On the 17th and 18th of June, Aintree racecourse was bustling with excitement. This was no horse race, but a race for the future as students from across Merseyside descended on the site for The Skills Show @ The International Festival of Business to see what opportunities were available from their local institutions.
Wirral Metropolitan’s 'Have a go' workshop raced over to demonstrate that animation isn't a niche area of study, but instead exciting, engaging and not just for kids. We worked with over seventy groups of student (and some curious adults too) to create two short pieces of stop motion animation. The attraction of animation was enough to draw not just students but fellow exhibitors to give the workshop a go.
On Tuesday we set the students off with a toy car race. Matthew and I took turns steering them in the right direction, showing them timing and spacing, as we joined in racing cars around the track. No matter what age you are, give a person a toy car and you can bet ten-to-one that by the end of the day there is going to be a few car pile-ups. It was wheely fun for everyone involved.
Wednesday started with a bang as we swapped high speed for a sweet fireworks display. The colourful candy offered great creative freedom and people became more adventurous as the day went on. One participant completely discarded fireworks and the sweets were transformed into a spaceship invasion that was held off by a heavy chocolate defence.
Now there’s an animator in the making!
You can check out the results below.
The Skills Show at Aintree Racecourse - Tuesday from WMC Illustration with Animation on Vimeo.
The Skills Show at Aintree Racecourse - Wednesday from WMC Illustration with Animation on Vimeo.
Specials thanks to everyone thank took part from:
Birkenhead Sixth Form College
Bluebell Park School
Broadgreen International School
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Deyes High School
Enterprise South Liverpool Academy (ESLA)
Greenbank High School
Hilbre High School
Holy Family Catholic High School
Life Science UTC
Lord Derby Academy
Newfield School
Oldershaw Academy
Rainhill Sixth Form
Range High School
Ridgeway High School
St Edmund Arrowsmith School
St Hilda's CE High School
St. Julie's Catholic High School
South Sefton Sixth Form College
South Wirral High School
The City Of Liverpool College
Wallasey School
Weatherhead High School
West Derby School
and
Aspire, Achieve, Advance
Connexions
NAC Group
The Chartered Institute of Marketing
Worldskills Uk / Here To Help Team
-Jennifer