Illustrator Axel Scheffler has shared his delight as his and writing partner Julia Donaldson’s picture book Tiddler has become their latest to be adapted into a new animation coming this Christmas.
Tiddler follows the titular little grey fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep, wide ocean until he’s saved by his own storytelling.
The original book was published in 2009 and has since sold over two million copies worldwide.
As the UK’s number one picture book creators, Scheffler, 67, and Donaldson, 76, have once again teamed with the BBC and Magic Light Pictures to bring their beloved tale to the screen.
The half-hour animated special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day and includes a stellar voice cast led by Hannah Waddingham, Lolly Adefope, Jayde Adams and Rob Brydon.
It will also feature the voices of child actors Reuben Kirby in the title role, and Theo Fraser as Tiddler’s best friend, Johnny Dory.
Describing the latest results as a “masterpiece”, Scheffler told The Standard: “I’m pleased that Tiddler was chosen and I think it will be popular.
“It’s another masterpiece I think by Magic Light.”
Tiddler is their twelfth story to be adapted in this way, following the likes of The Gruffalo, Room On The Broom and Stickman to name just some and, given his and Donaldson’s creative partnership has spanned over 30 years, he predicts there will be more to come.
“It’s always amazing to see what they make out of our picture book, they always add extra plot and make it last,” he said. “I think if you read a picture book it takes five minutes, but they have to fill 25 minutes. For me, it’s always lovely to see what they put into it to translate into different media like animation.
“They try to be very faithful to Julia’s text - she’s protective of that and of the plot more than I am I think somehow,” he laughs.
Naming their 2002 book The Smartest Giant In Town as one he would like to see animated, the Hamburg native, who now lives in London with his family, added: “I have the feeling they will continue, especially as the BBC as partners seem very keen to continue because now it’s such a family tradition to watch one of the animations for Christmas.”
His and Donaldson’s books have become staples both in the classroom and at bedtime, asked how that feels, he replies: “I’m very flattered that they are so popular and that they are loved so much, it’s a very nice feeling. On the other hand, it feels very weird that so many people know my name and know my work. I think that hardly anybody goes into doing picture books to be rich or famous, but we’ve been very lucky.
“It’s really rewarding when I do signings I get to meet the children and parents, see how much it means to them and also the moment of reading together I think it’s very touching to be part of that process. Julia and I are both very grateful that we have that effect on people.”
As for the future, he has recently finished illustrating another lift-the-flap book in the Tales From Acorn Woods series titled Hares.
The ink has also recently dried on another book titled Welcome, which is to benefit a charity he supports called Three Peas who provides vital support for refugees. Welcome serves as the follow up to Kind, from which the charity receives a donation from every sale.
Admitting that he feels like his age is “creeping up on me”, the idea of “slowing down” and maybe even retiring has crossed his mind.
“I’ve done one book after another maybe it’s time,” he mused. “I’m now at an age where other people retire so I think I hopefully can slow down and do a little less. I’m very bad at saying no to things and the publishers obviously want more they sell so well. [I need to] find a bit of balance.”
Tiddler will air on Christmas Day at 2:35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
