PasticherieElroy Simmons

welcome to PASTICHERIE.

Pasticherie is a 2D Animation Service created/fronted by Traditonal 2D Animator (paper and pencil)/ Director Elroy Simmons. That's me. I've worked freelance as a Traditional (pencil and paper) Animator on a wide range of productions - and in a wide range of styles, since 1995.

This site features lots of Animation work produced by Elroy as a Freelancer, Animation/Design/Direction work produced under the Pasticherie banner and links to Elroy's/Pasticherie's colleagues' sites.

I feel obliged to make something clear from the outset; I'm not the most technical of individuals - so although I'm willing to make lots of drawings, I am not a Software whizz. I do though, know people who are. I'm grateful that they collaborate. Pasticherie's intended breadth of visual style and its contributors' invaluable efforts on Pasticherie's ‘product' has inspired/informed its Animated "Eight- Man-One-Man Band" logo (see "contact").

This Showreel features some of the 'commercial' work I've done, as well as examples of my (Pasticherie's) work. To that extent, it represents not only my efforts, but those of many other contributors and originators. To avoid breaching copyright infringements etc, I feel the need to assert the makers'/buyers' ownership of a lot the work featured.

archive

  1. 2008

    Coke Secret Ingredient Swelter Stopper
    Coke Secret Ingredient Swelter Stopper Coke Secret Ingredient Swelter Stopper » view animation

    Studio: Nexus
    My job: Animator
    Director: Tom & Mark Perrett
    November 2008 – December 20088

    Screened: TBC/Online. Made for the US. I worked on a few 'monster' shots (which feature in the showreel) and a couple of the extras (including a lady blow-drying her hair).

  2. 2008

    Violent and Young
    violent and young Violent and Young » view animation

    Studio: PartizanLab
    My job: 2DLead Animator/Character Designer
    Director: Henry Scholfield
    October 2008 – November 2008

    Screened: Online. Single released January 2009. This was a pop promo for 'Iglu and Hartley' that featured treated/embellished Live Action footage of the band intercut with clips from a spoof Manga feature film. As well as traditionally animating scenes from the invented film, I designed most of the 2Dcharacters that feature and re-drew designs for two of the characters. In total, I worked for 24 days: animating close to two minutes.

  3. 2008

    Cheeky Monkeys (ABC)
    cheeky monkeys ABC » view animation

    Studio: Pasticherie for Leicester Youth Offenders Team
    My job: Storyboard Artist/Designer/Voice Over/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    November 2007 – September 2008

    This 10 minute cartoon is a cautionary tale aimed at Primary school aged children – warning of the dangers/harm caused of/by 'anti-social' behaviour. It follows the misadventures of three monkeys in a zoo eager to cause widespread mischief. I can't thank the many and legendary contributors of this 'low-budget' treat - enough.

  4. 2008

    A haven in a brick jungle
    haven in a brick jungle A haven in a brick jungle » view animation

    Studio: Commissioned by the John Hansard Gallery and the University of Southampton. Independently made. Unofficially a Pasticherie Production.
    My job: Interviewer/Designer/Animator/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    September 2007 – March 2008

    A fantastic job – only partially 'marred' by my left leg being broken mid-way through production. I was contacted by Ronda Gowland from the John Hansard Gallery, who asked if I'd be willing to work on something as part of the wider "PortCity" Exhibition. I said yes immediately – to what became this 20 minute Animated Documentary. The project/film not only concerned residents of my home town; but specifically, residents of the Housing Estate in Swaythling/Bassett, Southampton where I was raised, and also pupils from my old Secondary School (Cantell). Extensive recorded conversation/interviews with regulars from the Swaythling Community Centre provide the soundtrack; and photographs, maps, graphics and Animation form the picture content.

  5. 2007

    Rotary International
    rotary international Rotary International » view animation

    Studio: Sherbet Productions
    My job: Interviewer/Designer/Animator/Director
    Director: Jonathon Hodgon
    July 2007 – August 2007

    Traditonally animated, hand rendered TV advertisment - publicising the work done aiding supply of clean water in developing countries by the Rotary Organization, was screened in the US later that year.

  6. 2007

    Francis
    Francis Francis » view animation

    Studio: Let Me Feel Your Finger First
    My job: Sequence Animator
    Director: Richard Squires
    July 2007

    Screened: Channel 4, November 2007. I animated short sequences in this Traditional short about an autistic young boy with a vivid imagination. All of my sequences feature Francis 'expressing' emotion via familiar cartoon character traits.

  7. 2007

    Striplight: No Search/No Entry

    striplight: no search/no entry Striplight: No Search/No Entry » view animation

    Studio: A Pasticherie Production with Ellefolk Productions
    My Job: Animator/Designer/Director
    Director: Jonathon Hodgon
    June 2007 – December 2007

    This 'extremely' low budget promo for the song "No Search/No Entry" by the band Striplight is available for viewing on the Internet; both on the band's website and on Youtube. A definite pleasure to make – and a thrill to work with Ellen Kleiven. It was very much a labour of love and to my mind, a significant change from my usual patterns of 'creative expression'.

  8. 2007

    Behind you (trailer)
    behind you Behind you » view animation

    Studio: CHASE
    My job: Storyboard Artist/Character and Set Designer/Art and Animation Director/Lead Key Character/Effects Animator
    Director: (Character Animation/Animation) Elroy Simmons
    (Trailer Directors) Darren Wall, Robert Chandler
    May 2007 – July 2007

    Not screened. This trailer was a pitch; touted with a feature script for an Animated Horror film ("Behind You"). I drew the backgrounds, oversaw their rendering and sat in with the compositor on each of the three scenes – extensively designing, Animating and overseeing the Character Animation and Lighting effects Animation. Even the flame on the featured girl''s lighter was hand-animated before manipulation in AfterEffects.

  9. 2006

    Rory's Stories
    Rory's Stories Rory's Stories » view animation

    Studio: Spider Eye
    My job: 2D Animator Director: Morgan Francis
    May 2006 - June 2006

    Pilot episode (unsuccessful) for a Children's Series which combined 2D Animation produced traditionally and using Cell Action. I animated the 'traditional' characters (i.e. the whale and the octopus), & made segmented drawings of the already designed Rory and his dog for the Cell Action animators to use.

  10. 2006

    Gorilla Test
    gorilla project Gorilla Test » view animation

    Studio: Independently made. Requested for a pitch.
    My job: Animator/Animation Co-ordinator
    February 2006

    Using a pre-existing design. This line-test was pitched/to be used as moving, 'live' advertising - and was to be filled/rendered. It wasn't used, so the rendering never took place.

  11. 2006

    'Fugu Sequence' - "Hustle"(Series 3)
    fugu 'Fugu Sequence' - "Hustle"(Series 3) » view animation

    Studio: CHASE
    My Job: Animator/Designer/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    November 2006 – December 2006

    This was an Animated sequence used in a BBC Live Action series. Uncannily, CHASE neglected to list me on their site as Director of this for close to a year after it was screened (over a year after it was made) – even though it helped generate substantial amounts of work for the studio. Screened: May 2007.

  12. 2006

    George et Alfred
    George et Alfred George et Alfred » view animation

    Studio: Kayenta Productions
    My Job: Supervising Animator, Animator
    Director: Mark Woods
    June 2006 – October 2006

    Produced in Paris, France and screened in December 2006 on TF1. Involved extensive keying out of many sequences, advice on scenes being animated, and subsequently, much use/improvement of my French speaking and a substantial amount of animating - for this seven minute short; based on French speaking Animated Characters from a long running cartoon compilation show ("Ca Cartoon") on TF1. Whilst there, I also worked on an advert for Citreon – which featured "Wiley Coyote".

  13. 2006

    The Comedy Business
    comedy business The Comedy Business » view animation

    Studio: CHASE
    Producer: Robert Chandler
    My role: Animator/Design/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    May 2006

    First of several unsuccessful series 'pitches' made for CHASE. Three versions of this pilot ("The Straight Man") were completed - featuring varied levels of profanity. It took three weeks to animate/complete! Other "Comedy Business" characters mooted included; 'The Children's Entertainer', 'The Heckler', 'The Agent' - and 'The Cartoonist'. It took three weeks to animate/complete!

  14. 2006

    Cafe Manga
    Oddbins - van man Cafe Manga » view animation

    Studio: CHASE
    Producers:span> Robert Chandler and Darren Wall
    My job: Animator
    Director: Matt Howard
    January 2006

    An obscure job - animated in a month; one of several made by differing means by CHASE - at the start of 2006 for Cafe Manga & to be collectively screened in a loop in their outlet(s). This one features the re-designed logo/motif saving the day when an Ambassador's robot-chef goes AWOL.

  15. 2006

    Oddbins - truck man
    Oddbins - van man Oddbins - truck man » view animation

    Director: Nicoletta Bertoldi
    My job: Designer/Animator/Animation Director
    Screened: 2006

    Low-budget animated inserts for a live-action corporate video for "Oddbins". Allusion to the Steadman/Searle(esque) illustration work Oddbins had used for a while, was requested. 2D work was - and often is, a wasteland (Alright!). Fabrice Langelier scanning help was invaluable, Bill Elliot's compositing was an absolute life-saver!

  16. 2006

    Oddbins - tanning
    Oddbins - tanning Oddbins - tanning » view animation

    Director: Nicoletta Bertoldi
    My job: Designer/Animator/Animation Director
    Screened: 2006

    See "Oddbins" - 'Truck Man'. Painfully, animating this twice because I presumed Nicoletta had said 'Tannine'; making it twice the considerable bargain it already was.

  17. 2006

    Oddbins - man and woman
    Oddbins - man and woman Oddbins - man and woman » view animation

    Director: Nicoletta Bertoldi
    My job: Designer/Animator/Animation Director
    Screened: 2006

    See "Oddbins" - 'Truck Man'; more 'corporate' economy. I do though, happen to like this one a lot.

  18. 2006

    Oddbins - man clap
    Oddbins - man clap Oddbins - man clap » view animation

    Director: Nicoletta Bertoldi
    My job: Designer/Animator/Animation Director
    Screened: 2006

    See "Oddbins" - 'Truck Man'; more 'corporate' economy. This, as with the others, really is a testament to the speedy deftness of Bill Elliot's compositing.

  1. 2006

    Oddbins - bottle map
    Oddbins - bottle map Oddbins - bottle map » view animation

    Director: Nicoletta Bertoldi
    My job: Designer/Animator/Animation Director
    Screened: 2006

    See "Oddbins" - 'Truck Man'; More 'corporate' economy. More Bill Elliot ingenuity. Very tidy - and cheap.

  2. 2006

    Tom Kincaid
    Tom Kincaid "Tom Kincaid" Ident » view animation

    Studio: Pasticherie/Yojimbo Films co-production
    My Job: Animator/Designer/Writer/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    May 2005 – September 2005

    Brilliant composer and Jazz Pianist Tom Kincaid wanted some animation for his website. In spare time overe the period, I worked with Jim Andrews (YoJimbo Films – another old friend) who composited the traditonal Animation in AfterEffects/scanned and rendered the drawings/oversaw the process in Animo.

  3. 2005

    Ghost House
    Ghost House Ghost House » view animation

    Studio: CHASE
    My job: Lead (Sole) Character Animator
    Director: Matt Howard and Billy Elliot
    September 2005 – October 2005

    Not screened anywhere, this 'pitch' trailer for a series was developed by CHASE and designed by the directors. This job did lead to some subsequent directing/design work for CHASE on projects on three occasions over the next two years. Of those, two were also pitches (“The Comedy Business”, “Behind You”), with the other being the 'Fugu sequence' from “Hustle” - BBC 1, screened May 2007.being an Animated sequence used in a Live Action series. Uncannily, CHASE neglected to list me as Director of this for nearly a year after it was screened – even though it helped generate substantial amounts of work for the studio.

  4. 2005

    You never listen
    You never listen You never listen » view animation

    Studio: Independent 'A-I-R' funded production overseen/produced by Phil Davies (Creative Productions/Astley-Baker-Davies)
    My job: Animator
    Director: Alys Hawkins
    March 2005 – August 2005

    This gem of a short was screened as a Three Minute Wonder on Channel4 in November 2005. This was my first (and so far, last) job as an animator not using paper and pencil. I benefitted hugely from experiencing a lot of PhotoShop and AfterEffects - and a 'Wacom' Tablet and Pen, of course. It was made and set in Southampton (Alys' and my home town!)

  5. 2004

    Monkey Dust
    You never listen Monkey Dust » view animation

    Studio: Spider Eye
    My job: Animator
    Director: who knows
    November 2004 – December 2004

    I 'fixed'/re-animated some scenes from "TalkBack"'s series (screened: BBC3 and repeated on BBC2) including the hint of a contribution present in this sequence. See the Vimeo page for the searing self-critique. Spider Eye are working with me on my 'longstanding' short ("A-Z").

  6. 2003

    Yorkshire Tea
    Persil - Magic Yorkshire Tea » view animation

    Studio: Sherbet Productions
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Robin Shaw
    Screened: 2003

    laborate commercial – even for Sherbet - featuring hand drawn Animation frames likewise rendered (painted) by hand(!).

  7. 2003

    Magic [Persil]
    Persil - Magic Magic [Persil] » view animation

    Studio: Sherbet Productions
    My Job: Animator/Key Animator
    Director: Jonathan Hodgson
    July 2003

    See "Persil" - 'Little Monsters'. For 'Magic', I also produced lay-outs for all the scenes, but animated the first (crowd scene) and the last (…"and be creative…Magic, or what?"). Around this time, I also worked (on one occasion), for Sandra Endsby ("A-Z of Drugs" – July 2003).

  8. 2002

    Little Monsters [Persil]
    Persil - Little Monsters Little Monsters [Persil] » view animation

    Studio: Sherbet Productions
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Jonathan Hodgson
    July 2003

    This was one of several "Persil" I worked on arounsd this time (throughout 2002 and 2003) for Sherbet including “Picasso”, "Cocoon", "Magic", "Mushroom" and "Waterfall". I did work on other 'Ads' for other products (i.e."Einstein Bros. Bagels" and I animated a commercial for “Denver Zoo” single-handedly – with assistance. These adverts were virtually all directed by Jonathon Hodgson; I also occasionally pitched for work, but uncannily, never successfully. I animated the first part of this – up to when the 'kids' are urged to have their clothes washed – post scribbling.

  9. 2003

    The Allotment
    The Allotment The Allotment » view animation

    Studio: Blue Sunflower for S4C
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Dan Williams
    May 2001 – September 2002

    A young girl makes friends with an old man on his allottment; I'm not sure how easily a film such as this would find funding now. These are the linetests of two shots/sequences I drew for the film. The finished film was painted by hand on paper and acetate. I was happy to work on Dan Williams' short for of its sentiment.

  10. 2002

    Judith
    Judith Judith » view animation

    Studio: Tandem Films
    My Job: Storyboard/Animator/Designer/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    May 2001 – September 2002

    This 90 second short was based on a script by Daniel Greaves and Jim LeFevre. It was originally to be included in a larger Tandem Production - "Little Things" but never was. As with other low-budget/self initiated projects, I worked on this in my spare time and between paid ‘work'.

  11. 2001

    Bird Suit [Golden Nuggets]
    Golden Nugget - Bird Suit Bird Suit [Golden Nuggets] » view animation

    Studio: Richard Purdum Productions
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Gary Dunn
    July 2001 – August 2001

    I animated the 'baddies' (in all but one wide-shot) for this cereal commercial, which did mean I got to animate a character suggesting that they had "got to get that yee-hah taste!". I'm sure I can recall the increasing 'heat' 'big budgeted-generously scheduled-cartoon-sweet cereal-advertisements' - such as this, were beginning to receive at the time this was made – and screened.

  12. 2001

    Ivor the Invisible
    Ivor the invisible Ivor the Invisible » view animation

    Studio: Screen First Productions
    My Job: Sequence Animator
    Director: Hilary Audus
    March 2001 – May 2001

    Screened by Channel 4 Christmas 2001. Based on a Raymond Briggs original screenplay, this was a 'screen first', indeed. I refer back to "Oi! Get Off Our Train!" and the "hens' teeth" remark.

  13. 2001

    End title sequence "Mister Bean"

    Mr Bean End title sequence "Mister Bean" – the series » view animation

    Studio: Richard Purdum Studios
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Richard Purdum
    September 2001 – October 2001

    Following a stint on the pilot episode for this series ("In the Wild"), I was asked to animate the end title sequence. Unfortunately, shortly after this version was completed, it was decided that it wouldn't be used in the series. Certainly, that was what I was told. The version that was used – animated by Gary Dunn, bore uncanny and regular similarities to this version.

  14. 1999

    'Compaq' - "Bird"
    Bird 'Compaq' - "Bird" » view animation

    Studio: AKA Pizazz (now Studio AKA)
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Dominic Griffiths, Grant Orchard, Mario Cavelli
    April 1999 – May 1999

    This was the last of the adverts from this campaign that I worked on. See "Hole in the Wall".

  15. 1999

    'Compaq' - "Hole in the wall"

    Cash Machine 'Compaq' - "Hole in the wall" » view animation

    Studio: AKA Pizazz (now Studio AKA)
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Mic Graves, Mario Cavelli
    January 1999 – February 1999

    Working for that period of time at "Pizazz" afforded me with a lot of experience on a lot of commercial jobs, including; 'Compaq' - "Bird" (Directors: Grant Orchard, Dominic Griffiths), a 'Nickleodeon' "BN"sting - "Spaceship", and 'NatWest' – "Mr Lucky" (Director: Mark Crast) and scenes on advertisements for all of the directors on a range of other commercials. I also gained experience and some insight into pitching.

  16. 1999

    "A History of Alternative Comedy"
    BBC - a history of alternative comedy 30 second trail for "A History of Alternative Comedy" » view animation

    Studio: Independently made for BBC Presentations
    My Job: Animator/Designer-Illustrator/Director
    Director: Elroy Simmons
    December 1998

    Twelve very intense days – from initial meeting to completion make this job memorable for me, at least. It was screened between Christmas 1998 - New Year into early 1999 on BBC 1 and BBC 2.

  17. 1998

    Oi! Get off our train
    oi! get off our train Oi! Get off our train » view animation

    Studio: VargaTVC
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Dave Unwin
    March 1998 – July 1998

    Animated specials such as this – based on a book of the same name by John Burningham were a relatively regular source of work in the earlier years of my career. This is a charming story, and work like this would appear to be rarer than "hens' teeth" these days.

  18. 1995

    Flatworld
    Flatworld Flatworld » view animation

    Studio: Tandem Films
    My Job: Animator
    Director: Daniel Greaves
    Sept 1995 – March 1996

    Tandem was my first animation employer. I also gained some experience animating and assisting on other commercial jobs. Whilst there, I produced the guide animation of the 'Sugar Puff' for "Sugar Puffs" (Screened Jan 1996 – 2003)

about

Pasticherie seeks to make 'commercial'/'community' based Animations.This site features Freelance Animation work produced by Elroy since 1995 and subsequently under the banner of "Pasticherie".

This website is intended to prove ‘drawn animation' is still produced - and to 'advertise' my wares. It provides the means to contact/employ me (Elroy), Pasticherie - and my esteemed, featured colleagues.

I hope in viewing the work featured, it is unmistakably apparent that my - and consequently Pasticherie's objectives are to ceaselessly produce skilled, inventive, memorable and beautiful Animated images – to order.

Pasticherie champions/produces drawn animation. Personally, I'm a fan of mixing disciplines (the Eight-Man-One-Band), but I'll vigorously defend drawing. In any case, I'm sure audiences appreciate witnessing a combination of differing technique - rather than always experiencing their segregation. I've spent most of the last fourteen years 'Character Animating'. I am particularly satisfied by a strong, drawn performance, but I'm aware that by whatever means, good character animation serves as simultaneous short and long hand (emotionally involving/ ‘economically', abstractly described).

Throughout my career, I've been working on an animated short called "A-Z". I draw bits and pieces when I can. For the last five years, I've been lucky/honoured to be joined - in co-production by a company based in St.Just (in Cornwall, near Penzance) named "Spider-Eye Ltd".

Spider-Eye is owned/run by Morgan Francis and Erica Darby. Although they possess and successfully utilised explicitly technical, software-based knowledge, their Animation origins (as with several the colleagues listed in the "Links" section) are firmly traditional. If, having looked at this site, you require Pasticherie to produce a ‘significant' amount of Animation work carried out, Spider-Eye may well be called upon by Pasticherie to help.

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