Alastair Swinnerton
Encyclopedia
Alastair Swinnerton is a UK writer/producer known mostly for his involvement with Lego
Bionicle
, which he co-created with Bob Thompson and Martin Andersen of Lego and Christian Faber of Danish advertising agency Advance.
However, he has been writing and creating animation since the late 1980s, and was the co-creator and co-writer of The Baskervilles
, Alphanim
's 2000 26 half hour cartoon series set in Hell, or a theme park based on Hell depending on which country it was viewed in. He has many other credits, including the 1998 series of The Wombles
, and the second season of the Emmy-nominated Disney Channel
/Dorling Kindersley
series Amazing Animals. He has been associated with various companies, including Skryptonite, which he co-founded with producers Ken Anderson and Tony Barnes, and Corsham Entertainment, in which he was briefly partnered by Gary Kurtz
, producer of Star Wars
, and Richard Bazeley, a former Disney animator. In 2002 he went solo again, and was the writer, and co-director & co-producer with Neil Graham of London's Zoo Films, of The Tale of Jack Frost, a half hour CGI Christmas special based on the David Melling book that first aired on CBBC
at Christmas 2004 and which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2005.
Since then he has written on various series, including Wobblyland, created by Cat Little, produced by Brown Bag Films
and HiT Entertainment
, which aired on Nickelodeon
and many others around the world. He is still writing for other people, as well as developing his own series, such as Fuzzyworld, a cartoon for the 3-6 audience set on a planet made from Fuzzonium, the Universe's strangest substance, in which two boys, a girl and a dog called Argle, Bargle, Dingle and Dave, Dave being the dog, save their planet every episode from their evil nemesis Sharp Monster and do their homework.
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
Bionicle
Bionicle
Bionicle is a line of toys by the LEGO Group marketed primarily for 5- to 16-year-olds. The line was launched on December 30, 2000 in Europe and June/July 2001 in Canada and the United States. "Bionicle" is a portmanteau constructed from the words "biological" and "chronicle"...
, which he co-created with Bob Thompson and Martin Andersen of Lego and Christian Faber of Danish advertising agency Advance.
However, he has been writing and creating animation since the late 1980s, and was the co-creator and co-writer of The Baskervilles
The Baskervilles
The Baskervilles is an animated children's TV show about a British family living in the most twisted theme park in the world. The show was originally created by series co-director Nick Martinelli and series co-writer Alastair Swinnerton, and eventually distributed and co-financed by CINAR and...
, Alphanim
Alphanim
Alphanim was a French independent animation production and distribution company, founded in 1997, with a catalogue ranging from pre-school through teens and family properties...
's 2000 26 half hour cartoon series set in Hell, or a theme park based on Hell depending on which country it was viewed in. He has many other credits, including the 1998 series of The Wombles
The Wombles
The Wombles are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures that live in burrows, where they help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in useful and ingenious ways. Wombles were created by author Elisabeth Beresford, originally appearing in a series of children's novels from 1968...
, and the second season of the Emmy-nominated Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
/Dorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley is an international publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 51 languages. It is currently part of the Penguin Group....
series Amazing Animals. He has been associated with various companies, including Skryptonite, which he co-founded with producers Ken Anderson and Tony Barnes, and Corsham Entertainment, in which he was briefly partnered by Gary Kurtz
Gary Kurtz
Gary Kurtz is an American film producer whose list of credits include American Graffiti, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. He later produced The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz after departing from the Star Wars series...
, producer of Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, and Richard Bazeley, a former Disney animator. In 2002 he went solo again, and was the writer, and co-director & co-producer with Neil Graham of London's Zoo Films, of The Tale of Jack Frost, a half hour CGI Christmas special based on the David Melling book that first aired on CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
at Christmas 2004 and which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2005.
Since then he has written on various series, including Wobblyland, created by Cat Little, produced by Brown Bag Films
Brown bag films
Brown Bag Films is an animation studio based in Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1994 by Cathal Gaffney and Darragh O'Connell, Brown Bag Films produce 3D character animation, including short films, features and TV series for international markets...
and HiT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
, which aired on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
and many others around the world. He is still writing for other people, as well as developing his own series, such as Fuzzyworld, a cartoon for the 3-6 audience set on a planet made from Fuzzonium, the Universe's strangest substance, in which two boys, a girl and a dog called Argle, Bargle, Dingle and Dave, Dave being the dog, save their planet every episode from their evil nemesis Sharp Monster and do their homework.