Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's book, the animated Christmas adventure tells the story of a friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred - produced for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The BBC and Magic Light Pictures have shared a first look at their upcoming 3DCG Christmas adventure, Tabby McTat, produced for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Set on the streets of London, the show tells the story of the warm and wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred. The film is the 11th special produced by the studio, based on the work of children’s book author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
“Tabby McTat is such a beautiful story about embracing change and the transitions in life as well - from childhood to adulthood and people going on journeys,” shared the film’s narrator (and cat lover) Jodie Whittaker. “There is so much warmth and celebration of family and community, but then there's also the moments of fear and loss that is often a gain.”
“We had cats when we were growing up,” added Whittaker. “My cat gave birth under my bed, and it was magical. But then as a child you realize your parents don't let you keep them all. ‘What? I thought we were going to have five kittens forever,’ but I was lucky, and I did get to keep one of them.”
“The story is very special to me because as well as having been a busker myself, I'm also a great cat lover,” shared Donaldson. “At the time I wrote it we had cats, but they were very old and alas, are no more. But now we have two Tabby cats and they're called Tabitha and McTat.”
Tabby McTat stars Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey) as Fred; Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (Gangs of London) as Tabby; Cariad Lloyd (Peep Show) as Prunella; Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It) as Pat; Whittaker (Doctor Who) as the narrator; and Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes) as Sock. Animation is by Red Star Studio.
Sarah Scrimgeour (Superworm) and Jac Hamman (Superworm) direct, with Max Lang and Suzanne Lang as writers. Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures produce. Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, led the acquisition.
Source: Magic Light Pictures
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
