Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Aardman’s Executive Creative Director, Sarah Cox, discusses the development process and how she protects the kernel of an original idea as it evolves from pitch to show to global brand.
Aardman Animations has created some of the most iconic shows, films, and characters in animation history, but little is known about how they navigate the tricky yet magical world of development. How do they balance the needs of all the stakeholders, from creatives to platforms, voice talent to comedy writers, and from character designers to L&M departments? And how do they protect what’s good about a concept as it makes its way from brain to page, and screen to shelves?
In this Creative Masterclass, award-winning development maestro Sarah Cox discusses her process through the lens of recent Aardman projects such as ‘The Very Small Creatures’ for Sky Kids, ‘Lloyd of the Flies’ for CITV, ‘Robin Robin’ for Netflix, and more. Full of tales of well-loved characters and the people behind them, this is a must-see session for those who create the shows, those who sell them, and those – like Sarah – who bring it all together in one great, glorious whole.
The Creative Masterclass includes a presentation by Changemaker Zayden Lindsay with his story about how writing poetry helped him to overcome some very tough times.
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Changemaker - Zayden Lindsay
06:59 Creative Masterclass - Sarah Cox
Aardman’s Executive Creative Director, Sarah Cox, discusses the development process and how she protects the kernel of an original idea as it evolves from pitch to show to global brand.
Aardman Animations has created some of the most iconic shows, films, and characters in animation history, but little is known about how they navigate the tricky yet magical world of development. How do they balance the needs of all the stakeholders, from creatives to platforms, voice talent to comedy writers, and from character designers to L&M departments? And how do they protect what’s good about a concept as it makes its way from brain to page, and screen to shelves?
In this Creative Masterclass, award-winning development maestro Sarah Cox discusses her process through the lens of recent Aardman projects such as ‘The Very Small Creatures’ for Sky Kids, ‘Lloyd of the Flies’ for CITV, ‘Robin Robin’ for Netflix, and more. Full of tales of well-loved characters and the people behind them, this is a must-see session for those who create the shows, those who sell them, and those – like Sarah – who bring it all together in one great, glorious whole.
The Creative Masterclass includes a presentation by Changemaker Zayden Lindsay with his story about how writing poetry helped him to overcome some very tough times.
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Changemaker - Zayden Lindsay
06:59 Creative Masterclass - Sarah Cox
