Hooray for Weston Woods!

Hooray for Weston Woods!

Is it a book, or is it a film? It’s both thanks to Weston Woods. Animation studio Weston Woods has been bringing beloved children’s picture books to life for over sixty years - from Where the Wild Things Are to Officer Buckle. This Mini-Sized Archive film programme presents a selection of classic and contemporary Weston Woods film stories from the New Zealand Film Archive’s collection.

Mini-Sized Archive: Hooray for Weston Woods! is presented in partnership with the Square Eyes - New Zealand Film Foundation. The Film Archive is delighted to join forces with Square Eyes to promote the importance and impact of quality film making, film availability and media literacy.

Weston Woods has animated the works of award-winning authors, from Maurice Sendak to Mo Willems, to create one of the very best collections of short films for kids anywhere.

Most suited for children of primary school age and under, Mini-Sized Archive: Hooray for Weston Woods! is sure to spark young imaginations. The entertaining programme is made up of six different short film stories, which are all based on picture books: Where the Wild Things Are, Strega Nona, Officer Buckle, Pete’s a Pizza, In The Night Kitchen and Don’t let the Pigeon Drive The Bus.

Where the Wild Things Are is based on Maurice Sendak’s 1963 book, beloved for generations, about young Max’s romp on the island of the Wild Things. Strega Nona is based on Tomie dePaola’s 1975 book, which tells the story of Strega Nona (“Gradma Witch”), her assistant and their dilemmas with a magic pasta pot that won’t stop mass producing more pasta than could ever be used. Officer Buckle is based on Peggy Rathmann’s 1995 book, about the antics of the uptight Officer Buckle and his mischievous police dog Gloria.

Pete’s a Pizza is based on William Steig’s 1998 book. When Pete is in a grumpy mood, his parents try to cheer him up by making a pizza - with Pete as the base. In The Night Kitchen is based on Maurice Sendrak’s 1970 book. It shows a young boy’s strange journey through a dreamland kitchen, where he ends up in an oversized bowl of cake batter, among other adventures.

Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is based on Mo Weillems’ 2003 book. Starring a crafty pigeon, who does his best to get a go riding the bus.

The Mini-Sized Archive: Hooray for Weston Woods! film programme will screen at 11am Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the July school holidays, 17 - 26 July. At The Film Archive, 84 Taranaki St, Wellington.

ENDS

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