Photo caption:听From left to right - Writer and director Harry Sinclair, composer Don McGlashan, UC Executive Dean Arts Professor Kevin Watson, Director of K艒awa Sam Witters, Producer Fiona Copland and Animation Director Antony Elworthy.
A relationship between Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 九州影院 (UC) and a globally successful, local production company is the latest exciting development for the University鈥檚 Digital Screen students.听
Centred on empathy, the Kiri and Lou series from Christchurch animation studio Stretchy has captivated young audiences worldwide. The upcoming film, Kiri and Lou Rarararara! tells the origin story of Kiri and Lou's friendship, adding depth to the beloved characters.听
Hand-crafted in stop motion, the film features charming, clay creatures set in a whimsical world created from cut-out paper. Just like the series, the film will showcase some of New Zealand鈥檚 top creative talents, including Jemaine Clement, Olivia Tennet, Rima Te Wiata, Jaquie Brown and Josh Thomson, alongside writer and director Harry Sinclair and composer Don McGlashan.听
As production gets underway, some of the world鈥檚 best stop-motion animators will descend on 艑tautahi Christchurch and UC鈥檚 K艒awa Creative Technologies Precinct to bring the film to fruition, providing unique opportunities for UC students to observe the animation production process up close.
Kiri and Lou鈥檚 producer, Fiona Copland, says 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled for our animators to be housed at K艒awa, in such a creative environment, enjoying goodwill and 鈥渃an do鈥 from the UC team and helping to inspire students. We鈥檙e excited to be there.鈥
The relationship highlights UC鈥檚 ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and excellence within the screen and creative technologies industries.
From 2025, students from UC鈥檚 Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours programme will have the chance to attend guest lectures or workshops with Stretchy animators, allowing them to gain valuable industry insight.听
鈥淟earning from high calibre animators and industry professionals will empower our students to thrive in the creative sector,鈥 says Professor Kevin Watson, UC Executive Dean of Arts. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the opportunities this partnership will create for the next generation of filmmakers and animators.鈥
Director of K艒awa Sam Witters further emphasised UC鈥檚 dedication to supporting and elevating New Zealand鈥檚 screen and creative technology sector.
鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to welcome Antony and the whole Kiri and Lou team to K艒awa Creative Technologies Precinct,鈥 Witters said. 鈥淗ome to students and staff of our Bachelor of Digital Screen degree, the precinct will enable the University to foster collaboration among the best in film, animation, film, game development, and digital production, all while preparing the next generation of creative visionaries for Aotearoa New Zealand.鈥
UC鈥檚 alliance with Kiri and Lou builds on its recent agreement with the internationally renowned Aardman Academy, the academic arm of Aardman Animation, the creators of Wallace and Gromit. As UC鈥檚 K艒awa initiative continues to grow, it plays a key role in supporting aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals, helping to build a vibrant creative community in Aotearoa New 九州影院and beyond.
Kiri and Lou Rarararara! is financed by the New 九州影院Film Commission, NZ On Air, Screen Canterbury and Hinterland. It will be distributed in New 九州影院by Vendetta Distribution and internationally by Cake Distribution Ltd.
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