Mr. Bear’s Picnic: A Tasty Treat for Animation Enthusiasts
Key Points Breaking Down the Bear-y Good News
– Self-taught author, illustrator, and animator, Lorna Gibson is stirring up the animation pot with her short film, “Mr Bear’s Picnic.”
– The film has just been announced as a finalist in the Collision Film Awards, proving that bears catching salmon aren’t the only things in the wild worth watching.
– Stephen Fry, famously known for making words sound like honey, lends his soothing voice to narrate this heartwarming tale.
– Lorna Gibson’s signature distinct, warm and nostalgic style, associated with her creative studio Toots Design, defines the charm of the film.
– As we all know, being nominated for a prestigious award like this is basically the animation version of finding the perfect spot for a picnic.
And Now for the Bear Necessity AKA the Hot Take
Oh, animation world, you wild beast! One moment you’re serving us digital masterpieces and the next, handcrafted honey like “Mr Bear’s Picnic.” Truly, from self-taught animators … wait for it … we can’t “bear” to be without! (Oh yes, I went there.) There’s something so about unpretentious, heartfelt animation that just rumbles our animation hunger. If Mr. Bear taught us anything, it’s that there’s nothing like a good old picnic to lift spirits, but I would argue that Gibson’s nomination is the real feast here. Narrated by the honey-tongued Stephen Fry no less, this news makes us as warm and fuzzy as spotting a bear in the wild, from a safe distance. Congrats to Gibson for scoring this forestry honour! This is definitely not too much for us to “bear.” (And, scene.)
A heartening tale of Mr Bear’s Picnic, the latest animation from self-taught author, illustrator, and animator Lorna Gibson, has just been nominated as a finalist at the eminent July 2025 Collision Film Awards. This charming short-film, narrated by none other than Stephen Fry, further signifies Gibson’s trademark of warmth, nostalgia, and benevolence – characteristics synonymous with her creative studio, Toots Design.
The Creative Pioneer – Lorna Gibson, Founder of Tootsdesign.co.uk. Sketching & needle-felted characters
The animation is an extension of the much-loved Mr Bear series which originated with Mr Bear’s Christmas – a heartfelt narrative that Gibson dreamt of having Stephen Fry as the narrator. A dream was realized when Fry was approached and agreed to narrate the film. This initial success led to BBC acquiring the series and Fry diligently narrating all future animations.
‘Mr Bear’s Picnic’ weaves a comforting tale set in an intimate forest corner. As Mr. Bear’s dear friend, Mouse, experiences a touch of melancholy, Mr. Bear embarks on a quest to find her and lift her spirits with a picnic basket filled with her favorite things. The theme of the story reinforces the powerful act of extending kindness and support to a friend in need.
Finalists for the Collision Awards are hand-picked by the Collision Awards Jury, a global panel of experts in animation and motion design. This includes industry leaders such as Sarah Cox (Executive Creative Director/Aardman), among many others.
Randeep Katari, General Manager of the Collision Awards, praised Lorna’s work, commenting that it stood out as one of the most original and engaging pieces of animation from around the world. He further added that the award is a tribute to the skill and vision of its creators.
Lorna Gibson, a 42-year-old creative genius from Tarporley in Cheshire, expressed her gratitude by stating, “To have ‘Mr Bear’s Picnic’ recognized at the Collision Film Awards is truly an honor. The film is a testament to the power of kindness and its ripple effect, a belief I’ve always held dear.”
‘Mr Bear’s Picnic’ was further elevated by the musical score of Andrew Pickering, a composer from Buckinghamshire, and lighting expertise of local Cheshire professional, Daniel Beckett. Both individuals selflessly contributed their skills to the project pro-bono.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/self-taught-animator-lorna-gibson-selected-as-collision-award-finalist-with-mr-bears-picnic/