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ABOUT
ABOUT
2025
18-25 JUNE
Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush
(Katie Hatt, 2025)
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush has been a dream of mine for years. Before I came to university, I knew I wanted to develop a practical dissertation exploring animation, showcasing its diverse capabilities within the creative industry. Over the next 4 years, I researched and developed ideas, and I am so excited to finally bring Fantoche and his world to life. Through a variety of different animation styles, I aim to explore the essence of animation and how animation as a medium is a dynamic form of communication and pushes the boundaries of the material world in a universally identifiable visual cinematic language. As someone fairly new to animation, this film allowed me to develop many new skills, which provided a welcome and exciting challenge. I enjoyed the whole process of creating Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush, and I hope that you enjoy Fantoche’s adventures, too!
This film is produced as part of my practice-based dissertation project.
FILM STILLS
SYNOPSIS
Fantoche, a little being with a big imagination, loves to explore stories beyond his own through paintings, books and playing games. But Fantoche is lonely and has no one to share his imaginary worlds with. One day, his paintbrush begins to mysteriously glow with magical powers, allowing him to transport to different lands. In each world, Fantoche discovers new ways of expanding his imagination through transformation, imagination, and creation.
Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush explores different types of animation and aims to exemplify the universal power of visual storytelling that animation provides, pushing the boundaries of the material world beyond that of feasible creation. It pays homage to several poignant moments throughout animation’s history, through Fantoche’s exciting journey into the different styles of animation to find some friends - and magic - along the way.
Fantoche and the Magic Paintbrush explores different types of animation and aims to exemplify the universal power of visual storytelling that animation provides, pushing the boundaries of the material world beyond that of feasible creation. It pays homage to several poignant moments throughout animation’s history, through Fantoche’s exciting journey into the different styles of animation to find some friends - and magic - along the way.
CREW
A film by Katie Hatt
Directed by Katie Hatt
Animators: Katie Hatt, Mark Adaka, Nita Xërxa
Stop Motion Animation: Jeremy Thursfield, Katie Hatt
Design Assistant: Andrea Jones
Game Art & Development: Jacob Thursfield
Translators: Dunan Lewry, Marie – Line, Ayaka Takeda, Noriko Tomioka
Editor: Katie Hatt
Theme Music Composer: James Rose
Additional Music Composition: Katie Hatt
Narrator/Plasticine Man/Fantoche – Katie Hatt
Stick Man – Duncan Lewry
Tanuki – Sophia Taylor
Emilia – Emilia Evans
Lincoln – Lincoln Evans
Directed by Katie Hatt
Animators: Katie Hatt, Mark Adaka, Nita Xërxa
Stop Motion Animation: Jeremy Thursfield, Katie Hatt
Design Assistant: Andrea Jones
Game Art & Development: Jacob Thursfield
Translators: Dunan Lewry, Marie – Line, Ayaka Takeda, Noriko Tomioka
Editor: Katie Hatt
Theme Music Composer: James Rose
Additional Music Composition: Katie Hatt
CAST
Narrator/Plasticine Man/Fantoche – Katie Hatt
Stick Man – Duncan Lewry
Tanuki – Sophia Taylor
Emilia – Emilia Evans
Lincoln – Lincoln Evans
@katiehattcreative
@fantoches_adventures
www.katiehattcreative.co.uk