'The Owl and the Pussycat' is a long-gestating project developing the waximation technique first used by Mole in 'The Fat Cat'.  Having repeatedly drawn on Edward Lear's poem as a subject for paintings and drawings the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its publication gave Mole the impetus - and deadline - to turn the images into a film.

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With most of the world under COVID lockdown restrictions Mole took to his garage and began the task of etching the film into a thin layer of wax one frame at a time.  Shot on Dragonframe and edited in After Effects and Premiere the filming took about three months to complete.  'Making of' clips are available to view on my Instagram account (hill.mole). 

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Music and effects were provided by Mole's long-term collaborator Mark Slater and the film was produced by Laura Duncalf. 

 

'The Owl and the Pussycat' won the 'British Animated Short' category in the 2021 BAFTA awards.