MacKinnon and Saunders celebrates 30 animated years with Sale exhibition

Animation giant Mackinnon & Saunders will celebrate 30 years in the business with a brand new, free exhibition at Sale Waterside’s Lauriston Gallery.

Running from Saturday 19th November to Saturday 25th February 2023, Mackinnon & Saunders: 30 Years and Beyond will showcase a rare selection of original puppets, images and models that the model builder and animator has created for television shows and film productions over the years for some of the world’s most successful studios, directors and filmmakers.

The exhibition is the latest in a series of animation displays at Waterside, with previous editions having featured favourites such as Postman Pat and Cosgrove Hall Films.

Going on display for the very first time will be an original puppet and models made by Mackinnon & Saunders for Guillermo del Toro’s forthcoming retelling of Pinocchio. This will mark the Oscar-winning director’s stop-motion animation debut and will be streamed on Netflix later this year.

Displayed alongside these will be puppets and models from the current Netflix animation The House. Paying homage to MacKinnon and Saunders’ long-running relationship with director Tim Burton, several puppets and models the company made for two of his films, Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie will also be in the exhibition as well as work from their contribution to Wes Anderson’s acclaimed Fantastic Mr Fox.

Childhood favourites Raa Raa the Noisy Lion, Twirly Woos and Bob The Builder, produced by erstwhile Altrincham animation house Hot Animation, itself set up by Cosgrove Hall alumnus Jackie Cockle, will also be on display.

Running in partnership with Manchester Animation Festival, the exhibition will also feature a series of black and white behind-the-scenes photographs to celebrate the vision, skill and artistry of the local animators and model-makers who have brought these iconic characters and wonderful stories to life, connecting with audiences all over the world with their model-making and animation production skills.

Mackinnon & Saunders: 30 Years and Beyond runs at Waterside from 19th November 2022 until 25th February 2023. The exhibition is free and open Mondays to Saturdays from 10am-5pm.