Méabh: The most important thing is clarity. If you are trying to convey a message, whether it's a story point or something children can learn from, it must be clear. When making content for young children, you can't bury things in subtext or try to hide what you're telling them. Instead, it's about embracing the messages and making them fun and exciting. Engage children by making them smile and laugh and you can brighten up their day and give them something positive at the same time.
Dee: I think the best way to catch the attention of preschool kids is with something visually interesting, funny and that stokes their curiosity. Something new enough that it's exciting for them, but also recognisable enough that they can relate it to their own lives and understanding of the world.
With regards to development, I'm personally passionate about positive and diverse representation for kids. I worked on Kiva Can Do at Kavaleer, which is an RTÉ Junior series about a little Indian-Irish girl who loves to invent and adventure. I think it's important and affirming for everyone, kids included, to see a diverse range of people in their media.
Mooshku are known for collaboration, providing evaluation, consultation and more to animators in addition to your own projects. In working with animators, parents etc, how important do you both find it to work with diverse groups? How diverse is the animation industry in Ireland and how can those currently involved in the industry lift those who may not be represented and want to get involved?
Méabh: The animation industry in Ireland has grown hugely in recent years meaning that we have a very broad spread of not just Irish animators and talent but people from across Europe and elsewhere. We are now a very varied community and still growing. But of course we can always do with more voices, especially when it comes to the storytellers – unique points of view are important not just for diversity in representation but also for keeping our stories fresh and varied. Opportunities at the top levels can be harder to find but it's important for us to actively look for those new voices where we can.
Dee: Diversity is immensely important in my opinion. The more diverse perspectives while creating something, the better. As far as gender goes, in my experience working for the past 2 and a half years, there's a pretty even split, although it's usually men in leading creative roles. There are women rising up too - There's Nora Twomey doing amazing work directing in Cartoon Saloon, and our own animation director at Mooshku, Jenny O'Brien, and many other women taking on more senior roles these days. Women In Animation Ireland is also an incredible organisation that connects and supports women in the industry.
I totally agree with Méabh - unique points of view are invaluable, not just for diversity's sake, but to make the media accessible and relatable to as many different people as possible
Méabh, Mooshku develops animation for young children and is committed to working with parents to offer fun, positive experiences. Can you discuss the importance of working with parents and about the ways that has helped Mooshku develop projects?
Méabh: Parents need to love the shows their kids are watching. When they feel there is value there – that it's not just TV babysitting – that really matters to them. We totally get that. While our ideas are always fun, our stories focus on kindness, community, inclusivity, friendship, values. That’s what parents want and it’s also something that kids really enjoy. Showing our characters contributing to the happiness of others – being good people – we need that in our world. Whenever Mooshku are developing new I.P. we make a point of taking our ideas and our stories into primary schools and we will take the kids through the ideas / read scripts and we note all their comments and feedback and we include that as an important part of our creative development process.
Within the actual animation itself, what do you do to appeal specifically to preschool children, from background to foreground?
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