not to give up.

Project Producer Sharon Hayden said the 2012 Sailing events had been a perfect subject to based the films around. “We are incredibly grateful to our major funder First Light for believing in us. Thanks to their support, these children have produced some remarkable work which will be seen by thousands of people at the Olympics this summer.” She said the team are already being asked to run a follow-up film project with different groups of young people.

The Dorchester ARTS team who worked with more than 130 children in the three schools included visual artists Nic Rawling and Delphine Jones, dramatherapist Sharon Hayden, music producer Mickey Wills, animator and film maker Alastair Nisbet and scriptwriting advisor and film mentor Pete Snelling. The project was funded by the Lottery through the BFI’s First Light initiative with additional support from b-side, Dorchester ARTS, Departure Arts, Plymouth University and the schools themselves.