Internationally renowned, Altrincham-based animation studio Mackinnon & Saunders are celebrating 30 years in the business with a special, free exhibition at Waterside’s Lauriston Gallery.

Running from Sat 19 Nov – Sat 25 Feb, Mackinnon & Saunders: 30 Years and Beyond will showcase a rare collection of original puppets, images and models they have created for an array of TV shows and film productions throughout the years.

Going on display for the very first time will be an original puppet and models made by Mackinnon & Saunders for the soon-to-be-released Guillermo del Toro feature film, retelling the story of Pinocchio. This will mark the Oscar-Winning director’s stop-motion animation debut and will be streamed on Netflix later this year.

Displayed alongside these gems will be puppets and models from the current Netflix hit animation feature The House. Paying homage to their longstanding working relationship with Hollywood director, Tim Burton, several puppets and models they made for two of his films, Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie will also be in the exhibition.

Wes Anderson will also be represented, with pieces from the acclaimed movie Fantastic Mr Fox.

Childhood favourites will be on show, too, with Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, Twirly Woos and even Bob The Builder himself.

The exhibition runs in partnership with Manchester Animation Festival, and will feature a series of black and white behind-the-scenes photographs that celebrate the vision, skill and artistry of local animators and model-makers who have brought these iconic characters to life.

The gallery is free to visit, and is open Mon – Sat, 10am-5pm. For more information, visit the Waterside website.

Image credit: Netflix

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Sat 19 Nov - Sat 25 Feb, Waterside Arts,
1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF
Words:
Bradley Lengden
Published on:
Tue 29 Nov 2022