Mackinnon and Saunders animated at receiving Honorary Degrees
Skwigly
Honorary Graduates Peter Saunders and Ian Mackinnon
The founders of award winning puppet-making and animation company Mackinnon and Saunders have expressed their delight at receiving one of Staffordshire University’s highest honours – Doctor of Arts.
Pioneering puppeteers Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders joined hundreds of graduating students at a ceremony at Trentham Estate last week to collect their honorary degrees from the University.
“It’s wonderful to be surrounded by such academic achievement. I can’t claim to be a grade-A student myself, my grades were distinctly average.” said Ian, in his acceptance speech.
“I certainly didn’t think, as I get dangerously close to my 50th year, that I’d still be playing with plasticine every day.”
Over the past two decades Mackinnon and Saunders has received critical acclaim for a fantastic range of feature films, commercials and television series including Bob the Builder, Fantastic Mr Fox and Corpse Bride.
“20 years ago many people said that computer animation was going to take over and stop-motion would disappear completely. We could’ve been disheartened by that but we’ve always approached each job as if it might be our last and given it our all.” said Ian.
Peter added: “Stop-motion animation really is a collaboration. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have such a great staff around us. These doctorates belong just as much to them as they do to us.”
The award of Doctor of Arts recognise Ian and Peter’s skills in bringing to life some the world’s best known animated and stop-motion characters. It further recognises their part in setting ambitious standards within the global animation industry.
It also acknowledges the pair’s support of students of the University in providing industry opportunities in stop-motion and animation.
Animation Award Leader, Stuart Messinger said: “The Animation Department at Staffordshire University are very proud to have Ian and Peter as our Honorary Graduates.
“Their skill and passion for the craft of Stop Motion Animation production is immense – Mackinnon & Saunders are industry leaders and undoubtedly the master-craftsmen of the puppet world.”
Listen to the speech in full here
Find out more about studying a specialist course at Staffordshire University from BA (Hons) Stop Motion Animation and Puppet-making to BA (Hons) Animation by visiting here.