Ivor Wood
Encyclopedia
Ivor Wood was a prolific Anglo-French
stop motion director
, producer
, animator
and writer known for his work on children's television
series.
Born in Leeds
to an English father and a French mother, his family moved to the mountains near Lyon
, France after the Second World War, where he was educated. He studied fine art in Paris, and later worked in an advertising agency in Paris, where he met Serge Danot
. Together they made the acclaimed French series Le Manège Enchanté (known in English as The Magic Roundabout
), with Wood as the animator .
Following the success of The Magic Roundabout in the UK, Wood became both animator and director for a number of British animated children's programmes, starting with The Herbs
in 1968. During the 1970s he animated and directed Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
, The Wombles
and Paddington
.
Wood died of cancer in London on 13 October 2004 at the age of 72. His ashes were scattered in France. Wood was survived by his wife Josiane and one son.
and his wife Josiane, specifically to produce stop-motion animated series for the BBC. The company produced a number of shows, the most popular of which was Postman Pat
. In 2001 Woodland was sold to Entertainment Rights
. which is now part of Classic Media
Anglo-French
Anglo-French is a term that may be used in several contexts:*Nationality, e.g. a person with one English parent and one French parent may be said to be Anglo-French*Anglo-French *Joint activities between England and France, e.g...
stop motion director
Animation director
An animation director is the director in charge of all aspects of the animation process during the production of an animated film or animated segment for a live-action film...
, producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
and writer known for his work on children's television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series.
Born in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
to an English father and a French mother, his family moved to the mountains near Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France after the Second World War, where he was educated. He studied fine art in Paris, and later worked in an advertising agency in Paris, where he met Serge Danot
Serge Danot
Serge Danot was a French animator and former advertising executive.Danot was born in Nantes, France. He is best known for creating the animated series, Le Manège enchanté in 1965, which became known in its English-language version, written and narrated by actor Eric Thompson for the BBC , asThe...
. Together they made the acclaimed French series Le Manège Enchanté (known in English as The Magic Roundabout
The Magic Roundabout
The Magic Roundabout was a children's television programme created in France in 1963 by Serge Danot...
), with Wood as the animator .
Following the success of The Magic Roundabout in the UK, Wood became both animator and director for a number of British animated children's programmes, starting with The Herbs
The Herbs
The Herbs is a television series for young children made for the BBC by Graham Clutterbuck's FilmFair company. It was written by Michael Bond , directed by Ivor Wood using 3D stop motion model animation and first transmitted from 12 February 1968 in the BBC1 Watch with Mother timeslot...
in 1968. During the 1970s he animated and directed Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings is a British children's animated television programme, featuring the adventures of a young child named Simon, who has a magic chalkboard...
, The Wombles
The Wombles (TV series)
The Wombles is a stop motion animated British television series made in 1973–1975. Further animated episodes were made in 1996–1997.After the first Wombles book, published in 1968, was featured on the BBC children's television programme Jackanory....
and Paddington
Paddington Bear
Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children's literature. He appeared on 13 October 1958 and was subsequently featured in several books, most recently in 2008, written by Michael Bond and first illustrated by Peggy Fortnum....
.
Wood died of cancer in London on 13 October 2004 at the age of 72. His ashes were scattered in France. Wood was survived by his wife Josiane and one son.
Woodland Animations
Woodland Animations was founded in 1973 by Ivor WoodIvor Wood
Ivor Wood was a prolific Anglo-French stop motion director, producer, animator and writer known for his work on children's television series....
and his wife Josiane, specifically to produce stop-motion animated series for the BBC. The company produced a number of shows, the most popular of which was Postman Pat
Postman Pat
Postman Pat is a British stop-motion animated children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale .Postman Pat's first 13-episode season was screened on...
. In 2001 Woodland was sold to Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights Plc was a global media company. Its main role was in children and family television programming.The group was established in 1989 as Sleepykids. In 1999 it become entertainment rights and was focused on the creation and exploitation of major children's characters and brands...
. which is now part of Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
Productions
- Postman PatPostman PatPostman Pat is a British stop-motion animated children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale .Postman Pat's first 13-episode season was screened on...
(1981) - GranGran (TV series)Gran was a children's stop motion animation television series narrated by Patricia Hayes and directed by Ivor Wood. There were only two main characters, namely Gran and her grandson, Jim....
(1982) - BerthaBertha (TV series)Bertha is a British stop motion animated children's television series about a factory machine. It was produced by Woodland Animations and aimed primarily at pre-school children.-Story:...
(1985) - Charlie ChalkCharlie ChalkCharlie Chalk was a short-lived stop motion animation series produced in 1987 in the UK by Woodland Animations, from the creators of Postman Pat and the two other children's television programmes that are Gran and Bertha.-Synopsis:...
(1987)