The UK puppet–maker behind a new Netflix adaptation of Pinocchio has spoken of the 鈥榯ransformative鈥� impact of technology听on its work.
奥辞谤濒诲-濒别补诲颈苍驳听蹿颈谤尘听MacKinnon听and Saunders, which worked on Tim Burton鈥檚 Corpse Bride听as well as TV characters听Bob the Builder and Postman Pat,听is collaborating with Hollywood director Guillermo del Toro on the forthcoming stop-motion听补苍颈尘补迟颈辞苍.听
The dark reimagining of听Carlo听Collodi’s听original听fairytale听The Adventures of Pinocchio is a musical fantasy telling the story of听a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy, set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in Mussolini鈥檚 Italy, and featuring the voices of stars including听Cate Blanchett and Ewan McGregor.听
MacKinnon听and Saunders鈥� puppets are based on designs by lauded听American听artist听Gris Grimly.听
Director Guillermo del Toro with Pinocchio
Co-founder听Peter Saunders听says听technologies such as听3D printing, assisted by the North West Made Smarter programme, are听giving it a technological lead over its international rivals.听
“Mackinnon & Saunders Ltd is an anachronism in today鈥檚 digital world. We hand–make specialist puppets for stop frame animation.听We employ sculptors, costume makers, metal workers and painters to craft the highly specialist puppets that clients from around the world come to us for,鈥� Saunders听told听老九品茶Cloud.听
The Corpse Bride
“Like most companies we have already embraced digital technology for communications, accountancy, photography, and scheduling but Made Smarter support has enabled us to go further.听听
鈥�There were various digital technologies that we were aware of that we felt could revolutionise the puppet–making process whilst retaining the handmade aesthetic.听The Made Smarter team worked with our company to evaluate these technologies and introduced us to other areas of digital technology that they felt could also be beneficial.听
Characters created by Mackinnon and Saunders
“To date we are about two–thirds through the grant–funded project and it is already clear that the adoption of some of the proposed digital technologies will, and are, having a transformative effect on our core processes and productivity.听
“The support has put us ahead of the curve and ahead of our competitors. There is more to explore but it has been fascinating and rewarding to discover that traditional processes and digital technologies can combine seamlessly to create a new way of production.”听
A听听on听Wednesday听10th听March听will听feature this and other inspirational stories to听show manufacturers how to leverage and fast-track digital technology and tools for a year of recovery, growth and resilience.听
Curated听by manufacturers for manufacturers, the conference also features an impressive听line-up of industry heavyweights such as Juergen Maier,听chair of the Digital Catapult and co-chair of the Made Smarter Commission;听Stephen听Phipson,听chief听executive of Make UK; Andrea听Hough, MD听of ATEC Engineering听Solutions; and Glyn Jones,听service听delivery听director at BAE Systems and听chair of the Made Smarter听pilot听steering听group.听
The听programme听will听be hosted virtually using an interactive online platform and include insightful panel discussions and roundtable debates, interactive workshops,听demonstrations of the latest digital manufacturing technologies and one-to-one advice sessions.听
To register听your interest, visit听