MOG’S CHRISTMAS PRESS PACK
Category: Press PackSynopsis and credits
In ‘Mog’s Christmas’, Mr and Mrs Thomas and their children Debbie and Nicky are busy making preparations for Christmas. With two Aunts and a jolly Uncle also staying in the house, Mog is feeling ignored and confused. Looking for peace and quiet, Mog steps outside to enjoy the winter sun. This however, is soon disturbed by the Thomas’s neighbour Mrs Gaynor, whose baby demands cuddles from a reluctant Mog.
When Mr Thomas and the two children arrive home with an enormous Christmas tree it is all too much. Taking fright Mog scrambles onto the roof and refuses to budge. After the family have gone back inside, snowflakes begin to fall and soon the house and garden is covered with snow. Later, an excited Debbie and Nicky run outside and draw a giant Mog face in the snow in an attempt to convince her to come down. Mr and Mrs Thomas also come to the rescue, but since Mog can’t remember how she got onto the roof, she now doesn’t know what to do and stays put.
After the family have gone to bed, Mog drifts off to sleep on the snowy roof. Despite everyone’s fears, Mog has a magical night with a cat-themed musical Christmas dream, but will Mog arrive back home in time for Christmas Day?
‘Mog’s Christmas’, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, is a much-loved book based on Kerr’s family cat Mog, who first appeared in ‘Mog the Forgetful Cat’ published in 1970. Mog’s warm-hearted and funny adventures went on to inspire a further 17 picture books translated into 21 languages. In the year celebrating the 100th anniversary of Judith Kerr’s birth, ‘Mog’s Christmas’ is brought to life as a beautifully crafted hand-drawn animated special by the same team that made the Emmy award-winning adaptation of Kerr’s, ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’, produced by Lupus Films for HarperCollins Children’s Books, Channel 4 Television and Universal Pictures Content Group.
Mog’s Christmas is produced by Lupus Films' founders Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding together with executive producers Juliet Matthews at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Judith Kerr’s children Tacy and Matthew Kneale and Ann-Janine Murtagh. It is directed by Robin Shaw and written by Joanna Harrison.
A sparkling voice cast led by narrator Adjoa Andoh brings Mog’s family and neighbours to life. Claire Foy plays Mrs Thomas, Benedict Cumberbatch is Mr Thomas, Miriam Margolyes and Maggie Steed play the Aunts, Zawe Ashton, is one of Mog’s neighbours, Mrs Gaynor, Charlie Higson plays the Jolly Uncle, comedian Gareth Berliner is the Chestnut Seller and newcomers Amelie Law and Teddy Skelton play children Debbie and Nicky. Meanwhile, Mog’s purrs and miaows will be provided by Tacy Kneale, Judith Kerr’s daughter.
The theme song “As Long as I Belong” is composed by David Arnold with lyrics by Don Black and performed by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Mog’s Christmas will air on Christmas Eve at 7.45pm on Channel 4.
Fun facts
MOG' CHRISTMAS - PRODUCTION STATS |
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Duration (excluding credits) |
22mins 25secs' |
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Hand-drawn Animated Frames |
16,574 |
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Hand-painted Backgrounds |
206 |
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Artists & Animators |
63 |
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If making the film all on your own, you would need a total of… |
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HUMAN |
HUMAN |
HUMAN |
HUMAN |
Department |
Years |
Weeks |
Days |
Hours |
Storyboard |
0.92 |
48.00 |
240.00 |
1,800.00 |
Layout |
1.15 |
60.00 |
300.00 |
2,250.00 |
Backgrounds |
1.88 |
98.00 |
490.00 |
3,675.00 |
Animation |
6.40 |
333.00 |
1,665.00 |
12,487.50 |
Assistant Animation |
6.21 |
323.00 |
1,615.00 |
12,112.50 |
Artworking |
7.19 |
374.00 |
1,870.00 |
14,025.00 |
Compositing |
0.52 |
27.00 |
135.00 |
1,012.50 |
TOTAL: |
24.29 |
1,263.00 |
6,315.00 |
47,362.50 |
10 |
minutes to hard boil an egg |
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so… |
284,175.00 |
hard boiled eggs during making of the film |
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HUMAN YEARS |
CAT YEARS |
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1.00 |
15 |
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2.00 |
24 |
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3.00 |
28 |
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4.00 |
32 |
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5.00 |
36 |
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6.00 |
40 |
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7.00 |
44 |
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8.00 |
48 |
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9.00 |
52 |
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10.00 |
56 |
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11.00 |
60 |
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12.00 |
64 |
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13.00 |
68 |
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14.00 |
72 |
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15.00 |
76 |
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16.00 |
80 |
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17.00 |
84 |
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18.00 |
88 |
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19.00 |
92 |
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20.00 |
96 |
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21.00 |
100 |
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22.00 |
104 |
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23.00 |
108 |
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24.00 |
112 |
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To make Mog… |
24.29 |
113.16 |