What would Penfold say – Danger Mouse is making an exhibition of himself in Sale…

[dropcap types ‘circles”]Some of the most famous and iconic film and television animated characters are here in Sale.

Danger Mouse, Postman Pat, Noddy, Count Duckula, and Chorlton and the Wheelies are just some of exhibits from the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive on show at the Waterside Arts Centre.

Original models, puppets, storyboards and hand-drawn animation is on display in the exhibition.  Actor David Jason was the voice of Danger Mouse for many years.

The venue is also preparing for the Puppet Masters Conference on Saturday, November 4th, featuring leading speakers from the worlds of animation and puppetry, and will have guests who have a strong connection with Cosgrove Hall.

Count Duckula, who shunned meat after being resurrected with ketchup instead of blood, and Danger Mouse, the world’s greatest secret agent, are  the stars of  the exhibition.

In its heyday Cosgrove Hall was the biggest animation studio in Europe. Its programmes were shown all over the world, both original productions such as Danger Mouse, which ran for 161 episodes, plus remakes of Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men; Noddy and Postman Pat.

The Chorlton-cum-Hardy based studio was founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall in 1976. Danger Mouse established the company as a main-player in animation.

Brian Cosgrove said: “I’m delighted to be working with Waterside to preserve and share the Cosgrove Hall legacy with new generations.

“I am honoured, and I’m sure Mark Hall would have been too, with the enthusiasm that our work still generates with the general public. I hope that many people will come from far and wide to enjoy these well-loved characters as much as we have over the years.”

They produced quality animation by bringing together some of the biggest puppet-makers, actors and animators in the UK to create, adapt and produce popular animations.

They also brought characters from popular childhood fiction to life in animations such as Roald Dahl’s The BFG and Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows.

Cosgrove Hall Films runs until February 17 next year at Waterside Arts Centre. Entry is free.