School's Out for summer with new short animations from RTÉ Kids
From robot classrooms and shifting seasons to the quiet loneliness of a school caretaker after the final bell, these bite sized stories capture the joy, curiosity, and unexpected emotions that come with the start of summer.
There's so much colour, emotion and memories made as kids head off for the summer we decided School's Out would be the perfect theme for the first series of short animations in our new Sparks scheme. The original Irish animations from new directors can be seen across RTÉjr, RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from Monday.
Read all about them below...
Molly's Myths from Boulder Media - Directed by Gillian Comerford
School's Out...and adventure is in! We follow Molly and her four-legged-bestie Penny's journey to a magical realm bursting with colour and enchantment. There, they reunite with some familiar friends from Irish folklore - the heroic Cú Chulainn, duelling giants, mischievous mini muiseogs and a haunting banshee - for an unforgettable adventure of friendship, freedom and mythical magic!
Released as Boulder celebrates its 25th anniversary, the film is a joyful tribute to storytelling and a
fitting milestone for the studio with a score by Eímear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle.
Monday at 6.35pm on RTÉjr
Droid Academy from Pioneertown - Directed by Will Sliney
Renowned Marvel comic book artist Will Sliney makes his directorial debut with Droid Academy, a striking 3D CGI animated short created in Blender for RTÉ as part of the Sparks short film initiative. The film premiered at the Animation Dingle Festival, drawing praise for its powerful message and visual innovation for the Pioneertown Productions' short.
A playful robot struggles to fit into her rigid school environment. Unable to connect with her classmates, our hero is forced to break with routine and start to explore outside the rules of her school. By finally going outdoors for the first time she discovers the beauty of nature. She then brings those new connections back into the school hoping to make it a brighter place for all.
Monday at 7.20am on RTÉjr/ 2.24pm on RTÉ2
Little One from Little Moon Animations - Directed by Avery Angle
In this heartwarming short, we follow the daily walks home from school through a forest between a fox father and his young daughter cub and explore the little rituals of play and kindness that follow.
Set against the backdrop of four seasons in one short year, we see them play games with leaves, protect themselves with conkers, distract themselves through snow and finally acknowledge their growth in Spring. In each of these scenes, they make and collect trinkets to display at home, gathering memories of their time together from the day.
Monday at 11am on RTÉjr
The Caretaker from Whackala
As the children leave for the summer holidays, the school caretaker enjoys the peace and quiet while doing his chores, but as the days pass, the emptiness and silence of the school building make him tired and lonely.
Someone notices, 10-year old Eva. Suddenly, on a grey and rainy day, small gifts appear and bring a smile to the Caretaker's weary face. Who could be behind them?
Monday at 4.30pm on RTÉjr
No Worries! from D11 Stories - Directed by Chris Dicker
Meet 10-year-old PJ Gallagher's anxieties aren't just in his head, they manifest into a 300-pound Silverback Gorilla, only he can see. When it's time to return to school after the Summer holidays, Gorilla Joe gives PJ a list of worries.
What if his friends don't like him and what if he can't remember how to write or read? With the help of his mother, can PJ find a way to live with his anxiety, get rid of the stinky smell in his school bag and know that he's got this!
Monday at 2.50pm on RTÉjr
Pals from Taunt - Directed by Tom Getty
Facing his last summer in the countryside before starting big school, Shane meets older kid Stevie. Their newfound friendship blossoms into a month of carefree adventures, chronicled in voice memos Shane sends to his dad abroad. But will Stevie still be his friend when the school year starts.
Monday at 2.26pm on RTÉ2
Points of Shoe from Flickerpix - Directed by Jamie Mills
Step into the holidays with a colourful cast of shoes as they explore what makes holiday time special. Told from the shoes' unique point of view, this short animation answers what teachers do when we are not around to what it's like to live the high life in a mansion. From beach trips to the playground, every pair has a story to tell! Brace yourself for a shoe-per time.
Monday at 10.30am on RTÉ/ 1.30pm on RTÉjr
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