Mediamix: Animation legend on board, Polaris, Holden & Sons

A MANCHESTER-based children’s TV producer at ITV has struck a deal with an animation legend to market a kit that makes it easier to build and create characters.

Westley Wood has adapted and shaped the components over several years and has now teamed up with Ray Harryhausen, known for his stop motion work on films such as Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans.

Mr Wood, who already runs an animation parts business called Animation Tolkit, is marketing the kit under the brand name Armacreature.

Animation Toolkit specialises in supplying Stop Motion animation parts, kits and supporting products to professionals, enthusiasts and students.

Mr Wood, who has previously worked at Mackinnon and Saunders in Altrincham and Cosgrove Hall in Manchester, said: “To partner with animation legend Ray Harryhausen and bring Armacreature into the hands of animation lovers across the globe is an absolute honour. Ray and I hope that those who buy Armacreature have hours of enjoyment and that our kits helps them to realise their dreams and capture their imaginations on film.”
 
Mr Harryhausen said: “Throughout my career I had to design and sometimes built with the help of my father, all my own armatures. This kit is of superb quality and I would have gladly used it if it had been available.”

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PR firm Polaris is growing its engineering and manufacturing division with two new client wins.
 
It has picked up Bootle-based lifejacket manufacturer International Safety Products (ISP) and Runcorn engineering firm Engenda.

Director Ben Pinnington said: “We are delighted to expand our manufacturing division with ISP and Engenda both of which are ambitious, newsy and exciting firms growing across the UK and the world.

“These client wins put us in a strong position for our new financial year and continue our growth which has seen us consistently pick up retained new business through-out 2012. Going forward we see engineering and manufacturing as a key growth area for us in 2013 particularly with firms which are exporting.”

Polaris was established by journalist brothers Ben and Sam Pinnington in 2011. It has offices in Ellesmere Port, Liverpool and Didsbury.

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MANCHESTER-based creative agency Holden & Sons has produced a national television campaign for Burnley-based What More UK, a specialist in moulded plastic household goods.

Holden & Sons was asked to raise the profile of the firm’s Wham brand.

Virginia Hargreaves, finance director at What More UK, said: “Holden & Sons has brought a fresh, innovative, on-the-pulse approach to our brand and image. They are a fantastic family firm with an extremely professional attitude making them a pleasure to work alongside.”

Holden & Sons managing director Ted Holden said: “From the first discussion with What More it was clear that good design combined with quality manufacturing was at the forefront of this companyʼs offering. The campaign was tailored to this, focusing on the products in a bold and fun way.”